Fantasy Questions Week 16. The 10 Biggest Fantasy Questions for the Week.

The best part about fantasy football is the potential to win a championship. The second-best part is avoiding your league’s last-place punishment. The third-best part is making fun of whichever poor manager “wins” said last-place punishment. 

So what’s the best thing that you, a scholar, can do in order to accomplish any of these three goals? Control the controllables and get those rosters into the best shape possible for these final two weeks!

What follows are my 10 biggest questions ahead of Week 16 to accomplish that very goal and a bunch of other stuff that I found cool for one reason or another.

As always: It’s a great day to be great.

1. Who are the must-start parties from this Ravens-49ers matchup?

Pretty much these guys:

• Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: Quietly needs “just” 259 rushing yards over the final three weeks of the season to reach 1,000 on the season. The QB5 in fantasy points per game on the year: Jackson has been a fantasy cheat code at the position ever since taking over the starting job midway through the 2018 season.
   
• 49ers QB Brock Purdy: Actually averaging more fantasy points per game (20.2) than Jackson (19.9). The MVP conversation is what it is: At the end of the day style points don’t matter in fantasy land, and Purdy continues to lead the game’s most efficient passing attack. Only Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Jackson, Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes deserve to be started ahead of Purdy this week.
   
• 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey: CMC is on pace to become just the 12th player in NFL history to gain over 2,000 total yards and score 20-plus TDs in a single season. If his Week 15 performance was any indication: McCaffrey is poised to end the 2023 fantasy season in style and reward many of his managers with championship glory.
   
• 49ers WR Deebo Samuel: Has scored an incredible eight TDs in his last four games despite touch totals of “just” 11, seven, eight and five. Deebo’s receiving efficiency is back at 2021 levels; he’s a top-10 option at the position despite the tough matchup.
   
• 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk: A similar sentiment is true here just to a slightly lesser extent since Aiyuk’s fantasy managers don’t get the benefit of extra touches in the run game. Don’t sweat last week’s dud: Aiyuk had a pair of 40-plus yard gains that were just missed by Brock Purdy. Probably not TDs due to a late safety coming over, but Purdy’s first underthrow and second overthrow demonstrate the reality that Aiyuk’s 3-37-0 receiving line was hardly all his fault.
   
• 49ers TE George Kittle: The TE5 in PPR points per game this season has only been outscored by Travis Kelce, T.J. Hockenson, Sam LaPorta and Mark Andrews. It’d certainly be a lot cooler if Kittle was averaging more than 5.4 targets per game this season, but he offers more boom upside than nearly anyone at the position thanks to his status as the game’s best YAC option at the position.

Wait, that’s weird. Only one Raven is truly someone who NEEDS to be started in almost every single fantasy lineup out there?

Pretty much, although there are still some quality options worthy of FLEX — or TE1 — consideration.

Let’s start with Gus “The Bus” Edwards, who is seemingly back to working as the team’s lead back with Keaton Mitchell (ACL) lost for the season. While Edwards was taking a bigger and bigger backseat to Mitchell in recent weeks, he was one of fantasy’s best producers over a five-game stretch that featured him score *nine* TDs.

Sadly, Gus also has seven games with under 55 scoreless yards. More of his fantasy production has come from pure scoring than any other RB this season:

Highest percentage of PPR production to come from TDs:

1. Raheem Mostert (47%)
2. Edwards (41%)
3. De'Von Achane (36%)
4. David Montgomery (35%)
5. Christian McCaffrey (34%)

The Ravens are implied to score a rather pedestrian 20.5 points this week, making Edwards more of a TD-dependent RB3 as opposed to someone who should be squeezed into fantasy lineups of all shapes and sizes.

And then there’s this passing attack. Each of Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman and Isaiah Likely are within three targets of each other since Mark Andrews was lost for the season — but it’s been the latter TE leading the way in overall production and utility.

Zay and OBJ remain fine enough WR3 options, but they aren’t must-start players as long as Jackson continues to be willing to spread things out.

Likely is the only deserving of starting treatment in more leagues than not. He’s a legit top-10 option at the position this week following 4-40-0, 5-83-1 and 5-70-1 performances in three full games with Andrews sidelined.

2. What are the biggest mismatches to exploit in Cowboys-Dolphins?

The game of the week — or at least of Sunday — features an embarrassed Cowboys team looking to bounce back against ANOTHER high-octane AFC East squad, this time in the form of Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. The matchup will feature fantasy’s top-two highest-scoring WRs if Tyreek Hill (ankle) is able to return to action.

A quick look at each team’s EPA per play on offense reveals that both are quite good at moving the football overall and especially through the air, but the Dolphins have maintained an advantage on the ground throughout the season:

• EPA per play: Dolphins (+0.096, No. 3), Cowboys (+0.088, No. 4)
• EPA per pass play: Dolphins (+0.156, No. 4), Cowboys (+0.168, No. 3)
• EPA per run play: Dolphins (+0.015, No. 4), Cowboys (-0.039, No. 9)

And then there’s the defense, where the Dolphins surprisingly lead the way due largely to the return of stud CB Jalen Ramsey in Week 8:

• EPA per play allowed: Dolphins (-0.123, No. 3), Cowboys (-0.119, No. 5)
• EPA per pass play allowed: Dolphins (-0.149, No. 4), Cowboys (-0.133, No. 6)
• EPA per run play allowed: Dolphins (-0.079, No. 16), Cowboys (-0.099, No. 10)

Overall, the Dolphins actually rank first in EPA allowed per play since Ramsey’s return.

Here’s the catch: The schedule has been incredibly easy during this stretch. Aside from one admittedly tough(ish) matchup against the Chiefs, Miami has faced the Patriots, Raiders, Jets, Commanders, Titans and Jets during this span. Kudos to the Dolphins for holding Patrick Mahomes and company to just 14 points (KC also had a pick-six); just realize Dak Prescott and company will unquestionably present their biggest challenge since facing the Eagles back in Week 7.

This Dolphins offense is more balanced than most think, boasting a season-long +2% drop back rate over expected. They certainly look capable of at least somewhat replicating the Bills’ dominant effort on the ground — especially if run-stuffing DT Johnathan Hankins (knee/ankle) remains sidelined.

Of course, the Dolphins aren’t exactly at full health either. They will have a LOT more trouble slowing down Prescott and company through the air without the return of starting CB Xavien Howard (hip), S Jevon Holland (knees) and/or S DeShon Elliott (concussion). The entire starting offensive line missing practice on Wednesday also certainly isn’t ideal.

Ultimately, I’m expecting fireworks in a matchup tentatively not expected to feature any weather-related issues. All the usual suspects should be fired up in far more fantasy leagues than not in the week’s only game featuring a game total north of 50. I’ll take the Dolphins 30-27 in this one — but hopefully the real winner is simply AMERICA (and our fantasy teams).

3. Does James Cook suddenly deserve weekly upside RB1 treatment?

It’s sure looking that way! His production has been borderline erotic since offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was swapped out for Joe Brady:

• Week 11: 17-73-0 rushing, 3-29-1 receiving, PPR RB9
• Week 12: 16-43-0, 6-57-0, RB12
• Week 13 bye
• Week 14: 10-58-0, 5-83-1, RB3
• Week 15: 25-179-1, 2-42-1, RB2

While Cook has only posted a snap rate between 45-55% in these contests, his usage did take a nice leap forward during his breakout Week 15 performance against the Cowboys. As Dwain McFarland noted in his critically acclaimed Utilization Report: “In seven drives with the starters, Cook had even better numbers than the game log shows. He accounted for 62% of snaps and 60% of the attempts in seven drives with the starters.”

Dec 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) runs the ball in for a touch down in the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

As Dwain also notes: Cook’s closest fantasy comps are all dogs. The second-year talent boasts the position’s second-best explosive run and reception rate — cementing Cook with 15-plus touches per week inside the Bills’ ever-lethal offense has turned him into a living nightmare for defenses and opposing fantasy managers to handle.

I believe fantasy managers only need one hand to count the number of RBs they should comfortably start ahead of Cook ahead of Saturday’s absolute smash spot against the league’s sixth-worst defense in PPR points per game to the position.

4. Is Calvin Ridley a legit WR1 in this smash spot?

He certainly has a lot working in his favor. The ex-Falcons veteran has racked up an absurd 25 targets over the past two weeks, yet only returned 4-53-0 and 5-39-0 production due to brutal matchups against the Browns and Ravens as well as some arguable f*ckery from the referees. 

Many of his targets have been of the downfield variety: Only DeAndre Hopkins (376) and Zay Jones (357) have more air yards than Ridley (284) over the last two weeks of action.

Oh yeah, another thing, Ridley is more cemented as Trevor Lawrence’s No. 1 target than ever with Jones (hamstring) now expected to join Christian Kirk (core muscle, IR) on the sideline.  It remains to be seen if T-Law (concussion) will be able to suit up Sunday himself, but early reports seem to indicate there’s a chance. Luckily, the ankle injury hasn’t been severely impacting 2021 NFL Draft’s No. 1 overall pick from a raw production standpoint, as Lawrence has cleared 250 passing yards in five consecutive games despite playing through the pain. He only surpassed that mark in three of his first nine contests to start the season.

Final note: This week’s matchup against the Buccaneers is as good as they come. Only the Eagles and Commanders have allowed more PPR points per game to opposing WR rooms, and the secondary is far from healthy with No. 1 CB Carlton Davis (groin) and FS Ryan Neal (back) both uncertain for Sunday.

To summarize:

• Ridley is getting all kinds of fantasy-friendly volume recently.
• His target total actually has room to RISE due to another injury.
• The matchup is literally all fantasy managers could ever hope for.

Do you get what I’m saying? Jamal Agnew to the MOON, baby!

In all seriousness: Ridley is deserving of top-15 treatment *if* Lawrence manages to clear the protocol by Sunday. The presence of C.J. Beathard would downgrade Ridley to borderline WR2 territory alongside fellow No. 1 WRs with question marks under center like DeAndre Hopkins, Garrett Wilson and Drake London.

5. What should we make of this Joe Flacco-led Browns passing attack?

Well first of all: They suddenly are very much cool with throwing the rock all over the yard.

That +7% dropback rate over expected is a full 10% higher than their -3% mark during the first 12 weeks of the season. The presence of one of the game’s best defenses has resulted in plenty of drives to rack up dropbacks, leading to Flacco registering 44, 45 and 44 pass attempts over the past three weeks — the most in the NFL by a margin of 11.

However, Flacco’s performance hasn’t exactly been what the kids might call overly good. Don’t get it twisted: Mr. Elite has made some true big-time throws along the way and deserves credit for doing enough to win two of his three starts; just realize he’s also objectively been one of the league’s least efficient QBs on a per-dropback basis:

• EPA per dropback: -0.23 (No. 41 among 43 qualified QBs)
• Completion percentage over expected: -6% (No. 40)
• PFF pass grade: 61.9 (No. 30)
• Passer rating: 82.1 (No. 28)
• Yards per attempt: 7.2 (No. 14)

Throw in the utter lack of a rushing floor, and I think the conversation surrounding the soon to be 39-year-old veteran being an upgrade over Deshaun Watson is silly. Now, is the fact the conversation is even close incredibly sad when considering the relative contract number? Absolutely — but in terms of pure on-field performance, we can’t just ignore the ex-Texans signal-caller making some really nice throws against the Cardinals or helping lead a second half comeback over the Ravens in his last two games prior to fracturing his throwing shoulder.

Regardless: Flacco is racking up the passing production in this newfound pass-happy offense, leading to some serious fireworks for his pass-catchers. Overall, David Njoku (60.2) joins Sam LaPorta (65.3) and Evan Engram (62.5) as the only TEs with more than even 50 PPR points over the last three weeks, while Amari Cooper has returned WR18 production on a whopping 27 targets — the eighth-most of any player at the position.

Further helping matters is a Texans defense that has generally funneled their opponent’s production to the air: DeMeco Ryans’ defense ranks 21st in EPA against the pass compared to seventh against the run this season, leading to them allowing the seventh-most yards through the air through 15 weeks of action.

Njoku is my TE6 on the week behind only Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, T.J. Hockenson, Trey McBride and Evan Engram (if T-Law plays), while Cooper is deserving of upside WR2 treatment and someone I would start over guys like DeVonta Smith, Davante Adams and Brandon Aiyuk among others.

6. Buccaneers country, let’s bake?

Last week’s 381-yard, four-TD performance came a bit out of nowhere. Sure, the Packers didn’t exactly boast a world-beating defense coming in, but Mayfield had previously gone four consecutive games under 250 passing yards while combining for “just” six scores through the air.

So what changed? Well, Green Bay’s reluctance to test these WRs even a little bit in man coverage certainly didn’t help matters.

Indeed: Mayfield has averaged 7.6 yards per attempt on a 66% completion rate against primary zone coverages this season compared to 5.6 and 50% marks vs. man-heavy schemes. Note that the majority of NFL coverages are zones, and many have man-match principles.

This brings us to the Jaguars … who have run the league’s seventh-most Cover-3 while playing the eighth-lowest rate of Cover-1. Starting CB Tyson Campbell (quad) and FS Andre Cisco (groin) being banged up hasn’t helped. The results have been almost unanimously bad, as Jacksonville has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing QBs and the fifth-most passing yards overall.

At the risk of getting too excited about a great matchup following a one-week boom, Mayfield deserves legit borderline QB1 consideration in this spot and is someone I would start ahead of guys like Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson, Nick Mullens and Sam Howell among others. Hopefully your playoff squad is already set up with a far better QB, but Baker stands out as the week’s best streamer for anyone forced to deal with ill-time injuries at the position.

Continue to lock Mike Evans and Rachaad White into lineups of all shapes, while Chris Godwin is a borderline WR2 and Cade Otton more of a low-end TD-dependent TE2.

7. How high should concern really be for this Eagles passing game?

On the one hand, the Eagles have thrown for 220 or fewer yards in four of five games following their Week 10 bye. On the other hand, they have faced four objectively great defenses during that stretch in the form of the Chiefs, Bills, 49ers and Cowboys.

This brings us to last Monday night’s dud against the Seahawks, who managed to limit Jalen Hurts and company to just 17 points and 143 yards through the air despite not having the services of stud rookie CB Devon Witherspoon (hip). It was ugly, as Hurts posted season-low marks in yards per attempt (4.6) and completion rate (54.8%).

Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) passes the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Lucky for Hurts, the tush push continues to keep his fantasy floor near most signal-caller’s ceilings. Consider: Hurts has more fantasy points from purely rushing yards and TDs than everyone other than Christian McCaffrey, Raheem Mostert, Derrick Henry, David Montgomery and Kyren Williams.

Hurts and fellow rushing extraordinaire Lamar Jackson rank just 15th and 16th in total fantasy points from passing production this season (Brock Purdy leads the way for those wondering). He ripped off 7-77-1, 9-13-0 and 9-34-1 rushing performances in three matchups with the Giants last season — continue to fire up Hurts as a top-two option at the position thanks in large part to the real life cheat code that is the tush push.

As for these WRs, there’s been a new No. 1 producer in five games since the team’s Week 10 bye:

• A.J. Brown: 28 rec-309 yards-1 TD (47 targets)
• DeVonta Smith: 32-424-2 (43)

Both Smith (WR7) and Brown (WR23) have still both posted top-24 numbers at the position during this stretch; just realize the newfound presence of Dallas Goedert adds more stress on both ahead of matchups against the Giants and Cardinals — two games that probably won’t force the Eagles overly keeping their foot on the gas in the passing game for four quarters.

Ultimately, both WRs (especially AJB, because he’s still AJB) should continue to be started in fantasy lineups of most shapes and sizes, Goedert is a low-end TE1 with more severe weekly volume concerns, and D’Andre Swift has settled in as more of a borderline WR2 due to his utter lack of goal-line work and recent downgrade in pass-game usage.

Seriously: Swift has caught just five passes for a total of 12 scoreless yards in his last four games combined! In this economy!

8. Where does Jayden Reed’s season rank among rookie WRs?

Pretty, pretty, pretty highly, especially lately considering how hot the Packers’ second-round pick has been over the last month and a half:

• Week 10: 5-84-1 receiving, 0-0-0 rushing, PPR WR12
• Week 11: 4-46-0, 3-46-1, WR11
• Week 12: 4-34-1, 2-16-0, WR25
• Week 13: 4-16-0, 0-0-0, WR50
• Week 14: 8-27-0, 4-38-1, WR6
• Week 15: 6-52-1, 0-0-0, WR17

Sadly, a toe injury kept Reed out of practice on Wednesday and leaves his status for Sunday’s winnable matchup against the Panthers in question. This sucks, as only five rookies have been more efficient on a per-route basis this season:

• Puka Nacua (2.4 yards per route run)
• Rashee Rice (2.35)
• Tank Dell (2.22)
• Dontayvion Wicks (2)
• Demario Douiglas (1.93)
• Reed (1.71)

That’s right: Fellow Packers WR Dontayvion Wicks has also emerged as one of the position’s more pleasant year-one surprises. The fifth-round pick posted career-high marks in targets (7), receptions (6) and yards (97) alike in Week 15 with Reed joining Christian Watson (hamstring) on the bench for large portions of the game. Jordan Love has featured Reed (18 targets) and Wicks (12) ahead of both Romeo Doubs (10) and TE Tucker Kraft (10) during the last two weeks with Watson sidelined.

Kudos to the Panthers for allowing the fourth-fewest PPR points per game to opposing WRs this season, but at this point it’s tough to not give Love the benefit of the doubt. His 223.8 fantasy points from purely passing production this season rank seventh and are within 12 points of both Patrick Mahomes (235) and Josh Allen (232). Any level of condensed target share here is a big deal in fantasy land.

Ultimately, Reed will be a recommended start as a low-end WR2 if healthy enough to suit up, which would leave Wicks and Doubs more so as FLEX-worthy WR4 types. However, the latter WRs would upgrade into top-36 territory should the versatile rookie be sidelined. TE-needy managers can look to Kraft for TD-dependent TE2 production if Luke Musgrave (kidney, IR) remains sidelined.

9. How high is too high to rank Chiefs WR Rashee Rice?

Let’s just say you BARELY need to use your toes to count the number of WRs to start ahead of him this week.

The rookie has been absolutely en fuego since returning from the Chiefs’ Week 10 bye:

• Week 11: 4 rec-42 yards-0 TD (5 targets), PPR WR38
• Week 12: 8-107-1 (10), WR3
• Week 13: 8-64-0 (9), WR22
• Week 14: 7-72-1 (10), WR7
• Week 15: 9-91-1 (9), WR8

Overall, only Deebo Samuel, Tyreek Hill and CeeDee Lamb have more PPR points than Rice over the past five weeks of action. Not too shabby of company to be in!

Up next is the same Raiders defense that Rice returned a top-three finish against back in Week 12. His lowly 4.8-yard average target depth (second-lowest at the position) demonstrates the reality that Patrick Mahomes still isn’t overly looking for the rookie downfield, but gadget-esque usage is far less of a problem when it doesn’t take away from a full-time role — which Rice has had to the tune of 82% and 93% route rates over the past two weeks.

Overall, the only WRs I would start ahead of Rice in full-PPR settings this weekend: CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson, Mike Evans, Stefon Diggs, Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel and D.J. Moore. That’s it.

10. What are three bold predictions for Week 15?

Every week I put together matchup-specific charts to help determine the week’s biggest mismatches by combining offensive and defensive rates in explosive plays, pressure, yards before contact, passing yards per dropback and EPA. This provides singular metrics to help quantity advantages on both sides of the ball instead of always having to go, “Offense ranks x, defense ranks y.”

The following three players might have a red flag or two in their Week 16 projection — that’s why they aren’t ranked as sure-thing top-12 options at their position — but I believe there’s enough of an edge in the matchup to warrant enhanced optimism.

Credit to us (me) for calling out the potential for Amari Cooper and Jahmyr Gibbs to boom last weekend. Please ignore my incorrect assertions that Justin Fields and David Montgomery would ball out. Thank you.

1. Drake London benefits mightily from having Taylor Heinicke under center, torches the Colts for a 7-115-1 receiving line. No QB is expected to have more consistently clean pockets than Heinicke this week in terms of combined pressure rate, and the dueling mid defenses involved leads me to believe this could turn into a sneaky shootout of sorts. There's always a low floor here — just look at Week 13 (1-8-0) and Week 15 (2-24-0) — but as Week 14 (10-172-0) demonstrated: London remains a special talent plenty capable of making big-time plays when given the opportunity.

2. D'Andre Swift gets back to booming, totals over 100 yards and finds the end zone against the Giants. No rushing attack has a better matchup in terms of combined rush yards before contact than Jason Kelce and company. All Swift needs to worry about is scoring before the offense gets to the one-yard line — but at least there should be more than a few fantasy-friendly TD opportunities inside of an offense currently implied to score a week-high 28 points.

3. 49ers put forward their post dominant performance yet and dog-walk the Ravens 35-10. The injury bug is biting Baltimore at the wrong time while San Fran continues to look largely unstoppable on offense and defense. This is less of an indictment on the Ravens and more so a hunch that this 49ers team is simply THAT good. Brock Purdy and company have the expected advantage in combined explosive run AND pass play rate; making Lamar Jackson and the Ravens one-dimensional via putting up points early and often could prevent them from deploying their usual run-first attack.

Other Week 16 Notes

• In two drives with Jacoby Brissett:
  • Terry McLaurin gained 93 yards and caught a TD while also being tackled at the one-yard line on another bomb.
• In his previous 13 games with Sam Howell:
  • McLaurin's single-game high in receiving yards was 90 and he scored 2 TDs.
• The Commanders are sticking with Howell ahead of Sunday’s tough matchup against Sauce Gardner and the Jets — but it sure makes you think!
   
• Bengals QB Jake Browning boasts the best completion percentage over expected (+6.4%) and ranks fourth in EPA per dropback (+0.21) behind only Tua Tagovailoa, Dak Prescott and Brock Purdy. Much of this was earned through checkdowns and screens early on, but last week Browning posted a nine-yard average target depth and made more than a few truly impressive throws. Obviously there isn’t a QB competition in Cincy brewing, but maybe Browning is actually … good?
   
• Bengals WR Tee Higgins put up the following stat lines with Ja’Marr Chase sidelined last season:
  • Week 8, 2022: 3 rec-49 yards-1 TD (6 targets)
  • Week 9, 2022: 7-60-0 (8)
  • Week 11, 2022: 9-148-0 (13)
  • Week 12, 2022: 7-114-1 (9)
     
• Higgins is Fantasy Life’s consensus WR21 and someone who should be in far more lineups than not ahead of a matchup with a Steelers defense that has allowed the ninth-most receiving yards to opposing WRs this season.
   
• Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday, meaning Mason Rudolph will get the Christmas weekend start. Honestly, the real Rudolph might be a better option under center: Mason’s average of 6.1 yards per attempt is the sixth-lowest mark among 66 QBs with at least 300 dropbacks since 2019. Fun fact: Pickett (6.3) has the ninth-worst mark during this span.
   
• PPR points in 10 games together since Week 5: Cooper Kupp (140.8) … and Puka Nacua:(137.2).

• Longtime stud Chargers RB Austin Ekeler has just one finish better than the PPR RB24 in his last five games. Ekeler has stated that he’s still trying to pad his resume for free agency, but Saturday night’s matchup against the surging Bills probably won’t make that an easy task. Overall, the Chargers are implied to score just 16 points this week — the fourth-lowest mark on the slate. None of the Fantasy Life rankers have Ekeler inside the position’s top-24 options this week.
   
• Only five QBs have allowed under 15% of their pressured dropbacks to result in a sack this season (PFF). Good job not taking sacks!
  • Brock Purdy (14.8%)
  • Matthew Stafford (14.5%)
  • Jared Goff (14.3%)
  • Patrick Mahomes (10.2%)
  • Josh Allen (10%)
     
• And the worst: Tommy DeVito (39.8%). Not great!
   
• DJM with Fields Here’s to hoping Bears pass-catchers in general do Fields a few more favors than they did last week.
   
• Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard has assumed a workhorse role in recent weeks and is locked in as a volume-based RB2.

• Garrett Wilson might be a top-10 pick in 2024 fantasy drafts?! I broke down what a potential first round might look like come next August. 
   
• Why don’t more offenses run the play where everyone just simply gets wide open?

• Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker racked up 22 touches last week and looked GOOD doing so. Up next is a potential smash spot against a Titans defense that has allowed 158 and 148 rushing yards over the past two weeks with stud DT Jeffery Simmons (knee) sidelined. I have Walker ranked as my RB18 this week and don’t fully understand why my fellow rankers are so low on him.
   
• Ten players racked up at least 80 unrealized air yards in Week 15 specifically:
  • Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins (183)
  • Commanders WR Terry McLaurin (125)
  • Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley (118)
  • Bengals WR Tee Higgins (105)
  • Steelers WR George Pickens (98)
  • Jaguars WR Zay Jones (96)
  • Bears WR Darnell Mooney (95)
  • Cowboys WR Brandin Cooks (86)
  • 49ers WR Deebo Samuel (82)
  • Lions WR Jameson Williams (81)
     
• Nuk could’ve, should’ve, would’ve had an 82-yard TD to his name with a better ball from Will Levis on this play.
   
• Colts RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb) appears to be on the verge of returning. He’s instantly back into the position’s top-12 options thanks to the former first-team All-Pro RB suddenly having two massive newfound factors working in his favor:
  • This offensive environment is actually really good. The Colts have scored 33 offensive TDs this season — tied for the 11th-highest mark in the NFL and just one single score behind the likes of the Chiefs, Rams and Chargers.
  • Head coach Shane Steichen is down with featuring one workhorse RB. Whether it be Zack Moss or Taylor himself before his most recent injury: The Colts’ lead RB has regularly boasted an incredibly fantasy-friendly snap rate north of 90%.
     
• The worst Brock Purdy comp I have ever seen. “Drew Brees with Lamar Jackson’s 10-yard burst.” The tweet was deleted, but people don’t forget.
   
• Analytics that quantify just how bad Arthur Smith has been as a play-caller this season? Analytics that quantify just how bad Arthur Smith has been as a play-caller this season.
   
• Cardinals QB Kyler Murray’s top-five targets in his five games under center:
  • Trey McBride (45)
  • Greg Dortch (21)
  • Marquise Brown (20)
  • Rondale Moore (19)
  • James Conner (12)
     
• Hollywood’s ongoing hell injury hasn’t helped matters; just realize McBride is locked in as a top-three option at the position as long as he continues to work as the Cardinals’ No. 1 pass-game option.
   
• You’re going to be wrong quite a bit in fantasy football as well as in real life. Just make sure you watch the film and get better!
   
• Here’s a good example of how NOT to deploy one of the game’s best young WR talents.

• Drew Lock’s post-game interview from Monday night might be the best thing you’ll see all week. Kings stay kings.
   
• Happy “Boston Scott scores a TD vs. the Giants week.” The Giant slayer has never failed to find the end zone in nine career meetings with the Eagles’ NFC East “rival.”
   
• Only two QBs have been sacked on more than 10% of their dropbacks this season: Tommy Devito (16%) and Daniel Jones (14%). Maybe it’s something in the Giants’ gatorade cooler.
   
• “Not all interceptions are created equal.” — Patrick Mahomes.

Best of luck to everyone in Week 16 and beyond!