Hungry for More: The Fantasy Footballers’ Predictions for Week 16
We’ve made it through the first round of the fantasy playoffs, and the fantasy managers with teams still standing are all still looking for players who can make a difference on their rosters this week again! The Ballers have picked out players they’re looking to see take a step forward after their Week 15 performances in this week’s Hungry for More presented by Uber Eats!
Each week the Ballers will pick a player who super-sized their game in the past week and decide if they’ll continue to eat at the big guy’s table or go back to the kid’s table. Of course, I’ll give you an extra side dish or two to go along with Andy, Mike, and Jason’s main course! Let me know if you think we’re cooking up a high-end meal or if it’s more like gas station sushi!
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks – RB
| Week 15 | ||
| Carries | Rushing Yards | TDs |
| 19 | 86 | 1 |
While it felt like there could be an evening out of work in the Seattle backfield, Kenneth Walker III took back any ground rookie Zach Charbonnet may have gained in Week 15. For the first time since Week 10, Walker led the Seahawks’ backfield in carries and produced in a big way that has Mike pounding the table for seconds again this week. Walker has been great with the ball in his hands this season, currently sitting second in the league in forced missed tackles per game and fifth in total forced missed tackles despite missing two games.
Fantasy managers may not want to see the Titans up next on the schedule during the fantasy playoffs for Walker, but this isn’t the same defensive unit we’ve worked to avoid with RBs. Over the last month, Tennessee’s defense has missed All-Pro DT Jeffrey Simmons and allowed 95+ rushing yards in three of four games. During that stretch, the Titans have allowed three top-12 RB finishes so Walker could continue to feast this week for fantasy managers.
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings – RB
| Week 15 | ||
| Carries | Rushing Yards | TDs |
| 23 | 132 | 1 |
It was a rewarding weekend for fantasy managers who had the faith to play Ty Chandler and his RB4 finish has Andy wanting another helping. Chandler’s first career 100-yard rushing game was the first time a Viking had hit that mark in over a year. The amount of work that Chandler got in the Minnesota offense is something that should excite fantasy managers. Chandler’s 81% of snaps and 23 carries is more than Alexander Mattison saw the entire year as the primary back for the Vikings so there could be even bigger games to come if he can continue to produce.
The final two weeks of the playoffs are a bit of a mixed bag when you look at Chandler’s matchups he’ll have to face. This week against the Lions presents a tough task since Detroit’s defense is only allowing 3.8 yards per carry but has also given up the 10th-most rushing TDs. Meanwhile, in championship week, Chandler gets a great matchup against the Packers who have allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league. As long as Chandler continues to be the primary focus in the Vikings backfield, he could play a big role in winning fantasy championships.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots – TE
| Week 15 | ||
| Receptions | Receiving Yards | TDs |
| 7 | 66 | 1 |
After a midseason lull, Hunter Henry has Jason all hot and bothered over the last few weeks. Henry has finished as the TE3 in back-to-back weeks after being outside of the top-12 TEs in nine of the 10 games prior. While his Week 14 production isn’t easy to depend on with two TDs doing the majority of the work, Henry’s nine targets from Week 15 makes for something fantasy managers love to see at TE. Henry has 26% of the Patriots’ receiving yards and TDs this season, which is the fourth-highest among all TEs.
For fantasy managers needing another big week, Henry couldn’t have a better matchup in Week 16 against the Broncos. Denver’s defense is the worst in the league against TEs for fantasy and is fresh off allowing Sam LaPorta to catch three TDs. The Broncos have allowed opposing teams’ fantasy TEs to score 10+ fantasy points in 60% of their games this season.
Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings – WR
| Week 15 | ||
| Receptions | Receiving Yards | TDs |
| 6 | 111 | 2 |
It really shouldn’t be understated what the return of Justin Jefferson means to the fantasy value of Jordan Addison and I want more of it. While Addison will see fewer looks in the Vikings’ offense while running as the WR2, he’ll also see different coverage with Jefferson alongside him. With Jefferson on the field, Addison is averaging nearly two fantasy points more per game and has twice as many top-24 WR finishes.
At this point of the season, getting a big boom game from a WR like Addison who is merely considered a flex play could be the difference in advancing and being knocked out of the playoffs. Addison getting a matchup like the Lions is exactly what should make fantasy managers put him in their lineups in such important matchups. The Lions have allowed the eighth-most passing TDs this season and have allowed 20+ points to opposing teams’ WRs in six of their last seven games.