The most worrisome thing for fantasy football owners heading into Week 16 isn’t their upcoming opponents. Rather, it is a trip to the newswire to receive the latest NFL updates.
Between injuries and an unfortunately timed suspension, the status of a number of playmakers is up in the air heading into fantasy championship games across the country.
Odell Beckham Jr. was suspended, LeSean McCoy reportedly tore his MCL, Adrian Peterson suffered an ankle sprain, Marcus Mariota was ruled out with a knee injury, Alshon Jeffery was dealt a hamstring blow, Jonathan Stewart missed Week 15 and Jacksonville Jaguars running backs T.J. Yeldon and Denard Robinson are dealing with injuries.
Best of luck heading into your championship game.
Perhaps the best strategy is to arm yourself with as much information as possible. With that in mind, here is a list of rounded projections for the league’s top players heading into Week 16 that will help with flex decisions and lineup questions. The projections are based on a points-per-reception scoring system.
Quarterback
In Week 16, Ben Roethlisberger gets a shot at a Baltimore Ravens team that appears to be playing out the string on the schedule with three straight losses and a number of injuries, including a season-ending setback for quarterback Joe Flacco.
Roethlisberger’s wide receiver corps is nearly unstoppable with Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton destroying secondaries in the open field, and all Big Ben has to do is put it in the right spot. Roethlisberger posted 380 yards and three touchdowns against the Denver Broncos defense Sunday, which is stronger than Baltimore’s, and should put up monster numbers again.
Running Back
David Johnson saved fantasy owners’ seasons everywhere with 187 rushing yards, 42 receiving yards and three touchdowns during Sunday night’s victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and is arguably the waiver-wire pickup of the year for those shrewd enough to grab him.
Sports Illustrated weighed in on the rookie’s performance:
Next up is a Green Bay Packers defense that was ranked 22nd in the league in rushing yards allowed per game going into Monday night’s contest. Johnson should continue rolling against a vulnerable front seven in a game that has first-round bye implications for the playoffs.
There is so much fear of Carson Palmer and the Arizona wide receivers that rushing lanes open up for the rookie to attack. Johnson is also a threat in that passing attack with 335 receiving yards and four touchdown catches on the season and has the potential to carry fantasy owners yet again in Week 16.
Wide Receiver
Doug Baldwin is on an absolute tear with 10 touchdown catches the past four games and was on the waiver wire in plenty of leagues just a month ago. Now, he is one of the best fantasy weapons in the league, as NFL on ESPN highlighted:
In Week 16, Baldwin faces a St. Louis Rams defense that was 21st against the pass following Sunday’s action. Running backs Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls both suffered serious injuries, so Seattle turned the offense over to Russell Wilson, and he is connecting with Baldwin at an incredible rate.
That will continue against a vulnerable secondary.
Tight End
The Houston Texans defense is solid, but tight end Delanie Walker will serve as a safety valve for Zach Mettenberger as the backup fills in for the injured Mariota. Walker topped 50 receiving yards in his last 10 games and reached the 90-yard mark five times during that span.
He is also fresh off a two-touchdown performance Sunday against the New England Patriots and turned plenty of heads with plays like this, per the NFL:
“You probably saw the two best tight ends in the NFL,” interim Titans coach Mike Mularkey said after Walker and Rob Gronkowski traded touchdowns in Sunday’s game between the Titans and New England Patriots, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
Walker plays for the Titans and is often overlooked for stars like Gronkowski, but he is a valuable weapon heading into the stretch run.
Kicker
According to ESPN.com, the New York Giants allow the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing kickers in the league (as of Monday). That is exactly what Blair Walsh fantasy owners want to hear as the Minnesota Vikings prepare for a clash with New York.
Walsh is a solid 27-of-32 on the season and has four field goals from beyond 50 yards. He will add to his impressive totals Sunday against a defense that has been particularly friendly toward kickers.
Defense
The Seattle Seahawks were third in the league against the run after Sunday’s action and will look to force the Rams to be one-dimensional with Case Keenum by limiting Todd Gurley. If Seattle does just that, it will spell trouble for the St. Louis offense and create opportunities for plenty of fantasy points for those relying on Seattle’s defense.
Perhaps the two-time defending NFC champion Seattle defense will win you a fantasy title while your opponent worries about who to play in the flex position.
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