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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

Draymond Green

Questionable to Suit Up Wednesday
Jalen Smith

Ruled Out for Second Straight Game
Matas Buzelis

Could Miss First Game of the Season Wednesday
Coby White

May Skip Wednesday's Game
Cade Cunningham

Probable for Wednesday
Isaiah Hartenstein

to Remain Out Wednesday
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Could Return to Action Wednesday
Tim Hardaway Jr.

May Remain Out Wednesday
Christian Braun

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Aaron Gordon

Iffy for Wednesday
Jamal Murray

Considered Questionable for Wednesday Night
Max Strus

to Miss Another Month
Vince Williams Jr.

Making Return Tuesday Against Spurs
Trae Young

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Ja Morant

Ruled Out on Tuesday
James Harden

in Danger of Missing Second Straight Game
Joel Embiid

Considered Questionable for Wednesday's Matchup
Gabe Vincent

Ruled Out Tuesday, Expected to Return Wednesday
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Herbert Jones

Returns to Action Tuesday
Dean Wade

Back in Action Versus Pacers
Jaylon Tyson

Set to Suit Up on Tuesday
Mason Marchment

Out Tuesday
Sean Monahan

Available Tuesday
Jason Zucker

Set to Return From 11-Game Absence
Matvei Michkov

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Matthew Schaefer

Cleared for Action Tuesday
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Adam Fox

Landing Back on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Seth Jarvis

Back for Hurricanes Tuesday
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
Jake McCabe

to Sit Out One Week
Hampus Lindholm

to Miss Time
Christian Dvorak

Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak to Five-Year Extension
Igor Shesterkin

Exits With Lower-Body Injury Monday
Joel Armia

Hurt in Monday's Win
Anze Kopitar

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Monday
Matthew Schaefer

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Jamie Benn

to Miss at Least Two Games
Seth Jones

Out Week-to-Week
Zach Bogosian

Unavailable Monday Night
Trevor Moore

Remains Out Monday
Aliaksei Protas

a Game-Time Call Versus Ducks
Tom Wilson

Won't Play Monday
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Fire Head Coach Pete Carroll
Malik Nabers

Unsure if He Will Be Ready for Week 1 of 2026 Season
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Will Return as Bengals Head Coach in 2026
New York Giants

Giants Expected to Show Interest in Former Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski
Daniel Jones

Colts, Daniel Jones Appear to Have "Mutual Interest" in a 2026 Reunion
John Klingberg

to Sit Out at Least Three More Games
Cleveland Browns

Browns Fire Kevin Stefanski After Another Losing Season
Zay Flowers

Goes Off for 138 Yards, Two Touchdowns in Loss
Bo Bichette

Phillies Have Interest in Bo Bichette
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Dominates in Week 18 Win
Cameron Ward

Believed to Have Grade 3 AC Joint Sprain in Right Shoulder
Colston Loveland

Leads Bears in Targets, Receptions, Receiving Yards in Week 18
Kansas City Royals

Matt Quatraro Signs Three-Year Extension With Royals
CFB

Transfer QB Billy Edwards Commits to North Carolina
CFB

Sam Leavitt Visiting Texas Tech on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Expected To Visit Florida State
Kyle Tucker

Blue Jays "Remain the Favorite" to Sign Kyle Tucker
CFB

Joey Aguilar Undergoes Surgery to Remove Tumor on Friday
CFB

Texas the "Team to Beat" for Transfer Running Back Isaac Brown
CFB

Rocco Becht to Follow Matt Campbell to Penn State?
CFB

Texas Targeting Cam Coleman in Transfer Portal
CFB

Former Texas Running Back CJ Baxter Visiting Kentucky
CFB

Beau Pribula Visiting Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech
Bo Bichette

Yankees Showing Interest in Bo Bichette
Houston Astros

Astros Sign Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Deal

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