RADIO
Jerome Ford, RB, Browns
Jerome Ford is an absolute must-add this week. Nick Chubb has been confirmed to have suffered a broken foot, ending his 2024 season. That’ll put Ford into the starter’s role once again, and with little depth behind him, he’s likely to operate in a three-down role for the Browns. Earlier in the year, before Chubb’s return, Ford was playing over 70% of the team’s snaps. Ford averaged 9.94 half-PPR PPG during Chubb’s absence, putting him on the RB3 radar.
The matchups could push him even higher. The Dolphins have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. While the Bengals have been a more difficult matchup, that’s only because everyone can throw on them. Ford is the team’s preferred pass-catching back, so he shouldn’t be game-scripted out. Both games could be shoot-outs, giving Ford plenty of scoring potential.
Sincere McCormick, RB, Raiders
Sincere McCormick played 41 of the team’s 67 snaps and ran a route on ten of the team’s 41 dropbacks. He finished with 78 yards on the ground and two catches for 11 yards. He finished 9.9 half-PPR points. Due to injuries, Zamir White and Alexander Mattison have missed the last few weeks. The team played Ameer Abdullah far less this past weekend after almost utilizing him as a workhorse back the past two weeks.
With the Raiders likely more focused on 2025, there’s a good chance they will give McCormick an audition these final weeks of the season. That’ll make McCormick a volume-dependent RB3 in the same fashion as Mattison. The dreadfulness of the Las Vegas offense will limit his weekly upside, but McCormick should be good for 12-to-18 touches per week, which provides a decent floor for fantasy managers.
Kendre Miller, RB, Saints
Alvin Kamara left their game this past weekend with a hamstring injury. He did not return. Hamstring injuries can be tricky and are often a 1-to-3 week injury. Given New Orleans’ record and how close we are to the end of the season, Kamara may be shut down. It’s even more possible they’re cautious with him, causing him to at least miss Week 16. Kendre Miller played 23 of the team’s 27 snaps after Kamara exited the game.
If Kamara is inactive next week, Miller will likely be ranked as a top-36 running back in Week 16. The Saints play the Packers and Raiders to close out the fantasy football season. They have allowed the 17th and 16th-most fantasy points to running backs this season, respectively.
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jaguars
Tank Bigsby found the end zone the week before and scored 12.7 half-PPR points. This week, he failed to find the end zone and scored 4.2 half-PPR points. This is kind of who he is for fantasy football. Bigsby has just five catches all year, so he’s not giving fantasy managers any PPR value. Bigsby had 18 carries in Week 14, while Jacksonville played with a lead in a competitive game against the Titans. This week, it was more of a back-and-fourth-scoring affair, which led to fewer carries.
Bigsby is game-script and touchdown-dependent. However, he’s still seeing double-digit touches, keeping on the RB3 radar. Their Week 16 matchup against the Raiders is one Jacksonville can be competitive in and even win, giving Bigsby more fantasy appeal. The same is true for Week 17, when they play the Titans again. Their next two matchups will give Bigsby RB3 value, with RB2 upside if he can find the end zone.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans
Tony Pollard has been banged up recently, often not practicing on Wednesday and Thursday. With Tennessee’s postseason hopes dashed, it’s possible that eventually, Pollard will be forced to miss time, or they’ll be more cautious with him and limit his touches. Tyjae Spears played 39 of the team’s 70 snaps this past weekend, even out-snapping Pollard. Much of that occurred in the fourth quarter when he played 19 of the team’s 20 snaps.
He did play on two of the team’s three snaps inside the five-yard line. He also ran 27 routes to Pollard’s seven. Spears finished with six targets, six receptions, 87 yards, and a touchdown. He also had four carries for five yards and another touchdown. He finished with 24.2 half-PPR points.
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons
Tyler Allgeier continues to see 7-to-10 touches per game, just enough to give him standalone value for desperate fantasy managers. Ideally, fantasy managers have better options than Allgeier, but he sees enough weekly touches to start him if you’re truly desperate. The real reason to roster Allgeier is on the off-chance Bijan Robinson gets hurt tonight or in Week 16, which would shoot Allgeier up the running back ranks.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Buccaneers
Jalen McMillan is coming off his best two games of his rookie season. He had seven targets, four receptions, 59 yards, and two touchdowns last week en route to 19.9 half-PPR points. This week, he had six targets, five receptions, 75 yards, and one touchdown. He finished with 16.0 half-PPR points. He has been running hot on touchdowns; there’s no denying that, but the utilization has been extremely promising.
McMillan has back-to-back weeks with six or more targets and four or more receptions. While we shouldn’t expect him to find the end zone every week, he’s seeing enough weekly volume to put together a quality outing without a score. For instance, McMillan would have scored 10.0 half-PPR points this past weekend, even without a touchdown. He has two great matchups coming up, as well. Tampa Bay will face off against Dallas and Carolina, who are both in the top-13 in fantasy points allowed to receivers.
Cedric Tillman, WR, Browns
Just a few weeks ago, Cedric Tillman looked like a league-winner, but due to a concussion and his missing two consecutive games, Tillman has found his way back onto the majority of the league’s waiver wire. Before leaving in Week 12, he had four targets and a 25% target share. In the four games prior (Weeks 8-11), Tillman had been averaging 15.5 half-PPR PPG. He scored over 14 half-PPR points in three of those contests.
In all four of those games, Tillman had eight or more targets and averaged ten targets, six receptions, and 75 yards per game. If he’s available in your league, he’s worth adding, especially considering how pass-heavy the Browns have been with Jameis Winston under center.
Keon Coleman, WR, Bills
Keon Coleman was injured in Week 9 and left early, scoring only 4.6 half-PPR points. Buffalo was on a bye in Week 12, which caused Coleman’s rostered percentage to drop. He’s unlikely to be available in competitive leagues, but Coleman should be added if he is. From Weeks 4-8, Coleman averaged 5.4 targets, 3.2 receptions, and 64.2 yards per game en route to a 10.4 half-PPR PPG. Even more appealing is the fact that Coleman was getting better every week.
In Weeks 7 and 8, his last two full games before leaving Week 9 early, he had 14 targets, nine receptions, 195 yards, one touchdown, and 30 total half-PPR points. In his first game back, Coleman led the team’s receivers in snaps played. He ran 20 routes. Khalil Shakir paced Buffalo’s receivers with 23. He only finished with two targets, which should be understandable in his first game back. Coleman is primarily targeted downfield, so he’ll be prone to some dud weeks, but he has weekly upside in that role with Josh Allen as his quarterback.
Rashod Bateman, WR, Ravens
Rashod Bateman is having the best season of his career and fantasy managers should take notice. He’s played in 13 games this season and scored double-digits in five. That includes two games where he’s scored 20 or more points. Bateman only has two games with more than five targets, but he’s the team’s primary deep threat, and with how they’re able to run the ball, play-action has been devastating to opposing defenses.
Bateman can be added but shouldn’t be started in a tough Week 16 matchup against the Steelers. However, in Week 17, Baltimore plays the Texans, who give up the sixth-most fantasy points to receivers this season. That contest could be a potential shootout, giving Bateman even more fantasy appeal.
Romeo Doubs, WR, Packers
In his first game back after a two-game absence due to a concussion, Romeo Doubs had five targets, three receptions, 40 yards, and two touchdowns. He finished with 17.5 half-PPR points. He’s played in 11 games this year and Doubs has scored 7.0 half-PPR points in seven of them. He has six or more targets in five of those 11 games.
Green Bay’s passing attack has taken a backseat to Josh Jacobs the past couple of weeks, but this is still one of the better offenses in the NFL. Doubs has shown himself to be a trusted target for Jordan Love in the end zone. Before getting hurt, Doubs routinely played the most snaps among Packers receivers. He also has a great Week 17 matchup on the road against Minnesota, who has yielded a ton of points to receivers this season.
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Steelers
Pat Freiermuth is on a bit of a heater. He’s scored over 7.5 half-PPR points in five out of his last six games. During that stretch, Freiermuth is averaging 9.55 half-PPR PPG. He has two games with more than 9.0 half-PPR points and another two with more than 12.0 half-PPR points. Freiermuth gets two very fantasy-friendly matchups to finish the year.
In Week 16, he’ll face off against Baltimore, who allows the 11th-most points to tight ends. Then, in Week 17, they play the Chiefs, who have allowed the second-most points to tight ends. With George Pickens still nursing a hamstring injury, Freiermuth could remain a more prominent part of their passing attack.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
Matthew Stafford didn’t do much this past Thursday against the 49ers, but that was true for every offensive player. The steady rainfall played a significant role in the team’s offensive output. He has two tough matchups to close the season against the Jets and Cardinals. They’ve allowed the 21st and 23rd-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, respectively.
The schedule does Stafford no favors, but this offense has been playing well lately. This offense can explode anytime with Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, and a healthy offensive line. That was displayed in Week 14 when they played the Bills and scored over 40 points.
Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts
Since regaining his starting job, Anthony Richardson has had two games with over 21 points and two games with under 13. Luckily, he did well in the two starts where he had a favorable matchup (Jets and Patriots) and struggled against two difficult matchups (Lions and Broncos). Why is that good? It gives fantasy managers reasons to believe he can produce when the matchup is positive.
His week 16 opponent, the Tennessee Titans, has allowed the 17th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season through Weeks 1-14. That’s not a matchup fantasy managers should attack, but it’s not one they need to avoid, either. If you’re desperate, Richardson is a decent but not great start next week.
In Week 17, however, he plays the Giants. They’ve allowed the ninth-most points to quarterbacks this season. Lamar Jackson just lit New York up this past weekend for 36.1 points. He’ll be one of the elite streamers during championship week.
Caleb Williams, QB, Bears
Since Thomas Brown started calling the plays, Caleb Williams has scored 14 or more points in all four starts. In two of those contests, he scored just higher than 26 points. This stretch included games against Detroit, Chicago, Green Bay, and San Francisco. Two of them were on the road, three were divisional games, but all of them were against quality defenses. Williams has improved his play recently and shown a ceiling that we hadn’t seen before.
He closes out with games against Minnesota, Detroit, and Seattle. Just a few weeks ago, against Minnesota and Detroit, Williams scored 53 fantasy points, more than 26 points in both outings. The volume has been good. Since the play-caller switch, he’s averaged 35 pass attempts per game. He’s likely to be ranked inside the top-16 moving forward, but he has top-10 upside.
