Week 16 Fantasy Football Previews & Predictions: Giants Vs Jets – An Early Christmas Gift
Eli Manning (credits below)
Week 16 is only the penultimate week of the NFL season, but it is probably the ultimate week of your fantasy season.
If you are still alive, you are likely playing for a championship this week, so good luck.
And as for my advice, you shouldn’t need it. At this point, you know your team and if you are playing in the championship game, go with the guys who got you here. Don’t get too cute in Week 16.
I will pass along another dose of weekly advice, but I'm just going to touch on a few guys who could be an injury fill-in or come through in deeper leagues. I'm not going to recommend Aaron Rodgers, Maurice Jones-Drew, Calvin Johnson and the like here because you are obviously playing them.
So here's a sneaky play or two from each game this week should you need it, but again, don't get too cute this week or you will have eight months to stew over benching Marshawn Lynch in a tough matchup against San Francisco for Roy Helu, Felix Jones, or some back-of-the-month who may fall flat when you need him most.
Good luck, go with your gut…and these guys if you need them.
And most important, don't wait until Sunday to set your line-up because there are games on four different days this week with the bulk on Saturday.
Houston at Indianapolis: Kevin Walter could be the No. 1 receiver for the Texans against a bad defense with Andre Johnson out, but that has been the case in previous games and Johnson missed and Walter has not stepped up. Prime-time against the Colts could be his best bet. Donald Brown is a fine play if you need him, but don't bench Frank Gore or Reggie Bush for him.
Oakland at Kansas City: Michael Bush is the only guy in this game I want to pin my title hopes on, although Dwayne Bowe should be better in deeper leagues with Kyle Orton than he was with Tyler Palko.
Jacksonville at Tennessee: Injuries and uneven performances make me scared of either Titans quarterback, but Nate Washington gets a boost at receiver if Jake Locker starts and Jared Cook is not a bad gamble at tight end. Add injury this week to the already worrisome Chris Johnson, but if he's healthy then you have to play your No. 1 pick in the title game. It's that simple.
Miami at New England: Matt Moore in deeper leagues only, but Brandon Marshall is a WR2 candidate against the Patriots. Play all your usual Patriots and Aaron Hernandez is a starting tight end in fantasy even if he doesn't start for New England.
Arizona at Cincinnati: Tough to trust any Cardinal other than Larry Fitzgerald, although Beanie Wells is OK if you need him, but I just hope you have a better option. AJ Green's injury scares me and Andy Dalton is not nearly as good without his star rookie. Cedric Benson may be the best Bengal this week.
Denver at Buffalo: Tim Tebow is going to get over 20 points this week and Willis McGahee may get close to that number, but no way I'm counting on a Denver receiver right now. C.J. Spiller if you are desperate, but as I have said a few times, don't bench the running back who got you to the title game for a guy who has had one big week.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh: Steven Jackson is one of those steady studs that you keep counting out, but don't do that here. Play him if you've got him. If Ben Roethlisberger is out, I don't want any of his receivers and even if Roethlisberger plays, the passing game may be limited. I know Rashard Mendenhall has frustrated you all year, but playing the Rams bad run defense with his quarterback hurt is a good omen for 25 touches or so.
New York Giants at New York Jets: Two inconsistent teams with inconsistent fantasy players, not what you want in Week 16. Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks are the only must-starts for me in this game, but an unexpected player is going to go off and I'm predicting that is Plaxico Burress.
Minnesota at Washington: Lots of wild cards here as Adrian Peterson could be back to full strength, but if not, he's tough to start. Percy Harvin, Toby Gerhart, Santana Moss, and Roy Helu have all been hit-or-miss recently and Moss would be my pick as the best of that bunch this week.
Tampa Bay at Carolina: LaGarrette Blount is risky, but I'd play him if necessary this week. Cam Newton has gotten you this far and he could have a big fantasy finale along with Steve Smith at home.
Cleveland at Baltimore: No thanks on any Browns. Ray Rice should have a huge day here and Joe Flacco is a top-12 quarterback for me this week. Torrey Smith in deeper leagues at receiver. Ravens defense is at the top of my list this week.
San Diego at Detroit: This could be the fantasy game of the day with Philip Rivers and Matthew Stafford each nearing 400 passing yards. Antonio Gates, Malcolm Floyd, Vincent Jackson, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew could all go off and Titus Young and Nate Burleson too in deeper leagues. Ryan Mathews the only running back I'd play here.
Philadelphia at Dallas: Another fantasy shootout where Michael Vick, Brent Celek, LeSean McCoy, Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Laurent Robinson, Jason Witten and Miles Austin are all playable in 10-team leagues. I’d feel OK taking a chance on home-run threats Desean Jackson and Felix Jones if you need them.
San Francisco at Seattle: This should be a defensive struggle, so hard for me to recommend any plays other than Marshawn Lynch, Frank Gore, and the 49ers defense.
Chicago at Green Bay: Hard to believe after the good start they had, but I trust no Bears in fantasy. On the other hand, I'd trust any Packers that have gotten you this far because this should be a bounceback blowout for Green Bay.
Atlanta at New Orleans: The Monday night game will determine the final outcome of hundreds of fantasy leagues and this is a great match-up for that. Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston, Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Michael Turner could all put up big nights that rally teams for victory in the final fantasy game of the year. Lance Moore, Jaquizz Rodgers, Mark Ingram and Harry Douglas are the kind of sleepers that could become fantasy legends on Monday.
If you are still alive, you are likely playing for a championship this week, so good luck.
And as for my advice, you shouldn’t need it. At this point, you know your team and if you are playing in the championship game, go with the guys who got you here. Don’t get too cute in Week 16.
I will pass along another dose of weekly advice, but I'm just going to touch on a few guys who could be an injury fill-in or come through in deeper leagues. I'm not going to recommend Aaron Rodgers, Maurice Jones-Drew, Calvin Johnson and the like here because you are obviously playing them.
So here's a sneaky play or two from each game this week should you need it, but again, don't get too cute this week or you will have eight months to stew over benching Marshawn Lynch in a tough matchup against San Francisco for Roy Helu, Felix Jones, or some back-of-the-month who may fall flat when you need him most.
Good luck, go with your gut…and these guys if you need them.
And most important, don't wait until Sunday to set your line-up because there are games on four different days this week with the bulk on Saturday.
Houston at Indianapolis: Kevin Walter could be the No. 1 receiver for the Texans against a bad defense with Andre Johnson out, but that has been the case in previous games and Johnson missed and Walter has not stepped up. Prime-time against the Colts could be his best bet. Donald Brown is a fine play if you need him, but don't bench Frank Gore or Reggie Bush for him.
Oakland at Kansas City: Michael Bush is the only guy in this game I want to pin my title hopes on, although Dwayne Bowe should be better in deeper leagues with Kyle Orton than he was with Tyler Palko.
Jacksonville at Tennessee: Injuries and uneven performances make me scared of either Titans quarterback, but Nate Washington gets a boost at receiver if Jake Locker starts and Jared Cook is not a bad gamble at tight end. Add injury this week to the already worrisome Chris Johnson, but if he's healthy then you have to play your No. 1 pick in the title game. It's that simple.
Miami at New England: Matt Moore in deeper leagues only, but Brandon Marshall is a WR2 candidate against the Patriots. Play all your usual Patriots and Aaron Hernandez is a starting tight end in fantasy even if he doesn't start for New England.
Arizona at Cincinnati: Tough to trust any Cardinal other than Larry Fitzgerald, although Beanie Wells is OK if you need him, but I just hope you have a better option. AJ Green's injury scares me and Andy Dalton is not nearly as good without his star rookie. Cedric Benson may be the best Bengal this week.
Denver at Buffalo: Tim Tebow is going to get over 20 points this week and Willis McGahee may get close to that number, but no way I'm counting on a Denver receiver right now. C.J. Spiller if you are desperate, but as I have said a few times, don't bench the running back who got you to the title game for a guy who has had one big week.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh: Steven Jackson is one of those steady studs that you keep counting out, but don't do that here. Play him if you've got him. If Ben Roethlisberger is out, I don't want any of his receivers and even if Roethlisberger plays, the passing game may be limited. I know Rashard Mendenhall has frustrated you all year, but playing the Rams bad run defense with his quarterback hurt is a good omen for 25 touches or so.
New York Giants at New York Jets: Two inconsistent teams with inconsistent fantasy players, not what you want in Week 16. Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks are the only must-starts for me in this game, but an unexpected player is going to go off and I'm predicting that is Plaxico Burress.
Minnesota at Washington: Lots of wild cards here as Adrian Peterson could be back to full strength, but if not, he's tough to start. Percy Harvin, Toby Gerhart, Santana Moss, and Roy Helu have all been hit-or-miss recently and Moss would be my pick as the best of that bunch this week.
Tampa Bay at Carolina: LaGarrette Blount is risky, but I'd play him if necessary this week. Cam Newton has gotten you this far and he could have a big fantasy finale along with Steve Smith at home.
Cleveland at Baltimore: No thanks on any Browns. Ray Rice should have a huge day here and Joe Flacco is a top-12 quarterback for me this week. Torrey Smith in deeper leagues at receiver. Ravens defense is at the top of my list this week.
San Diego at Detroit: This could be the fantasy game of the day with Philip Rivers and Matthew Stafford each nearing 400 passing yards. Antonio Gates, Malcolm Floyd, Vincent Jackson, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew could all go off and Titus Young and Nate Burleson too in deeper leagues. Ryan Mathews the only running back I'd play here.
Philadelphia at Dallas: Another fantasy shootout where Michael Vick, Brent Celek, LeSean McCoy, Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Laurent Robinson, Jason Witten and Miles Austin are all playable in 10-team leagues. I’d feel OK taking a chance on home-run threats Desean Jackson and Felix Jones if you need them.
San Francisco at Seattle: This should be a defensive struggle, so hard for me to recommend any plays other than Marshawn Lynch, Frank Gore, and the 49ers defense.
Chicago at Green Bay: Hard to believe after the good start they had, but I trust no Bears in fantasy. On the other hand, I'd trust any Packers that have gotten you this far because this should be a bounceback blowout for Green Bay.
Atlanta at New Orleans: The Monday night game will determine the final outcome of hundreds of fantasy leagues and this is a great match-up for that. Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston, Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Michael Turner could all put up big nights that rally teams for victory in the final fantasy game of the year. Lance Moore, Jaquizz Rodgers, Mark Ingram and Harry Douglas are the kind of sleepers that could become fantasy legends on Monday.
Written by Steve Mims exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Follow Steve on Twitter @nwsportscards
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(December 17, 2011 – Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
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