It’s Week 16, so a technique or one other, the fantasy soccer playoffs are in full swing. Want to ensure you’re in your solution to a attainable championship? Check out the sport notes and extra, and let’s get these wins.
Reminder! I at all times have some enjoyable ranks! This might be something from cartoons to gamers from the 80s to issues to not do whenever you’re over 30 — be happy to recommend yours. And, I attempt to reply as many feedback as humanly attainable… nonetheless… if it’s a easy WDIS inside a place or “Who ought to I commerce for?” sort query, these are 99% coated with the ranks and hyperlink to the commerce charts. Let’s duckin’ go!
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Week 16 Waiver Wire
Week 16 SOS Ranks
Fantasy 101 (climate, begin/sit, buying and selling, extra)
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WEEK 16 FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME NOTES
Broncos at Chargers, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
► Even if Jaleel McLaughlin is out, I’m not touching the Broncos backfield. The Chargers have been robust towards the run with a mere three dashing TDs allowed.
► Kimani Vidal had 38.5% of the touches in Week 15 with 100% on third down and all RB targets. Even although Gus Edwards “leads,” you might be praying for a landing, however good luck with that — the Broncos have given up 5 RB dashing touchdowns this 12 months, and none since Derrick Henry’s two in Week 9.
► Quentin Johnston has at the very least 11.4 fantasy factors in each recreation however one wherein he scored a landing and by no means greater than 5.3 factors when he hasn’t. It’s a tricky week to belief Johnston — the Broncos have allowed simply seven touchdowns to wideouts this season.
Texans at Chiefs, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
► After six video games of 20+ factors in 2023, together with two of 30+, C.J. Stroud has topped 18.7 factors simply as soon as this 12 months. Similarly, Tank Dell had six tallies of 14.7+ factors in simply 11 video games in 2023, however he has simply three double-digit scores, with a excessive of 15.6, in 13 video games this season.
► If Carson Wentz is at quarterback, downgrade everybody a few half tier. And if Hollywood Brown returns, DeAndre Hopkins and Xavier Worthy develop into even riskier WR4s — no matter whether or not it’s Patrick Mahomes or Wentz.
Steelers at Ravens, Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET
► If George Pickens returns, he’s a WR2 in a more durable matchup now than it was weeks in the past.
► There has been just one operating again to eclipse 63 dashing yards towards the Ravens: Saquon Barkley (107). The 63 yards have been truly Najee Harris, however I’m not beginning both of the Steelers operating backs exterior of desperation.
► As talked about final week, Rashod Bateman feasts on unhealthy defenses, and Zay Flowers is extra within the more durable matchups/higher opponents. Bateman’s video games with 9+ factors: TB, CIN (x2), LAC, DAL, WSH and NYG (final week). His video games with 6 or fewer factors: KC, LV, DEN, PIT, CLE, BUF, PHI. The LAC and LV matchups are the bizarre ones, however test the performances and final assembly with the Steelers.
Giants at Falcons, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
► It doesn’t matter the quarterback, Malik Nabers is the one startable Giants participant, and even then, he’s nonetheless a danger/reward WR3.
► I get that the Giants stink greater than duck poop baking within the solar, however Michael Penix carries danger is his first begin. Though, Penix does additionally carry extra upside than Kirk Cousins of late. As talked about in the course of the NFL Draft, I see Penix with Matthew Stafford potential (4000-4200 yards and mid-upper 20-touchdowns), together with some however restricted dashing. Drake London turns into a back-end WR2 with WR1 upside, and Darnell Mooney is a increase/bust WR3/4, though he’s been extra busty of late (Michael Scott dot GIF).
Lions at Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
► No David Montgomery may result in extra passing, however the Bears aren’t the most effective matchup for Jameson Williams, as they’re Cover-3 heavy (45.1%), and Williams has 2.17 YPRR and 4 TDs towards all different coverages (24 receptions) and simply 1.68 and one TD towards Cover-3 (18 receptions).
► Caleb Williams has struggled for many of the 12 months, particularly towards man protection, and you may see it with no Bears participant having greater than 1.04 YPRR towards it. Williams has been higher towards zone, with 4 Bears over 1.40 YPRR. But one thing clicks within the pink zone (faster choices, and so on.) — Williams has eight landing throws towards man, seven of them within the pink zone towards man. Oh, the Lions are the man-heaviest group within the league.
Browns at Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
► With Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, Jerry Jeudy is a WR3 with danger to backside out. Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman are unusable, and David Njoku is a backend TE1. DTR has 540 yards, 1 TD, 7 INTs and a 51.4 Comp% on 207 NFL makes an attempt.
► You’re beginning all of your Bengals. Moving on…
Titans at Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
► Calvin Ridley may very well be in for a down recreation, even with Mason Rudolph at QB. The Colts run probably the most zone (80.0%), and Ridley has 2.94 YPRR towards man however simply 1.22 towards zone. He additionally has a YPC mark of 17.0 towards man in comparison with 12.9 versus zone. You seemingly can’t bench Ridley, however be warned he carries a bit extra danger this week.
► Tony Pollard’s FPPG with at the very least 16 carries: 14.4. In video games with fewer carries: 5.9. As lengthy as he’s wholesome, and the Titans don’t deploy extra Tyjae Spears, Pollard is an RB1.
Rams at Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
► Last week was the primary time since Week 10 of 2022 (-3 yards towards the Cardinals) Cooper Kupp didn’t submit constructive receiving yards. It was additionally simply his third recreation with out 51+ yards and 11.5+ fantasy factors this 12 months. The Jets protection has given up stat traces of 14-10-115-1 to Tyreek Hill, 12-9-99-0 to Jaylen Waddle and 14-10-102-2 to Brian Thomas Jr. up to now two video games.
► If Breece Hall sits and Braelon Allen performs, Allen is a dangerous RB2/3 enjoying by damage, with Isaiah Davis an upside RB3 gamble. If Hall performs, he’s a Top 20 choice with the danger of exiting early. If Hall performs and Allen is out, Davis turns into an upside RB3 gamble. If Hall and Allen are out, Davis is Top 20, with Top 10 potential.
Eagles at Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
► Since A.J. Brown’s arrival in Philly, the Eagles common 4.8 TD/ATT% and 28.7 TD/Drive% with him on the sector, in comparison with 3.3 TD/ATT% and 4.5 TD/Drive% with out Brown.
► Since their bye, the Eagles have allowed simply 4 double-digit wideout scores — none greater than 12.0, with simply two totaling greater than 65 yards (Puka Nacua and Adam Thielen). You have to begin Terry McLaurin, however he’s not assured for WR1 manufacturing like his previous three video games.
Cardinals at Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
► Since Week 4, Marvin Harrison Jr. has three video games over 6.9 factors and only one with over 60 receiving yards. During that span, Harrison is WR43 general and WR58 in FPPG. I’d sit him in favor of Adam Thielen, enjoying for the opposite facet.
► Chuba Hubbard has been a lot much less environment friendly since going through the Giants — 5.1 YPC and 4.9 YPT heading into the Panthers’ bye, and three.5 and three.5, respectively, since. Hubbard is volume-reliant at this level, but it surely’s a constructive matchup.
Vikings at Seahawks, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
► The Vikings protection is about as much as give the Seahawks matches, particularly as Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been considerably higher versus man than zone — 2.76 YPRR towards man and 1.67 versus zone. If Sam Howell is at quarterback, JSN turns into a dicey WR3 gamble as a substitute of a must-start.
► If Kenneth Walker returns, he’d rank behind Zach Charbonnet given it’s his first recreation again and a tricky matchup. Both Charbonnet and Walker can be in RB2/3 combine with equal upside and danger.
Patriots at Bills, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
► Five of the previous six quarterbacks towards the Bills have thrown at the very least two touchdowns (Tua Tagovailoa, Joe Flacco, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff). Only Brock Purdy didn’t, who wasn’t 100%. While Drake Maye is much from reliable, the Bills protection isn’t as robust because it was.
► Amari Cooper ran simply 15 routes and didn’t see a goal in Week 15. Khalil Shakir is the one Bills wideout you’ll be able to belief exterior of a Hail Mary play with Keon Coleman.
Jaguars at Raiders, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
► This one will likely be transient. There are two names you will need to begin on this recreation: Brian Thomas Jr. and Brock Bowers.
► There may very well be a 3rd semi-trustworthy choice with Jakobi Meyers, however provided that QB Aidan O’Connell returns.
49ers at Dolphins, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
► Brock Purdy with out precipitation (outside clearly) in comparison with with…
- Comp: 68.3% vs 51.0%
- YD/Comp: 13.6 vs 9.4
- TD/ATT: 6.3% vs 0.0%
- Pass RTG: 109.8 vs 56.2
- EPA per DB: 0.24 vs -0.33
► If Jaylen Waddle performs, he’s not more than a Hail Mary chase, and if he’s out, Malik Washington is an analogous gamble however extra volume-reliant.
Buccaneers at Cowboys, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
► If Bucky Irving is nice to go, he’s within the Top 15, however with damage danger. Rachaad White can be a Top 25 play on this matchup. If Irving is out, White is an RB1 and Sean Tucker as an RB3 gamble.
► RBs with extra fantasy factors than Rico Dowdle the previous three weeks: Josh Jacobs, Chase Brown, Zach Charbonnet, James Conner, Bijan Robinson, Kyren Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs… finish of checklist. Yes, he’s RB8 in that span.
Saints at Packers, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
► If Alvin Kamara is out, Kendre Miller is a volume-reliant RB2 with a play type very similar to Jamaal Williams.
► TmTGT% when Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft have all performed collectively…
- Reed 17.0%
- Doubs 15.2%
- Kraft 14.7%
- Watson 13.4%
FUN WITH RANKS
So, I had a couple of tweets and feedback speaking about how managers obtained booted from the playoffs as a result of whereas their groups went off with 160, 170, and even 180+ factors, they obtained edged out by a group going ham! I tweeted that I want the factors advance technique as soon as the playoffs are right here, which introduced the dumpster juice of individuals out of the woodwork. Whatever manner you prefer to play is okay by me — I simply have my favorites and figured I’d checklist my Top 10 fantasy soccer settings, which I suggest utilizing… otherwise you’re a dummy poo-poo ugly head.
- #BanKickers — Obviously. Thank the late Rob Bironas for this one and revel in this whole article mentioning their irrelevance.
- FAB Waivers — Any type of ordered precedence waivers must be banned like kickers. Every league must be a Free Agent Budget setup, including extra technique to waivers and gamesmanship.
- Doubleheader vs. Median — Worst case is the second-highest scoring group goes 1-1, because the upper-half scoring groups get an additional win whereas the underside half will get an additional loss. There isn’t any “realism” to a fantasy league schedule.
- Keepers — Obviously, this entails leaguemates you’ll be able to play with yearly, but it surely retains (no pun supposed) everybody concerned all 12 months, will increase commerce frequency, rewards those that invested in sleepers, and is only a higher expertise.
- Auction Draft — Try it. You’ll adore it. It’s the one manner everybody might be in on any participant. Extra technique, group constructing any manner you need, enjoyable in utilizing your poker face expertise and extra. Do it. Do it now!
- TremendousFlex or Second Flex — Deepen the participant pool. In a 10-team league, TremendousFlex looks like a “should” lately. In 12-teamers, it will get robust to not have accidents destroy a group with no out there beginning quarterbacks on the market after the draft, so you’ll be able to go to a second Flex as a substitute, and both manner, you’re including extra expertise to groups, and making drafting, strikes, and so on. extra necessary.
- Byes for Top Seed Only, Sixth Seed Points — Just just like the NFL, make first place imply one thing. The 12-team format usually provides two byes, however as a substitute, solely give one to reward the in-season champ. Also, the ultimate seed is the highest-scoring remaining group, which regularly doesn’t differ a lot for those who’re utilizing doubleheader scoring, but it surely nonetheless helps mitigate random schedule luck.
- Points Only Advance within the Playoffs — Ties into the doubleheader format and the sixth seed being based mostly on factors scored. While randomness is a part of the sport — all sports activities actually — matchups within the playoffs are identical to in-season matchups. No extra prime two scores eliminating an ideal efficiency whereas two weak scores advance a group simply due to matchup luck.
- Punishment for Last Place — People giving up or not caring about ending final is usually mitigated with keepers, however there ought to nonetheless be one thing for being final — pay for pizza on the subsequent draft, go to a sporting occasion in a dumb shirt or outfit… one thing.
- WR/TE in Place of TE-Only Spot — The days of “true tight ends” are useless. The NFL doesn’t even use the place because it did years and many years in the past, so we should always adapt — identical to we did with half-PPR or full-PPR, extra WR spots, and so on. Six-team byes make this even worse, and I’ve seen the pushback. No, tight ends will “by no means get used.” Not solely have I seen quite a few examples of groups nonetheless utilizing two tight ends (one within the Flex or additional Flex), however the level is simply to open your choices to choices like, “Should I likelihood a Grant Calcaterra landing or hope Wan’Dale Robinson can get six factors?”
Bonus (though it must be apparent) — #BanVetoes — Unless you’ll be able to show collusion — and 99.9% of the time, you’ll be able to’t — persons are free to handle their group nonetheless they need, and it’s not on you to determine what’s greatest. In truth, you’ll be able to checklist examples of “lopsided” trades early within the season, which prove utterly lopsided the opposite manner as a result of folks have been improper.
WEEK 16 FANTASY FOOTBALL PROJECTIONS
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These can differ from my rankings, and MY RANKS are the order I’d begin gamers exterior of added context, corresponding to, “Need highest upside, even when dangerous.” Also, based mostly on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point relaxation, and Half-PPR
Download Link Added Thursday
WEEK 16 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨
- There isn’t any excellent widget on the market, sadly, nonetheless. I do know many view this in your telephone, however 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop computer/and so on. if attainable or 2) open in your telephone’s browser, particularly for Android customers, to get the scrolling to work (or Android folks can strive a two-finger scroll).
- ECR = “Expert” Consensus Ranking (which isn’t up to date by everybody persistently, so take with a grain of salt).
- Updated usually, so test as much as lineups locking.
(Top picture of Braelon Allen, Breece Hall: Morgan Tencza / Imagn Images)
PIC STUFF
