De'Von Achane Ready to Run Wild?
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane is in an excellent matchup against the Bengals this week. Cincinnati has allowed the most fantasy points to running backs this season, allowing 18 RB touchdowns in 14 games, along with an average of 129.1 rushing yards and 45.6 receiving yards. Achane should be ready for a monster performance, although there is a little uncertainty in how the Dolphins' offense will look with Quinn Ewers in place of Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. Achane has been pretty matchup-proof, scoring 11 touchdowns and averaging 84.7 rushing yards and 32.1 receiving yards per game. He had six catches for 67 yards and 60 rushing yards for a big game against the Steelers last week, even though he didn't get into the end zone. This week, he's in such a great matchup against the Bengals that he's the No. 4 RB in RotoBaller's rankings, despite the QB switch. Achane should be started with confidence in all formats this week against the Bengals.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Parker Washington Seeing Reduced Role in Jacksonville's Offense
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington has seen his role in the Jaguars' offense reduced recently. Washington was playing a bigger part while Brian Thomas Jr. was injured. Now with Thomas back in the picture, Washington has fallen to the third option in this passing attack behind Thomas and Jakobi Meyers. Last week, Washington hauled in all three of his targets for 53 yards during the win over the New York Jets. His snap count has taken a hit over the last two weeks, and he has been playing less than 50 percent of the offensive snaps. Washington shouldn't be counted on as anything more than a deep league option for the Week 16 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Romeo Doubs is Getting Lost in the Shuffle
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs has been an inconsistent fantasy option for over a month now. Doubs was offering decent fantasy value mid-season, but is becoming unusable in fantasy formats late in the season. The return of Jayden Reed has undoubtedly contributed to Doubs' downfall. The Packers also have a ton of mouths to feed with Reed, Christian Watson (chest), Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), and Matthew Golden all fighting for targets with Doubs. The 25-year-old has seen four or fewer targets in four straight games. It's unlikely that Doubs gets more involved unless Watson or Wicks sit out. At the moment, both players are questionable for the Week 16 matchup versus the Chicago Bears. If they play, Doubs will remain a low-floor option for Week 16.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Quinn Ewers Is Not a Strong Fantasy Play in His NFL Debut
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers will be making his first NFL start this week, when his team hosts the Bengals on Sunday afternoon. Ewers was a seventh-round pick for the Dolphins out of Texas last season, and the 22-year-old will now get a chance to make his first NFL start. He played a few series in Cleveland earlier this season, completing five of his eight passes for 53 yards and taking a pair of sacks. He will have a favorable matchup against the Bengals, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Ewers is likely playing for an increased opportunity next season, since the team seems ready to move on from Tua Tagovailoa, even though he signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract only last summer. Ewers has a favorable matchup, but he's so unproven that he's still only the No. 27 QB in this week's rankings, making him not a good option in all but the very deepest formats.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Andrei Iosivas Looks Non-Existent on Offense
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas has been a non-factor on offense over the last three games. The 26-year-old gave fantasy managers a goose egg last week with zero receptions in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Iosivas hasn't finished with more than 30 receiving yards in a single game since Week 12. The Bengals were without Tee Higgins (concussion) last week, and Iosivas still only saw one target. It doesn't look like the Bengals view Iosivas as an essential piece of the offensive gameplan right now. Even if Higgins sits in Week 16, Iosivas is avoidable in most formats for the Week 16 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Justin Jefferson Stuck in Cold Spell
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been in an awful slump over the last few weeks. In the previous three games, Jefferson has been held to six receptions for 37 yards and hasn't scored a touchdown during that span. The 26-year-old clearly isn't on the same page as quarterback J.J. McCarthy right now. The upside is too high for fantasy managers to keep Jefferson on the bench this weekend. He has a favorable matchup against the New York Giants in Week 16. A secondary that has allowed the fifth-most yards to wideouts this season. The duds aren't due to a lack of ability, but because of inconsistent quarterback play. Despite the rough stretch, Jefferson comes in as RotoBaller's WR22 in the latest rankings and will try to break out of his slump in a plus matchup vs. the Giants in Week 16.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
John Metchie III Profiles as Low-Upside Option in Jets Offense
New York Jets wide receiver John Metchie III has played a full-time role since being acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles at the trade deadline. Excluding the first game with the team, where he played only eight offensive snaps, Metchie has compiled 21 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns on 31 targets while playing 87% of the snaps. The 25-year-old scored in back-to-back games in Weeks 11 and 12, but his production has cooled off since, totalling 78 yards on exactly four catches in each of the past three games. With undrafted rookie QB Brady Cook set to make his second consecutive start in Week 16 versus the New Orleans Saints, who have allowed under 200 yards passing in five straight games, Metchie doesn't offer much upside for the second round of the fantasy playoffs.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Darnell Mooney Trending Down with Pitts' Emergence and London's Return
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney had a golden opportunity to produce as the team's WR1 with Drake London (knee) missing the past four games due to a PCL sprain in his left knee. The 28-year-old failed to deliver, recording nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown on 18 targets, ranking as the WR45 in PPR points in that time. The former Chicago Bears receiver has taken a backseat to tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., who is coming off one of the best games by a tight end in NFL history in Week 15 versus Tampa Bay, catching 11 of 12 targets for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Pitts has out-targeted Mooney 35 to 18 in the past four games, and now, with London cleared to return on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, the 28-year-old falls into WR4 territory for Week 16.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Sean Tucker Still a Key Part of the Bucs' Backfield?
Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker has logged single-digit touches in three straight games, but he's at least found the end zone in back-to-back weeks. His role has shrunk since Bucky Irving returned in Week 13. Tucker's 13 touches over the past three games rank firmly behind Rachaad White (19) and Irving (53). It's disappointing usage for the third-year back after breaking out for 140 total yards and three touchdowns in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills. However, he is seemingly the preferred back near the goal line, handling four of the six running back carries in the last three weeks. That still doesn't present much upside for the 24-year-old back, making him tough to trust heading into Week 16's divisional matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Kansas City Defense Could Be A Strong Play In Week 16
The Kansas City Chiefs defense will take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. The Chiefs defense has struggled mightily over the last six games, losing five of six and allowing 20 or more points in five of six. The Kansas City defense was able to hold the Los Angeles Chargers to 16 points in Week 15, but they were unable to come away with the win. The Chiefs should have an easier time this week against the Tennessee Titans. The Titans are tied for the second-fewest points per game this season, averaging 16.1 points per game. The Chiefs have also gotten a takeaway in two of their last three games and have three or more sacks in back-to-back games. The Kansas City defensive unit is ranked as the third-best defense in our RotoBaller rankings, making them one of the best options at the position this week.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Davante Adams Likely Won't Play in Week 17
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) likely won't play in Week 17's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, per Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. The 33-year-old wideout missed Thursday night's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks after aggravating a hamstring injury during Week 15's win over the Detroit Lions. The star wideout has had an incredible first season in Los Angeles, hauling in 60 receptions for 789 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns on 114 targets in 14 games. Star receiver Puka Nacua should continue to see a heavy dose of targets in Adams' absence, with Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, Tutu Atwell, and Jordan Whittington vying for opportunities behind him.
Source: Adam Grosbard
Source: Adam Grosbard
Harrison Butker Hard To Start In Week 16
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was perfect in Week 15, cashing in on both of his field goal attempts and his only extra-point attempt. Butker has been serviceable this season, but he has not reached the level of upside he once had when the Chiefs were one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league. Butker's value could take yet another hit with the loss of Patrick Mahomes in Week 15. Gardner Minshew will now lead the Kansas City offense, which means more stalled drives and fewer scoring opportunities. Given the state of the offense and the fact that the team has already been eliminated from playoff contention, there is not much for the Chiefs to play for this season. Kansas City is not expected to push the pace of play and increase scoring now to end the season, which hurts Butker's chances to get more kicking opportunities. Butker is ranked K24 in our RotoBaller rankings, making him a very low-end option at the position this week.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Travis Kelce Should Be A Low-End TE1 Against Tennessee
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was heavily involved in Week 15, catching seven passes for 70 yards, but it was not enough to pull out the win and save their playoff hopes. The 35-year-old will now face the Tennessee Titans in Week 16 with essentially nothing to play for since the team has been eliminated from playoff contention. That said, the Titans are middle-of-the-pack in fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends this season, making him a neutral matchup for Kelce. Kelce will likely be the first or second option in passing situations with Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton ruled out this week, so he could find success through sheer volume of opportunities. Kelce will now have to deal with Gardner Minshew at quarterback, as Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15. Minshew and Kelce don't have the same established chemistry, but Kelce is talented enough to get it done. Kelce is ranked TE10 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a low-end TE1 option this week.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Geno Smith Will Start Sunday vs. the Texans
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder, back) will start on Sunday against the Houston Texans, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Smith practiced in full every day this week and will return in Week 16 after sitting out last week's blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to a right shoulder injury. The 35-year-old has struggled this season, with the second-most interceptions and tied for the most sacks taken, but he is an upgrade over Kenny Pickett, who led the Raiders to the lowest total yards (75) in any NFL game this season last week against the Eagles. Smith will return for another brutal matchup in Week 16 against the vaunted Houston Texans defense, and profiles only as a desperation play in superflex leagues.
Source: Ryan McFadden
Source: Ryan McFadden
Marquise Brown Good To Go, Could Be A Desperation Flex In Week 16
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown missed Week 15 and was listed on this week's injury report with a personal issue, but practiced fully and does not have a designation for this week. Brown should step into a larger role with Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton ruled out with concussions this week. While Xavier Worthy should be the featured player in the wide receiver room, Brown may still be able to find success against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. The Titans have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season, so Brown is set up with an advantageous matchup. The veteran receiver has had some good fantasy performances this season, but now he will have to do it with Gardner Minshew leading the offense. Brown is ranked WR54 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him a desperation flex option in the fantasy playoffs.
Source: Chiefs.com
Source: Chiefs.com
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