The penultimate week of the fantasy football season has played its final song. With more fantasy managers saying goodnight to their seasons, only the top dogs are now left standing. In the next seven days, champions will be crowned. The best of the best will stand tall, to bask in the light of fantasy football glory. The story of fantasy football 2021 is almost finished, with one more tale to tell.
Before looking ahead, here are things that managers still in the hunt for a fantasy championship can learn from week 16.
Quarterback
The conundrum surrounding Dak Prescott has finally come full circle, with Prescott putting up a massive day for fantasy managers in week 16. The only fight that Washington had in them, they ended up using it on themselves. Dak was magical in three and a half quarters of action, a rebound game he so desperately needed. Prescott, the QB2 on the week, now finds himself in a spot where he needs to deliver, for both his team and his fantasy managers, against the Cardinals in week 16. If the Cowboys’ offense can continue to produce like they did against Washington, Dak will be a bang start against the Cardinals. Arizona however is a functional franchise and football team unlike Washington, and should show way more backbone versus Dak. Fantasy managers cannot expect Dak’s week 16 for week 17, but can expect a solid day in a game where points should be scored.
Speaking of where points should be scored, how about Joe Burrow! Burrow was sensational versus the Ravens on Sunday, recording the fourth highest passing yards total in a game in NFL history. Burrow only trailed Matt Schaub, Warren Moon, and Norm Van Brocklin in terms of single game yardage performance. Burrow has really, really, grown in his second year. When studying the film of this game, Burrow has faded a part of his game that has been a crutch of his at times this year. Burrow is now completing all of his reads, and not zeroing in on one guy to throw to. This is a sign of maturation and progress from Burrow, where the sky is the absolute limit with him. Burrow now gets the Chiefs at home in week 17, another spot for Burrow to really boom for his fantasy managers.
Over the last three games alone, fantasy managers have seen the good, the bad, and the downright ugly when it comes to Jalen Hurts. Let’s analyze each in three separate pieces:
Good: Hurts has the ability to use his legs and really give fantasy managers a nice fantasy floor via his rushing. His two rushing touchdowns versus Washington in week 15 registered him a QB3 finish for the week.
Bad: Hurts is an inconsistent thrower who needs his rushing floor to not cripple fantasy managers’ lineups. Hurts only had two rushing attempts in week 16 versus the Giants, even in a first half which saw both teams register only 6 combined points.
Ugly: Hurts is prone to the flat out dud, with a three interception performance against those same Giants in week 13.
It is a roller coaster ride with Hurts, there is no doubt about it. Yet Hurts takes on the same Washington Football Team that he flat out destroyed two weeks ago. Hurts should be a fine start for fantasy managers in championship week.
Running Back
With no Rhamondre Stevenson, Damien Harris had the opportunity to be the lead running back for the Patriots. Boy, did Harris deliver. Harris was sensational versus Buffalo, with three rushing touchdowns against Buffalo. No Stevenson meant good things for Harris, who completely led the way for the Patriots backfield. Only Brandon Bolden recorded any other touches out of the Patriots running backs. Depending on the status of Stevenson, Harris could be in line for a huge day in week 17 versus the Jaguars. The Jags just allowed Michael Carter to have a 100 yard rushing effort, and that should be repeated by Harris if he can be the man by himself for the Patriots.
Ronald Jones II got his opportunity as lead running back for the Buccaneers, and he took it. Jones recorded 22 touches for the Bucs, and had a score versus Carolina. The volume alone should have Jones as a steady RB2 this week for Tampa, and he should get opportunities to fall into the endzone as well versus the New York Jets.
Sony Michel dominated the work in the Rams’ backfield versus the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Now, what seemed to be a straightforward approach in analyzing the Rams as now flipped within the last week. Darrell Henderson is now dealing with a MCL sprain, and could miss some time. Cam Akers, who the Rams selected in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft who has been out for the season with an Achilles injury, has been designated to return from injured reserve and could return. While Michel should be relied on as the starter for now, a return from Akers could see this backfield become way more of a committee situation. Keep an eye out this week on the Rams injury report, specifically if Akers makes his return to practice at all for the Rams.
Wide Receiver
Very few would have put Tee Higgins in the conversation to be a WR1, let alone the WR1 in any given week over his teammate Ja’Marr Chase. Yet this week, Higgins was the benefactor of a monster game from Joe Burrow, recording 12 catches on 13 targets for 194 yards and two touchdowns. While Chase has been a fantasy darling, and rightfully so given his brilliance, Higgins has quietly been fantastic down the stretch. In his last five games, Higgins has had four 100 yard efforts and four touchdowns in that stretch. Higgins remains in line to be a fantasy contributor this week versus the Chiefs, and should be started with confidence. This is now a two headed monster at receiver for the Bengals, with Chase serving as the 1A and Higgins as the 1B.
No Jared Goff, no problem for Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown continued his fine run of form for the Lions, recording 9 catches for 91 yards and a score on 11 targets. With Tim Boyle at the helm for Detroit, many feared the worst. But St. Brown was involved heavily, and that should continue. St. Brown has had four straight games of double digit targets, and has scored in three of his last four. Up next for St. Brown is the Seattle Seahawks at home. If fellow receiver Josh Reynolds misses the contest due to COVID-19, as he was placed on the COVID list on Monday, St. Brown will become even more of the passing game catalyst for the Lions.
In his return for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Antonio Brown became Tom Brady’s number one guy. Brown recorded 10 catches on 15 targets with 101 receiving yards. Brady went to Brown early and often, taking his fantasy managers back in time to when he would record 10 catches in his sleep while with the Steelers. The Brady-Brown connection could potentially be a league winner this week against the New York Jets, who now have their top corner Bryce Hall on the COVID list. Not to mention, it is Brady versus the Jets one more time.
Tight End
Mark Andrews is a freak of nature. That is all that needs to be said about him. Andrews was flawless yet again versus the Bengals in a losing effort. However, this is now three separate quarterbacks for Baltimore in three weeks that have looked at Andrews as their primary source of offense. During this three week stretch, Andrews has recorded three 100 yard efforts and has registered four touchdowns. The Ravens are expecting Lamar Jackson to be a close call for Sunday versus the Rams, however at this stage it does not matter who the starter is for Andrews to be a reliable fantasy asset.
With no DeAndre Hopkins for Arizona, Kyler Murray heavily targeted Zach Ertz this week versus the Colts. Ertz was targeted 13 times, reeling in 8 catches and getting numerous red zone looks. This is good news for fantasy managers, as Ertz seems to be the apple of his quarterback’s eye at the moment. Up next for Ertz, a date with his old foe the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington. Ertz should get plenty of opportunity to make a mark in this matchup, and those who partake in throwing down wagers should probably look at an anytime touchdown line from Ertz in the contest.
A better day from Kyle Pitts in week 16, as the former Florida Gator recorded his third 100 yard receiving day of the season versus the Detroit Lions. The Atlanta tight end was targeted often by Matt Ryan, something fantasy managers have been calling for. In a probable negative game script this week versus the Buffalo Bills, Pitts should be in line for more work for Atlanta. If his fantasy managers are still alive, congratulations are in order because that is some elite level managing. He should be a solid start this week, but the trepidations to fully trust Pitts in fantasy championships is heard and understood.
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