Set Your Lineup For Week 16
Hey #4EYEDfans,
Congrats on making it to your fantasy football championship matchup or at the very least the conclusion of your consolation rounds!
It has been a blast helping to guide you to victory each week and most importantly it’s been my honor to help in providing a distraction for you during this mess that has been 2020. From all the preseason content through this very article I’m glad to have done my part to help you enjoy fantasy football this season.
That being said we here at Fantasy In Frames will be hard at work pumping out new fantasy football content for you in 2021 starting with our new Dynasty Fantasy Football coverage. 24/7, you will able to find all your fantasy football needs here at FantasyInFrames.com.
Before we get there, however, let’s focus this week on getting you a #4EYEDtitle!
Here are your 4-EYED STARTS & SITS For Week 16!
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts vs. Dallas Cowboys: START
Jalen Hurts is SPECIAL 😤
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/sSNg48JXhc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 20, 2020
Over the past two weeks, rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts leads all quarterbacks in rushing yards with 169, TDs with four, rushing attempts with 29, and is second in fantasy points per game scored with 28.6. This rookie is a phenom in the making in fantasy football, and this week he’s facing a Dallas Cowboys team allowing 19.7 fantasy points per game to the position as well as a Cowboys team that will likely be without their tackle-heavy run stopper in Leighton Vander Esch.
There’s a reason why we call mobile quarterbacks “cheat codes” when it comes to fantasy football and that is because of their ability to QUICKLY establish a high fantasy point floor. Plug him into your lineups with confidence this week and clinch yourself a title with him at the helm of your fantasy roster.
Philip Rivers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: SIT
All good things come to an end, and the same with happen this Sunday in the Steel City as Philip Rivers and his fantasy hot streak will run into a Steelers defense that will see the return of veteran pass rusher in Vince Williams this week which combined with all-worldly elite edge rusher T.J. Watt should provide enough pressure to throw Rivers off his rhythm to make his fantasy output less than ideal. The Steelers, on the season, are allowing just the second-fewest passing yards per game and on average 15.5 fantasy points per game to the position. Find a better option this week.
Running Back
J.K Dobbins vs. New York Giants: START
Dobbins punches it in pic.twitter.com/hEotrAlwaf
— Football Nerds (@FootballNerds_) December 20, 2020
Since Week 13 of this season, J.K. Dobbins has dominated snaps in this Ravens’ backfield as the lead running back averaging during that time 62.7 rushing yards per game, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, and 13.7 fantasy points per game. While not mind-blowing stats by any means you have to keep in mind fantasy football upside is all about opportunity. When in scoring position, since Week 13, Dobbins leads the team in red zone rushing attempts with 12 with three touchdowns scored. His counterpart in this backfield, Gus Edwards, by comparison, has only seen 5 red zone rushing attempts, albeit Edwards HAS been productive with his touches as well.
The fact of the matter is Dobbins is getting the majority of work in this backfield and has been fairly productive while doing so. His opponents this week, the New York Giants, are giving up close to 80 yards rushing on the ground and close to 21 fantasy points per game to the running back position. That fantasy point scoring upside potential combined with his domination of touches out the backfield when in scoring position makes Dobbins a must start this week.
OH….and having a mobile QB in Lamar Jackson open up running lanes for you all over the field helps one’s upside as well!
James Conner vs. Indianapolis Colts: SIT
Coming off of a quad injury and a 1.8 yards per carry performance against Buffalo in Week 14, James Conner has to be considered an afterthought at the running back position for all fantasy managers for the rest of the season. The Colts run defense with DeForest Buckner is not to be tested by any means in the running game and combined with the fact that the Steelers have been incorporating multiple running backs into their offense there is just no way to predict PRODUCTIVITY for Conner. Please, please, please don’t let him cost you a title this week!
Wide Receiver
Russell Gage vs. Kansas City Chiefs: START
Falcons come out hot, TD for Russell Gage pic.twitter.com/xV6ukDrQlg
— Football Nerds (@FootballNerds_) December 20, 2020
Russell Gage has emerged as the clear-cut WR2 in this Falcons passing attack since the injury a few weeks back to Julio Jones. While his yardage numbers have been mind-blowing his targets, receptions, and touchdowns sprinkled into his performances over the past three weeks have allowed him to average 14.9 fantasy points per game which is good enough to be considered a WR1 during that timespan. This week, in what seems to be a high-flying shootout affair with the Chiefs, look for Gage to put up another solid outing and provide managers with another solid floor during their championship games.
D.J. Chark vs. Chicago Bears: SIT
Is Trevor Lawrence the QB in Jacksonville, yet?
No?!
Then wait until then to start D.J. Chark again.
He hasn’t scored double-digit fantasy points since Week 9, and don’t expect him to this week against a tough Bears secondary. Move elsewhere.
Tight End
Logan Thomas vs. Carolina Panthers: START
Have A Day, Logan Thomas 🙌🏾
Thomas hauled in a career-high 13 receptions for 101 yards on Sunday for @WashingtonNFL
📽 @NFLonFOX #HardHatMentality 👷🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/r9LizLbMHz
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) December 21, 2020
Coming off a career-high in targets, Logan Thomas is looking like HE is the quarterback-proof option in this receiving group and NOT Terry McLaurin. Over the past three weeks, Thomas leads the team with 32 targets compared to McLaurin’s 24, AND Thomas is averaging 14.7 fantasy points per game during that time span to McLaurin’s 5.7.
Clearly becoming the focal point of this offense Thomas gets the Carolina Panthers this week who are allowing 11.4 fantasy points per game on the position. In the words of Ludacris…
Eric Ebron vs. Indianapolis Colts: SIT
Zero points in Week 15 for Eric Ebron. Never again will I trust him this season. Neither should you.
IDP CONTENT
As we do every week, when discussing IDP players we reference their fantasy point production using the FantasyPros IDP scoring rubric:
Linebackers
Neville Hewitt vs. Cleveland Browns: START
As you’ve heard for multiple weeks out of me, Neville Hewitt was my LB1 heading into the fantasy football playoffs. Over the past three weeks, Hewitt leads all linebackers in solo tackles and is 5th in fantasy points per game scored among LBs with 17.6. Let this solo tackling #TackleMachine carry you to a fantasy championship in Week 16.
Jamie Collins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: SIT
Despite having ample opportunities, Jamie Collins just haven’t delivered. He’s outside the top 40 linebackers in solo tackles over the past three weeks and is outside the Top 30 in fantasy points per game. You can and should find better options this week on your waiver wire.
Defensive Backs
Darnell Savage vs. Tennessee Titans: START
Darnell Savage’s second INT of the night 💪 #GoPackGo
📺: #CHIvsGB on NBC
📱: NFL app // YahooSports app: https://t.co/y4imSy610p pic.twitter.com/Kf6ihOmjEn— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2020
John Johnson III vs. Seattle Seahawks: SIT
Talk about falling from grace. Once considered to be a Top 5 fantasy option at the position, John Johnson III hasn’t put up double-digit tackles since Week 6 and is outside the Top 25 in fantasy points scored at the DB position in IDP over the past three weeks. You should be able to sit him and not feel guilty about it in Week 16.
Defensive Linemen/Edge Rushers
Marcus Davenport/Trey Hendrickson vs. Minnesota Vikings: START
The power of Trey Hendrickson on this sack 👀#ATLvsNO | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/KbQ4SL8ytb
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 22, 2020
As has been the case this season, whoever lines up opposite of Cameron Jordan on the defensive line for the Saints is bound to have plenty of upside in the fantasy department. For most of the season and last week, it has been Trey Hendrickson. That being said Hendrickson went out with an injury during the Chiefs game last week which opens up the door, potentially, for Marcus Davenport this week. Whoever is starting this week you should feel VERY confident in their upside, especially going against this middle of the road offensive line for the Vikings.
Romeo Okwara vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: SIT
Such a good story for most of 2020 in terms of sack and fantasy production, Romeo Okwara is a sit for me this week. Despite his 10.8 fantasy point performance in Week 15, he’s far too inconsistent of players to trust in championship weekend.
Thanks for reading, #4EYEDfans!
Go win those #4EYEDtitles!
*References provided by:
- FantasyData
- ProFootballFocus
- ProFootballReference
- Player Profiler
- FantasyPros
- Football Outsiders
- StatHead.com