Week 16 Fantasy Football Studs
Congratulations to all of you #FootClanChampions out there. If you were fortunate enough to vanquish your foes and take home the title you are probably very familiar with the players featured in this article. Their performances over the holiday weekend landed them squarely on the ‘nice list’. You can check out the full discussion of these glory plays on the podcast.
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers vs MIN
-347 passing yards, 4 TDs, 13 rushing yards, TD
Aaron Rodgers has now finished as the #1 or #2 QB in fantasy in 6 of the last 8 seasons.
Russell Wilson vs AZ
-350 passing yards, 4 TDs, 36 rushing yards, 2 pt conv
The Cardinals and Seahawks played another nail-biter. This one worked out better for fantasy owners.
Tyrod Taylor vs MIA
-329 passing yards, 3 TDs, 60 rushing yards
QB streamer who balled out. 60 rushing yards helps too.
Sam Bradford @ GB
–382 passing yards, 3 TDs
Bradford was hooked on a Thielen!
Kirk Cousins @ CHI
-270 passing yards, TD, 30 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Fairly pedestrian day for the Redskins’ signal caller through the air, but 2 rushing TDs… You have to like that.
Dontari Poe vs DEN
–1/1 passing, 2 passing yards, TD
Poe became the heaviest player in NFL history to throw a passing TD. For what it’s worth he is also the heaviest to ever score a rushing TD.
Running Backs
David Johnson @ SEA
–38 carries, 95 rushing yards, 3 TDs, 4 receptions, 41 receiving yards
We are starting a petition in the comments to rebrand this team “The Arizona David Johnsons”.
Jay Ajayi @ BUF
-32 carries, 206 rushing yards, TD, 1 reception, 3 receiving yards
If Jay Ajayi played Buffalo every game this season his 16 game pace would be 480 carries, 3,360 rushing yards, and 16 TDs.
Le’Veon Bell vs BAL
-20 carries, 122 rushing yards, TD, 3 receptions, 15 receiving yards, TD
This is a man playing for a contract. He’s putting Pittsburgh in a tough spot financially.
Mark Ingram vs TB
–18 carries, 90 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 2 receptions, 3 receiving yards
If you had the faith to start him, you’re happy. If your opponent started him, you might be a little salty.
DeAndre Washington vs IND
-12 carries, 99 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 1 reception, 18 receiving yards
A Raider RB had a great day for fantasy, it was Latavius M-…err… Jalen Ric-… I mean… DeAndre Washington.
LeSean McCoy vs MIA
-24 carries, 128 rushing yards, TD, 5 receptions, 17 rushing yards
Gillislee was still involved in this game, but at least he didn’t vulture McCoy.
Tevin Coleman @ CAR
-9 carries, 90 rushing yards, TD, 3 receptions, 45 receiving yards
Tevin Coleman might be is the best change of pace back in the league.
LeGarrette Blount vs NYJ
-20 carries, 50 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Blount now holds the record for most rushing TDs in a season in Patriots’ history with 17. This is a considerable achievement considering former Patriots RBs like Curtis Martin and Corey Dillon.
Wide Receivers
Adam Thielen @ GB
-12 receptions, 202 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 15 targets
Ooka Chaka, Ooka Ooka Ooka Chaka… They can’t stop this Thielen.
Jordy Nelson vs MIN
-9 receptions, 154 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 11 targets
Terence Newman owns Jordy Nelson in his fantasy league. There is no other acceptable explanation for what happened on Saturday.
Doug Baldwin vs AZ
-13 receptions, 171 receiving yards, TD, 19 targets
My goodness… where was Patrick Peterson?
Sammy Watkins vs MIA
-7 receptions, 154 receiving yards, TD, 12 targets
This is allegedly an “unhealthy” Sammy Watkins. If he is healthy to start next year… SIGN ME UP!
Cameron Meredith vs WAS
-9 receptions, 135 receiving yards, TD, 12 targets
Meredith might be playing Alshon Jeffery out of a contract in Chicago.
J.J. Nelson @ SEA
-3 receptions, 132 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
This desert roadrunner is fun to watch but he is doing it with minimal volume which makes him impossible to trust in season-long formats.
Antonio Brown vs BAL
–10 receptions, 96 receiving yards, TD, 11 targets
Antonio Brown supplemented his fantasy day and saved the Steelers season with a last second TD.
Odell Beckham Jr. @ PHI
–11 receptions, 150 receiving yards, 20 targets
Twenty targets, and it looked like only 9 of them were ‘quality’ targets.
Mike Evans @ NO
-7 receptions, 97 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
A welcome return to glory for Mike Evans. Hopefully, his owners were still playing meaningful games after Evans’ rough start to the month.
Allen Robinson vs TEN
–9 receptions, 147 receiving yards, 12 targets
This was the light at the end of the tunnel. It was the only decent matchup for the Jaguars in the month of December and A-Rob took advantage.
Tight Ends
Travis Kelce vs DEN
-11 receptions, 160 receiving yards, TD, 12 targets
A god amongst men.
Charles Clay vs MIA
-8 receptions, 85 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 10 targets
Clay was a hot streaming option and bargain play in DFS. He paid off big time.
Antonio Gates @ CLE
-8 receptions, 94 receiving yards, TD, 13 targets
Antonio Gates now has 110 career TDs, one shy of Tony Gonzalez’s record. Better believe the Chargers will do everything in their power to get Gates another TD (or two) next week at home.
Kickers
Matt Bryant @ CAR
-4/5 FGs (51,48,29,50), 3/3 PATs
Bryant had a chip shot FG blocked, which is usually a no-no. but his pair of 50+ yarders earned him a pass.
Defense/Special Teams
New England Patriots
-3 PA, 1 FR, 2 sacks, 3 INTs
Read: the Jets are miserable.
Honorable Mentions
Colin Kaepernick @ LA
-266 passing yards, 2 TDs, INT, 15 rushing yards, TD, 2 pt conv
Andrew Luck @ OAK
-288 passing yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 12 rushing yards, TD
Blake Bortles vs TEN
-325 passing yards, TD, 7 rushing yards, 1 reception, 20 receiving yards, TD
Isaiah Crowell vs SD
-16 carries, 54 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 4 receptions, 4 receiving yards
Chris Ivory vs TEN
-14 carries, 45 rushing yards, TD, 4 receptions, 69 receiving yards
Jordan Howard vs WAS
-18 carries, 119 rushing yards, 1 reception, 9 receiving yards
Steve Smith Sr. @ PIT
-7 receptions, 79 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
DeVante Parker @ BUF
-4 receptions, 85 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
Sterling Shepard @ PHI
-7 receptions, 61 receiving yards, TD, 11 targets
Tyreek Hill vs DEN
–6 carries, 95 rushing yards, TD, no receptions, 5 targets
Dennis Pitta @ PIT
-8 receptions, 75 receiving yards, 11 targets