Fantasy Football Week 16 Sleepers
The long, treacherous road of the fantasy football season has led to this moment. Week 16, the fantasy football championships. Congratulate yourself for making it this far, you deserve the praise for battling through this turbulent season. The job is not finished. There is still one more game left to be won. Most teams have lost several players along the way due to injuries or underperformance, which makes the waiver wire more important than ever.
Finish the season strong. There are still sleepers hidden on the wire. Dominate the waiver wire, win the week, win your championship.
My Week 16 Sleepers:
Running Backs:
Ito Smith (Atlanta Falcons) – Smith is in line to replace Todd Gurley as the lead running back in Atlanta. Although his usage might be a question market, getting designated that job merits Smith some attention. Smith has a fairly friendly matchup against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has been vulnerable on the ground at times this season. It’s hard to imagine the game being in a positive game script in favor of Atlanta, but if Smith sees similar opportunities in the red zone and capitalizes as Gurley did to begin the season, he’ll hold significant fantasy value. Smith is a risky option this week, but for teams hurting at running back heading into their finals matchup, Smith’s tag as a starter warrants consideration.
Wide Receivers:
Lynn Bowden Jr. (Miami Dolphins) – A wide receiver with a running back designation on multiple platforms, Bowden is coming off two-straight double-digit fantasy games as the Dolphins weapons continue to deplete. Bowden has proven to be a dynamic player, handling four or more receptions in three straight games. The health of Miami’s pass-catchers remains in question heading into Week 16, giving Bowden a chance to see an uptick in snaps and targets once again. Bowden is an intriguing option this week against a Las Vegas Raiders team that drafted Bowden in April and ended up trading him before the season started. A rare rookie revenge game for Bowden adds another element of entertainment to his matchup.
Rashard Higgins (Cleveland Browns) – Higgins is enjoying three consecutive games of double-digit fantasy points and enters this fantasy championship round with a very favorable matchup against the New York Jets. Higgins is a sneaky sleeper this week and should be rostered in more leagues. In an offense lacking weapons to the outside and in need of a reliable target, Higgins will look to provide a spark for the Browns once again, something he has done all season. Higgins ranks fifth in Yards Per Target among wide receivers and tied for sixth in Fantasy Points Per Target, shedding light on his ability to make big plays downfield. Higgins is a WR4/Flex in deep leagues that has a strong chance to boom this week.
Tight Ends:
Tyler Higbee (Las Angeles Rams): Higbee entered the season as one of the most hyped up tight ends after a monster end to his 2019 campaign. However, after exploding in the second week of the season, Higbee cooled off significantly, leaving many fantasy managers who took a gamble on him with a bad taste in their mouth. However, Higbee has a shot at redemption this week. In a game that should require a lot of passing for the Rams to stay competitive, Higbee has a chance to produce for fantasy managers as Jared Goff will look to spread out the field to beat the Seahawks defense. The tight end landscape is as dry as ever, especially on waivers, but if you’re in desperate need of a starting tight end, Higbee could provide some upside for you this week.
Quarterbacks:
Baker Mayfield (Cleveland Browns): Mayfield has been on a rampage over the last three games after two straight games of under 10 fantasy points. Mayfield has thrown for over 250 yards and two touchdowns in each of his last three games while only throwing one pick and losing one fumble over this span, showcasing his commitment to securing the football as much as possible. Facing a Jets defense that has been beaten in all areas of the field all season, Mayfield will look to continue his impressive streak in the last week of the fantasy season. Baker has improved in various areas of his game, highlighted by his third-highest Money Throws among quarterbacks. Mayfield has aired it out more this year than in the past, indicated by his 4.9 Air Yards Per Attempt, which is tied for second in the league. If you have been streaming quarterbacks all season and are looking to do the same for your championship, Mayfield is the best option on waivers and should be started with confidence in your championship matchups this weekend.
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