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Robby Anderson was a hit, while Sammy Watkins wasn’t. J.J. Nelson got the job done, while Tyreek Hill’s adequate fantasy production all came on one single breakaway run. What I am most happy about however, is that I likely swayed you guys from picking an “elite” wide receiver last week and it ended up paying off. Of the “elite” wideouts in Week 15, the best performance came from Jordy Nelson who finished with no touchdowns and only 12 standard league points. Overall, I would say that my Week 15 predictions were solid, but not excellent. In any event, coupled with good running back selections, these wideout picks were sufficient enough to win me some money this past week, so I can’t complain too much. I hope you guys can’t either… Below are my thoughts on the wide receiver vs. corner matchups this coming weekend, while further below are my favorite matchups for Week 16. In this edition, I want to wish my readers not only a Merry Christmas, but also a good luck in your fantasy football championships.
| Off | Left WR | Def | Right CB | Analysis |
| ARI | Larry Fitzgerald | SEA | DeShawn Shead | Shead has had a solid season, but If I were a betting man, I would assume that the Seahawks would try to matchup the future hall of famer with Richard Sherman as much as possible on Saturday afternoon. In this Arizona offense however, Fitz is moved around a lot as not only a flanker, but also an H-Back, tight end, and slot back. Expect him to be utilized there more often in this matchup, as you need to create mismatches artificially against this good Seattle defense. In terms of expected production, Fitzgerald is the NFL's leading receiver right now in terms of receptions, so expect near double-digit catches for close to 100 yards. |
| ATL | Julio Jones | CAR | Daryl Worley | Word has it that Julio will be back at it this week and reportedly at 100-percent. In this matchup, he will be taking on a secondary that he torched for 300 receiving yards, so if his return to health is true, then he should be considered a great start this week. |
| BAL | Steve Smith Sr. | PIT | Ross Cockrell | Smith got into the end zone last week, but his lack of receptions and yards keeps him as a low value fantasy start each week. His matchup isn't a particularly tough one this week, but I just don't want to trust him in my lineup if I don't have to. |
| BUF | Sammy Watkins | MIA | Xavien Howard | Watkins has really disappointed this season due to various injuries, but if he can finish up these final two games in style, then he can head into the offseason on a positive note. This matchup should favor him because of his return to health, immense talent, and the Dolphins mediocrity on the back end of their defense. He's worth a look for Week 16. |
| CAR | Kelvin Benjamin | ATL | Jalen Collins | Since starting off the season in excellent fashion, Benjamin's production has fallen off a cliff in the subsequent 10 weeks. As of now he is not even the second option in this Panthers passing game, so consider him a "non-starter" this week in most fantasy formats. |
| CHI | Alshon Jeffery | WAS | Josh Norman | Jeffery looked pretty good in his return, but I expect it to be tough sledding for him in this matchup because Josh Norman will be playing with a vengance coming fresh off of his Pro Bowl snub. |
| CIN | Tyler Boyd | HOU | Johnathan Joseph | Since taking over for the injured A.J. Green, Week 15 was the rookie's worst game, as he failed to reach three receptions or even 20 yards receiving. Houston offers an even better secondary than the Steelers, so things shouldn't get any easier in Week 16. |
| CLE | Corey Coleman | SD | Casey Hayward | Time to punt on Coleman for the rest of the year, as it doesn't appear that he is going to find any rapport with the struggling RGIII for the rest of the way. |
| DAL | Dez Bryant | DET | Nevin Lawson | Dez has been banged up all season long yet still has found a way to post some respectable numbers. Look, lets face it, his numbers have taken a hit with Dak under center, but that is only because Dak is an ultra-conservative quarterback who never will accept making mistakes. Dez only gets targets when he gets open, so that is why he has had to work so much harder for his numbers this season. He was targeted early and often last week and should be once again this week, provided he gains separation from his opposing DB – whether it be Nevin Lawson or Darius Slay. |
| DEN | Demaryius Thomas | KC | Phillip Gaines | Demariyus is one of my plays of the week, so I will outline him further below, but in short for now, understand that he has been the most consistent wide receiver play all season long. Considering that and the fact that he is taking on a rather weak secondary this week, I like his chances to post 15 points at minimum. |
| DET | Golden Tate | DAL | Anthony Brown | While he doesn't get into the end zone often, Tate is still having a fine season. In this matchup, he will be taking on potentially Anthony Brown – a rookie sixth rounder who has really come along over these last few weeks after struggling initially when being thrown into a starting role. Tate may prove to be too much for Brown on Monday night, but the same should have been the case last week for Mike Evans, but Brown squelched his potential as well. |
| GB | Jordy Nelson | MIN | Xavier Rhodes | Nelson appears fully healthy and has been one of the hottest receivers in football all season long. Xavier Rhodes and this Vikings defense was just torched by Andrew Luck and the Colts, which while solid is nothing much compared to this red hot Packers offense. At home this week, the Packers may be able to pound the Vikings into submission, which should spell fantasy success for Nelson. |
| HOU | DeAndre Hopkins | CIN | Adam Jones | Hopkins finally looked good again once Tom Savage too over the quarterback position last week, and while that is nice, it doesn't change the fact that Cincinnati boasts one of the best pass defenses in the league. I expect the Bengals to handle themselves here against a Tom Savage led passing attack. |
| IND | Donte Moncrief | OAK | Sean Smith | Crief missed last week's game with an injury, however he appears ready to go back out there this week against a vulnerable Raiders secondary. I expect a good game from Andrew Luck here, which should spell success for Moncrief as well considering he's Luck's favorite red zone threat. |
| JAX | Allen Robinson | TEN | Jason McCourty | Robinson has a good matchup here against one of the worst secondaries in the league, however I can't in good conscious endorse him considering how bad he has been all season long. If you feel compelled to start Robinson, this is the week to do it, but I will not be doing so. |
| KC | Jeremy Maclin | DEN | Chris Harris | Week 15 was Maclin's best game all season long, as he caught six balls for over 80 yards. Unfortunately the hype train will stop as quickly as it started, as he will take on the buzzsaw that is the Broncos secondary in Week 16. Pass on Maclin this weekend. |
| LA | Kenny Britt | SF | Keith Reaser | Britt is one of my favorite plays this week as you will find out further below. To sum it up briefly, He will be taking on a awful Niners defense and an inexperienced corner. His surprisingly good season should only conitnue this coming Saturday. |
| MIA | DeVante Parker | BUF | Ronald Darby | Parker had a brief stretch of games where he looked to be realizing his potential, but that moment has passed. Just as that moment has passed, so too can you on Parker this week in all fantasy formats. |
| MIN | Stefon Diggs | GB | Quinten Rollins | Diggs was at one point playing like one of the better receivers in football, but that moment too has passed. He right now appears really banged up, so I would skip out on Diggs this week against an improved Packers defense. |
| NE | Chris Hogan | NYJ | Buster Skrine | I seem to say it each week, but Hogan is a deep threat only. Luckily for him this week, he will be taking on a Jets defense that may be the worst in the league agaisnt the deep pass. If there were a week to start Hogan, it is this one. |
| NO | Michael Thomas | TB | Brent Grimes | Thomas' one hell of a rookie campaign should continue on Saturday, as he will be taking on a Tampa secondary that is not exactly an intimidating force. Two weeks ago, when the Siants struggled to move the football against this Tampa defense, Thomas was out with an injury. He will look to return with a vengance in this game to right what went wrong in Week 14. |
| NYG | Odell Beckham | PHI | Nolan Carroll | ODB is red hot right now and should have his way with this Eagles secondary. I still am weary of starting him however because I hate the state of this Giants offensive line and Eli Manning. It's a catch 22 and that is not in reference to how many receptions I expect Beckham to finish with. |
| NYJ | Brandon Marshall | NE | Logan Ryan | Marshall appears to have mentally checked out for the rest of this season, so stay away from him for the final two games. Robby Anderson is the only Jets receiver worth owning. |
| OAK | Michael Crabtree | IND | Vontae Davis | Crabtree is one of my plays of the week, as I further outline him in detail below. In brief, he should have his way in this matchup against an awful Davis at corner, at home, with a good quarterback throwing him the football. |
| PHI | Jordan Matthews | NYG | Janoris Jenkins | Matthews remains only relevant in PPR leagues. Luckily for him though, Jenkins is unlikely to cover him man up in the slot. |
| PIT | Antonio Brown | BAL | Jimmy Smith | Brown always has elite upside, however his production of late has not reached those heights. If you have a feeling in this matchup, you can premium price for Brown's potential, but nothing in terms of evidence has pointed to the fact that he is going to return to his old form. He remains a solid play, but I won't pay that price for him right now. |
| SD | Travis Benjamin | CLE | Jamar Taylor | Benjamin got into the end zone last week and has a chance to do the same again this week against an awful Browns defense. The reality remains though, that he is not a priority in this San Diego passing game. Benjamin is arguably behind all of the following: Dontrelle Inman, Tyrell Williams, Antonio Gates, and Hunter Henry. |
| SF | Torrey Smith | LA | E.J. Gaines | You probably didn’t know, but Smith is dealing with a concussion. He is unlikely to play this week but that is still not confirmed. Either way, he was invisible in this Niners offense anyway, so his presence will not be missed. |
| SEA | Doug Baldwin | ARI | Marcus Cooper | It has been a struggle for this Seattle offense all season long, but according to Pro Football Focus, Baldwin remains one of the best wideouts in the league. If only Russell Wilson had enough time to get him the ball… In any event, I still wouldn't start Baldwin this week considering he is likely to matchup with Patrick Peterson for most of the day. |
| TB | Adam Humphries | NO | Sterling Moore | Humphries caught a touchdown last week against Dallas, however that remains an atypical outing for him. He has an even better matchup this week against a Saints defense that just allowed 41 points to a rather anemic Cardinals offense, however I still don't think that Jameis Winston looks his way enough for him to remain a good fantasy option. |
| TEN | Rishard Matthews | JAX | Jalen Ramsey | Matthews has a really tough task ahead of him in Week 15, as Ramsey has been one of the best corners in football this season. I would skip him if possible this week. |
| WAS | Pierre Garcon | CHI | Bryce Callahan | Garçon has been an adequate PPR option this season, but nothing much more. Chicago has been good against opposing wideouts this season, so while he may catch six or more passes this week, I see Garçon's chances for high yards and touchdown production even lower than usual. |
| Off | Right WR | Def | Left CB | Analysis |
| ARI | J.J. Nelson | SEA | Richard Sherman | Sherman is more likely to be lined up with Larry Fitzgerald, however if Nelson does draw sherman at all on Saturday, I don't love his chances. Overall, Nelson is a low value play this week because his price tag is no longer bottom of the barrel, while his matchup isn't exactly favorable. |
| ATL | Mohamed Sanu | CAR | James Bradberry | Sanu did little in Julio Jones' absence, and now with Jones set to come back this week, I expect him to do even less. Skip him this week, despite the favorable matchup against the Panthers. |
| BAL | Mike Wallace | PIT | William Gay | Wallace is tied to the deep ball for the most part and as the season goes on, those plays tend to get fewer and far between. His impact is not felt as much as it was early on in the season and thus I will not be starting him going forward. |
| BUF | Robert Woods | MIA | Byron Maxwell | Woods is an invisible target in this Bills offense. You can do much better in all fantasy formats. |
| CAR | Ted Ginn Jr. | ATL | Robert Alford | For the first time, I am giving into Ginn as a legitimate fantasy option. I can't deny the fact that he has caught four touchdowns in the last five weeks and has served as Cam Newton's only reliable wideout. Considering this, I have to roll the dice on Ginn this week against one of the league's most vulnerable secondaries. |
| CHI | Cameron Meredith | WAS | Bashaud Breeland | With Alshon Jeffery being shaddowed by Josh Norman this week, Meredith should see plenty of targets once again on Saturday. He is worth a look in deeper leagues and as a cheap DFS option because his matchup is favorable this week. |
| CIN | Brandon LaFell | HOU | Kareem Jackson | It was another nice game for LaFell in place of the injured A.J. Green, however that is unlikely that his success continues this week against a great Houston pass defense. |
| CLE | Terrelle Pryor | SD | Craig Mager | Pryor has cooled off significantly since starting off the season in strong form. I'm not one who tends to believe that players are suddenly going to recapture momentum as the season comes to a close, so feel free to skip out on TP this week against a good Chargers secondary. |
| DAL | Terrance Williams | DET | Darius Slay | Slay is more likely to line up against Dez Bryant each play on Monday night, however if Williams draws Slay, I don't love his chances. Williams is a deep play threat and clearly the number four option in this Dallas passing attack. Take that for what you will... |
| DEN | Emmanuel Sanders | KC | Marcus Peters | ManSan struggled last week against the Pats, but this week he has a solid matchup against a suspect KC secondary. I expect him to see plenty of targets, provided Trevor Siemian has enough time to throw the football. |
| DET | Marvin Jones | DAL | Brandon Carr | Jones started off the season shot out of a cannon, but has come to a screeching halt during the second half. I expect him to struggle once again this week and it's not because Dallas has a stout secondary, but because he just hasn't been good in the second half of this season. |
| GB | Randall Cobb | MIN | Terence Newman | Cobb has fallen out of favor in this Packers offense so far this season and I don't expect that to change anytime soon. Devante Adams is the better receiver to own. |
| HOU | Will Fuller | CIN | Dre Kirkpatrick | Tom Savage may have a better chance of getting Fuller the ball, but I don't think this is the week to bank on it. The Bengals boast one of the best pass defenses in the league and are likely to handle this anemic Texans passing attack. |
| IND | T.Y. Hilton | OAK | David Amerson | This is a good matchup for Hilton, as the Raiders secondary is suspect and Andrew Luck is playing good football right now. He is one of the few top tier wideouts that may be worth the price this week. |
| JAX | Allen Hurns | TEN | Brice McCain | I just can't trust the Jags offense, even against a bad Tennessee secondary. Pass on Hurns this week. |
| KC | Chris Conley | DEN | Aqib Talib | Conley's numbers are so far off the fantasy radar that I can't even come up with an analogy. Combine that with the fact that he and the Chiefs will be taking on the league's best secondary and you've got yourself a matchup to avoid like the plague. |
| LA | Tavon Austin | SF | Tramaine Brock | Austin is just one of those guys that I never trust in fantasy. He may have a solid matchup this week against the Niners but you just can't rely upon the Rams offense to get him the ball in space enough to make him fantasay relevant. |
| MIA | Kenny Stills | BUF | Stephon Gilmore | It seems that Stills catches a touchdown almost every other game, however this week he has a chance to make it three weeks in a row with a score. Buffalo has been good on the back end for the most part this season, so it will be tough, but he is worth a stream play considering his favorable DFS price. |
| MIN | Charles Johnson | GB | Damarious Randall | It appears that Johnson does indeed have a pulse, as he caught five passes for 50 yards this past weekend – by far his best performance of the season. Even so though, I will come nowhere near starting him in Week 16. |
| NE | Malcolm Mitchell | NYJ | Darrelle Revis | Mitchell has touchdown upside in this matchup because he should be able to handle himself against the struggling Darrelle Revis. This is not a guarantee, but I'm just saying that if there was a quarterback that could really embarrass this awful Jets secondary, it is Tom Brady. Mitchell is worth a look in Week 16. |
| NO | Brandin Cooks | TB | Vernon Hargreaves | Cooks went bananas last week and will be looking to ride the wave into and through Week 16 against the Saints division rival in the Buccaneers. I would certainly give him a look this Saturday because he's an elite talent and the Buccanneers proved last week that they can be beaten through the air. |
| NYG | Sterling Shepard | PHI | Leodis McKelvin | Shepard has been really good this season as a rookie and I suspect that he will continue to be against a weak Philly secondary on Thursday night. The only tough thing to rely upon here is this Giants offensive line giving Eli Manning enough time to throw the ball against this loaded Philly pass rush, but even so, Shepard should post adequate numbers worthy of his affordable DFS price tag. |
| NYJ | Quincy Enunwa | NE | Malcolm Butler | Enunwa has become a non-factor since Bryce Petty has taken over. Robby Anderson is the only Jets wideout worth owning at the moment. |
| OAK | Amari Cooper | IND | Rashaan Melvin | Cooper has been trending in the wrong direction during this second half of the season. While I don't believe that he will be locked up by anyone in this less than stellar Indy secondary, Cooper has done very little to prove that he is worth his borderline elite price tag. I would rather start Michael Crabtree to be honest. |
| PHI | Nelson Agholor | NYG | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | Last week, Agholor was named Pro Football Focus's worst player in the league, and if that isn't enough for you to stay away, keep in mind that he will have to face this red hot Giants defense on Thursday night. He may very well end up being the worst play of the week once again. |
| PIT | Sammie Coates | BAL | Shareece Wright | Stop the presses! The streak is over! A streak that seemed more improbable to break than the Cubs World Series drought, Coates finally caught a pass last week. All joking aside he continues to be a non-factor in all fantasy formats. |
| SD | Dontrelle Inman | CLE | Joe Haden | Inman has posted four consecutive games with respectable numbers and he should make it five consecutive after Saturday against the awful Browns. He is unlikely to face Haden, but may get Jamar Taylor in the slot, which may actually spell more trouble for him. In any event, there isn't much of a reason to avoid Inman in Week 16. |
| SF | Quinton Patton | LA | Trumaine Johnson | There is no one in this Niners passing game that I will ever trust in my fantasy league. Patton is a prime example. |
| SEA | Jermaine Kearse | ARI | Patrick Peterson | Kearse is a nice player, but nothing worth giving a second look in fantasy leagues. This week should be even tougher for him against a great Arizona secondary. |
| TB | Mike Evans | NO | Delvin Breaux | Evans has been in a slump and will be taking on great corner in Delvin Breaux in Week 16. I will never claim that Evans is a bad fantasy start, but at his price, he is probably not worth it. |
| TEN | Tajae Sharpe | JAX | Davon House | After a great preseason, Sharpe has done nothing during the regular season to be considered fantasy worthy. That should be enough for you to skip out on him this week against a great Jacksonville secondary. |
| WAS | DeSean Jackson | CHI | Tracy Porter | D-Jax has been hot during the second half of the season and is worth a look regardless of matchup. Keep in mind though that Chicago has been stingy against opposing wideouts this season. |
“Nostra-Dom-Us Picks of the Week.”
ELITE
N/A (No Elite Selection)
As they would say in the political sphere, I’m continuing my crusade on the top one percent, as I once again this week will not be picking an “elite” option. As I stated last week, you can always spend money on Odell Beckham or Antonio Brown and do okay, but over the second half of this season, they have not been worth the increased wage disparity. You are better served this week going with my more moderately priced options below and saving budget for your quarterback and running backs.
AFFORDABLE
Demaryius Thomas ($6,400 on DraftKings) vs. Phillip Gaines
Thomas has caught at least five passes in every game this season aside from Week 1. That is unparalleled consistency and a virtue that is highly valued in PPR formats. While he’s struggled to get into the end zone this season, Thomas is always good for double-digit points, targets, and yards per reception. This week he will be matched up with a Chiefs secondary that has hemorrhaged fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Combine that with Thomas’ consistent production and you have yourselves a mismatch. He remains at an affordable $6,400 on DraftKings, so I say sign him up for Week 16.
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Michael Crabtree ($6,100 on DraftKings) vs. Vontae Davis
Not only will the Raiders – one of the best passing offenses in the league – be hosting the Colts and their less than impressive secondary this week, but in terms of individual favorable matchups, their overqualified “number two” wideout will be taking on a washed up Vontae Davis, who is currently ranked as one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. As I have made reference to in prior editions of this article, Crabtree is typically my preferred fantasy option to Amari Cooper because there is no secret that quarterback Derek Carr tends to favor him in the red zone. On top of that, over the span of the last four weeks, Crabtree has tallied at least 18 fantasy points (DraftKings) in three of them, while Cooper’s numbers continue to plummet into obscurity. In this matchup, Carr should look to feed the hotter receiver often, while he should be successful in doing so against a washed up corner in his home ballpark. At a mere $6,100 Crabtree is well worth the price.
Kenny Britt ($5,700 on DraftKings) vs. TBD
Currently, the 49ers cornerback situation is in such flux that they really aren’t sure who will be starting opposite the Rams top receiving target. As of now, the belief is that it will be Keith Reaser – a virtual unknown saddled with an awful 51.1 score on Pro Football Focus – which should spell success for Britt on Saturday. If that isn’t enough for you, or if Britt ends up drawing another one of the Niners sorry corners, you should know that San Fran has allowed a league-high 21 receiving touchdowns this season. As for Britt’s credentials, he has quietly put together a 1,000 yard season – well, he’s 13 yards away from 1,000 anyway – and is averaging 13.8 points per contest on DraftKings over his last four games. With the favorable matchup at home against the awful 49ers, I like Britt’s chances to finish as a top-10 fantasy receiver this week.
BARGAIN
Ted Ginn Jr. ($4,500 on DraftKings) vs. Robert Alford
As much as it pains me to say, Ginn is coming in at a bargain price this week. The reasoning: Ginn has scored in four of his last five contest, as he has easily emerged as the Panthers best receiving target not named Greg Olsen. Sure Alford is not the best drawing for him, but speed can beat pretty much anyone. Expect Cam Newton to take a few chances deep on Ginn this week, just as he has been over the last five weeks, in which he has averaged 16.3 fantasy points per game (DraftKings).
FLEX FLYER
John Brown ($3,900 on DraftKings) vs. SEA Slot Coverage
Well, he won’t exclusively be covered by slot personnel with Michael Floyd out of town now, but for now since he is not technically listed in the starting lineup as either Left WR or Right WR, this is how I will categorize Brown. As for him outside of his depth chart listing, it wasn’t so long ago (last season) that Brown was the Cardinals most dangerous receiver. After added reps due to the loss of Michael Floyd, Brown flashed that form once again when last week he led the team in yards, receptions, and touchdowns. This week he is still being listed for under $4,000 so I would take a chance on him as a flex flyer once again this week, especially considering he is unlikely to draw the attention of Richard Sherman.