Quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami (vs Cincinnati) - Come on, you know you want to. Fitzpatrick just got back Albert Wilson, so he has a full array of weapons now with Devante Parker in top form and Isaiah Ford coming on, along with Mike Gesicki and Allen Hurns. Cincinnati has already given up five rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks this year and Fitzpatrick is the Dolphins leading rusher, so that’s a good combination for fantasy football.
Kyler Murray, Arizona (at Seattle) - Don’t let Murray’s stats last week fool you. The Cardinals offense accounted for five touchdowns, but Kenyan Drake scored four of them. The Seahawks defense is a very movable object and Murray and the Cardinals are coming off of one of their best games of the season. Murray has extra rushing upside and this could turn into a shootout between him and Russell Wilson.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants (at Washington) - Jones should be healthy enough to play this week and he’s facing a Washington defense that will be overmatched by the Giants passing game pieces. Carson Wentz, Sam Darnold, Tom Brady, Mitchell Trubisky, and Kyle Allen have all had at least three total touchdowns against Washington this year.
Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago (vs Kansas City) - Trubisky is actually hot right now, and while the Chiefs defense is also playing its best ball, the repeatedly pass heavy game plans Matt Nagy is employing the likelihood of Patrick Mahomes II and company forcing the Bears to play from behind is good for Trubisky’s fantasy outlook. Trubisky is around QB6-8 the last five weeks depending on your scoring system, so it’s not that outlandish to start him in Week 16.
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati (at Miami) - Dalton is more QB2/Superflex/DFS material, but his matchup this week deserves some attention. Only Brian Hoyer and Sam Darnold have failed to post multiple scores against the Dolphins this year. The list of hits includes Tom Brady, Case Keenum, Mason Rudolph, Baker Mayfield, Eli Manning and… Sam Darnold.
Running Back
Mike Boone, Minnesota (vs Green Bay) - Don’t overthink this. Boone has always impressed when he has gotten opportunities, the Minnesota running game didn’t miss a beat when they went to him last week (he scored twice), and the Packers are poor against the run. Boone should be in your lineup as an RB2 or flex, running with fresh legs against a weary run defense.
Kerryon Johnson, Detroit (at Denver) - Johnson isn’t officially in for Sunday, but it’s expected. He’s more of a what the heck flex, but one that could hit with his hard-charging running style and two weeks of full practices to assure that he’s ready for a good workload to take some heat off of David Blough in Denver.
DeAndre Washington, Oakland (at Los Angeles Chargers) - Josh Jacobs is out, which puts Washington back into the starting spot against the Chargers. The Chargers defense had been playing better before breaking down against the Vikings last week, but Washington was very productive in his start two weeks with 96 total yards, a score, and six receptions. He’s a high floor RB2 this week.
Myles Gaskin, Miami (vs Cincinnati) - Gaskin outplayed Patrick Laird last week and had two explosive plays, which could persuade the Dolphins to give him a big opportunity this week against a Bengals defense that gave up over 200 total yards and two scores to Patriots backs last week.
Boston Scott, Philadelphia (vs Dallas) - Scott has had two solid PPR weeks in a row and should remain a big part of the Eagles offense against Dallas with the wide receiver group still depleted. Dallas took away Zach Ertz in the first matchup between these teams so Carson Wentz could be forced to look to secondary receivers like Scott more often.
Wide Receiver
Kenny Stills, Houston (at Tampa Bay) **Saturday** - Stills came through with two scores against Tennessee last week and he could be a big hit against the Bucs this week. The Bucs failed to give up a score to wide receiver last week for the first time since Week 2, and that was only because they were facing David Blough. Tampa has allowed multiple scores to wideouts in a game six times since Week 5, so Deshaun Watson has a good chance to accomplish and Stills could be a big part of it with Will Fuller still nursing a hamstring injury.
Greg Ward, Philadelphia (vs Dallas) - Ward’s best play came at the end last week with the game on the line, so it makes sense that the new addition to the Eagles offense should have an increased role in Week 16 against the Cowboys defense that took away Zach Ertz in the first matchup between these teams. Ward had five catches for 49 yards and a score in the fourth quarter last week in a good sign for his Week 16 prospects.
Danny Amendola, Detroit (at Denver) - Amendola immediately put up eight catches for 102 yards last week with Marvin Jones on injured reserve and he should avoid Chris Harris at Denver, as Harris should follow Kenny Golladay. The Broncos have been giving up solid numbers lately to slot receivers including 6-76-1 to Cole Beasley and 5-68 to Keke Coutee.
Steven Sims, Washington (vs New York Giants) - Sims has surpassed Kelvin Harmon has the #2 receiver for Washington with Paul Richardson Jr on injured reserve. Dwayne Haskins seems to be improving by the week and Sims had a solid 5-45-1 line against Philadelphia last week, building on 4-40 and 3-29 lines the previous two weeks. The Giants just released their top cornerback, Janoris Jenkins, and they have allowed multiple scores to opposing wideouts in four of the last seven games.
John Ross, Cincinnati (at Miami) - Ross is a longshot and was only a part time player last week, but he’s facing a Dolphins defense that has the potential to give up a big game to Ross on limited snaps. Miami’s secondary is full of inexperienced players and they have allowed multiple touchdowns to wideouts in each of the last five games. A receiver has also gone over 100 yards in each of those games. Ross could run free through the Miami defense once or twice in this game.
Tight End
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee (vs New Orleans) - Smith was an unstoppable runner last week and he was a very productive receiver against Houston. This week against the Saints, the Titans will likely have to rely more on the passing game and with Corey Davis banged up against, Smith should be a core target. The Saints have given up three scores to tight ends since Week 10 and a ten catch game to Cameron Brate over that same span.
OJ Howard, Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay (vs Houston) **Saturday** - Both Bucs tight ends have high ceilings this week against the Texans, as Jameis Winston will be without both of his starting receivers. Howard has a big play high ceiling and Brate is the more likely target in the red zone and more likely to have a high target load. Both could hit as streamers or DFS plays this week.
Jacob Hollister, Seattle (vs Arizona) - Hollister has the one matchup we can’t argue with in fantasy this year. Only Tyler Eifert and Vance McDonald have failed to hit in this matchup, and even after David Njoku was a surprise scratch last week, Ricky Seals-Jones scored twice. Hollister has been quiet lately, but don’t doubt the trend here.
Noah Fant, Denver (vs Detroit) - Fant is the best big play threat among the streamers and sleepers this week, and the Lions defense has been prone to giving up big plays in recent weeks. They’ve also allowed five tight end touchdowns since Week 7, and Fant should benefit from playing with Drew Lock and against a Lions defense that should try to cancel out Courtland Sutton with Darius Slay.
