December 23, 2017

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!

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