Fantasy Football News
Rico Dowdle A High-End RB2 In Week 16 Against Tampa
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle will be facing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense on Sunday Night Football in Week 16 that has allowed the fewest half-PPR points to opposing RBs in the last five weeks, which includes just one rushing touchdown given up. However, because of the high volume that Dowdle has been seeing of late as Dallas' clear-cut No. 1 RB, he'll carry high-end RB2 value for fantasy managers still alive in the playoffs. The 26-year-old is coming off a a career-best 149 rushing yards on 25 carries in last week's win over the Carolina Panthers after setting a previous career-best with 131 rushing yards the week prior. In the last four games, Dowdle has really been eating, seeing at least 18 carries per game and averaging 5.69 yards per attempt with a touchdown. Fantasy managers may not want to expect another career performance on Sunday night, but Dowdle is certainly trending up.
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Parker Washington Tough To Trust In Week 16
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington is a difficult player for fantasy managers in the playoffs to feel good about starting in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders serve as a good matchup for the young receiver, but Washington has been overshadowed by Brian Thomas Jr. and Brenton Strange ever since he broke out with six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Houston Texans in Week 13. Also, Mac Jones has been a volatile player when replacing Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, either having good enough games to support multiple receiving options in fantasy or struggling to support even one. Despite a great matchup with the Raiders, it is hard to recommend Washington with confidence in Week 16 due to his target competition and inconsistent quarterback play.
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Adonai Mitchell To Work As Deep Threat In Week 16
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has just two receptions over the last four contests, but has an opportunity to get more involved on Sunday against the Titans. With Alec Pierce set to miss the game having not cleared concussion protocol, Mitchell could work in as the primary deep threat in this matchup. That may not mean much for fantasy, however, as the 22-year-old will be on the receiving end of passes coming from quarterback Anthony Richardson who has a 47.0% completion rate, while Pierce recorded three catches or less in 11 of the 13 full games he played prior to Week 15, so Mitchell's workload should look similar. The Titans have allowed the fifth-fewest points to opposing WRs on the season, which won't make it any easier for the wideouts. View Mitchell as nothing more than a WR5/6 dart throw for fantasy on Sunday.
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Brenton Strange A Top Streaming Option Against Raiders
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange is a great option that isn't considered one of the top-tier names in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The young tight end had a breakout performance last week, putting up 11 catches for 73 yards. He was limited in practice all week due to a shoulder injury but has no injury tag after Friday's injury report. While the low yardage per catch is not ideal, it does show that Strange is developing into a security blanket option on short passes for quarterback Mac Jones with Evan Engram out for the season. The Raiders have struggled to defend tight ends this season, so for fantasy managers looking for something new at the tight end position this week, Strange is a great option, especially in PPR leagues. Strange has intriguing upside due to a great matchup with the Raiders in Week 16.
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Travis Etienne Jr. A Flex With Extra Value In PPR Leagues
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. is a decent flex option in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. He has been more heavily involved in the passing game as of late and even got more carries than fellow back Tank Bigsby in Week 15. However, that doesn't necessarily mean Etienne Jr. will dominate touches out of the backfield this week. The split between the two backs has been inconsistent all season and more in line with a hot-hand approach. Just two weeks ago, the 25-year-old back had just four carries. Given the unpredictable nature of the Jacksonville backfield, it is hard to trust either running back. Etienne Jr. is best viewed as a solid flex start who should be slightly upgraded in PPR due to his recent pass-game involvement in Week 16 against the Raiders.
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Tyler Allgeier Could Get More Work In Rookie QBs First Start
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier has been the recipient of double-digit carries just four times all season and has yet to record those outings in back-to-back weeks. In Week 15, the 24-year-old carried the ball 12 times, so is he due for a return to single digits? With rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. under center on Sunday, the Falcons may need to rely on the run game more than usual. The team is favored by nine points in this game against the Giants, so they could be looking to kill the clock late as well, meaning more action for the running backs. New York has yielded the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs, and the Falcons haven't been shy about giving goal line carries to Allgeier, so the 8:3 TD split for Bijan Robinson and Allgeier doesn't tell the whole story. Allgeier has received six carries inside the five while Robinson has received eight, so it's a near-even split. Nevertheless, fantasy managers still alive in the playoffs won't be using the BYU product as an RB1 or RB2, but one could make the case for an RB3/Flex play this week, albeit a risky one.
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Kyle Pitts A Low-Floor, Limited-Upside Option In Week 16
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts reemerged from obscurity in Week 15 to haul in four passes, albeit for a measly 28 yards. The 24-year-old totaled three receptions over the previous three contests, has 14 fewer catches than running back Bijan Robinson on the season, and hasn't scored since Week 8. The former first-round draft pick has fallen well outside the top 12 TEs in fantasy scoring on the year and takes on a Giants pass defense that has been good at covering tight ends this season, yielding the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs thus far. Add in another variable -- a left-handed rookie quarterback -- and Pitts makes for quite the fantasy gamble in Week 16. The 6-foot-6 pass catcher projects as a mid-range TE2 option for Sunday's matchup and not a great option for managers who are still eying fantasy championships.
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Jason Sanders A Shaky Streaming Option In Week 16
Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders looks to extend his made field-goal streak past 18 in Week 16. The 29-year-old is having one of his best years as a pro and is now the eighth-ranked kicker in fantasy football. The San Francisco 49ers come to town in Week 16 and allow the 10th-fewest fantasy points to opposing kickers. Sanders has also hurt fantasy managers by missing extra points in back-to-back weeks. This could be a spot where the Dolphins have trouble moving the ball due to receivers Tyreek Hill (wrist, personal) and Jaylen Waddle (knee) being banged up. Sanders should be viewed as a shaky streaming option for Week 16. He comes in as RotoBaller's 16th-ranked kicker in the Week 16 rankings.
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Ray-Ray McCloud III A Risky WR5 Option In Week 16
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III caught just one of his three targets for 14 yards last week, but it wasn't just McCloud who had a dud. The receiving corps in general underperformed as a result of ineffective passing from Kirk Cousins and from a ground game that was clicking, with the backs totaling 168 rushing yards. The 28-year-old had been much more involved in Weeks 11-14, averaging six catches and over seven targets during that stretch. With Michael Penix Jr. making his first career start on Sunday, how the passing attack will unfold is a bit of an unknown, but if the left-handed quarterback needs a safety blanket, McCloud III could fit the bill. The wideout has the lowest average depth of target out of the first-team receivers with an aDOT of 6.27. The Clemson product is shaping up to be a WR5 this week with perhaps some slight upside in PPR leagues, but it's a risky proposition with the quarterback situation and fantasy playoffs on the line.
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Malik Washington Could See Uptick In Looks Vs. 49ers
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington may have a chance to have a productive performance in Week 16. Jaylen Waddle (knee) is listed as doubtful, and Tyreek Hill (wrist/personal) is questionable. The rookie had his best performance of the season last week with five receptions on six targets for 52 yards against the Houston Texans. The matchup against the San Francisco 49ers defense will be a difficult one. Their defense is ranked second in fantasy points and second in yards allowed per game to opposing wide receivers. Washington has looked great in special teams and has done whatever is asked of him on the field. He should be viewed as an emergency flex option in Week 16.
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Jonnu Smith A Strong TE1 Despite Tough Matchup In Week 16
Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith has been one of the most consistent players in all fantasy football over the last several weeks. The 29-year-old is ranked as the TE4 and has seen incredible volume down the stretch. He has touchdowns in four of the previous five games and eight or more targets in four of the last five. However, Week 16 presents a difficult matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, who have been stout against tight ends. They rank 2nd in fantasy points allowed to tight ends per game and allow the least yards per game to the position. With linebacker Dre Greenlaw questionable, that could present even more problems for Smith. With the injuries to Tyreek Hill (wrist/personal) and Jaylen Waddle (knee), Smith should command plenty of looks this week. He is still a TE1 and should be started in all formats. He ranks as the TE4 in the Week 16 RotoBaller rankings.
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Noah Gray Looks To Remain Heavily Involved Against Houston
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray has continued to have a significant impact despite operating behind future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce. In fact, Gray has outscored Kelce in fantasy football since Week 11, with Gray ranking as the TE4 in fantasy football during that five-game span while Kelce was the TE15. A 25-year-old Duke product, Gray has appeared in all 14 games this season, catching 37 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns, all of which are career-high marks. This week, he takes on the Houston Texans, who have allowed the fifth-fewest catches and fourth-fewest receiving yards to opposing tight ends in the NFL. However, they have been susceptible to touchdowns at the position, letting tight ends find the end zone at the seventh-highest clip. All in all, Gray remains a solid fixture on the fantasy radar, ranking as a mid-to-low TE2 option at home this Saturday.
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CeeDee Lamb Looks To Stay Hot Against Bucs
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) has continued to be a major contributor in fantasy football despite losing his quarterback, Dak Prescott (hamstring), in the middle of the season. Lamb has looked solid in six full games with Cooper Rush under center, as the two have connected for 41 completions, 429 yards, and two touchdowns. He ranks as the overall WR11 during that six-game span and he has found the end zone in each of his last two contests. In Week 16, Lamb will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose defensive secondary has been suspect at times in 2024. The Buccaneers have allowed the 13th-fewest fantasy points to slot receivers, as well as the 13th-most fantasy points to receivers who operate out wide. Lamb has played 368 snaps (46.6 percent) from the slot this season, which is the seventh-most in the NFL. Still, he should be able to feast against the Buccaneers, who allowed Los Angeles Chargers slot receiver Ladd McConkey to put up five catches, 58 yards, and one touchdown against them in Week 15. For fantasy purposes, Lamb continues to rank as an intriguing fantasy playmaker in the mid- to low-WR1 range this Sunday.
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De'Von Achane Looks To Continue Excellent Stretch Vs. 49ers
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane heads into Week 16 with five top 15 running back finishes in a row despite only averaging 36.8 rushing yards per contest. His receiving output and his knack for getting in the endzone have kept him a top-10 fantasy running back. He remains 34 receiving yards behind Alvin Kamara for the league lead by running backs. This week, he gets a matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, who struggle at allowing fantasy points to running backs. They rank 21st in fantasy points and 30th in rushing touchdowns allowed per game. The 23-year-old should look to see plenty of targets with the injuries Miami is dealing with at the receiver position this week. He is a must-start top 10 play and is the RB8 in the RotoBaller weekly rankings.
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Tyler Bass A Solid Kicking Option For Week 16
Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass is worth starting in most fantasy football leagues ahead of his matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 16. The 27-year-old ranks ninth in fantasy points among kickers this year, going 50-for-54 on extra points and 21-for-26 on field goals. Even amidst some accuracy concerns on field goals, Bass has been able to rack up the scoring with an excessively high number of extra points. He has drilled 17 extra points over his last three games as the Bills continue to find the end zone at a rapid pace. That should continue this week against the New England Patriots. While New England ranks near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to kickers this year, they have surrendered an average of 2.7 touchdowns per game (eighth-most in the NFL), which means that scoring opportunities won't be too hard to come by for Bass. He should be deployed as a top-10 kicker in Week 16.
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Michael Wilson A Risky Option Against Carolina
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson remains a risky WR3/FLEX play in deeper leagues as he prepares to take on the Carolina Panthers. The 24-year-old has been a beacon of availability this season, playing at least 66 percent of offensive snaps in all 14 games. He has a modest stat line of 41 catches, 482 yards, and four touchdowns so far, ranking 52nd among wide receivers in terms of fantasy points (PPR). He had come on strong with 25.2 fantasy points between Weeks 13 and 14, but he dropped down to just 2.9 points with a pair of catches for nine yards last weekend. This week, Wilson faces the Panthers, who have been mediocre in terms of defending wide receivers. Carolina has allowed the 14th-fewest fantasy points to slot receivers this year, as well as the 12th-most fantasy points to receivers who play out wide. For context, Wilson has taken 212 snaps from the slot (30.6 percent), which is the 34th-most among NFL receivers. Managers can certainly justify starting him in deeper fantasy formats, but we'd advise looking elsewhere for production in leagues with 12 teams or fewer.
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Jake Bates Looks Like A Starting Option In Week 16
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates can be started with confidence in Week 16 at the Chicago Bears. He is coming off a game against Buffalo in which he missed a 52-yard field goal but made all six of his extra points. The 52-yarder was his only attempt of the game so he will look to rebound a bit at Chicago this week. Tied to the Lions' high-powered offense, Bates is a trustworthy option for fantasy managers at the position. Look for more opportunities for field goals in this game and expect Bates to deliver this week.
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Trey McBride Is The Top TE Play In Week 16
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is arguably the No. 1 overall tight end play in fantasy football in Week 16 when the Cardinals travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers. McBride is having one of the best seasons we've seen from a tight end in recent memory, and statistically, the best in Arizona in a long time. One statistical category that is lacking is touchdown production, though. McBride just broke the record for most receptions in a season (89) without a touchdown. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been vocal about getting McBride into the end zone, and they will have a good opportunity to do so in Week 16, as the Panthers are allowing the most passing touchdowns in the NFL. It's hard to find a better option at the tight end position than McBride, and he should be started in all league formats.
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Tua Tagovailoa Cleared To Face 49ers In Week 16
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) has been removed from the injury report after he was a full participant in practice on Friday. The 26-year-old has been cleared to play against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon. Tagovailoa has produced a mixed bag of results this season, completing 73.7 percent of his passes for 2,652 yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions through 10 games. He turned over the football four times last weekend, but he has fared much better at home, which keeps him on the fantasy radar for Week 16. For context, in six games at Hard Rock Stadium this year, Tagovailoa has 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions and all three of those interceptions came in one game (Week 2 versus Buffalo). Losing Jaylen Waddle (knee) this week does make Tagovailoa's job a little more challenging, but he's still worth deploying as a low-end fantasy QB1 versus San Francisco.
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Sam LaPorta Looks Like Good Option In Week 16
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta hasn't had the monster season that many were predicting but he has made some strides over the last few weeks. Ahead of Week 16 at the Chicago Bears, LaPorta is looking like a good option at the tight end position. The Iowa product scored two touchdowns in the Thanksgiving matchup between the Lions and Bears in Detroit. The Bears are about middle of the pack against tight ends in fantasy points allowed, so LaPorta looks like a promising threat to score a touchdown in this matchup. In his last four games, LaPorta has seen at least six targets in each game and saw 10 targets against Buffalo last week. An increased role along with his red-zone prowess makes LaPorta a favorable start at the tight end position in the fantasy playoffs.
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Rico Dowdle
• RB
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Cowboys
