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Under-the-Radar Booms/Busts - Week 16

Fantasy football lineup sleepers and busts for Week 16 of the NFL season. Under-the-radar booms and busts for fantasy football.

Only a few (thousand) are still playing fantasy football in earnest this week, and for that congratulations are in order. Now that you're done patting yourself on the back, there are a few things to remember.

1) This is the last week (unless you are in some psychopath league that plays in week 17 when many star players rest). 2) Ride your studs. 3) Match-ups are everything. DeAndre Washington came into week 16 last year with 325 total rushing yards. The Raiders were facing the Colts and the seventh worst run-defense. Washington scored two touchdowns and gained 116 total yards from scrimmage and won a few people a championship.

This is it. There's no tomorrow. Drop who you know you won't use and find someone who can gain you an advantage. Here are some under-the-radar booms and busts for the 16th week of NFL action to help you set a championship-winning lineup. Good luck RotoBallers!

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Week 16 Under-the-Radar Booms

Eli Manning (QB, NYG) at ARI

Since being benched in week 13, Manning has thrown the ball 103 times over the last two games. That includes going 37-for-57 last week against the Eagles for 434 yards and three touchdowns. This week the Giants travel to Arizona. The Cardinals allow the 12th most touchdown passes this year. It also ranks 15th in passing yards allowed. People can sometimes be turned off from starting a quarterback opposing Patrick Peterson. While that spells bad news for Sterling Shepard, the rest of the Arizona defensive backfield has been less than stellar. Call it a hunch, but with rumors that Manning may be let go after this season, it's plausible that they just give him the green light and let him chuck it for 60.

Damiere Byrd (WR, CAR) vs. TB

Not a widely known name, Byrd jumped into the fantasy stratosphere last week with two touchdowns. Over his last two games Byrd has garnered eight targets. He may receive even more looks if Devin Funchess isn't able to go. Right now the team's primary wide receiver is listed as questionable and has not participated in a full practice. While Byrd would still be behind Greg Olsen and Christian McCaffery, Cam Newton has shown a liking to Byrd in the red zone. Plus the Panthers face Tampa Bay. The Bucs feature the worst pass defense in the NFL. Tampa Bay has also given up 16 touchdowns to wide receivers this year.

Elijhaa Penny (RB, ARI) vs. NYG

In very, very limited action, Penny flashed a glimpse of what he is capable if given the starting nod this week against the Giants. Penny took over for Kerwynn Williams after he exited with an injured quadriceps, running for 45 yards on 10 carries. The Giants have given up the eighth-most points to running backs this year, as well as eight touchdowns. As referenced above, the expectation is for Manning to chuck it, which means less time of possession, more opportunity for Penny.

 

Week 16 Under-the-Radar Busts

Keelan Cole (WR, JAX) at SF

Over the last three weeks, Cole has caught 13 balls for 334 yards and three touchdowns on 15 targets. Not only has Cole been exceptional during that time, but when Blake Bortles targets the undrafted rookie, his quarterback rating is 114.7. That's the 10th-best among wide-receivers. The problem is there are two Jacksonville teams--the Jaguars with Leonard Fournette and the Jags without him. When he plays, the rest of the Jags offense falls in line behind him. Which means less opportunity for Cole against a mid-range San Francisco passing defense that has given up the fifth-least amount of passing yards per game over the last three games. Sorry, two problems. The other is Bortles.

Wayne Gallman (RB, NYG) at ARI

According to Pro Football Focus, the Giants run-blocking has been bad. Tackle Ereck Flowers’ troubles this season have stemmed from the run game, where he currently ranks 65th among 80 qualifying tackles with a run-block grade of 40.9. He draws a tough matchup against Jones, who ranks 19th among 115 qualifying edge defenders with an overall grade of 84.7. Arizona's defense is allowing only 3.5 yards per carry and 92 yards per game. Gallman has accumulated 178 yards of offense the last two weeks, but it doesn't look like he'll keep the momentum rolling against Arizona.

Jesse James (TE, PIT) at HOU

James just became the latest receiver to find himself in America's most hated game show, "What's a Catch?" The NFL's decision to overturn a game-winning touchdown hurt Steeler Nation, taking seven points off the board for fantasy owners could have been deadly. If you're still reading this, either you were the beneficiary or found a way to survive. Either way, stay away from James this week, again. But Houston's defense has given up the fifth-most points to tight ends this year! Antonio Brown is down for the year which means there will be plenty of targets to go around! The reason we're saying stay away is because without Brown in the line up, defenses won't have to roll extra help to his side, thus providing more coverage to the rest of the field and limiting open opportunities for players like James. While it's very possible Martavis Bryant and Juju Smith-Schuster may run amok in the Texans defensive backfield, James will not be as lucky.

 

More Week 16 Lineup Prep




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kris Murray

Will Play Against the Clippers
Robert Williams III

Available on Friday Night
Austin Reaves

Facing Multiweek Absence With Calf Issue
Anthony Edwards

Listed as Questionable Against Brooklyn
Keegan Murray

Out at Least One Week With Calf Strain
Jock Landale

to Miss Bucks Game With Calf Issue
Jordan Poole

Cleared to Play Friday vs. Suns
Joel Embiid

Set to Suit Up Against Bulls
George Kittle

Questionable to Face the Bears in Week 17
Cedric Coward

Active On Friday Against Milwaukee
Ja Morant

Available On Friday Night Against Milwaukee
Maxx Crosby

Done for the Season
VJ Edgecombe

Available on Friday
Dominick Barlow

Will Suit Up Against Chicago
Collin Murray-Boyles

Good to Go Versus Washington
Scottie Barnes

Upgraded to Available Against Washington
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Cleared to Play on Friday
Jordan Goodwin

Available For Friday Night Against New Orleans
Pelle Larsson

Back on Friday Night
Gary Trent Jr.

Ruled Out For Friday Night Against Memphis
Bam Adebayo

Will Miss Friday's Game Versus Atlanta
Justin Champagnie

Downgraded To Questionable For Friday Night
Scottie Barnes

Now Downgraded To Questionable For Friday
Calvin Austin III

Ruled Out with Hamstring Injury for Week 17
Harold Fannin Jr.

Expected to Play on Sunday
Jordan Love

Ruled Out with Concussion for Saturday's Contest
George Kittle

"Likely a Game-Time Decision" on Sunday Night
A.J. Brown

Returns to Practice on Friday
Josh Allen

Trending Toward Playing Vs. Philly
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
George Kittle

Remains Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Malik Willis

Carrying Questionable Tag for Week 17 Tilt
Jordan Love

Questionable for Saturday's Contest
Lamar Jackson

Listed as Doubtful for Week 17
Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox

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