New Orleans Saints D/ST Draws Favorable Matchup Against the Jets
The New Orleans Saints D/ST allowed 17 points, recording one sack and one fumble recovery in the Week 15 victory against the Panthers. The Saints defense has been surprisingly solid all season, allowing 23.7 points per game (19th), 311.2 yards per game (11th), and ranking 19th in takeaways. They draw an ideal matchup in Week 16 against the Jets, who have turned the ball over three times in each of their last two games and have allowed 50 sacks on the year, the third-highest total in the league. New York will also start rookie quarterback Brady Cook, who threw three interceptions and was sacked three times against the Jaguars. The Saints D/ST is a top-tier fantasy option this week.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dak Prescott a Strong Play Despite a Tough Matchup
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is coming off back-to-back fantasy finishes outside the top 12 at the position, and in Week 16, he faces a Chargers defense that has been the third-toughest matchup for opposing quarterbacks. While the deck may seem stacked against him, Prescott remains a strong play for the fantasy semifinals. Both CeeDee Lamb (illness) and Javonte Williams (neck) were able to log full participation at Friday's practice after beginning the week limited, giving Prescott his full complement of offensive weapons for a game with the second-highest over/under of the week. Notwithstanding his recent mini-slump, in which he's thrown only one touchdown over the past two weeks, Prescott is still averaging 336 passing yards per game across his last four outings, despite facing three of the league's five best passing defenses in that span. He is RotoBaller's QB4 for the week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rico Dowdle is an RB2 Start Against the Buccaneers
Rico Dowdle had 16 carries for 49 yards and one touchdown in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints. The Carolina RB added five receiving yards on one reception to total 12.4 PPR points. Since Week 9, Dowdle has averaged 15.4 PPR points and finished with double-digit PPR points in five games. Carolina will face their NFC South rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Week 16. Tampa Bay ranks 23rd in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs this season. They have also surrendered the most receiving yards to RBs in the league this year (783). With solid volume and a decent matchup, Dowdle is worth starting as an RB2 for the fantasy football playoffs, even with his workload being split with Chuba Hubbard. Dowdle has logged 16+ carries in five of his last six starts. He will see important work in the major NFC South showdown against the Buccaneers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mason Tipton Questionable to Play Against the Jets
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Mason Tipton is questionable for Week 16 against the Jets due to an illness. He caught one pass for five yards on two targets in last week's win over the Panthers and now has seven receptions for 47 yards across three games this season. With Devaughn Vele (shoulder) on IR and injuries thinning out the Saints' offense, Tipton has a path to a larger role as the WR2 in an air attack that has averaged over 33 pass attempts per game across its last four contests. If Tipton is unable to play, Kevin Austin and Dante Pettis would be next in line. If he does suit up, Tipton profiles as a WR4/WR5 option.
Source: New Orleans Saints
Source: New Orleans Saints
Chris Olave Poised to Take Full Command of Saints' Air Attack
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave reeled in six of his nine targets for 85 yards and a touchdown in Week 15's victory over the Panthers. After a slow first half, Olave came to life in the second half, and his touchdown grab came on 3rd-and-6 with 2:29 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game. He then added a 15-yard reception on the following drive to help set up the game-winning field goal. With Devaughn Vele (shoulder) on IR, Mason Tipton (illness) questionable, and both Alvin Kamara (knee) and Devin Neal (hamstring) sidelined, Olave is likely to carry a massive workload against the Jets' secondary. A season-high in targets would not be surprising, placing him firmly in the WR1 ranks this week.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Bryce Young Has a Great Week 16 Matchup Against the Buccaneers
Bryce Young has not produced ideal fantasy numbers this season, but he has a great matchup in Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 15 against the Saints, Young completed 15-of-24 attempts for 163 yards and a touchdown. He also had a season-high 49 rushing yards on seven carries, totaling 15.4 fantasy points. The Carolina QB has registered more than 15.0 fantasy points in three of his last four starts. He has averaged 14.2 Fantasy Points Per Game in 13 games played this season. He has a good shot of playing above his usual 14 to 15 point range this week, though. Tampa Bay ranks 30th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to QBs this season. Last week, Atlanta QB Kirk Cousins finished as the fantasy QB3 overall. He totaled 26.9 fantasy points against the Buccaneers. Week 15 was the fifth straight week where Tampa Bay allowed a top-10 fantasy QB finish. Despite Young's mediocre and inconsistent production this year, the matchup against Tampa Bay makes him a quality QB2 starter for fantasy football playoff teams in superflex formats. The NFC South lead is on the line, and Young may have to throw often to keep pace with Baker Mayfield.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Evan Hull to See More Opportunities Against Jets
New Orleans Saints running back Evan Hull handled four carries for 12 yards in Week 15's victory against the Panthers. The 25-year-old saw additional work after Devin Neal exited in the second quarter with an injury. With Alvin Kamara (knee) and Neal (hamstring, IR) ruled out for Week 16, Hull is expected to share the backfield with Audric Estime. Hull's NFL opportunities have been limited, though he averaged 4.1 yards per carry and caught 55 passes at 9.9 yards per reception in his final season at Northwestern in 2022. The Jets present a favorable matchup in Week 16, ranking third in PPR points allowed to running backs and fourth in total rushing yards. Hull's usage should be monitored, and he is ranked RB48 on Rotoballer this week.
Source: Rotoballer
Source: Rotoballer
D'Andre Swift Expected to Play Saturday Night
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (groin) is expected to play in Saturday night's divisional matchup with the Packers after limited practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. Green Bay has been one of the most difficult defenses to run against for most of the season, but it remains to be seen how the unit will adjust to losing Micah Parsons (knee) for the year after the All-Pro face of their defense tore his ACL in a Week 15 loss to the Broncos. Swift is coming off a 98-yard, two-touchdown performance against a similarly staunch Cleveland front, and he is 65 yards away from his second career 1,000-yard season. He should be viewed as an RB2 with a potentially high ceiling if the Packers are unable to rally without their injured star.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Kirk Cousins Still a Low-End Option Despite Likely Return of Top Receiver
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had his best game of the season by far last week in a 29-28 win over the Buccaneers, completing 30 of 44 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. The 37-year-old focused his attention on his top pass catchers, and should get another weapon back in Week 16, with Drake London (knee) expected to suit up on Sunday. The veteran should have a full complement on offense for Sunday's road matchup against the Cardinals, a defense that is middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, but that has yielded 35 points per game over their last three games, which is nearly the worst in the league over that stretch behind only the Cowboys and Jets (35.3). Even so, with a strong run game to lean on in the form of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, Cousins projects as a low-end QB2 for this week's contest.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Audric Estime in Line for Bigger Role Against Jets
New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime rushed three times for 11 yards and added 39 yards on three receptions in the Week 15 victory against the Panthers. Devin Neal exited in the second quarter, and with Alvin Kamara also out, Estime split touches with fellow back Evan Hull for the remainder of the game. With both Neal and Kamara out again this week, Estime is expected to take on a larger role and will "probably" draw the start against the Jets, according to Nick Underhill. Even if touches are shared, New York presents a strong matchup, allowing the third-most PPR points to running backs and the fourth-most rushing yards per game. The favorable matchup boosts Estime into FLEX consideration for Week 16.
Source: Nick Underhill
Source: Nick Underhill
Tyler Shough Looks to Build on Two-Game Win Streak Against Jets
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 24 of 32 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown in the Week 15 victory against the Panthers. He was also a threat on the ground, rushing eight times for 32 yards, though he drew multiple unnecessary roughness penalties, including one with 12 seconds left that helped set up the game-winning field goal. This was Shough's second meeting with Carolina, and he is now 2-0 against the division rival and has now lead the Saints to a two-game win streak. He will look to carry this momentum into Week 16's home matchup against the Jets, who are allowing the third-most points per game and the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Shough ranks as a QB2 this week with intriguing upside for that one.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Dawson Knox a Viable Option Against Browns
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox caught three of four targets for 37 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-31 victory over the New England Patriots. Despite Dalton Kincaid's return in Week 14, Knox has dominated, totaling 130 yards and two touchdowns over his past two games. Knox played 70% of the snaps in Week 15, while Kincaid played only 34%. With his connection to star quarterback Josh Allen, Knox has starting value in Week 16. He faces a Browns defense that ranks middle-of-the-pack against tight ends this season. The door is open for Knox to have another big outing in Week 16, but he remains a low-end option with Kincaid in the picture.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Dalton Kincaid Off Injury Report, A Risky TE1 in Week 16
Despite missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) is off the injury report and slated to play against the Cleveland Browns. Despite fighting through hamstring injuries throughout the season, Kincaid has had a breakout year, hauling in 36 of 45 targets for 523 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games. He has averaged 11.8 PPR fantasy points per game, ranking 10th among tight ends this season. He faces the Cleveland Browns in Week 16, who have ranked in the middle of the pack against tight ends this season. Despite his breakout season in Buffalo, Kincaid is a risky TE1 this week against the Browns.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Josh Palmer Draws Brutal Week 16 Matchup Against Browns
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer returned in Week 15, catching just one pass for 16 yards against the New England Patriots. Palmer has been fighting through an ankle sprain that caused him to miss the previous two games. He was limited last week, playing only 33% of snaps, which ranked fifth among Bills receivers, behind Khalil Shakir, Tyrell Shavers, Brandin Cooks, and Keon Coleman. He also faces the strong Cleveland Browns secondary, which has allowed the second-fewest receiving yards to wide receivers this season. It will be intriguing to see whether Palmer's role increases this week, but fantasy managers should pivot in Week 16.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Devin Singletary Tough To Trust in Lineups for Week 16
New York Giants running back Devin Singletary took a backseat to Tyrone Tracy Jr. in Week 15's loss to the Washington Commanders. Singletary recorded only six touches for 14 yards from scrimmage, his fewest touches in a game since Week 8 and his fewest yards since Week 7. The veteran has taken on a larger role in the backfield and has been fantasy viable since Cam Skattebo (ankled) suffered a season-ending injury in Week 8. Since Week 9, the 28-year-old is averaging 10.2 PPR points per game, ranking as the RB30 over that time. Singletary profiles as a low-end flex play for Week 16's matchup against a Minnesota Vikings defense that ranks middle of the pack in PPR points per game allowed to running backs.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
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