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Football fans have two games to unwrap on Saturday in Week 16. With fantasy football league playoffs well underway, the contest featured in this article could certainly have some serious impact on determining league champions. Below you can read our matchups analysis article for the Bills vs. Chargers game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for both season-long and DFS.
This Week 16 matchup is a tale of two very different teams headed in two very different directions. After disappointing through their first 10 games, the Buffalo Bills have now won three of four and come into Week 16 off a 31-10 drubbing of the Dallas Cowboys. Meanwhile, the Chargers will be in action since an abysmal 63-21 blowout resulted in the firing of head coach Brandon Staley.
Read our fantasy football breakdowns for these games -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 16 matchups. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers
Spread: Bills -12.5
Implied Total: Bills (28.25) vs. Chargers (15.75)
Pace: Bills (27th) vs. Chargers (1st)
Bills Off. DVOA: 41.4% Pass (2nd), 6.9% Rush (5th)
Chargers Off. DVOA: 19.4% Pass (15th), -18.9% Rush (30th)
Bills Def. DVOA: 1.7% Pass (14th), -8.8% Rush (17th)
Chargers Def. DVOA: 17.7% Pass (28th), -1.2% Rush (25th)
Matchups We Love
Josh Allen (QB, BUF)
Taking the Bills to win made sense given how they looked against the Chiefs, but holding the Cowboys to three points for 50-plus minutes is a shocker. Even Allen couldn't believe it. He spoke in his interview about how he felt like the kid who did nothing and still got an 'A' on his project. Seven completions for 94 yards justifies those feelings. He still scored through the air and on the ground, making him nearly impossible to bust. Watch out, Los Angeles.
James Cook (RB, BUF)
The star of the show was Cook, who went over 200 scrimmage yards and found pay dirt twice on 27 touches. He was incredible, ripping off huge runs and looking like an elite back. He's fourth in the NFL in rushing yards over expected per attempt at 0.85 with seven breakaway (15-plus yards) runs and sits third in scrimmage yards with 1,401. He's a top-12 back against the Chargers and their porous defense.
James Cook is 2nd in the NFL in rushing yards #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/FZjaLSYc3d
— Nick B (@greekpaisan) December 18, 2023
Matchups We Hate
Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC)
Los Angeles got shellacked to the tune of 42 first-half points and 63 total. It led to the firing of their head coach Brandon Staley, which was long overdue. While you'd like to hope the team will rally and play better, the Bills defense is a scary matchup right now. For Ekeler specifically, he's also dealing with the ineptitude of their offense led by Easton Stick. Finishing with 38 total yards when the team scores 21 points is brutal. He's impossible to feel confident in.
Austin Ekeler Week 15
- 38% snaps
- 5 carries, 9 yards
- 15 routes, 6 targets, 4 catches, 29 yardsIsaiah Spiller had 16 carries in the blowout
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) December 15, 2023
Chargers WRs
The box score will tell you Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer scored touchdowns, but the game was already over and those were more luck than anything. Relying on either of them to repeat that success is not wise, especially with Keenan Allen injured. The Bills shut down the Dallas passing attack, which is among the league's best, so hoping for big things from Palmer or Johnston against them is risky. Palmer would be the best choice as a flex option.
Other Matchups
Stefon Diggs (WR, BUF)
You can't blame Diggs or anyone else in the passing attack for a down game when the offense runs the ball 49 times for 266 yards. Unfortunately, there's a legitimate chance they'll follow the same path to victory against the Chargers. He's still capable of an elite performance but drops outside the top 12.
ONE HANDED CATCH FOR STEFON DIGGS! ARE YOU SERIOUS!? 👏 pic.twitter.com/EDJMKxSNe9
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 17, 2023
Dalton Kincaid (TE, BUF)
It's the same for Kincaid, who failed to register a catch. He falls into the streaming category.
Gerald Everett (TE, LAC)
The one possible player to consider is Everett merely because he's a tight end whose stat line has essentially been five receptions for 40 yards the past four weeks. It's not exciting and the matchup isn't great, but if you're desperate, he's a streamer.
Notable Injuries
Keenan Allen (heel) - OUT
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