Week 16 won’t have any issues continuing the trend of explosive outings from top players.

Just take a quick gander at the holiday schedule. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and the Kansas City Chiefs get to beat up on the Cleveland Browns. The Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton gets to torch the Atlanta Falcons again. Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers get to stomp on the Baltimore Ravens. Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks get to trounce the St. Louis Rams.

If last weekend was one of the most explosive weeks for fantasy football in recent memory, Week 16 has the potential to top it.

To make sense of the wealth of options available to owners still alive in the hunt, let’s break down each position into rankings below.

 

Week 16 Schedule

 

Quarterbacks

Roethlisberger got a mention in the intro for good reason.

There are plenty of options at quarterback this week, but Big Ben gets the nod as the top-ranked player going into a game against the woeful Baltimore Ravens.

Big Ben went off for 23 points this past weekend against a strong Denver defense, giving him 21 or more points in five of his last six outings. He missed the team’s first encounter with the Ravens earlier this year, but he shouldn’t have any problems making up the difference.

Those Ravens allow the fifth-most points to quarterbacks this year and have given up 12 touchdowns over their last six games. Big Ben looks like another 21-point player or more.   

Those on the hunt for a streaming sleeper should look at Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who sits available in about 40 percent of leagues.

Tannehill has double digits in all but two games this year and this weekend gets a cupcake matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, the team allowing the 11th-most points to the spot. With weapons such as wide receiver Jarvis Landry to utilize against a defense that has given up 12 passing touchdowns over its last five games, it’s hard to imagine Tannehill will disappoint.  

 

Running Backs

With so many injuries and emerging committees, it’s becoming more difficult by the week to make the right moves at running back. 

Still, usual suspects dot the rankings, including Kansas City Chiefs running back Charcandrick West.

West deserves to have his name up there after posting 13 points in Week 15 by way of 16 carries for 76 yards and a score, good for his first double-digit outing since Week 10 thanks to injury woes and the emergence of Spencer Ware.

It seems West has earned more looks, though, and just in time for a date with the Cleveland Browns. The unit allows the 11th-most points to backs, and just five opposing backfields have failed to breach the 100-yard mark against it.

The sleeper this week should be pretty obvious now that New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower seems to have a high-volume role. The veteran has 28 and 13 carries over his past two games with 23 total points over the two contests. 

It’s clear New Orleans is content to roll with Hightower in an every-down capacity the rest of the way, making him an elite play this weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacksonville has been shaky at best against the run all year, allowing 10 opposing backfields to hit double digits. Given his newfound usage, Hightower is a lock to do so on his own.

 

Wide Receivers

Other than Antonio Brown and a few other big names, owners should keep an eye on Washington’s DeSean Jackson this week.

Jackson has been on absolute fire since Week 11, posting 12 or more points in four out of his last five outings. He saved his best for last too, going for a season-high 21 points last weekend against the Buffalo Bills.

It shouldn’t come as a shock, then, that he’s excited for a showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to the team’s Twitter account:

Outside of the history there, who wouldn’t be? The Eagles cough up the second-most points to the position with 19 or more points allowed to opposing wideout corps in seven consecutive games.

Baltimore Ravens wideout Kamar Aiken would be the sleeper to eye.

Owned in just 59.1 percent of leagues, Aiken has 11 or more points in three of his last five, including a season-best 18 last weekend against the Chiefs on eight catches for 128 yards and a score. 

Believe it or not, it gets easier for Aiken this week against the Steelers. Pittsburgh looks unstoppable, but it happens to allow the third-most points to wideouts this year and since a Week 11 bye has surrendered nine touchdowns to the position over four games.

It’s apparent Aiken will produce no matter who lines up under center but especially so against the Steelers. He posted 13 points against the unit back in Week 4.

 

Tight Ends

Rob Gronkowski and others steal the headlines, but it’s clear future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates won’t let his season end on a sour note.

One of the San Diego Chargers’ main targets had struggled most of the season to post consistent production. Said struggles ended in Week 12, though, as Gates now has seven or more points in three of his last four games with a high of 17.

Gates might post his highest total of the season against the Oakland Raiders in Week 16. The Raiders allow the second-most points to the spot, and Gates should know how to exploit the unit after all these years.

It’s not easy to find a sleeper at tight end this time of year, but Richard Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers might qualify seeing as how he’s available in more than 30 percent of leagues still. 

Rodgers has posted just six total points over two games since a 20-point showing in Week 13. He could make all of that back and then some against the Arizona Cardinals, though.

The Cardinals have actually been rather spotty against tight ends as of late, allowing the 15th-most points in large part thanks to four touchdowns permitted since a Week 9 bye, including one last week.

When things break down for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, he figures to go right at, well, Rodgers.

 

Defense/Special Teams

Remember the Houston Texans defense led by J.J. Watt?

Call it the perfect sleeper this week. Owned in just 51.6 percent of leagues, the Texans have six double-digit outings this year but three trips to negative points to balance the scales.

This weekend borderline promises a high-scoring output, though, thanks to an encounter with the Tennessee Titans. Back in Week 8, Houston set a season high with 19 points against the unit.

Even better, the Titans allow the most points to opposing defenses this year. Did anyone mention there’s chatter about Titans star quarterback Marcus Mariota missing the rest of the season, per Jim Wyatt of the team’s official website?

The Texans are in for a huge day.

 

Kickers

Fantasy owners don’t seem too high on the idea of Chargers kicker Josh Lambo, who sits with a 6.6 ownership percentage.

It’s a bit odd but makes Lambo one of the top sleeper options this week. He’s scored in double digits three times, with five or more points in 11 games, giving him a desirable floor with room for a nice ceiling if the matchup looks good.

And it does this week against the Oakland Raiders. Lambo posted nine points against Oakland in Week 7, which isn’t hard to imagine his doing again or better considering the Raiders allow the most points to kickers this year.

 

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats as of December 22.

Read more Fantasy Football news on NerdyFootball.com

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Fantasy Football

Opinion

Fantasy

If you’re in the fantasy football championship, you have obviously made some good calls to this point, but now, you have one game left to put together the best lineup possible.  

There are a lot of tough calls heading into Week 16, and you don’t want to spend the next few months agonizing over making the wrong pick. You can’t predict the future, but you can make the best possible decisions for your roster based on what the players have done to this point as well as the matchups ahead of them.

Here is a look at what you should do with a number of borderline options heading into the weekend.

 

Start ‘Em

 

Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts

The past few months haven’t been great for Frank Gore as a fantasy player. He hasn’t had more than 60 rushing yards in any of the last five games while managing only a single touchdown in that stretch. The result has been four games with six or fewer fantasy points in standard leagues.

Despite this lack of production, Gore at least remains a regular fixture in the Indianapolis Colts offense with an average of 16.1 rushing attempts per game. Josh Moore of 4for4 Football breaks down just how much usage the veteran has been getting:

This hasn’t led to much efficiency lately, but that could change with a favorable matchup against the Miami Dolphins. That defense has allowed the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL this season, including 140 to the struggling San Diego Chargers offense last week. Running back Danny Woodhead even scored four touchdowns.

With enough touches, Gore can find some open space and finally put together a strong showing for fantasy owners.

 

Kamar Aiken, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Although the Baltimore Ravens have dealt with tons of injuries throughout the year, one of the positives down the stretch has been the play of Kamar Aiken. A week after totaling a season-high 90 receiving yards in Week 14, he came through with 128 yards and a touchdown on eight catches in Week 15.

A lot of that production came on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half, but the play still took a lot of athleticism and some impressive body control to come down with the touchdown.

Head coach John Harbaugh has enjoyed the receiver’s recent play:

Even with backup quarterback Jimmy Clausen throwing the football, it’s clear the Ravens lack many legitimate weapons in the passing game, leaving Aiken as a clear go-to option. Against a porous Pittsburgh Steelers secondary, the 6’2″, 215-pound receiver can have some more big plays.

 

Sit ‘Em

 

Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are struggling offensively, and the run game has not helped. Ronnie Hillman managed only 48 rushing yards on 14 carries Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers and wasn’t at all involved in the passing attack.

Over the last three games Hillman has just 124 total rushing yards at just 2.76 yards per carry. Although quarterback Brock Osweiler has received a lot of the blame for the Broncos’ struggles, the lack of balance is just as big of a problem.

Meanwhile, running back C.J. Anderson still has a role in the offense and is always capable of taking over carries if he starts off well, something he has done quite a few times this year.

Against a solid Cincinnati Bengals run defense, Denver will likely have to turn to the pass once again, and Hillman will be left without a chance to produce.

 

Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis Rams

There is no denying Tavon Austin’s dynamic ability as a receiver and a runner. He had two touchdowns last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gliding through defenders like on this play:

The problem is it’s tough to rely on such a boom-or-bust player in the fantasy football championships. While he does have two 15-point performances in standard leagues in the past four weeks, the other two games featured just a combined eight points. The two games prior to this stretch featured a combined zero points.

There also won’t be too many openings against the Seattle Seahawks, one of the best tackling teams in the NFL. The team ranks No. 2 in the league in both points and yards, and it will lead to a slow day for the Rams offense.

Despite Austin’s upside, it is better to find a safer option for your team this week.

 

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for all your fantasy football and daily fantasy needs.

Read more Fantasy Football news on NerdyFootball.com

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Fantasy Football

Fantasy

After recently taking a tumble from a hotel window, Mississippi defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche has been suspended for his team’s upcoming bowl game, Daniel Paulling and Hugh Kellenberger of The Clarion-Ledger report. It’s not all bad news for Ndemkiche, however, as the junior announced that he’s forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Once a projected first-round pick, it’s unclear how recent off-field issues will affect his stock.

Here’s more from around the league…

• Another underclassmen, Rutgers linebacker Steve Longa, is also throwing his hat in the draft ring, as he tells Dan Duggan of NJ.com. Longa, who has posted three consecutive 100-tackle seasons, says he did receive information on his draft stock from the league’s advisory board, but declined to share those specifics.
• Ground has been broken at Hollywood Park in California, and now the only question is whether the Rams will move west, as Sam Farmer and Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times write. Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who is building the arena, plans to move ahead with its construction regardless of his club’s status. NFL owners are expected to meet in mid-January, and could vote to approve the project.
• League sources tell Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune that neither LA plan – the Rams in Inglewood or the Raiders/Chargers in Carson – has enough owner support to pass, but each could get enough anti-votes to ensure that it does not get approved. An extra year in San Diego, write Acee, could be exactly what the Chargers need in order to make their case to stay in the area long-term.

Tuesdays are typically busy days for roster changes during the NFL regular season, and even with the holidays around the corner, this week is no different. Here are the latest minor transactions from around the league:

• The Packers announced that they’ve placed long snapper Brett Goode on injured reserve, signing fellow snapper Rick Lovato to take his place. Per Wes Hodkiewicz of PackersNews.com (Twitter link), Goode tore his ACL during Sunday’s game against the Raiders.
• The Bears announced (via Twitter) that they’ve promoted defensive tackle D’Anthony Smith from the practice squad, waiving running back Antone Smith to create a roster spot. D’Anthony has spent time with the Jaguars, Lions, and Seahawks, while Antone had seen just one carry for Chicago this year.
• With Marcus Mariota ailing, the Titans have signed quarterback Alex Tanney off the Colts’ practice squad, reports Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com (Twitter link). Tanney, known for his “trick-shot” Youtube videos, will back up Zach Mettenberger on Sunday. Tennessee placed defensive tackle Mike Martin on injured reserve to create a roster spot.

Earlier updates:

• The 49ers have signed running back DuJuan Harris from off the Ravens‘ practice squad, cutting running back Travaris Cadet to make room, tweets Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com noted this afternoon (via Twitter) that the knee injury sustained by Shaun Draughn didn’t appear to be serious, but the club wanted to add some insurance just in case. San Francisco may get some added insurance in the form of Mike Davis, who is currently on the IR-DTR list, and will begin practicing this week, per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter link).
• After somehow playing through a fractured fibula for three quarters on Sunday, safety David Bruton will head to injured reserve, officially ending his season, the Broncos confirmed today in a press release. Safety Shaun Prater will take the open spot on the roster, with Bruton expected to require four to six weeks to recover from his injury.
• As expected, the Browns formally placed starting right guard John Greco on injured reserve today, per a team release. Cleveland has re-signed wide receiver Darius Jennings to the roster, after waiving him last week.
• The Buccaneers have filled the opening on their 53-man roster by promoting wide receiver Evan Spencer from their practice squad, the team announced today in a press release. Spencer was selected in the sixth round of this year’s draft by Washington.
• The Bills are elevating wide receiver Walter Powell to their active roster from the practice squad, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Powell figures to replace Robert Woods, who is expected to land on IR.
• Giants fullback Nikita Whitlock is headed to the injured reserve list, reports Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Whitlock suffered a knee injury that isn’t expected to be a long-term issue, but it will keep him sidelined for the club’s last couple games of the season.

With the Saints‘ season winding down, Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com revisits the September trade that sent defensive lineman Akiem Hicks to New England in exchange for tight end Michael Hoomanawanui. As Woodbery writes, neither player has made a huge impact for his new team, though New Orleans has had to play Kevin Williams a little more than expected to compensate for the loss of Hicks, and the Saints’ lack of depth.

• Having landed on injured reserve on Monday, Packers wide receiver Ty Montgomery will undergo surgery on his ankle next week, agent Damarius Bilbo tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Although the rookie’s high ankle sprain – sustained in October – had healed, there’s still cartilage damage that needs to be repaired.
• The Eagles could be without their starting nose tackle as they make a run for the postseason, Derrick Gunn of CSNPhiladelphia.com reports (via Twitter) that Bennie Logan could be out for the remainder of the season. A source tells Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News that Logan will miss this weekend’s contest against Washington.
• The Panthers will have a roster exemption for defensive end Wes Horton until next Monday, tweets Howard Balzer of the SportsXchange. Horton has been reinstated from his four-game suspension, but won’t be able to return to action until Carolina places him on its 53-man roster.