Fantasy Football: 5 Things to Watch for in Week 16
Championship Week is upon us, and if you’re reading this, you’re likely in at least one Championship game, congratulations! Week 15 2018 could go down in Fantasy Football history as the worst single week of crash-and-burn performances. Many teams, including some of mine, scored a combined ZERO TDs. It was ugly.
But that was last week. What are we looking forward to in Week 16?
1. Resting Studs
Week 16 is always a treacherous position for starting plays on teams that have clinched playoff spots. Luckily for fantasy owners, we have not yet seen any indication that key players will be rested. Unfortunately, that could change at halftime, if a few scenarios are playing out. Keep an eye on the Todd Gurley news. He could end up playing limited snaps due to his injury and the Rams likely taking an early lead in their game.
2. Bold Start/Sit Decisions
Fantasy Football is a funny psychological game. On the one hand, you want to trust the players that got you this far, and on the other, you want to play the player who is best suited to produce points to win the game. This conundrum leads to some bold start/sit decisions. Players like Robby Anderson, Dante Pettis, and Jaylen Samuels are suddenly producing starter-worthy numbers, but do you dare start them over the trusted player that “got you this far”? Remember, we’re playing a weekly game; you have to play the player with the best shot at getting you points THIS WEEK.
3. Carolina Collapse
After starting the season 6-2, the Panthers have now lost six straight games. They have mercifully shut Cam Newton down for the remainder of the season, a move that had to be made after watching his severely hindered throwing motion last week. Additionally, Christian McCaffery is battling an injury. Will the Panther’s choose to rest him with little reason to play for over the next two weeks? This could have a major impact on some Championship games.
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4. End of the Black Hole?
While the Raiders new stadium in Las Vegas will not open until the 2020 season, there is plenty of speculation that the Raiders will seek a temporary home for 2019 as their relationship with Oakland has deteriorated to the point of no repair. With the likelihood of this weekend being the final game in Oakland, what kind of antics might we see play out on Sunday? There could be some real drama unfolding if things get too rowdy in the black hole.
5. Planning for Next Season
There is no better time than Week 16 to start planning for next year. Whether it be rules changes in your league, creating a new league, or just picking up a waiver wire flyer in your keeper league, now is a great time to think about 2019. Engaging owners is much easier while the league is fresh on their mind. It’s easier to get a rule change passed while the sting of the current season is still there, versus next summer when that sting has worn off, and the euphoric glow of fantasy drafts is upon us.
Best of Luck in Week 16! Go get that #FootClanTitle!