NFL DFS Week 16 QB Coach: Top DraftKings & FanDuel Picks
It's crazy to think that the NFL regular season only has a few weeks left but here we are. Week 16 of the NFL season brings us nine games on the Sunday main DFS slate due to the Christmas holiday this weekend. Because of all the primetime games on this slate the Sunday main slate is lacking a bit of top end talent with the Dallas Cowboys vs the Miami Dolphins being the marquee matchup. That said, we still have some matchups we can look to take advantage of which includes a QB coach favorite once again as a top play.
Be sure to check out the rest of the NFL DFS Coaches and DFS Watch List throughout the week!
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NFL DFS QB Top Tier Picks
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tua is averaging 21 fantasy points per game at home this season and just completed 21-of-24 passes against a tough Jets defense in Week 15. Here in Week 16 we see Tua at home against a Dallas Cowboys defense that was just lit up by the Buffalo Bills and a defense that we've seen struggle at times against elite offenses. With Tyreek Hill expected to play this week after playing through an ankle injury in Week 15 and Jaylen Waddle looking as healthy as he has all season, this is shaping up to be a good spot for Tagovailoa here.
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
I really haven't played a ton of Fields this season but a matchup, at home, against the Arizona Cardinals certainly peaks my interest. He had a tough outing against a really good Browns defense last week so I will give him a pass and expect him to have a much better fantasy day here in Week 16.
NFL DFS QB Mid-Tier Picks
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
We usually look to play Goff at home but he's still got a dome matchup here against a divisional foe in the Minnesota Vikings. This is the same Vikings defense that let Jake Browning beat them in Week 15. I look for Goff to take advantage of this weak pass defense that the Vikings will be putting on the field.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Yes, this definitely feels like a point chasing play, but I can't ignore the fact that Mayfield has largely been pretty good this season with his 24 passing touchdowns and just eight interceptions. Here in Week 16 the Buccaneers are home against a Jaguars defense has struggled against the pass this season and will now have their hands full with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
NFL DFS QB Value Picks
Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
Was it Flacco's cleanest game? No, not by a long shot, but in the end he attempted another 40+ passes while finishing with nearly 23 fantasy points. Volume is king in DFS and Flacco has the receiving weapons to make plays down field. In Week 16 the Browns go on the road to face the Houston Texans which is a pass defense that has had its issues at times lately.
Nick Mullens, Minnesota Vikings
Listen, I said last week that I didn't think Nick Mullens was all that bad of a play for the Saturday DFS slate and he went on to throw for 303 yards with two touchdowns against the Bengals. Here we have Mullens against a tougher Lions defense but he will be at home and throwing the football has been the way to beat the Lions. Having a healthy Justin Jefferson helps things a lot but it was his connection with Jordan Addison which was inspiring last week and gives me hope that Mullens could put up a similar performance.
Geno Smith/Drew Lock, Seattle Seahawks
I don't exactly love either QB but the matchup against the Tennessee Titans is one that we've attacked all season long and having top end receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett along with rookie WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba should really stretch this Titans pass coverage thin.
NFL DFS QB Fade
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
I know Jordan Love has been pretty good over the second half of this season but time and time again teams go into Carolina and struggle to get much of anything going in the passing game. I look for the Packers to run the football here against the Panthers like most teams do and on the flip side you will see the Panthers look to run the ball a lot as well which will kill clock and ultimately limit the overall number of possessions for both teams.
Player News
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Chargers RB Najee Harris is expected to be back on the field “sooner rather than later.”
Speaking on The Insiders on NFL Network, Rapoport relayed words from Harris’ agent that backed up previous reports that said the eye injury sustained by the veteran running back were superficial, adding that Harris is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season and should be back on the field “sooner rather than later.” Rapoport also stated that Harris is not expected to miss significant time. Even so, any missed time in camp could widen the expected snap rate gap between he and rookie first-round selection Omarion Hampton to start the regular season, something fantasy managers will want to keep an attentive eye on as the following weeks play out.
Chargers placed WR Mike Williams on the PUP list.
Players placed on the PUP list ahead of camp can come off at any time. Williams was dealing with an unspecified injury before the start of camp and was believed to be on track toward playing once camp kicked off. Clearly needing more time to recover, Williams will join WR Jaylen Johnson, S Elijah Molden, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, and OT Savion Washington on the PUP list as they continue to ready themselves for camp.
Jets signed WR Garrett Wilson to a four-year, $130 million contract extension.
Wilson’s deal includes $90 million in guaranteed money and will keep him with the Jets through the 2030 season. The former No. 10 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft has churned out three-straight seasons of 1,000-plus yards to start his career and posted career-highs in receptions (101), yards, (1,104), and touchdowns (7) last season. Now reunited with former college teammate Justin Fields, Wilson hopes the Jets can put together his first winning season as a pro and the Jets’ first winning season since 2015. Wilson profiles as a fringe WR1/WR2, but will likely settle more in the WR2 range in 2025 due to the Jets’ emphasis on the run and Fields’ ability to take off and scramble on passing downs.
Raiders waived QB Carter Bradley.
Bradley joined the Raiders last offseason as a rookie UDFA and spent all of last season on the practice squad before being promoted to the 53-man roster in December. The former South Alabama Jaguar didn’t attempt a pass in his rookie season and will now look to catch on with another team ahead of training camp in hopes of battling for a roster spot. Bradley may be better suited for a spring football league where he would have an opportunity for more playing time.
The Athletic’s Chad Graff believes Stefon Diggs (knee) will “likely open camp by working on the side until he’s cleared from his injury.
Diggs suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 of last season, but surprised during spring practices when he took the field in a limited capacity with the team. While he’s yet to be cleared for full football activities, Graff believes the encouraging spring we saw from Diggs may lead to some limited work to the side in camp while leaving the door open for Diggs to eventually participate in full closer to the end of camp. While opening the season on the PUP list, which would require him to miss a minimum of four games, remains a possibility, Diggs’ involvement in camp will be worth monitoring as the Patriots aim to get their WR1 back on the field.
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department released a report detailing additional information regarding Quinshon Judkins’ arrest for domestic battery over the weekend.
The full report can be found at the link provided at the end of the blurb, but the details are quite disturbing. Arresting officer Steven Pohorence reported that the victim of Judkins’ alleged assault reported the incident the day after it occurred, alleging Judkins “punched her in the mouth/chin area with a closed fist” while adding he later struck her in the arm and thigh. The victim also showed pictures of her chin/lip area, with officer Pohorence noting in the report “the bruising was clearly evident.” Bruises could also be found on her arm and thigh. This situation is far from resolved and could have a direct impact on Judkins’ availability for training camp as he remains unsigned at this time.