Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 17
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 17 The highlight of the final Thursday game of the 2023 fantasy season is that the game gets to kick off championship week. While last week’s Saints vs. Rams tilt hit the over, FullTime Fantasy‘s
The highlight of the final Thursday game of the 2023 fantasy season is that the game gets to kick off championship week. While last week’s Saints vs. Rams tilt hit the over, FullTime Fantasy‘s Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 17 features the Browns hosting the NFL’s most futile offense in the lowly New York Jets.
16th-year pro Joe Flacco has been a revelation for the Browns. Cleveland has started four different signal-callers this season. However, the Browns are in contention for the AFC’s top seed with a nifty 10-5 record.
Meanwhile, the Jets have also had to play the quarterback carousel. But Robert Saleh has not enjoyed anywhere near as much success. At least not on offense. Saleh’s defense ranks third in the NFL.
Saleh does keep his club ready to compete and they will undoubtedly be ready to play spoiler.
New York opened as 6.5-point underdogs and the total was a ghastly 35 points.
Matchup
| TEAM | OFFENSE | PASS | RUSH | YDS/PLAY | POINTS |
| New York Jets | 32 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 30 |
| Cleveland Browns | 13 | 20 | 11 | 28 | 10 |
New York’s season effectively ended after four snaps. After losing Aaron Rodgers, the Jets have struggled to mount any kind of credible offense. Zach Wilson fared about as well as expected before losing – and regaining- the starting job. Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian have also contributed to the futility.
Siemian will make his second start this week and faces a tough task. Cleveland boasts the NFL’s No. 1 defense. The Browns lead the league in passing defense, interception rate, third-down efficiency, and fewest yards per play.
Meanwhile, Flacco has resurrected a stagnant offense. Cleveland has averaged 29 points per game in Flacco’s three starts. However, the Jets have the No. 2 pass defense and won’t allow the big plays that the Browns produced in Houston.
Points will be at a premium in this one. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean this game is a fantasy football fade.
New York Offense
How will Thursday’s Jets vs. Browns game go?
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Jody Smith’s Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 17
Jody Smith’s Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 17 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 our FullTime Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 16.
Ranking You Can Trust
Our staff was ranked No. 1 last season, with not one but TWO analysts inside the top 10. With projections powered by NFBC Hall-of-Fame writer Shawn Childs and former FantasyPro’s Most Accurate Expert Jody Smith, FullTime Fantasy Members get instant access to reliable and trustworthy weekly rankings.
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 17
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FFWC High-Stakes Recap: Week 16
Happy New Year! We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Christmas. Round Two of the 2023 FullTime Fantasy Football playoffs is now complete. As was the case following Round One, the playoff standings changed dramatically after Week 16 action. Here is a look at the Top 30 Leaderboards from our four Major FFWC XI Tournaments. Fantasy Football World Championship Including 14 new teams, in the overall Top 30, the FFWC XI standings shifted considerably. That includes a new leader, plus seven new teams in the top ten. The race to claim the $150,000 top prize is close as the top five teams are separated by just 29.91 points. Following a huge jump last week, from 116th to second place, team Ruthless m5 is our new FFWC XI leader. Led by a season-high 43.10 points from Breece Hall, plus 25.1 points from Lamar Jackson and Christian McCaffrey, Evangelos Lilas posted 188.8 points. Delivering when it matters most, Hall scored well above the previous season-high 28.4 points he posted back in Week 5. Another big mover last week, jumping from 123rd to 12th overall, Fairways & Greens WC VII now sits second overall. Led by a massive 51.50 points from Amari Cooper, plus Puka Nacua (33.0) and L. Jackson, Curtis Hirsch racked up 192.5 points. Getting hot at the perfect time, that’s just a shade below the 192.85 points Curtis posted last week. Fairways & Greens WC VII is just 18.89 points out of first place. Making a big jump, Team Gipson moved from 91st to third over. Led by Hall and Cooper, plus Mike Evans (27.6), CeeDee Lamb (26.2), and Matthew Stafford (24.0), Danny Gipson scored an FFWC XI Week 16 high 232.6 points. After sitting 71.35 points out of first place, entering Week 16 action, Team Gipson is now just 21.10 points behind our overall leader. Also new to the Top 30 standings, Dingos Dreamteam SLOW II moved from 63rd to fourth overall. After posting 154.3 points last week, Robbie Dinges’ squad piled up 217.4 points. Led by A. Cooper, C. McCaffrey, and M. Evans, plus 30.5 points from Joe Flacco, Robbie posted the second-highest Week 16 total. Dingos Dreamteam SLOW II moved from 62.57 to 27.52 points out of first overall. The biggest Week 16 jump, into the Top 30 overall, belongs to team Fantasyportfolio.win 1 who went from 129th to fifth place. FullTime Fantasy ranking and analysis experts, co-owners Adam Krautwurst and Jack Kohlscheen racked up 201.65 points. Led by B. Hall and C. Lamb, plus Jalen Hurts (27.45) and Jahmyr Gibbs (26.0), Adam and Jack posted the seventh-highest total during Week 16 action. Click the CHAMPS PLAYOFFS button on the FFWC Online 8/22 9 PM ET league page, which is home to our current overall leader, to view the full Championship Round standings. Circa Las Vegas Fantasy Championship Our inaugural Circa Las Vegas Fantasy Championship tournament leaderboard also looks very different following Week 16 action. Of the 30 teams that started the week on the LVFC leaderboard, just 14 squads remain. In the race to claim the $50,000 first-place prize, ten teams posted at least 201.10 points. That includes five squads that moved into the top ten overall standings. Moving up 35 spots, Team Taylor jumped from 36th to first overall on the LVFC playoff leaderboard. Led by huge numbers from Amari Cooper (51.5) and Breece Hall (43.10) plus CeeDee Lamb (25.2), Team Taylor racked up 230.85 points. That was the highest LVFC Week 16 total and moved Charlie from 48.97 points off the pace into first place. After slipping from 26th to 56th place last week, team Mad Dads of Girls Gone Wild rebounded and moved into second place overall. Led by A. Cooper, Amon-Ra St. Brown (28.6), and the LA Chargers Team PK (22.5), Todd Zeo posted 221.55 points. That was the second-highest LVFC Week 16 score and well above Todd’s 14-week season average of 159.55 points. Climbing one spot, team ElbowsRingers moved from fourth to third overall. Surviving a rough Week 16 outing from Brook Purdy (8.95), George Pickens (35.5), and Christian McCaffrey (25.1) helped Daryl Dorsey post 180.35 points. Coupled with the 210.20 points scored last week, ElbowsRingers have been red-hot after entering the playoffs in 199th place overall. Making another big move, after jumping from 268th to 58th last week, Team Grape Apes now sits fourth overall. Led by A. Cooper, G. Pickens, and C. Lamb, Gary Allen posted 217.45 points. That was the third-highest LVFC Week total and moved Grape Apes from 56.44 to just 20.87 points out of first place. Rounding out the top five, The Great Gatsby 20 moved from 38th to fifth overall. Led by A. Cooper, B. Hall, and C. McCaffrey, plus Dak Prescott (23.15), Ray Cowart piled up 209.95 points. That was the fifth-highest Week 16 score and moved Ray from 49.94 to just 21.87 points out of the top spot. Click the CHAMPS PLAYOFFS button on the Circa LVFC 8/5 11:45 PM ET league page, which is home to our current overall leader, to view Championship Round standings. Dynasty Fantasy World Championship Tournament Our Dynasty Football World Championship standings were also hit with lots of changes. Just 14 of the original Top 30 teams remain on the leaderboard after the second round of the playoffs. In the race to claim the $10,000 first-place prize, 12 teams posted at least 200.45 points. Three of those squads sit in the top five overall standings. Moving up seven positions, from eighth to first, Turbo Turtles is our new DFWC overall tournament leader. Amari Cooper (51.5), Puka Nacua (33.0), and Mike Evans (27.6) helped DFWC 13 team co-owners Blake Bernstein and James Barber rack up 236.4 points. That was the highest Week 16 total across the four FullTime Fantasy tournaments. Also moving up seven positions, team La Flama Blanca jumped from ninth to second overall. Led by Josh Allen (28.3), Amon-Ra St. Brown (28.6), and Christian McCaffrey (25.1) DFWC 31 co-owners Chris Dennison and Vin Esposito posted 200.45 points.
Fantasy Football Injury Report
Fantasy Football Injury Report Congratulations on navigating a turbulent 2023 campaign and advancing to the finals. In a season like this, it’s doubtful anyone avoided injuries. However, knowing how to overcome those obstacles is likely what led you this far. The FullTime Fantasy Football Injury Report will keep you up-to-date on the impactful injuries one final time in the 2023 season. Good luck in your fantasy finale! Also, a great starting point for staying updated on the latest injuries is to bookmark our NFL Injury Report. 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! Isiah Pacheco (RB) Kansas City Chiefs – Pacheco lost his helmet and took a knee to the head, resulting in a concussion. Nearly two-thirds of players diagnosed with a concussion miss at least one game. Additionally, Jerick McKinnon (groin) is already on IR. That makes Clyde Edwards-Helaire the priority waiver wire add ahead of the title game. C.J. Stroud (QB) Houston Texans – Speaking of concussions, Stroud missed his second consecutive game. However, he has reportedly made significant progress through the league’s protocol. Once he’s clear, Stroud immediately returns to QB1 status for a Texans’ squad still tied atop the AFC South. T.J. Hockenson (TE) Detroit Lions – An MCL/ACL injury is expected to cost Hockenson multiple games. Hock took a helmet shot directly to his right knee and was ruled out rather quickly. Unfortunately, Hockenson will be placed on season-ending IR. Jaylen Waddle (WR) Miami Dolphins – On Monday, Mike McDaniel revealed that Waddle’s shin injury was a high-ankle sprain. That will almost certainly sideline Waddle for at least one game. The timing is lousy, especially with the Dolphins traveling to Baltimore this week for AFC supremacy. Miami does not have an in-house replacement for fantasy managers to look to. Therefore, expect more opportunities for the running backs. Michael Pittman (WR) Indianapolis Colts – Yet another head injury, Pittman cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol last week. However, he self-reported reoccurring symptoms on Saturday and re-entered the protocol. Pittman must go back through the steps before he can play again. Josh Jacobs (RB) Las Vegas Raiders – The Raiders held out Jacobs from Monday’s game. Meanwhile, Zamir White had a fantastic performance. As a pending free agent, Jacbos may elect to protect himself from further injury. Also, the Raiders may be just fine with White and Ameer Abdullah. For now, we will keep an eye on Jacobs’s practice status all week and update accorindgly. Courtland Sutton (WR) Denver Broncos – Sutton is also in the league’s protocol. With the rate mentioned above of players missing games after a concussion, Sutton should be considered very questionable for this week’s game. Brandon Johnson saw a noticeable increase in snaps after Sutton exited. Jordan Addison (WR) Minnesota Vikings – A low-ankle sprain forced Addison from Minnesota’s Week 16 loss. In a Tuesday update, Kevin O’Connell said that Addison is day-to-day. Therefore, we will have to monitor and update Addison’s availability all week. Brock Purdy (QB) San Francisco 49ers – Purdy was having a forgettable Week 16 outing before exiting in the second half with a shoulder injury. However, it doesn’t sound like Kyle Shanahan is too concerned about Purdy’s health moving forward. 49ers’ QB Brock Purdy suffered his second stinger in two games Monday night. “You know how stingers are and it could be worse (Tuesday),” said HC Kyle Shanahan. “But I think it’ll be alright.” Additionally, LT Trent Williams suffered a groin injury, his backup Jaylon Moore got a… pic.twitter.com/7KYbqzoK1z — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 26, 2023 Kenny Pickett (QB) Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Tomlin indicated that Pickett is getting closer to a return and will be given more reps this week. However, it is fully expected that Mason Rudolph will earn another start after his impressive showing against the Bengals. D.J. Moore (WR) Chicago Bears – An ankle injury impacted Moore’s effectiveness on Sunday. We will have to monitor Moore’s practice availability throughout the week. DJ Moore said that he aggravated the ankle injury he initially sustained 2 weeks ago vs. Detroit when he was tackled by Arizona CB Starling Thomas. He only missed a handful of plays after being designated questionable to return, and credits the Christmas spirit (and being given… — Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) December 25, 2023 Cole Kmet (TE) Chicago Bears – Another big blow for the Bears, Kmet exited with a knee injury and was unable to return. If Kmet and Moore are unable to play in Week 17, Chicago would host a tough Atlanta defense without either of their top two pass-catching threats. Kareem Hunt (RB) Cleveland Browns – Hunt was in on 38% of Cleveland’s snaps in Week 16, but managed to turn nine touches into just 13 yards. Additionally, Hunt is dealing with a groin injury and is at risk of missing Thursday’s short turnaround. Michael Thomas (WR) New Orleans Saints – Thomas will not play this week. Fantasy managers who have been feudally holding onto Thomas can drop him from their IR slots. Chris Rodgriguez (RB) Washington Commanders – Fresh off a 2-score game, rookie RB Chris Rodgriguez has an ankle injury that we will have to learn more about and update as the week progresses. Washington signed Jaret Patterson as depth. RB Chris Rodriguez (ankle) to have an MRI today. All injuries updated tomorrow. — Ben Standig (@BenStandig) December 26, 2023 Zach Wilson (QB) New York Jets – Wilson is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Therefore, he won’t play in Thursday’s game. Dustin Hopkins (PK) Cleveland Browns – The Browns ruled out Hopkins from Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury that occurred during Cleveland’s dismantling of the Texans on Sunday. Riley Patterson joined the practice squad. Meanwhile, the Jets also could have a new kicker as Greg Zuerlein has a quad injury. Finally, thanks for reading the Fantasy Football Injury Report. The 2023 NFL
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 17
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 17 It is difficult to recollect a season with more adversity than 2023. If you are reading a Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 17 article, that means you persevered through the chaos and made it
It is difficult to recollect a season with more adversity than 2023. If you are reading a Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 17 article, that means you persevered through the chaos and made it to the championship. Congratulations! This is what all that hard work was for.
Making it this far likely means your roster is set. But this isn’t the time to start overthinking. Stick with who, and what got you here. However, there may still be some depth or dynasty options worth adding. One positive takeaway is no teams are locked into playoff spots, which makes things easier to project.
Good luck this week and Merry Christmas!
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) Kansas City Chiefs – Isiah Pacheco is in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Since two-thirds of players diagnosed with a concussion miss at least one week, that sets CEH up to be Kansas City’s lead back in Week 17. Edwards-Helaire has already been making the most of a bigger opportunity after Pacheco missed a pair of games in December. As the potential lead back against a suspect Cincinnati run D, Edwards-Helaire is a solid RB2. Also, it makes him the top fantasy football waiver wire: week 17 option.
Zamir White (RB) Las Vegas Raiders – Josh Jacobs has now missed two consecutive games. Additionally, with the Raiders out of playoff contention and Jacobs set to hit free agency, we could see the veteran back shut down. If that happens, White becomes a very strong RB2 play this week as the Raiders take on a Colts’ defense that has ceded the third-most fantasy points to running backs.
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Saturday Player Props
Saturday Player Props As each season concludes we are blessed with Saturday NFL action. Week 16 of the 2023 campaign is no different, with two games. Coincidentally, there are major fantasy football ramifications on the line. Using our FullTime Fantasy Week 16 rankings, here are some Saturday Player Props to target as you enjoy the Bengals vs. Steelers and Bills at Chargers games. Josh Allen OVER 1.5 Touchdown Passes The Bills have been more run-heavy since changing play-callers. However, facing a Chargers’ secondary that has ceded the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks will result in a different approach. Look for Allen to go to the air and attack LA’s biggest weakness. In fact, Shawn thinks Allen will double this line, tossing three scores on Saturday night. Jake Browning Interception Shawn’s projections are modest for Browning. It’s almost like we’ve all been waiting for that bubble to burst. Browning has tossed three interceptions in his four starts, including each of the last two games. Meanwhile, the Steelers have picked off 13 passes. Also, one of those picks came from Browning back in Week 12. Finally, Shawn’s numbers have Browning closer to multiple INTs than just one. Mason Rudolph OVER 220 Yards Pittsburgh’s offense has somehow been even more incompetent since firing Matt Canada. Except for that first game, the Steelers have been dreadful and that’s resulted in a three-game skid. Mike Tomlin has turned to his third-string quarterback to stop the bleeding. Things can hardly get worse. In his last NFL start, Rudolph completed 60% of his attempts for 242 yards. Shawn’s Week 16 projections aren’t quite that high. But Rudolph should easily be able to top 200 yards against a suspect Cincinnati secondary. Joe Mixon Anytime Touchdown A lot of the industry is cool on Mixon this week. However, he has eight touchdowns in his last eight games. Even though Mixon did not score against the Steelers in Week 12, Shawn’s projections give Mixon a 75% chance of getting into the endzone in the rematch. Jaylen Warren to outscore Najee Harris Handicapping Pittsburgh’s backfield has been difficult. Just when Warren started thriving, Najee Harris out-rushed in three straight games. However, with Rudolph under center, Shawn sees Warren as far more valuable. His projections see Warren approaching 110 scrimmage yards while Harris is down closer to 50. Also, look at the Jaylen Warren Anytime Touchdown props. Our numbers have Warren at a 70% likelihood of hitting paydirt. Stefon Diggs OVER 100 Yards As cold as Diggs and the Buffalo passing attack has been, you can find really good odds on this line. Diggs hasn’t hit the century mark since Week 6. But our Week 16 projections have hive easily topping it with an 8.6/121/1 line. In fact, Diggs is Shawn’s No. 1 wideout in PPR formats. Additionally, the Chargers have allowed five 100-yard wideouts this season, and one even topped 200. We’re all in on the Bills today! Also, the Diggs Anytime Touchdown is appealing. Total Receptions Props Here are some wide receiver reception props to consider using our RDA* projections. Stefon Diggs 8.5 Tee Higgins 6 Josh Palmer 5 James Cook 5 Quentin Johnston 4 Tanner Hudson 4 Anytime Touchdown Finally, some of the other players to score a touchdown per our RDA* Week 16 projections. James Cook 80%(!) Tee Higgins 50% Diontae Johnson 50% Gabe Davis 50% Dalton Kincaid 50% ENTER OUR WEEK 16 DRAFT CONTEST! How it Works: First, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Second, 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. First, it’s a best-ball contest, so no need to submit a lineup. We’ll optimize the best one. Second, 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 your REDEMPTION CODE you received by email.
Week 16 DFS: Tight End Report featuring Travis Kelce
Week 16 DFS: Tight End Report Sam LaPorta (5/56/5) posted his second impact game over the past three weeks, giving him the top tight end fantasy score in Week 13 (29.00) and Week 15 (28.60). David Njoku (10/104/1) finished with
Sam LaPorta (5/56/5) posted his second impact game over the past three weeks, giving him the top tight end fantasy score in Week 13 (29.00) and Week 15 (28.60). David Njoku (10/104/1) finished with second place prize for the second consecutive week, followed by Trey McBride (10/102). Here are the top five tight ends by scoring average after 15 weeks:
- T.J. Hockenson (15.01)
- Travis Kelce (14.74)
- Sam LaPorta (14.66)
- Evan Engram (12.71)
- George Kittle (12.69)
Here are the top plays this week via the Week 15 DFS: Tight End Report. Also, check out the Week 14 DFS: QB Report, RB Report, and WR Report.
Top Tier Options
T.J Hockenson, MIN (DK – $5,800/FD – $6,800)
Over the past four games, the quarterback jockey led to Hockenson having a step back in value compared to his play with Kirk Cousins. From Week 11 to Week 15, he averaged seven targets and 12.25 fantasy points in PPR formats. Over his first 10 starts, Hockenson had a floor of seven catches in six starts, leading to four high-value outputs (7/66/2, 11/86, 16/88/1, and 11/134/1). The switch to Nick Mullens at quarterback invites more pass attempts and completions for the Vikings’ offense. In addition, Minnesota should score more points with Justin Jefferson back in the starting lineup. In 2022, Hockenson had nine catches for 85 yards and a touchdown vs. the Lions in two games.
Detroit struggled with tight ends in four contests (SEA – 9/132, ATL – 11/88, BAL – 4/63/2, and CHI – 6/70/1). They rank 23rd in tight end defense (66/691/7). Over their other 10 games, the Lions played eight teams (KC – no Travis Kelce, GB twice, CAR, TB, LV, NO, and DEN) with weakness at tight end.
The receiving shine for Minnesota in this matchup will be Justin Jefferson, as well as the attention by their defensive game plan. Hockenson will be active in this game, giving him a chance to post a 20+ fantasy point game.
Trey McBride, ARI (DK – $5,700/FD – $7,000)
McBride has 51 catches for 542 yards and two touchdowns on 64 targets since…
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Week 16 DFS: Wide Receiver Report
Week 16 DFS: Wide Receiver Report All five of the top receivers in Week 15 ranked outside of the top 20 coming into the week. Jordan Addison (29.10) posted the high score in fantasy points in PPR formats, followed by
All five of the top receivers in Week 15 ranked outside of the top 20 coming into the week. Jordan Addison (29.10) posted the high score in fantasy points in PPR formats, followed by Jaylen Waddle (28.20) and Terry McLaurin (26.10). No wideout scored more than 30.00 fantasy points for the second week all year. Twelve other wide receivers scored between 20.00 and 26.00 fantasy points. Here are the top five players by scoring average after 15 weeks:
- Tyreek Hill (23.15)
- CeeDee Lamb (21.66)
- Keenan Allen (20.03)
- A.J. Brown (19.10)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (18.13)
Also, before we get into the Week 16 DFS: Wide Receiver Report, check out the QB Report and RB Report.
Elite Option
CeeDee Lamb, DAL (DK – (9,200/FD – $9,400)
Lamb has a touchdown in six consecutive games (seven total) while offering elite stats over his last eight starts (69/897/9 – 27.96 FPPG in DraftKings scoring). On the downside, he has been a weaker option in 2023 on the road (43/597/2 on 58 targets over seven games – 13.02 FPPG) than at home (28.51 FPPG). His best two games away from Dallas came in Week 6 (7/117) and Week 9 (11/191).
Miami played better defensively over their last five games (13, 13, 15, 28, and 0 points allowed), except for a late fourth quarterback collapse vs. the Titans (two touchdowns over the final three minutes). The Dolphins are about league average vs. wideouts (185/282/13 on 282 targets), with struggles in three games (DEN – 18/257/1, BUF – 13/209/4, LV – 18/209/1). CB Xavien Howard (40/425/2 on 63 targets per PRR) may miss this week’s game with a hip issue. Lamb will most likely see CB Kader Kohou (62/630/6 on 73 targets) in coverage for a good portion of his routes due to him working out of the slot.
The hot hand theory favors Lamb again in this game, but Dak Prescott hasn’t been the same player on the road. Better weather in Miami is a plus, and the Cowboys will need to throw the ball better this week if they expect to compete for a win. Unfortunately, Lamb will be a challenging fit for a DFS lineup in Week 16.
Second Tier Options
Justin Jefferson, MIN (DK – $8,100/FD – $9,200)
Jefferson started with four productive games (9/150, 11/159, 7/149/1, and 6/85/2). He averaged 11.75 targets, leading to…
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Week 16 NFL Player Props
Week 16 NFL Player Props Just three weeks left in the regular season. It’s been a profitable year if you’ve been following this column. We are now 43-33 (+11.15 Units) on the 2023 season. Sports betting is all about riding the hot streaks
Just three weeks left in the regular season. It’s been a profitable year if you’ve been following this column. We are now 43-33 (+11.15 Units) on the 2023 season. Sports betting is all about riding the hot streaks and surviving the cold spells. Now that we’ve had a few profitable weeks after our first cold streak of the year, let’s see if we can continue to ride the wave and make some more cash in Week 16.
As always, I will be listing my seven favorite player props of the week as we gear up for Week 16’s slate of NFL matchups. All 32 teams will be in action during the holidays and we’ll be treated to three games on Christmas this Monday as well as some action on Saturday! Lots of football in the coming days!
Fantasy football players have an edge when it comes to prop betting because we are so in tune with individual player performances. As always, remember to odds shop at your different sportsbooks to find the best values for the prop bets listed below. Now, let’s get down to business and find the best Week 16 NFL prop bets and continue our profitable NFL season.
Mason Rudolph UNDER 191.5 Passing Yards (-115)
After Kenny Pickett’s injury, the Steelers moved on to Mitch Trubisky. However, that was short-lived after Trubisky was benched last week in favor of Rudolph. Now, Rudolph will start on Saturday when the Steelers take on a tough Cincinnati Bengals defense. Rudolph has started 10 games in his career.
Although he is 5-4-1 as a starter, it’s hard to envision him being much of an upgrade over Trubisky. After all, Rudolph is mostly known for being attacked by Myles Garrett with his own helmet back in 2019. Still, Pittsburgh is out of options and they have to roll someone out there. Rudolph has averaged 208.1 passing yards per game but I don’t think he’ll reach that mark in a divisional rivalry in cold weather.
The Steelers lack an identity on the offensive side of the football and although Rudolph has several weapons at his disposal including Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and even Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren out of the backfield, Rudolph hasn’t had a lot of reps with these guys.
I anticipate a low-scoring affair in which the Steelers struggle to move the chains. Pittsburgh is a run-first offense but the Bengals are much better at shutting down the run than the pass. If they can effectively contain Harris and Warren in the trenches, Rudolph will struggle to give his receivers space in the secondary. I’m taking the Under.
Baker Mayfield…
WHAT OTHER PLAYER PROPS LOOK LIKE PROMISING BETS THIS WEEK?…
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Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 16
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 16 We’ve reached the semi-finals of most fantasy leagues. Congratulations on advancing this far. There are only two wins left and our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 16 will give you the edge to make sure you advance to next week. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings. Quarterbacks Start ‘Em Jared Goff (Lions) vs. Vikings Coming off a stellar performance in Week 15 with five touchdown passes against the Broncos, Goff is displaying improved consistency. While earlier in the season, his fantasy production fluctuated, recent performances have been more stable, with only one game outside the top 18 in the last six matchups. Facing the Minnesota Vikings, who have allowed significant fantasy points to quarterbacks, Goff is expected to capitalize on this favorable matchup. The Lions, though favored to win, might lean on Goff more than the run game, making him a compelling start option. Nick Mullens (Vikings) vs. Lions Mullens emerges as a strong streaming quarterback option for Week 16 against Detroit. His impressive 21.1 fantasy points in his first start in Week 15 at Cincinnati showcased his potential. With quality weapons in Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and Jordan Addison, Mullens is set for another favorable outing against the Lions, who rank sixth in Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Considering the recent trend of quarterbacks scoring well against Detroit, Mullens has the potential to secure a top-10 fantasy quarterback position. Sit ‘Em Sam Howell (Commanders) vs. Jets Following a challenging Week 15 performance, Howell is expected to remain the Commanders’ starter in Week 16 against the Jets. Despite struggling against the Rams, this matchup against New York poses a brutal challenge. The Jets rank third in fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, making Howell’s fantasy outlook grim. With a recent streak of fewer than 20 Fantasy points in four consecutive games, caution is advised when considering Howell for Week 16. Russell Wilson (Broncos) vs. Patriots While Wilson secured a QB1 position last week with a rushing touchdown, his failure to reach 18 fantasy points in the last five games raises concerns. The Patriots, boasting a strong defense in terms of passing yards and touchdowns allowed since Week 11, present a challenging matchup. With the Steelers’ Mitchell Trubisky as the only QB to surpass 16 points against New England since Week 10, Wilson’s Fantasy prospects are diminished. Fantasy managers with alternative options should explore alternatives to Wilson for Week 16. Running Backs Start ‘Em Chuba Hubbard (Panthers) vs. Packers Since the coaching change three weeks ago, Hubbard has been a workhorse, running 22 or more times in each of the last three games. Despite averaging less than 4.0 yards per carry in the last four games, he has maintained a top-25 fantasy running back position. The matchup against the Green Bay Packers, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs, bodes well for Hubbard. With the Packers yielding over 100 rushing yards to running backs in their last four games, Hubbard’s high floor positions him for a strong performance against Green Bay. Aaron Jones (Packers) vs. Panthers Despite missing multiple games due to injury, Jones has showcased his talent with two top-eight fantasy finishes this season. In the absence of A.J. Dillon in the last game, Jones played 48% of the team’s offensive snaps. Those numbers are expected to increase as he distances himself from injury. Facing the Carolina Panthers, whose run defense has improved but still allows good numbers to running backs due to game scripts, Jones combines talent and expected game flow for a solid fantasy performance. Sit ‘Em Jerome Ford (Browns) vs. Texans Ford’s performance in Week 15 against the Bears, with only eight carries for 20 yards and minimal involvement in the passing game, raises concerns. The Texans, with a streak of not allowing a rushing touchdown to running backs in five games, present a tough matchup. Additionally, the split playing time with Kareem Hunt further diminishes Ford’s fantasy appeal. While Ford may serve as a flex option, fantasy managers should approach with caution in Week 16. Najee Harris (Steelers) vs. Bengals Harris, with a season-low snap count in the last game, faces a challenging scenario against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers, being home underdogs, may alter Harris’ usual workload. With two of the last three teams facing the Bengals averaging 3.1 yards per carry or less, Harris’ efficiency may suffer. Fantasy managers may witness a decrease in Harris’ carries. That would potentially leave him outside of the starting range for Week 16. Finally, it’s not like we need a reason to avoid this moribund Pittsburgh offense. But there are numerous. Wide Receivers Start ‘Em Noah Brown (Texans) vs. Browns With Nico Collins potentially missing the game, Brown is likely to assume the No. 1 receiver role for the Texans in Week 16 against Cleveland. Brown’s previous performances without Collins in Weeks 9, 10, and 15 resulted in at least 22.2 PPR points per outing. Despite not having C.J. Stroud, Brown’s connection with Case Keenum in Week 15 and his consistent performance in Collins’ absence make him a viable No. 3 fantasy receiver in all leagues. Tee Higgins (Bengals) vs. Steelers Higgins, despite a somewhat challenging season, demonstrated his capability with a remarkable two-touchdown performance against the Vikings. With Ja’Marr Chase missing time, Higgins stands as the top target for Jake Browning. Browning, averaging 318 passing yards per game in the last three weeks, enhances Higgins’s fantasy prospects. Also, with Chase ruled out, Higgins should see a noticeable spike in opportunities. Sit ‘Em Adam Thielen (Panthers) vs. Packers Thielen’s recent performances without Frank Reich calling plays have seen a decline, averaging just 9.9 fantasy points per game in the last six games. Sharing more work with rookie Jonathan Mingo further complicates Thielen’s Fantasy outlook. Additionally, facing the Packers, who had been stingy to wide receivers before a recent setback, adds to the challenges.