Every week this season, Fantasy In Frames is going to help you at the quarterback and tight end position by providing you with some of the best favorable matchups of the week. This week, let’s discuss the favorable QB & TE Matchups for Week 16!
Wow, Week 15 was insane, and not because there were several massive scores. Quite the opposite because many top-performing players had their worst week of the season. There were players out with injury, players out with COVID, and three games were moved due to COVID outbreaks. The most fortunate fantasy teams were the ones on a first-round bye last week.
While touching on being fortunate, it is Christmas this weekend! If you are reading this article you are still in the playoffs, love fantasy football, or both. Either way, remember fantasy football is supposed to be fun whether you win or lose. The goal is to win, but football is a game of inches and we have no control of the players so we have to trust our process and accept the outcome. I hope Santa brings you a win this week, but try to find a way to enjoy the holidays and football regardless of your fantasy team’s performance. I appreciate you taking the time to read my article throughout this season, and I hope I helped you win some games! Either way, I will continue to research and refine my process to be even better next season. I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Note: there have been a lot of COVID positive tests in the NFL this week, so pay attention to the news and be ready to pivot.
This week I am going to focus on a couple of key stats for each player to keep it quick and simple since we are down to the last four teams in each league. Now let’s do our best to earn a win and advance to the championship round of the playoffs!
How Did We Do?
For the season we have recommended streaming a QB1 38% of the time, and for Week 15 we did well going 1 for 3 with Justin fields (11), Tua Tagovailoa (13), and Jimmy Garoppolo (14) all being within the top 15 quarterbacks.
For the season, we have recommended streaming a TE1 4% and a TE2 6% of the time, and for Week 15 we were 1 for 3 for TE1. Cole Kmet (9) played well without a touchdown, but Ricky Seals-Jones (22) lost his starting and 2nd-string QB due to COVID, and Conklin (47) just had a terrible game.
Quarterbacks to Stream – Week 16
Matt Ryan (vs DET) – 28.9% rostered in ESPN:
- Ryan is averaging 34 pass attempts over the last 3 games and 241 yards passing
- Detroit Lions rank 26th in the NFL giving up 26.1 points per game, and Ryan can throw multiple touchdowns this week
Justin Fields (@ SEA) – 24.9% rostered in ESPN:
- Fields is the QB8 in fantasy points per game over his last 2 games (20.6) since he returned from injury
- During that 2 game span, averaged 8 rushes for 54.5 yards, and that many rush attempts give him a higher floor in fantasy
- Note: Fields did not practice on Thursday with an ankle injury and is listed as questionable on Thursday, but no reports expecting him to be out for now
Tyler Huntley (@ CIN) – 9.2% rostered in ESPN:
He didn't get the win, but Tyler Huntley went toe to toe with one of the best:
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 20, 2021
-28/40
-215 passing yards
-73 rushing yards
-4 total TDs
-0 turnovers
(via @NFLBrasil)pic.twitter.com/e9C1K7iiOm
- Huntley was the QB1 in Week 15, and his score was boosted by 13 rush attempts for 73 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns
- You cannot expect 2 rushing touchdowns each week, but if he has double-digit rush attempts again that proves a high floor
- Cincinnati Bengals gave up an average of at least 20.1 fantasy points in 2 out of the last 3 games (23.2 average), and the one game less than that was against Denver where Teddy Bridgewater left injured and Drew Lock came in
- Note: Lamar Jackson did not practice on Thursday with an ankle injury and there have not been positive reports about him starting yet
Quarterback to Start – Week 16
Joe Burrow (@ TB) – currently starting in 30% of ESPN leagues:
- QB11 in fantasy points per game over the last 4 games played (19.4)
- Baltimore Ravens are dealing with several injuries and COVID issues with a lot of their key defensive players as of Thursday night
- Great WRs that can hit huge plays against a depleted secondary
Tight Ends to Stream – Week 16
Jared Cook (@ HOU) – 49.8% rostered in ESPN:
- It is all about the matchup because Houston gives up 12.1 fantasy points to TEs per game
- Cook is tied for the most targets inside the 5-yard line for TEs over the last 6 games
Evan Engram (@ PHI) – 28% rostered in ESPN:
- All about the matchup again because the Eagles give up the most to TEs in the NFL (14.4 points per game)
- Engram had 6 targets last time he played against the Eagles (Week 12), but the backup TE scored the TD
- Engram is 3rd on the team in target share over the last 3 games (13.1%)
Cole Kmet (@ SEA) – 26.4% rostered in ESPN:
- Averaging 8 targets per game over last 4 games with at least 6 receptions in 2 of those 4 games
- Has not scored a TD this season, but is 2nd on the team in target share (19.4%) so the opportunity for regression to score is there
Tight End to Start – Week 16
Dallas Goedert (vs NYG) – currently starting in 54.5% of ESPN leagues:
🔥 Dallas Goedert with LONGEST catch of his career!!pic.twitter.com/y0pcN92Gzs
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) December 22, 2021
- Over the last 4 games played, Goedert is the TE4 with 15.3 points per game
- Over the last 2 games, he has a 31.3% target share with 7.5 targets per game and averaging 120 yards per game
