Week 16 News & Notes (UPDATED)
Week 16 News & Notes As the fantasy playoffs roll on, keeping up-to-date on the latest fantasy-relevant news is important. Our Week 16 News & Notes catches you up on the latest injury updates and developments before you finalize this week’s lineups. And be sure to check out updated weekly rankings. Also, FullTime Fantasy Members will get the latest NFL injury news and advice live each Sunday and Thursday in the FullTime Fantasy Discord. Click below to join us today! This will be updated throughout the weekend. REMINDER: There are 2 Saturday games this Week Players Ruled OUT Alvin Kamara (RB) New Orleans Saints – Kendre Miller will take over as the starter. George Pickens (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers – Once again out with a hamstring ailment, torpedoing Pittsburgh’s passing attack. Issac Guerendo (RB) San Francisco 49ers – Patrick Taylor is next man up. Cade Otton (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Xavier Legette (WR) Carolina Panthers – Trey Benson (RB) Arizona Cardinals – Alec Pierce (WR) Indianapolis Colts – Nelson Agholor (WR) Baltimore Ravens – John Metchie (WR) Houston Texans – Matt Prater (PK) Arizona Cardinals – Chad Ryland will fill in again. Tanner Hudson (TE) Cincinnati Bengals – JaMycal Hasty (RB) New England Patriots – Cade Stover (TE) Houston Texans – Jalen Brooks (WR) Dallas Cowboys – Questionable Tony Pollard (RB) Tennessee Titans – Hasn’t practiced all week. He re-aggravated an ankle injury last week. Even if Pollard plays, I would expect more work from Tajae Spears. Tyreek Hill (WR) Miami Dolphins – A personal issue has been added to the lingering wrist injury. We’ll keep an eye on his pre-game status. David Njoku (TE) Cleveland Browns – Njoku is still dealing with a hamstring injury but the switch of QB to Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a bigger issue. Zach Ertz (TE) Washington Commanders – I don’t expect Ertz to clear concussion protocol in time to play. Tyrone Tracy (RB) New York Giants – Could lose more reps to Devin Singletary even if he plays. Downgrade. Zach Charbonnet (RB) Seattle Seahawks – Ken Walker is back. Meanwhile, Charbonnet is dealing with an oblique issue. Cedric Tillman (WR) Cleveland Browns – David Moore (WR) Carolina Panthers – Braelon Allen (RB) New York Jets – Marquez Vades-Scantling (WR) New Orleans Saints – Hasn’t practiced all week and is now dealing with an illness. Additionally, with Spencer Rattler under center, MVS looks very iffy. Rashod Bateman (WR) Baltimore Ravens – Jalen Coker (WR) Carolina Panthers – Nick Folk (PK) Tennessee Titans – Luke Musgrave (TE) Green Bay Packers – Matt Gay (PK) Indianapolis Colts – DeeJay Dallas (RB) Arizona Cardinals – Mo Alie-Cox (TE) Indianapolis Colts – C.J. Ham (FB) Minnesota Vikings – EXPECTED TO PLAY Jakobi Meyers (WR) Las Vegas Raiders – Geno Smith (QB) Seattle Seahawks – Marquise Brown (WR) Kansas City Chiefs – Brown is making his season debut but will be on a snap count. Aidan O’Connell (QB) Las Vegas Raiders – Good spot for AOC to return, facing a horrid Jacksonville defense. He’s on the QB2 radar in Superflex formats. Roschon Johnson (RB) Chicago Bears – Sterling Shepard (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tyler Higbee (TE) Los Angeles Rams – Zane Gonzalez (PK) Washington Commanders – NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY Jaylen Waddle (WR) Miami Dolphins – Malik Washington is a sneaky pick-up and replacement. Chris Olave (WR) New Orleans Saints – Returned to practice in a limited capacity, which is progress. ENTER OUR WEEK 16 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: Firstly, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Next, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 16 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Here’s our Week 16 Player Rankings to help. Firstly, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Secondly, you just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard. Weekly Prizes and a Grand Prize at the end of the season! Finally, the Grand Prize Winner (highest individual week of the season) gets to choose from the amazing prizes below. If you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video starting at the 8-minute mark! Trading cards are back! MEMBER PERK! Fulltime Members get 5 Free On-Demand Drafts each month in our contest! DRAFT YOUR WEEK 16 TEAM and enter the REDEMPTION CODE you received by email.
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 16
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 16 The NFL season is barreling toward its dramatic conclusion, and our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 16 brings crucial decisions for managers on the cusp of glory—or despair. With championship berths on the line, setting the right lineup is more important than ever. Let’s break down some key start/sit decisions for the week, helping you separate the stars from the duds in this critical stretch. Subsequently, our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 16 will help you navigate that turbulence to pick a winning lineup this week. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings. Quarterbacks Start ‘Em Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers Kyler Murray’s Week 15 performance against the Patriots didn’t quite deliver the fantasy fireworks managers hoped for. The Cardinals dropped 30 points, but much of the scoring came through the ground game and their opportunistic defense, leaving Murray outside the top 12 fantasy QBs despite solid passing yardage. However, don’t let last week’s disappointment cloud your judgment. The Panthers’ defense has been a sieve, surrendering 27 passing touchdowns this season—tied for the league’s worst. Even Cooper Rush torched them for three scores just last week. Murray sits comfortably in QB1 territory against Carolina. Unless you have an elite alternative, roll with him confidently. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions After a quiet Week 15 against Minnesota, Caleb Williams looks poised for a bounce-back game. The rookie sensation scorched the Lions in Week 13, tallying an electrifying 32.1 fantasy points, and now gets a favorable rematch at home. Detroit’s defense is riddled with injuries, including key contributors like Alim McNeill and Carlton Davis, leaving them vulnerable. Expect Williams to take advantage of the depleted Lions and produce as a low-end QB1 this week. Check out where Caleb William ranks in our Week 16 QB Rankings Sit ‘Em Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans Fantasy managers are used to Mahomes being a set-it-and-forget-it option, but recent weeks have been brutal. Mahomes hasn’t topped 17 fantasy points in three consecutive games and is now nursing a high ankle sprain. Combine that with the Houston Texans‘ pressure-heavy defense—third-best in generating QB hurries—and Mahomes is a risky play in Week 16. His ceiling feels capped, and with your fantasy season on the line, it’s best to look elsewhere. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs Stroud’s struggles are undeniable—he’s failed to crack 16 fantasy points in eight straight games and hasn’t been a QB1 since Week 4. While Kansas City’s defense isn’t impenetrable, Stroud’s lack of passing yardage and low touchdown production make him a fantasy non-factor. Championship week is no time to gamble on a name without the numbers to back it up. Running Backs Start ‘Em Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys Over the past three weeks, Rico Dowdle has been an absolute workhorse for Dallas, delivering three straight 100-yard games and operating as the clear lead back. This week, he faces a tough challenge against the Buccaneers’ stout run defense, which has stymied some of the league’s best backs. However, Dowdle’s high snap count and Dallas’ reliance on the ground game in tight matchups give him a solid floor. He’s a must-start unless you have multiple elite options. Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals Jerome Ford has stepped up in Cleveland’s backfield with Nick Chubb out for the season. Ford exploded for 18.4 PPR points in Week 15, buoyed by a 62-yard touchdown run. He now faces a Bengals defense that has been vulnerable to running backs, giving up seven double-digit fantasy performances in their last five games. Ford projects as a strong RB2, especially if the Browns’ offense can stay functional with Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center. Sit ‘Em Isaiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans Fantasy managers hoping for a Pacheco breakout have been left wanting. Since returning from injury, he’s been stuck in a timeshare with Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine, limiting his volume and effectiveness. The Texans’ defense, meanwhile, has quietly shut down opposing RBs, allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards since Week 11. Avoid this backfield quagmire if you can. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens Harris’s recent inconsistency makes him a risky play. While he posted a decent outing against Baltimore in Week 11, the Ravens’ top-10 run defense and Harris’ limited role in the passing game cap his upside. With just one reception over his last two games, Harris is a touchdown-dependent flex option at best. Wide Receivers Start ‘Em DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders Smith finally broke out in Week 15, notching his first 100-yard game of the season. Injuries have disrupted his season, but with Dallas Goedert sidelined, Smith should continue to see increased targets. Washington’s struggling secondary provides a golden opportunity for Smith to shine again. Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals Thielen has been a steady presence in Carolina’s offense, and while his Week 15 output was pedestrian, injuries to key teammates could elevate his role this week. Facing a Cardinals defense that’s been respectable against wideouts, Thielen still offers a solid floor with potential for a bounce-back performance. Sit ‘Em Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears Williams has struggled away from Detroit with 3 games of 8 fantasy points or less and failed to deliver in a prior matchup with the Bears. He’s a desperation play in Week 16 with limited production and a low ceiling. Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots Cooper’s usage has plummeted, and with Buffalo’s crowded receiving corps, he’s too volatile to trust. The fact is that Josh Allen doesn’t need Cooper to score points or win games. Last week’s goose egg in targets is a glaring red flag, making him a bench candidate this week. Tight Ends Start ‘Em Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots Kincaid’s target share remains encouraging, and the Patriots have struggled to contain top fantasy tight ends.
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 16
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 16 Last week’s NFC West showdown was a rain-soaked dud with zero touchdowns. On the surface, this week’s AFC West game looks like another low-scoring snoozer. However, with major playoff implications at stake, FullTime Fantasy‘s
Last week’s NFC West showdown was a rain-soaked dud with zero touchdowns. On the surface, this week’s AFC West game looks like another low-scoring snoozer. However, with major playoff implications at stake, FullTime Fantasy‘s Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 16 finds some fantasy appeal for both squads.
One year ago, the Chargers were 5-9 and had just lost their starting quarterback to a season-ending finger injury and fired Brandon Staley. A year later, Jim Harbaugh has turned the franchise’s fortunes around. LA is in an excellent position to secure an AFC Wild Card spot.
Coincidentally, the Denver Broncos are directly competing with the Chargers for that postseason berth. Sean Payton has also done a masterful job quickly turning the Broncos back into contenders.
While neither team sets the world on fire offensively, this game projects to be a hard-fought, competitive contest. Back in October, the Chargers won 23-16 in Denver and the Broncos look to even the score in LA.
The home team is favored by three and the total sits at 42 points.
Matchup
| TEAM | OFFENSE | PASS | RUSH | YDS/PLAY | POINTS |
| Denver Broncos | 22 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 11 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 26 | 25 | 23 | 19 | 20 |
Only the Chargers have allowed fewer points than Denver. Additionally, both teams rank outside of the top 20 in overall offense. Points will be at a premium on Thursday.
Jim Harbaugh has resurrected the Los Angeles defense. However, the offense is still a work in progress. The Chargers have topped 30 points once and been held under 20 six times. That includes their last three games. Two of those resulted in losses, culminated by last week’s 40-17 dismantling by the Buccaneers.
Injuries have played a big part in the Chargers’ offensive struggles. And facing a Denver defense that ranks fifth against the run while allowing the second-fewest yards per play won’t be easy.
Denver’s offense has been marginally better. The backfield has been a mess for fantasy managers but QB Bo Nix has exceeded expectations after a slow start. Denver has won four straight to improve to 9-5. The Broncos are a game up on the Chargers for second place in the tough AFC West.
When the Chargers defeated the Broncos in Week 6, Los Angeles dominated the time of possession 37:23 to 22:37. But without J.K. Dobbins and a banged-up Justin Herbert, the rematch favors the visitors.
Denver Offense
Bo Nix finished as QB9 in Week 6 versus this defense, mainly because he ran for 61 yards. In his last seven games, Nix is…
How will Thursday’s Broncos vs. Chargers game go?
To get Jody’s BEST BET and finish reading this content…
USE CODE: BLITZ50 FOR 50% OFF your first TWO MONTHS! —OR— Use save20 for 20% off our 6-month package!
DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY.
GO PRO! Join FullTime Fantasy.
Jody Smith’s Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 16
Jody Smith’s Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 16 FullTime Fantasy has been synonymous with accurate fantasy football rankings for years. Our rankings have garnered numerous industry accolades, with several top-5 finishes in season-long, weekly, and even sports betting accuracy. This is
FullTime Fantasy has been synonymous with accurate fantasy football rankings for years. Our rankings have garnered numerous industry accolades, with several top-5 finishes in season-long, weekly, and even sports betting accuracy. This is the home of Jody Smith’s Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 16.
UPDATE: Jody currently ranks inside the TOP-10 in 2024 accuracy!
Ranking You Can Trust
Our staff was ranked No. 1 in 2022, with not one but TWO analysts inside the top 10. With proven projections and former FantasyPro’s Most Accurate Expert Jody Smith, FullTime Fantasy Members get instant access to reliable and trustworthy weekly rankings.
Jody also ranks inside the top 10 at FantasyPros for multi-year accuracy. That makes his combined draft and weekly rankings one of the most accurate and reliable in the business.
Additionally, Jody and Adam Krautwurst co-host the FullTime Fantasy Podcast, which is live-streamed weekly on YouTube. The guys are also active in the FullTime Fantasy Discord channel, helping answer all fantasy and sports betting inquiries.
Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 16…
To get access to Jody’s Weekly FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS…
USE CODE: BLITZ50 FOR 50% OFF your first TWO MONTHS! —OR— Use save20 for 20% off our 6-month package!
DEADLINE THIS SUNDAY.
GO PRO! Join FullTime Fantasy.
Injury Report: Week 16
Injury Report: Week 16 Welcome to the penultimate week of the 2024 fantasy season. Congrats on advancing in your league’s playoffs! Before your finalize your semi-final lineups,. our Injury Report: Week 16 updates you on all the fantasy-relevant injury news and notes. Also, bookmarking our NFL Injury Report is a great way to stay updated on the latest injuries. Finally, FullTime Fantasy Members will get the latest NFL injury news and advice live each Sunday and Thursday in the FullTime Fantasy Discord. Click below to join us today! Saquon Barkley (RB) Philadelphia Eagles – Barkley missed a significant portion of the second half of Philly’s Week 15 win against the Steelers after taking a helmet to the thigh. Fortunately, the injury is being labeled ‘minor’. However, we will keep an eye on his practice participation starting on Wednesday. Alvin Kamara (RB) New Orleans Saints – A groin injury caused Kamara to exit Sunday’s game early. These injuries are particularly difficult for running backs to recover from quickly, which puts Kamara’s Week 16 status in doubt. Therefore, Kamara fantasy managers should be prepared to empty their remaining FAB for Kendre Miller as the potential replacement. Patrick Mahomes (QB) Kansas City Chiefs – A “mild” high-ankle sprain finds Mahomes questionable for Saturday’s game versus Houston. Mahomes has a history of pushing through ailments like this so he is more likely to play than other signal-callers. However, the Chiefs will be on short rest and have their eyes on preserving his health for January. Also, considering how he’s played this season, Mahomes is not a locked-in QB1. UPDATE: Mahomes was a full participant Tuesday. George Pickens (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers – After missing two games with a hamstring ailment, Pickens’s semi-finals week is off to a promising start. Now here’s a good sign on Tuesday…George Pickens getting some work in pic.twitter.com/ox2hckf89U — Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) December 17, 2024 A.J. Brown (WR) Philadelphia Eagles – Brown suffered an ankle injury but there didn’t seem to be a lot of concern in the post-game locker room. However, players often understate issues and swelling can occur later. We will keep an eye on his practice status all week. David Montgomery (RB) Detroit Lions – An MCL injury will require surgery and force Montgomery to miss the rest of the season. This comes as an extra painful injury to pre-season OVER bettors. David Montgomery is out for the remainder of the season… If you bet Over on his Season Total Rushing Yards, look away 🫣 pic.twitter.com/4RIFJK0laU — br_betting (@br_betting) December 17, 2024 Jaylen Waddle (WR) Miami Dolphins – Day-to-day with a knee injury that is ‘not major’ per Mike McDaniel. That’s reassuring because the footage looked bad. Therefore, we’re not as optimistic. David Njoku (TE) Cleveland Browns – Njoku missed Week 15 with a hamstring injury. He is questionable entering Week 16. However, the QB switch in Cleveland is also a big blow for Njoku’s fantasy potential. We advise fantasy managers to look for other options. Geno Smith (QB) Seattle Seahawks – Smith hurt his right knee on a low hit and never returned to action. Mike Macdonald is ‘optimistic’ that Smith will be able to practice and play this week. Mike Macdonald says Geno Smith should be able to practice and play this week. Says good signs all around. pic.twitter.com/id354NKHuh — Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) December 16, 2024 Wan’Dale Robinson (WR) New York Giants – In the league’s concussion protocol. Sincere McCormick (RB) Las Vegas Raiders – The rookie exited Week 15’s loss in the second quarter with a left ankle injury. If it’s the dreaded high-ankle injury, McCormick could miss the rest of the fantasy season. UPDATE: The Raiders placed McCormick on season-ending IR. Zach Ertz (TE) Washington Commanders – Ertz is in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Fantasy managers should be prepared for him to miss this week’s game. Washington’s in-house replacements don’t look appealing, so look elsewhere for reinforcements. Trey Benson (RB) Arizona Cardinals – Benson is dealing with an ankle injury. We will monitor his practice participation throughout the week. Nick Chubb (RB) Cleveland Browns – A broken foot will end Chubb’s brief 2024 campaign. With him out, Jerome Ford becomes the top Waiver Wire target for this week. Will Dissly (TE) Los Angeles Chargers – Still dealing with a shoulder injury, Will Dissly is not expected to play on Thursday. Marquise Brown (WR) Kansas City Chiefs – There’s a chance that Brown will make his 2024 debut this week. However, the Chiefs are likely to bring him along very slowly. Therefore, Brown isn’t ready to be inserted into playoff lineups. Tyler Higbee (TE) Los Angeles Rams – The Rams activated Higbee, who is recovering from last year’s torn ACL, from IR. Aidan O’Connell (QB) Las Vegas Raiders – O’Connell (knee) missed Monday’s loss but is ‘trending in the right direction’ per Rotoworld. Tommy DeVito (QB) New York Giants – Unlikely to play after getting concussed last week. With Drew Lock (heel) also dinged, Tim Boyle is the next man up. Nelson Agholor (WR) Baltimore Ravens – In the league’s concussion protocol. Younghoue Koo (PK) Atlanta Falcons – Sent to IR. ENTER OUR WEEK 16 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: Firstly, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Next, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 16 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Here’s our Week 16 Player Rankings to help. Firstly, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Secondly, you just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard. Weekly Prizes and a Grand Prize at the end of the season! Finally, the Grand Prize Winner (highest individual week of the season) gets to choose from the amazing prizes below. If you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video
Circa Survivor Report: Week 15
Circa Survivor Report: Week 15 CIRCA SURVIVOR WEEK 15: SQUARE BETTORS CONTINUE TO FEAST After an unpredictable first two months of the NFL season, favorites have recently ruled the betting landscape. Over the last three weeks of gridiron action, very few upsets have led to only four entrants being knocked out of Circa’s $14 million Survivor contest. FullTime Fantasy‘s Circa Survivor Report: Week 15 breaks it all down. In Week 15, favorites went 12-4 Straight-up (SU), resulting in only one remaining Circa Survivor contestant being heartbroken. Winner, winner, steak dinner. pic.twitter.com/rr37oFqq4O — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 13, 2024 The one entrant who was eliminated was the only player who opted to try and correctly predict the winner of the Thursday night NFC West showdown between the 49ers and Rams. In near monsoon conditions, Los Angeles’ 12-6 upset San Francisco in a game that witnessed zero touchdowns and 13 punts. Went marching (w)in pic.twitter.com/2tJRILVb0O — Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 15, 2024 The biggest sweat for five contestants involved the NFC tilt between Jayden Daniels and the Commanders and Alvin Kamara and the Saints. Washington, who closed as 7.5-point road favorites, escaped with just a 20-19 win that came down to the game’s final play. WOW… The Saints scored a TD with ZERO seconds left to get within a point of Washington! They go for two and the win and… pic.twitter.com/1cIJTJ1kvy — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 15, 2024 After third-string QB Spencer Rattler connected with tight end Foster Moreau for a one-yard touchdown as time expired in regulation. Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi opted to go for a game-winning two-point conversion. However, Rattler was unable to connect with tight end Juwan Johnson – allowing Washington improved to 9-5 on the season. The (almost) bloodless Week 15 comes to a close with Minnesota’s convincing win over Chicago. Congrats to the players in the top 50! #CircaSurvivor #CircaSports #SurvivorSweat pic.twitter.com/UShoz2eaoZ — Survivor Sweat (@SurvivorSweat) December 17, 2024 In Week 15, favorites emerged victorious at a 62.5% clip, while also posting a very lucrative 10-6 Against The Spread (ATS) mark. After seeing only one entrant eliminated, only 50 of the starting 14,266 entries remain alive! The Circa Survivor contest is a grueling contest that forces entrants to pick one winner every week, with no spread with one pivotal caveat. Entrants CAN NOT use the same team more than once during the season. It is truly hard to believe, but the hunt for the biggest Survivor prize in history ($14,266,000) is now down to just four weeks! Buckle up! Entrants (who still have them available) will lean heavily on: Buffalo (-14) vs New England, Green Bay (-13.5) vs New Orleans, Atlanta (-9.5) vs NY Giants, Detroit (-7) at Chicago or Cincinnati (-7) vs Cleveland. From a betting perspective, favorites hold a sizable 157-67 SU (70%) and 114-104-6 ATS (52.3%) edge. Home teams hold a slim 110-109 SU (50.2%) advantage (five international games). Meanwhile, road teams hold the coveted 116-97-6 ATS (54.5%) edge. Circa Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas is the proud home of FullTime Fantasy‘s renowned Fantasy Football World Championship! ENTER OUR WEEK 16 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: Firstly, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Next, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 16 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Here’s our Week 16 Player Rankings to help. Firstly, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Secondly, you just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard. Weekly Prizes and a Grand Prize at the end of the season! Finally, the Grand Prize Winner (highest individual week of the season) gets to choose from the amazing prizes below. If you don’t know just how amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video starting at the 8-minute mark! Trading cards are back! MEMBER PERK! Fulltime Members get 5 Free On-Demand Drafts each month in our contest! DRAFT YOUR WEEK 16 TEAM and enter your REDEMPTION CODE you received by email.
Waiver Wire: Week 16
Waiver Wire: Week 16 The first round of the fantasy playoffs is in the books and it was a wild one! Being in must-win territory brings a different feel to the Waiver Wire: Week 16. Budget and future don’t matter.
The first round of the fantasy playoffs is in the books and it was a wild one! Being in must-win territory brings a different feel to the Waiver Wire: Week 16. Budget and future don’t matter. It’s all about this week and this week only.
Congrats on making it this far. This is the penultimate week in most leagues, so let’s approach FAB budgets with a now-or-never attitude.
Along with knowing who to pick up, FullTime Fantasy‘s Matchup Analyzer Tool will help you get the most out of your lineup.
NOTE: There are TWO Saturday games this week, Houston at Kansas City and Pittsburgh at Baltimore.
Jerome Ford (RB) Cleveland Browns – Nick Chubb will miss the remainder of the 2024 season with a broken foot. Ford was already seeing significant snaps behind Chubb. However, now he will revert to the starting gig that resulted in Ford posting overall RB16 numbers just last season. Ladies and gentlemen- we have a league-winner.
Jerome Ford reached a top speed of 21.70 mph on his 62-yard TD run, the fastest play by a Browns ball carrier since Week 4, 2019 (Nick Chubb, 21.95 mph).
Ford is responsible for the three fastest speeds by a Browns ball carrier over the last five seasons.#KCvsCLE | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/MFdn5D2SNV
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 15, 2024
Kendre Miller (RB) New Orleans Saints – Alvin Kamara exited Week 15 with a groin injury. Those ailments can…
To get access to Jody’s Weekly WAIVER WIRE PICKS…
USE CODE: BLITZ50 FOR 50% OFF your first TWO MONTHS! —OR— Use save20 for 20% off our 6-month package!
DEADLINE THIS SUNDAY.
GO PRO! Join FullTime Fantasy.
Week 15 News & Notes (UPDATED)
Week 15 News & Notes As the fantasy playoffs approach, keeping up-to-date on the latest fantasy-relevant news is important. Our Week 15 News & Notes catches you up on the latest injury updates and developments before you finalize this week’s lineups. And be sure to check out updated weekly rankings. Also, FullTime Fantasy Members will get the latest NFL injury news and advice live each Sunday and Thursday in the FullTime Fantasy Discord. Click below to join us today! This will be updated throughout the weekend. Players Ruled OUT George Pickens (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers Evan Engram (TE) Jacksonville Jaguars – Out for the season. Brenton Strange is a viable replacement. Will Dissly (TE) Los Angeles Chargers Cedric Tillman (WR) Cleveland Browns Noah Brown (WR) Washington Commanders Javon Baker (WR) New England Patriots Emari Demercado (RB) Arizona Cardinals Jalen Reagor (WR) Los Angeles Chargers Drew Lock (QB) New York Giants Dee Eskridge (WR) Miami Dolphins Kene Nwangwu (RB) New York Jets Questionable Tony Pollard (RB) Tennessee Titans – Did not practice all week until logging a limited session on Friday. Even if he suits up, Pollard’s ankle injury could result in more work for Tyjae Spears. Bucky Irving (RB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Limited on Friday. Ladd McConkey (WR) Los Angeles Chargers – Will again come down to a late pain-tolerance issue for the rookie wideout. Josh Downs (WR) Indianapolis Colts – Should be good to go. D’Andre Swift & Roschon Johnson (RB) Chicago Bears – Johnson has still not cleared concussion protocol. Swift is dealing with a groin injury. Aidan O’Connell (QB) Las Vegas Raiders – O’Connell isn’t as injured as expected. However, we expect Desmond Ridder to nab the start. Sterling Shepard (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Harrison Butker (PK) Kansas City Chiefs Zane Gonzales (PK) Washington Commanders EXPECTED TO PLAY Breece Hall (RB) New York Jets – Hall was a full participant Friday after missing a pair of practices. He is now expected to play. However, we’re skeptical of usage. The Jets have nothing to play for. Therefore, we’ll have Hall ranked conservatively. Jakobi Meyers (WR) Las Vegas Raiders – Was limited, but good to go. Dalton Kincaid (TE) Buffalo Bills Rashod Bateman (WR) Baltimore Ravens Jalen Coker (WR) Carolina Panthers Tyler Boyd (WR) Tennessee Titans Nick Folk (PK) Tennessee Titans NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY Kenneth Walker (RB) Seattle Seahawks – Zach Charbonnet 🚀 David Njoku (TE) Cleveland Browns, – Kevin Stefanski indicated that the Browns would use a committee of Jordan Akins and Blake Whitehart if Njoku misses this game, as expected. Marquise Brown (WR) Kansas City Chiefs Matt Prater (PK) Arizona Cardinals ENTER OUR WEEK 15 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: Firstly, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Next, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 15 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Here’s our Week 15 Player Rankings to help. Firstly, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Secondly, you just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard. Weekly Prizes and a Grand Prize at the end of the season! Finally, the Grand Prize Winner (highest individual week of the season) gets to choose from the amazing prizes below. If you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video starting at the 8-minute mark! Trading cards are back! MEMBER PERK! Fulltime Members get 5 Free On-Demand Drafts each month in our contest! DRAFT YOUR WEEK 15 TEAM and enter the REDEMPTION CODE you received by email.
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 15
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 15 Week 15 presents make-or-break decisions for managers as the fantasy football playoffs heat up. It’s the season of high stakes, where every lineup call could mean the difference between advancing or ending the year in heartbreak. To help you navigate, our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 15 has insights into their matchups and potential. Subsequently, our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 15 will help you navigate that turbulence to pick a winning lineup this week. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings. Quarterbacks Start ‘Em Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns Patrick Mahomes has been a reliable option at quarterback, ranking 10th in total fantasy points this season. His weekly performances have been consistent, with only two weeks finishing outside the top 20 at the position. However, Mahomes has struggled to produce elite QB1 numbers, cracking the top 10 just twice all season. His fantasy output has directly mirrored Kansas City’s offensive production—when the Chiefs score 30 or more points, Mahomes thrives as a top-five QB. This week, he faces a Cleveland Browns defense that has given up 27 or more points in four of their last five games. If this matchup turns into a shootout, Mahomes has the potential to deliver his best performance in weeks. While the game’s over/under of 44 indicates a more controlled affair, the stars may align for Mahomes to shine in your lineup. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills Don’t let the Bills’ defensive reputation scare you off Jared Goff this week. Yes, Buffalo is typically a tough matchup for quarterbacks, but we just witnessed Matthew Stafford light them up for 320 yards and two touchdowns. The Lions’ offense, built on a solid passing game, could follow a similar path. While Goff has been more successful against man coverage than zone this season, his recent form is encouraging—multiple touchdown passes in four of his last five games. This game has the potential to be a high-scoring duel, making Goff a strong starting option. Sit ‘Em C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins C.J. Stroud hasn’t cracked 20 fantasy points in seven straight games, struggling even in favorable matchups. With just five touchdowns and five interceptions since Week 6, he’s a tough sell against a Dolphins defense that has been stingy against quarterbacks all season. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers Despite the Seahawks’ recent win streak, Geno Smith hasn’t been fantasy-relevant, failing to top 16 points in any of his last four games. Smith is best avoided against a solid Green Bay Packers defense allowing just three 20-point performances to QBs this season. Running Backs Start ‘Em Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys vs. Carolina Panthers Rico Dowdle has emerged as the Cowboys’ clear lead back, steadily gaining momentum in recent weeks. After starting the year sharing snaps with Ezekiel Elliott, Dowdle has taken over the backfield, even contributing on third downs and in late-game situations. In Week 13, Dowdle hit a career milestone with his first 100-yard rushing performance, followed by another strong showing on Monday Night Football. The Panthers’ defense, which has allowed more fantasy points to running backs than any other team, sets up Dowdle for another monster game. With multiple 100-yard rushers torching Carolina recently, Dowdle enters Week 15 as a strong RB2 with RB1 upside. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys Chuba Hubbard continues to take advantage of the Panthers’ backfield situation, thriving as the team’s primary option with Jonathan Brooks out for the season. Hubbard has posted at least 15 PPR points in four of his last five games, including a 20.7-point outing against a tough Eagles defense in Week 14. The Cowboys’ defense has shown vulnerabilities to running backs in recent weeks, allowing multiple 14+ PPR performances. With Hubbard locked into a dominant role in Carolina’s offense, he’s a top-10 fantasy RB this week. Sit ‘Em D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears vs. Vikings D’Andre Swift has become a risky option for fantasy managers, producing single-digit fantasy points in four of his last five outings. Over that stretch, he’s averaged just 9.6 points per game and hasn’t surpassed 40 rushing yards in his last three games. He’ll face the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night, a team that stifled him back in Week 12, holding him to 9.5 fantasy points. The Vikings have allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards and only six touchdowns to running backs all season. Given the matchup and recent trends, it’s tough to trust Swift as anything more than a desperation play. Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Jets Travis Etienne finally broke out of a slump with 11.0 PPR points in Week 14 against Tennessee, his first time surpassing 8.8 points since Week 5. Even so, his workload was concerning, with only four carries—a season-low since Week 9. Meanwhile, teammate Tank Bigsby took on a hefty 19 touches in the same game, making him the more attractive Jaguars running back option heading into Week 15. Both backs, however, face a challenging matchup against the Jets, who rank 10th in limiting fantasy points to opposing running backs. At best, Etienne is a low-end flex play this week, and his upside remains capped. Wide Receivers Start ‘Em D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Although D.J. Moore hasn’t been the epitome of consistency, he’s delivered when it matters, racking up 75.2 PPR points over the last four weeks—sixth among receivers in that span. He’s remained the Bears’ top target, leading the team in receiving grade, targets, and yards. Facing a Vikings defense that has allowed the most receiving yards to outside receivers this season, Moore is in a prime spot. He torched Minnesota just weeks ago with 106 yards and a touchdown. Slot him in as a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside this week. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions Khalil Shakir has quietly become a fantasy darling, scoring 11+ points in six of
Week 15 Sleepers & Emerging Players
Week 15 Sleepers, Potential-Emergent Players, and Opportunistic Plays This article is contributed by Brad Kruse This column is NOT intended to provide Week 15 Waiver Wire claims lists. Instead, the purpose is to look at young players whose opportunity could emerge and should be monitored. I will also look at potential injury replacement players, but I will try not to focus on the obvious choices for this week’s slate of games as that is covered elsewhere on the sight. My goal is to help look around corners for the season which might give ideas for pre-emptive adds to your roster with Week 15 Sleepers & Emerging Players. This week, I will focus exclusively on the young receivers and review their performance using targets per route run and yards per route run metrics. The list below must include a minimum of ten targets. Young Breakout Receivers (through Week 14) The above table looks at all first and second-year WRs with at least 15% targets per route run (TPRR) and 1.5 yards per route run (YPRR) through ten weeks this year. Below are comments on players who stood out in Week 13. Second Year Players Puka Nacua: Nacua again is at the top of the list for first or second-year players. He collected twelve receptions on 14 targets for 162 yards and a touchdown. That was good for 41.8 fantasy points, 56% targets per route run (TPRR), and 6.5 yards per route run (YPRR). He is at the top of the list in YTD TPRR and YPRR rankings with 38% and 3.6 respectively. Dontayvion Wicks: Wicks was an efficiency darling in 2023 but has had a difficult sophomore campaign. However, he was very efficient on his 18 routes this week. He collected five targets resulting in four receptions for 49 yards and no touchdowns. That was good for a 28% TPRR and 2.7 YPRR. His utilization has declined, but if he could get full-time usage with that efficiency, he would return to relevance. Quentin Johnston: Johnston put up another solid week in his bounce-back season. Johnston earned seven targets for five receptions and 79 scoreless yards. That resulted in 26% TPRR and 1.8 YPRR. For the season, Johnston has 21% TPRR and 1.7 YPRR. Those are right at the numbers needed to build on to become a strong receiver in a full-time role. Jordan Addison: Addison was one of the stars this week. He was a big part of a heavy pass attack. His fantasy day was helped by a couple of short-yardage touchdowns. But you cannot argue with his earning twelve targets resulting in eight receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns. That brought his YTD performance to 21% TPRR and 2.2 YPRR. Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Smith-Njigba is putting up fantasy numbers weekly at this point. His efficiency was mixed as he caught all five of his targets for 82 yards and one touchdown. That was a 19% TPRR and 3.2 YPRR performance on the week. That brought his YTD performance to 22% TPRR and 2.0 YPRR. He is another bounce-back first round receiver from 2023. Rookies Brian Thomas: Thomas is always dangerous. This week he earned twelve targets and caught eight of them for 86 yards. That resulted in a 36% TPRR and 2.6 YPRR. Both of those metrics are strong. During the year, Thomas earned 24% TPRR and 2.4 YPRR. He is another strong receiver from this rookie class. Malik Nabers: Nabers played through another questionable tag as he battles his nagging groin injury. But, for the week, he earned 10 targets resulting in five receptions for 79 yards. He put in somewhat of a floor day with 20% TPRR and 1.6 YPRR bringing his YTD performance to 30% TPRR and 2.0 YPRR. His numbers have decayed over the weeks. He is still a very consistent performer, but his explosive games have eluded him of late. However, that could improve with Tommy DeVito back under center. Jalen McMillan: McMillan has been quiet for most of the year, but he jumped out this week with four receptions on seven targets for 59 yards and two touchdowns. That resulted in a 26% TPRR and 2.2 YPRR. He needs to continue this performance for us to buy into it being a breakout, but he deserves mention for the solid week. ENTER OUR WEEK 15 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: First, you draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Next, try to stack the team with players you think will do well this week. Finally, the highest Week 15 Score wins. (PLUS: You get to see the Thursday Night game and then draft!) Here’s our Week 15 Player Rankings to help. First, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Secondly, you just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard. Weekly Prizes and a Grand Prize at the end of the season! Finally, the Grand Prize Winner (highest individual week of the season) gets to choose from the amazing prizes below. If you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video starting at the 8-minute mark! Trading cards are back! MEMBER PERK! Fulltime Members get 5 Free On-Demand Drafts each month in our contest! DRAFT YOUR WEEK 15 TEAM and enter your REDEMPTION CODE you received by email.