X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

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!

Editor's Note: Steer clear of costly draft mistakes with RotoBaller’s expert Fantasy Football Bust analysis. We break down overvalued players, potential letdowns, and risky ADPs to avoid, so you can build a smarter, safer roster.

 

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




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jalen Thompson

Heading into Last Year With Cardinals?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Najee Harris

Suffers Eye Injury in Fireworks Mishap
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Kyren Williams

Rams Not Willing to Pay Kyren Williams Top-Market Money?
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Christian Kirk

the No. 2 WR in Houston?
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Jerome Ford

the Likely Starter for Cleveland to Begin 2025
Chig Okonkwo

"Poised" for Best Season of Career
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early On Tuesday With Left Hand Contusion
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
Luis Garcia

Fans Four in Rehab Outing
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF