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KC @ LAC
- Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense was cold for three quarters but he came alive to match Justin Herbert touchdown for touchdown and then top him in overtime.
- Travis Kelce is in singlehandedly win fantasy leagues form but landed on the covid list on Monday
- Tyreek Hill is also in top form after the catch and he should feast against a Steelers defense that allowed six passing scores to Mahomes the only time they faced him.
- Justin Herbert was solid but missing the big contribution from Mike Williams, who got banged up and didn’t hit in fantasy despite his highest target total (9) since Week 5. It’s probably best to err on the side of playing both against the Texans.
- Austin Ekeler was strong, but the Chargers did limit his workload. Justin Jackson was even better as the #2. Joshua Kelley fumbled at the goal line and Ekeler may end up on the covid list, so Jackson’s value is trending up.
- Donald Parham was taken to the hospital after suffering a scary head injury, so Jared Cook is likely to have a larger opportunity against Houston.
NE @ IND
- Mac Jones was rough in the first half, but eventually locked in on Hunter Henry to get the Patriots back in the game late. Henry has streamer potential against the Bills.
- Rhamondre Stevenson never really got out of the garage as the Patriots fell behind 20-0.
- Carson Wentz was terrible and missed Michael Pittman when he was open behind the defense. Pittman also got thrown out of the game for his involvement in a scuffle. Jonathan Taylor is the offense right now, and that was enough along with a punt block touchdown. Wentz and Pittman are volatile plays against the Cardinals, although they looked off against the Lions.
TEN @ PIT
- Ryan Tannehill lost Julio Jones and looked flummoxed like he did in earlier losses to the Jets and Jaguars. Give the Steelers defense some credit, but this pass offense is one of the weakest in the NFL.
- D’Onta Foreman ran strong and got as much work as he could handle posting his second 100 yard game in the last three, earning more trust heading into a matchup against the 49ers.
- Ben Roethlisberger lost his magic from the last two second halves and the Steelers offense was dormant for most of this game. There’s no reason to expect a change against the remade Chiefs define keyed by Steeler castoff Melvin Ingram.
- Najee Harris did next to nothing. If you survived this game, you probably have to play him, but you’ll hesitate a moment if you have another strong option.
CAR @ BUF
- Cam Newton was competent as a passer and powerful as a runner, scoring again as a runner (he has in all five games he has played this year), but Sam Darnold could return soon and possibly retake the starting job.
- Ameer Abdullah caught four balls, including one for a score. He’s the more valuable Panthers running back with the stout Bucs and Saints run defenses up the next two weeks.
- D.J. Moore only caught short passes from Cam Newton. This passing game is unlikely to help your fantasy team.
- Emmanuel Sanders injury unleashed Gabriel Davis, who scored twice and should be in lineups against the Patriots.
- Devin Singletary was the clear lead back and the Bills committed to the run for the first time this year, and Singletary responded with 96 total yards and a score. He’s setting up to be a solid RB2 play against the Patriots.
HOU @ JAX
- Davis Mills looks very steady for a third round rookie and he hooked up frequently with Brandin Cooks, who looks like a solid play against the Chargers in Week 16.
- Fellow rookie Brevin Jordan didn’t play a snap even though he was active the week after he caught four balls and scored so he’s not trustworthy against the Chargers.
- The pass offense was still miserable post-Urban Meyer, but Laquon Treadwell and James O’Shaughnessy showed enough signs of life to be viable desperation plays against the Jets.
- James Robinson was indeed used like the starter. He scored and can be trusted against the Jets.
DAL @ NYG
- Dak Prescott looks off and wasn’t very productive despite having all of his weapons in a good matchup. He’s not an automatic start against a Washington team that he struggled against in Week 14.
- Tony Pollard appeared to be unaffected by his foot injury, but he’s just a what the heck flex, while Ezekiel Elliott looked stronger and should be in lineups against Washington.
- Amari Cooper was on a milk carton and hasn’t done anything of note for our fantasy teams since Week 8. He’s benchable against Washington, with only CeeDee Lamb a solid play next week among the receivers.
- Dalton Schultz had a bounce back as the high percentage target for Prescott and is a viable Week 16 streamer.
- Mike Glennon was so bad he was benched for Jake Fromm.
- Saquon Barkley was pedestrian once again and less efficient than Devontae Booker once again. He’s not an essential start against the Eagles.
ARI @ DET
- Kyler Murray and the offense spent a lot of time on the sidelines in the first half and never got in a groove, likely missing DeAndre Hopkins. A ho hum game against the Lions could be a bad sign heading into a matchup with the Colts, but Murray has to stay in lineups.
- Chase Edmonds and James Conner both made the most of their touches but there wasn’t too many of them as the Cardinals struggled to put together long drives. They’re both flex plays against the Colts.
- Christian Kirk scored a meaningless touchdown to key a solid fantasy line and Zach Ertz was a frequent enough target to be a decent tight end play, but expecting this pass offense to overachieve without Hopkins might be too much.
- Jared Goff was smart with the ball and hit on downfield plays when the opportunities presented themselves, but he also just landed on the covid list, so the pass offense might not have him against the Falcons. If they do, he’ll be a reasonable 2QB/Superflex play.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown appeared to arrive for fantasy with the best game of his rookie year, but we’ll need to see if Goff plays.
- Craig Reynolds posted a 100-yard game, but Jamaal Williams was activated from the covid list on Monday. Both are mere flex plays and only if Goff plays.
NYJ @ MIA
- Zach Wilson had a solid start, but faded as the game went on and can’t support a fantasy option in the passing game. The Jaguars matchup next week is better, but there’s no reason to count on anyone in this offense, including Michael Carter, who was overshadowed by Tevin Coleman.
- Tua Tagovailoa was uneven without Jaylen Waddle, including a pick six that put the game in jeopardy. He’s not an advisable start against a hot Saints defense, but Waddle is probably worth playing along with Mike Gesicki.
- Duke Johnson had his first 20+ carry, first 100+ yard, and first two rushing touchdown game of his career, likely rendering Myles Gaskin a committee back. Both will be needed more as receivers against the Saints and are flex plays at best.
CIN @ DEN
- Joe Burrow struggled and only a long catch and run score by Tyler Boyd got the offense into the end zone. Luckily, Denver’s offense was worse, and the Ravens depleted secondary is up next week, so we might go back to Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins if we survived the Week 15 landmine.
- Joe Mixon couldn’t get free and got hurt late in the game. Samaje Perine could get the Week 16 start.
- Teddy Bridgewater got hurt with a scary concussion and was relieved by Drew Lock. Lock was not good and there’s no Broncos wide receiver we want to play against the Raiders next week with Lock starting.
- Noah Fant and Lock’s college teammate Albert Okwuegbunam led the pass offense and are both viable streamers in Week 16.
ATL @ SF
- The Falcons offense moved the ball against the 49ers, but failed on fourth down three times inside the 49ers 10-yard line. Ryan could be a viable streamer against the Lions this week.
- Cordarrelle Patterson was bottled up and an almost touchdown was wiped off of the board by replay. He’s not getting involved in the passing game, but the Lions matchups is probably good enough to play him in Week 16.
- Kyle Pitts caught a few balls downfield and should be in lineups against Detroit.
- Russell Gage was the main man in the passing game and rose to the occasion against the depleted 49ers secondary. He’s a good play in Week 16.
- Jeff Wilson got rolling with his first 100-yard game of the year and Elijah Mitchell looks iffy for Thursday against Tennessee. Consider Wilson an RB2 play in Week 16 unless Mitchell is active.
- Deebo Samuel was more involved as a receiver and was still strong as a runner setting him up as an elite WR1 play in Week 16. It might have been at Brandon Aiyuk’s expense, who only had one catch and is a what the heck flex against the Titans.
GB @ BAL
- Aaron Rodgers was good, not great against the Ravens, who successfully held down Davante Adams. Rodgers is still a solid QB1 against the Browns coming off of a short week on Christmas.
- Aaron Jones regained the lead back job and caught his sixth touchdown of the season, while A.J. Dillon was unimpressive despite notching a short score. Jones is the clear fantasy play while Dillon is only a what the heck flex.
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling had the big game as the Ravens keyed on Adams, while Allen Lazard and Rodgers were off on two end zone throws or there would have been a bigger day there for him.
- Tyler Huntley accounted for all four scores and was sensational in a desperate fourth quarter comeback attempt yet again. He’s a solid QB1 if Lamar Jackson can’t go against the Bengals.
- Devonta Freeman’s snap share fell off to 56%, making him only a what the heck flex against the Bengals. The Ravens had to abandon the running game after they fell behind in the first matchup.
- Mark Andrews was a beast and Marquise Brown gobbled up short targets while Rashod Bateman faded into the background after he posted a strong result in Week 14. Brown is a solid Week 16 play after putting up 5-80-1 against the Bengals in Week 7.
NO @ TB
- Taysom Hill was the focal point of the offense and it only amounted to three field goals, but that was enough to win on a dominant defensive night. He’s a risky QB1 against Miami.
- Alvin Kamara split close to equally with Mark Ingram, but you can’t bench the guy who scored six times on Christmas last year.
- Tom Brady was shut out for the first time in 255 games as he lost Mike Evans, Leonard Fournette and Chris Godwin during the game. Godwin is done for the year and Fournette is out for at least Week 16. Evans status is unknown, but Antonio Brown will return this week.
- Ronald Jones looked good in relief of Fournette and should be added and started against the Panthers in Week 16.
- Rob Gronkowski was shut down by Malcolm Jenkins, but should still be in lineups against the Panthers, with some risk that he faces Stephon Gilmore.
LV @ CLE
- Derek Carr was competent but not great. It was enough to beat a piecemeal Browns roster. He doesn’t have the look of a quarterback who will create surprise big games.
- Hunter Renfrow was quiet to undermine trust him in him, and he only had 3-36 against the Week 16 opponent Denver in the first matchup.
- Nick Chubb did everything he could and D’Ernest Johnson was barely used with Kareem Hunt out.
- The Browns don’t have a reliable option for fantasy in the passing game, and that includes when Nick Mullens isn’t the quarterback.
MIN @ CHI
- The Vikings are content to take the air out of the ball when they have a lead, and the passing game suffers for it. They probably can’t do that against the Rams and Packers and Adam Thielen could be back this week, but it still undermines trust in Kirk Cousins and Tyler Conklin.
- Justin Fields is a solid fantasy play against the Seahawks and Giants mediocre defenses the next two weeks, but the ceiling games aren’t coming as long as Matt Nagy is the head coach.
- Cole Kmet could get enough targets to be a streamer if Allen Robinson is out for Week 16.
WAS @ PHI
- Antonio Gibson was trusted at the goal line and in the passing game, so the Football Team seems to be past their hesitation to use him from Week 14
- The Football Team passing game was held back by Garrett Gilbert, but Kyle Allen and/or Taylor Heinicke have a chance to be activated in time for the Week 16 game at Dallas
- Jalen Hurts had a couple of early turnovers, but levelled off for a great rest of the game and he's an automatic start for Week 16 against the Giants
- Miles Sanders was strong against Washington and should be trusted against the Giants, although Jordan Howard was in as the team was salting the game away
- Dallas Goedert was dominant and should be in lineups in Week 16, but it takes some of the shine off of DeVonta Smith as a boom/bust WR3/Flex option
SEA @ LAR
- Tyler Lockett missing the game was a factor, but Russell Wilson was off on a deep ball to DK Metcalf when he was open for a long score and otherwise let the Seahawks offense down. He's not a safe play for Week 16 against Chicago
- It was the Texans defense. Rashaad Penny wasn't even as good a play as Deejay Dallas as there's no one to count on in the Seattle running game
- Matthew Stafford was content to throw to Cooper Kupp all night. The Vikings secondary isn't good, but Van Jefferson and Odell Beckham are still only what the heck flexes against Minnesota. Hold them for the Week 17 matchup against Baltimore.
- Sony Michel was still in control of the Rams backfield and played well, so he's the play over Darrell Henderson in Week 16.
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