With the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers closing out the fantasy football semi-finals, many are in desperate need of a Monday night miracle. As always, there were eye-catching performances around the NFL with many takeaways to discuss ahead of championship weekend. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest takeaways from Week 16 as we prepare for the fantasy football championship.
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Week 16 Takeaways
Stock Up
Jerome Ford RB (CLE)
Jerome Ford regained the lead role in Cleveland’s backfield after Nick Chubb’s season-ending injury and capitalized on the opportunity in Week 16. He rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries, while also catching all five of his targets for 39 yards. Ford now has three performances over 15.5 fantasy points when Nick Chubb has not been in the lineup this season. Pierre Strong and D’Onta Foreman also saw limited involvement, each with just two carries, and neither made a significant fantasy impact. Ford and the Browns will face the Dolphins in Week 17 providing interesting appeal as an RB2 in PPR formats.
Keenan Allen WR (CHI)
Chicago’s heavy loss to Detroit on Sunday led to rookie quarterback Caleb Williams attempting 40 passes, which, while not ideal for winning, benefited the team’s wide receivers. Keenan Allen led the charge, recording 151 yards and a touchdown on nine catches from 13 targets. He has now scored 20+ fantasy points in four of his last five games, benefiting from the coaching changes in Chicago. Allen has clearly established himself as the Bears’ number one receiver and should be in line for another big week against Seattle.
Jonathan Taylor RB (IND)
In Week 16, Jonathan Taylor delivered a dominant performance, rushing for 218 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries in a 38-30 victory over the Titans. He broke a six-game touchdown drought in impressive fashion, scoring on runs of 65, 70, and 1 yard. Taylor led all fantasy scorers with 39.8 points, capping off a game-winning effort. This performance marks his third straight game with at least 96 rushing yards. With strong momentum heading into this week, Taylor faces the Giants, who are among the league’s worst at defending running backs, allowing 25.3 fantasy points per game to the position.
Stock Down
Tyreek Hill WR (MIA)
Tyreek Hill has been one of the biggest busts in fantasy football this season with only three 20-point performances despite being healthy all season. In the last two weeks, Hill has combined for 17.5 fantasy points with 5 catches for 65 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. The volume has been there for Hill to be successful but ultimately two dropped touchdown passes led to a pedestrian performance against the 49ers. Hill has been a headache all season and should be viewed as a flex in Week 17 against the Browns.
Patrick Taylor RB (SF)
The 49ers have been plagued by running back injuries all season but anyone that has stepped into the lead back role in San Francisco has had instant success. That was not the case for Patrick Taylor as he finished with 8 carries for 24 yards and 1 catch despite taking over as the lead back. In a relatively close game, the 49ers rolling with a heavy passing attack was more telling of how they view Taylor with Isaac Guerendo currently hurt. Next week the 49ers take on the Lions who have been dominant against running backs all season long. I would avoid putting Taylor in your starting lineup if Guerendo misses another game.
Cooper Kupp WR (LAR)
Cooper Kupp is officially in a slump with three performances for 5.4 points or fewer in three of his last four games. He finished yesterday with 3 catches for 24 yards on 3 targets in a favorable matchup against a struggling Jets secondary. The entire Rams’ passing offense struggled with Matthew Stafford only throwing for 110 yards. Kupp has taken a backseat to Puka Nacua in the passing attack resulting in volatility in his performances this season. Next week Kupp hopes to turn around his play against the Cardinals who rank 17th against opposing receivers in fantasy football.
Highest Scorers
We have already mentioned the monster performances from Keenan Allen and Jonathan Taylor but there were more big contributors on Sunday. Justin Jefferson, Saquon Barkley, and De’Von Achane continued their dominant seasons with massive performances. Jayden Daniels was able to overcome a tough matchup and throw 5 touchdown passes rewarding teams that stuck with him. Chuba Hubbard, James Cook, and BTJ all cashed in on their favorable matchups. Meanwhile Bryce Young finds himself in the top ten for the first time in his career!
- Jonathan Taylor RB (IND) 39.8 Points
- Justin Jefferson WR (MIN) 36.4 Points
- Jayden Daniels QB (WAS) 34.4 Points
- Chuba Hubbard RB (CAR) 32.5 Points
- De’Von Achane RB (MIA) 31 Points
- Keenan Allen WR (CHI) 29.1 Points
- Brian Thomas Jr. WR (JAX) 28.2 Points
- James Cook RB (BUF) 27.6 Points
- Bryce Young QB (CAR) 27.1 Points
- Saquon Barkley RB (PHI) 27 Points
Running Back Notes
Detroit Lions: With David Montgomery sidelined due to injury, Jahmyr Gibbs became the primary running back, handling the ball 20 times in the first half. He was heavily involved, playing almost all of the Lions’ snaps on their first few drives, which resulted in scores. In the second half, with a comfortable lead, his snap share dropped, and backup running backs Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson, and Sione Vaki saw more action. Gibbs remains a top-three running back for the rest of the season with Montgomery out.
Tennessee Titans: With Tony Pollard dealing with injuries, Tyjae Spears played over 50% of the Titans’ offensive snaps for the second consecutive week. While Pollard started strong, he was limited due to his ankle injury and the Titans got down by multiple scores quickly which led to Spears playing 33 of 46 snaps after the first quarter. Spears also scored two touchdowns for the second straight week. His snap share will depend on Pollard’s health, but if Pollard remains injured, Spears could have a major role next week.
Las Vegas Raiders: With the season-ending injury to Sincere McCormick, Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah split the snaps in a two-man rotation. Mattison played the majority of the snaps early in the game, while Abdullah took over in the second half. Although Mattison likely holds more fantasy value, Abdullah was more effective as a runner and in the passing game this week, which could lead to a shift in roles next week. Given the uncertainty in the backfield, it might be wise to avoid starting either player in the coming week.
New England Patriots: Antonio Gibson played a larger role than usual for the Patriots leading to Rhamondre Stevenson’s second-lowest snap rate of the season. Stevenson played well with 12 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown while adding a reception but fumbles have plagued his 2024 season. Another fumble led to more work for Gibson and allowed him to operate as the primary two-minute drill back to close out the game. As talented as Stevenson is, it is hard to overcome fumble issues in the NFL, and will likely continue to have inconsistent fantasy production this week.
Pass Catcher Notes
Carolina Panthers: Despite the Panthers using more two-tight end sets this week due to a lead in the game, Adam Thielen still led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. While he played fewer snaps than usual, this was mainly because of the game script and injuries to other receivers. Jalen Coker and David Moore were the other two main receivers for the Panthers’ with Xavier Legette out. Thielen remains a likely fantasy starter next week, and Jalen Coker, who had a solid target share, is a strong waiver option for deeper leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs: After being sidelined by a shoulder injury since the preseason, Hollywood Brown made his debut for the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite playing only 20 snaps, Brown finished with 5 catches for 45 yards on 8 targets showcasing his ability to open up the Chiefs passing game. His return didn’t significantly affect the Chiefs’ top receiving options, Travis Kelce, DeAndre Hopkins, and Xavier Worthy, but did lead to fewer snaps for players like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson, and tight end Noah Gray. Brown’s snap count should increase in future weeks, but with the Chiefs facing a tough Steelers defense, he’s a risky start for fantasy owners.
Miami Dolphins: With Jaylen Waddle inactive due to injury, Malik Washington got the start for Miami and played a key role, though his stats were modest (three catches for 28 yards). Washington has seen his playing time grow throughout the season and was the clear every-down starter this week. However, with other depth options still dealing with injuries, the focus in the Dolphins’ passing game remained on Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane. If Waddle misses another game, Washington should be avoided in most fantasy leagues despite an uptick in playing time.
Washington Commanders: Olamide Zaccheaus had a standout game against his former team, showing that he’s emerged as the second wide receiver for the Washington Commanders in the wake of the Noah Brown injury. He finished the day with 5 catches for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns on 8 targets resulting in 24 fantasy points. Zaccheaus, originally competing for a role on the outside, has now settled into a mix of playing both in the slot and outside. With Noah Brown on IR and Jamison Crowder returning from injury, Zaccheaus played more snaps, and his involvement in the offense is increasing. While he’s worth considering in very deep leagues, he’s still largely a waiver-wire option in most formats.
Breakout Performances
Each Week I highlight three players whose stock rises after a breakout performance. Jalen McMillan had another good performance for the Bucs hauling in another touchdown with 5 catches. He now has 40 points in his last two weeks and is an intriguing flex option. Gus Edwards had a nice day on the ground averaging 4.9 yards per carry while adding two touchdowns. Edwards success this week suggests he could be in for more work next week. Jameson Williams is the last breakout player with 143 receiving yards and a touchdown this week. Williams has been a steady contributor for the Lions and has the potential to be a top receiver in the league with his skill set.
Injury Notes
Multiple notable injuries around the league could impact each fantasy team’s championship outlook. Jalen Hurts and Justice Hill suffered concussions putting their availability in Week 17 in jeopardy. Josh Allen suffered an elbow injury and was able to play through it but is a situation to monitor. Drake London, Tee Higgins, and Zay Flowers are battling minor injuries that they will likely play through. James Conner and Noah Brown are expected to miss potentially a week with a knee injury while Tank Dell suffered a season-ending knee injury this week. Below is a summarized list of each player’s injuries with their expected timelines.
Jalen Hurts (PHI) Week to Week
Josh Allen (BUF) Situation to Monitor
James Conner (ARI) Week to Week
Drake London (ATL) Day to Day
Justice Hill (BAL) Week to Week
Zay Flowers (BAL) Day to Day
Kenneth Walker III (SEA) Week to Week
Tank Dell (HOU) Out for the Season
Noah Brown (WAS) Week to Week Â
Tee Higgins (CIN) Day to DayÂ
For all of the Week 16 takeaways in Fantasy Football check out this YouTube Video