RADIO
Vladimir De Wet breaks down the second half of the Week 16 matchups for the 2015 NFL football season. Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down each of the NFL matchups and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high-risk/high-reward players, as well.
Below, you will find part two of our Week 16 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis, which should help you prepare your lineups to win this week. It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL matchups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, but most importantly Happy Championship Week! You're in the Super Bowl. You don't need advice, you have destroyed all the weak competition that dared to challenge you so far. But this is the only matchup that will matter all year. If you come in second place, you're just the first loser and that cannot happen. This is your year, and to make sure of that, you have to check out all of the matchups we love and hate below!
Texans @ Titans - Sunday 12/27 @ 1:00 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Delanie Walker, TE, Titans - Walker is the only Titans offensive player worth starting. Last week he did absolutly nothing until a late touchdown catch. It was the first time in four weeks Walker didn't lead the team in targets. Even with Zach Mettenberger starting, Walker is still a must start TE1. Walker was snubbed for the Pro Bow (I'm looking at you Travis Kelce) and will be looking to let everyone know he's one of the top five tight ends in football.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans - Hopkins has had three straight weeks where the team has had trouble getting him the ball. The revolving door at QB has made it difficult to keep Hopkins in rhythm. None of this matters though because he's DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins has been the best receiver in the league this season when you consider the QB and running support he has to deal with. There isn't a situation where he is worth benching.
Matchups We Hate:
Kendall Wright, WR, Titans - After missing several weeks with a rib injury Wright is scheduled to return against the Texans. He is going against one of the league's hottest defenses with a backup QB. Wright is just too risky to start.
Notable Players:
Zach Mettenberger, QB, Titans - Mettenberger has been decent as a starter but the team around him and the matchup make him not worth considering.
Alfred Blue, RB, Texans - After two weeks of basically not getting the blue, Blue took back lead RB duties. Blue is a RB3 this week against a decent Titans run defense.
Browns @ Chiefs - Sunday 12/27 @ 1:00 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Chiefs - Maclin has finally emerged as Alex Smith's favorite weapon. He has silently put together one of the best WR seasons in the league this year. The Browns have an injured secondary that is no good. With their playoff hopes still on the line, Maclin and the Chiefs should put up big numbers against a poros Cleveland defense.
Gary Barnidge, TE, Browns - Barnidge is Cleveland's only reliable offensive player at this point in the season. His consitent and solid play makes him a start worthy TE1 with high Touchdown potential.
Matchups We Hate:
Isaiah Crowell, RB, Browns - Crowell has been hurt and missing practice throughout the week. Even if he was healthy, Crowell's production throughout the year and a very tough Kansas City defense make this a bad matchup for Crowell.
Notable Players:
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs - Kelce is a hit or miss prospect dependent on TDs at this point. The Chiefs attention to the running game and new found focus of getting Jeremy Maclin the ball leaves Kelce the odd man out. He is worth the start at TE is no one better is available, not worth a flex play.
Johnny Manziel, QB, Browns - Johnny Football might not be awful. Hard to tell while he's still playing on the Browns. Obviously not worth the start.
Spencer Ware/Charcandrick West, RB, Chiefs - Spencer Ware is trending towards playing on Sunday. Charcandrick West is still worth the start even if Ware plays, but West just isn't as valuable in the RB committee. Ware isn't worth the start.
Jaguars @ Saints - Sunday 12/27 @ 4:05 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars - Robinson is another pro-bowl snub (I'm looking at you Calvin Johnson). He has emerged as a number one guy for the Jaguars and Blake Bortles. Robinson is in a three way tie for the most receiving touchdowns in the league this year. He also has four straight weeks of getting into the end zone. I fully expect Robinson to destory the Saints in ways Megatron wasn't able to last week.
Denard Robinson, RB, Jaguars - Assuming T.J. Yeldon doesn't play, then Denard "Shoelace" Robinson should be a great plug and play option. Denard left last week after it looked like he got injured but he has practiced this week and should be fine on Sunday. If Yeldon misses another game, Robinson is a RB2 against this Saints defense.
Brandin Cooks, WR, Saints - Cooks has had two of his best weeks this season over the last three. Assuming Drew Brees plays, Cooks should see a lot of targets again as the Saints realize he is their best chance at an explosive play.
Matchups We Hate:
Tim Hightower, RB, Saints - Hightower might get a lot of opportunities but he's just not good. A lack of explosiveness and overall playmaking ability make Hightower a flex play at best.
Notable Players:
Drew Brees, QB, Saints - Brees has a foot injury that seemed to bother him last week. All reports indicate Brees will play. A hobbled Drew Brees, assuming he plays like he did last week, is still worth the start.
Blake Bortles, QB, Jaguars - Bortles has had a breakout season. He is worth the start this week. I am already considering whether or not he's the new QB to wait on during next year's fantasy draft. It's never too early to get your draft strategy in order.
TEs - Both Julius Thomas and Benjamin Watson are worth the start. Both are red zone threats that their team has been looking for all year.
Packers @ Cardinals - Sunday 12/27 @ 4:25 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
David Johnson, RB, Cardinals - Johnson has come in and assumed workhorse duties for the Cardinals. He has three straight weeks of solid production and there's no reason that shouldn't continue. The Packers have gotten run on a few times this year. Both Johnson's running and catching ability will make him a major threat this weekend.
Randall Cobb, WR, Packers - Cobb has had a disappointing season by his standards. Yet, his talent and this game both are too big for Cobb to not show up again. With no Tyrann Mathieu for the Cardinals, Cobb should have one of his best days of the season.
Michael Floyd, WR, Cardinals - Floyd has arguably been the most consistent and productive receiver in the league over the last six weeks. Palmer and his receivers are all on fire right now in terms of connection and big plays. Floyd is the most talented receiver the Cardinals have and will have another big day against the Packers.
Matchups We Hate:
Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers - The Cardinals have one of the league's better run defenses. Lacy has been playing well of late but the Packers run game has also been known to disappear when it doesn't immediately produce. The shaky status of Lacy on a week-to-week basis and a tough matchup make him and all Packers RBs not worth the start.
Notable Players:
Richard Rodgers, TE, Packers - A very dangerous red zone threat that Aaron Rodgers trusts. A must start.
Aaron Rodgers/Carson Palmer - Always start the people that have "MVP" associated with their names.
Rams @ Seahawks - Sunday 12/27 @ 4:25 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks - I have been on Tyler Lockett's bandwagon all season and it has paid off. The rookie receiver seems to get better every week or the team seems to trust him to do more every week. Either way, the Pro Bowl returner has shown that he's also a very good receiver. He is a solid WR3 option.
Matchups We Hate:
Todd Gurley, RB, Rams - I don't care what RB you are, you don't want to face this Seahawks defense right now. Gurley is a beast but that won't matter against the leagues best run defense over the last six weeks.
Notable Players:
Doug Baldwin, WR, Seahawks - Baldwin is on an unheard of hot streak and should probably cool down this week. That being said, start Baldwin and hope the touchdown madness continues.
Giants @ Vikings - Sunday 12/27 @ 8:30 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Rueben Randle, WR, Giants - With no Odell Beckham Jr, Randle will see the most increase in targets. Randle is probably playing to either stay on the Giants for next year or he's auditioning for other teams. The inconsistent Randle can never truly be relied upon, but he has all the talent and skill to have a big day.
Stefon Diggs, WR, Vikings - The GIants have a horrible secondary and Diggs has been coming on extremely strong as of late. He is a strong WR3 with high upside in a great matchup.
Matchups We Hate:
Rashad Jennings, RB, Giants - Jennings has had two solid weeks after the team finally realized that having four different guys run the ball isn't a good idea.
Notable Players:
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Vikings - Bridgewater has played really well the last two weeks despite some big time mistakes. As the Vikings make their playoff push, Bridgewater is worth the start.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings - Peterson will have a big day. The Giants cannot stop the run. He is Adrian Peterson.
Will Tye, TE, Giants - Tye has been a valuable piece of the Giants offense the last four weeks. He is worth the start as a low end TE and Flex option.
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