Congratulations on making it to your league championship! Take a moment to bask in the glory of your accomplishment… alright, that’s enough. It’s time to get down to business and lock in those championship-winning lineups. In this article, I’ll be covering a handful of players at each position that I believe will either lead you to the promised land or down a path of misery and despair. Let’s dive in!
Starts: Quarterbacks
Drew Brees, Saints vs. Vikings
Drew Brees did not look like Drew Brees for much of Week 15. The offense struggled to gain any momentum, and he was stuck with single-digit fantasy points until the fourth quarter. However, Brees stepped up late, tossing two TDs in a desperate comeback attempt. In Week 16, Brees draws a home matchup against the Vikings, who have allowed the Bears, Buccaneers, and Jaguars to move the ball at will over the past month. Fire up Brees as a low-end QB1.
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins @ Raiders
Faced with a tough matchup and a depleted arsenal of weapons, Tua struggled to move the ball through the air in Week 15. That shouldn’t be the case this week against the Raiders. Las Vegas has allowed the 7th-most passing yards per game and over 20 PPG to opposing QBs. With Mike Gesicki and Jakeem Grant projected to return to the lineup, Tua could go over 300 passing yards for the second time in his young career.
Starts: Running Backs
Darrell Henderson, Rams @ Seahawks
From Weeks 2 to 7, Darrell Henderson was the RB15. From that point on, Malcolm Brown, and eventually Cam Akers, became more involved, and Henderson fell to the wayside. Now that Cam Akers has been ruled out for Week 16, Henderson will have one more chance to deliver for fantasy managers in 2020. His matchup against the Seahawks isn’t anything special, but he should see enough volume to provide high-end flex appeal. Be sure to check the waiver wire!
Le’Veon Bell, Chiefs vs. Falcons
Le’Veon Bell hasn’t done much for fantasy managers since joining the Chiefs’ high-powered offense back in Week 7. Expect that to change in Week 16 with Clyde Edwards-Helaire out of the lineup. Bell will share the load with Darrell Williams, but don’t be surprised if he touches the ball 15+ times against this generous Falcons’ defense.
Starts: Wide Receivers
Corey Davis, Titans @ Packers
This may be hard to believe, but Corey Davis is the WR17 in PPG. He has been a consistent producer all season, and I see no reason to doubt him in your league championship. The Packers have been tough on opposing WRs, but A.J. Brown should draw shutdown corner Jaire Alexander, leaving Davis in a more favorable matchup.
Tee Higgins, Bengals @ Texans
Tee Higgins recorded at least five receptions for 44 yards in each of his first three games without Joe Burrow. He fell flat in Week 15 due to game script. Somehow, the Bengals found themselves out ahead of the Steelers and leaned heavily on the run game. I’m expecting more of a back-and-forth game in Week 16 against the Texans, who have an extremely vulnerable secondary. Furthermore, Tyler Boyd is expected to be out with a concussion, which will open up even more opportunities for Higgins.
Starts: Tight Ends
Austin Hooper, Browns @ Jets
The Jets have been the worst defense against TEs this season by nearly 2 PPG. So, if you’re in need of a streamer for your championship matchup, that seems like a good place to start. Austin Hooper hasn’t been particularly impressive in his debut season with the Browns, but he’ll have a decent chance to replicate his Week 15 line — five receptions for 41 yards and a TD — in this favorable matchup.
Sits: Quarterbacks
Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers @ Washington
Teddy Bridgewater has failed to throw a TD in back-to-back games, and he hasn’t thrown for 300 yards since Week 9. In Week 16, he’ll face a Washington defense that has allowed just one QB to top 20 fantasy points since Week 5. You’re better off looking for a QB with more upside.
Cam Newton, Patriots vs. Bills
Cam started the year off strong but has since trailed off, scoring a rushing TD in just one of his last five games. He routinely throws for fewer than 200 yards, and Bill Belicheck has hinted that Jarrett Stidham could see some playing time now that the Patriots are out of playoff contention. Stay away.
Sits: Running Backs
Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Jets
Hunt is the RB8 on the season, but he’s scored single digits in four of his last five games. As big favorites over the Jets, the Browns should lean heavily on Nick Chubb and won’t have much need for Hunt’s pass-catching skill set. Hunt still has upside, but he has a much safer floor in competitive or negative game scripts.
Wayne Gallman, Giants @ Ravens
Wayne Gallman’s usage has been trending down the past two weeks in favor of Alfred Morris. Game script is also a concern. Gallman and Morris were limited to just 16 total carries as the Giants’ offense attempted to comeback against the Browns. We could see a similar situation unfold against the heavily-favored Ravens. So, while Gallman is still the starter in New York, he may not see enough opportunities to deliver a high-end fantasy day.
Sits: Wide Receivers
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers vs. Colts
In his current role, JuJu requires an exorbitant amount of volume to succeed. He’s 10th in receptions but 40th in receiving yards. He ranks 103rd in yards per reception and 104th in average target distance. Because he’s so limited in the yardage department, he essentially needs to find the end zone to be a worthwhile start. I’m not willing to bank on that outcome given how Ben Roethlisberger has struggled in recent weeks.
Tyler Lockett, Seahawks vs. Rams
Outside of a few big games, Tyler Lockett has been disappointing this season. He hasn’t surpassed 70 receiving yards since Week 7, and he’s scored just one TD in that span. Lockett’s boom upside still exists in theory, but you’re probably better off rolling with a more reliable player in your championship game.
Sits: Tight Ends
Jared Cook, Saints vs. Vikings
Cook may look like a sneaky option this week with Michael Thomas out, but he just hasn’t produced this season regardless of circumstances. Since Week 1, he’s topped 40 yards just twice and he hasn’t produced more than five points without scoring a TD.
Thanks for reading this article! Look me up on Twitter at @fantasyfreezer if you’d like to hear more from me. I love answering fantasy questions, discussing trades, and engaging in friendly debates, so be sure to drop in and say hello.
