• Don’t overlook about outdated man Matthew Stafford: Stafford is averaging 18 fantasy factors per recreation since Week 8 and will get an important matchup in opposition to the New York Jets , who’ve surprisingly let many quarterbacks have large video games in opposition to them as of late.
• Jonathan Taylor will rating a number of TDs after “dropping the ball” final week: Yes, Taylor obtained too excited and celebrated a tad too early earlier than crossing the purpose line in Week 15, however he’ll make up for it by scoring not less than two touchdowns in opposition to the Tennessee Titans this Sunday.
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Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
Are you struggling to set your fantasy lineups? Maybe I may help… Below you will discover my high fireplace (growth) and ice (bust) gamers at every place for Week 16. I additionally embrace my sleeper of the week at every place in case you’re in a deeper league or in want of a alternative for an ice participant.
Don’t miss my Fire & Ice chart on the backside of this web page. There, I’ve listed out all of my fireplace, good, sleeper and ice performs for Week 16 of the 2024 fantasy soccer season.
Quarterbacks
Fire QB Start of the Week: Baker Mayfield (at DAL)
Baker Mayfield has thrown three-plus touchdowns in seven video games in 2024, solely Joe Burrow has had extra such video games (eight). Not solely has Mayfield proven nice fantasy upside regularly, however he has additionally been extremely constant — Mayfield has hit not less than 18 fantasy factors in 11 video games this season, which is tied for the second most amongst QBs with Josh Allen and solely behind Lamar Jackson 12).
The Dallas Cowboys have allowed 19.8 fantasy factors on common to opposing QBs this season, which ranks fourth most within the NFL. When enjoying at house, the Cowboys’ protection has allowed a league-high 33.4 factors per recreation to opponents in 2024, whereas the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have scored an NFL-most 31.6 factors per recreation on the highway.
Sleeper QB of the Week: Matthew Stafford (at NYJ)
Despite placing up a few dud performances, together with his dangerous efficiency in Week 15 in heavy rain, Matthew Stafford is averaging 18 fantasy factors per recreation since Week 8. Before final week, he had 4 straight video games with a number of passing touchdowns and scored 27.8, 19.2, 15.6, and 20.8 fantasy factors throughout that span.
The New York Jets‘ passing protection has been very leaky as of late — since Week 10, Kyler Murray (28.7 fantasy factors) Anthony Richardson (28.1), Tua Tagovailoa (23.5) and even Mac Jones (18.7) have had good fantasy outings in opposition to the New York Jets.
Ice QB Start of the Week: Jared Goff (at CHI)
Jared Goff is commonly incredible at house however if you take him out of his dome, his manufacturing struggles enormously. Over the final two seasons, Goff has put up 15-plus fantasy factors in solely 5 video games performed on the highway — three of these 5 video games have been performed in a dome and the opposite two such video games have been performed in a heat climate state (Florida and California).
Goff has made 4 profession begins in Chicago and has averaged simply 8.9 fantasy factors in these video games — he has by no means scored greater than 16.8 factors dealing with the Chicago Bears on the highway. Last yr when he performed in Chicago, Goff scored a season-low 4.4 fantasy factors.
Running Backs
Fire RB Start of the Week: Jonathan Tayor (vs. TEN)
It hasn’t been enjoyable beginning Jonathan Taylor over the second half of this season. He has averaged simply 10.2 fantasy factors per recreation since Week 9 and hasn’t efficiently crossed the goalline as a runner since Week 8. However, he’s getting a ton of quantity and he ought to have the ability to discover the tip zone in Week 16 in opposition to the Tennessee Titans, who’ve allowed essentially the most touchdowns to working backs this season. After final week’s fumble debacle, I predict Taylor will put up a week-winning efficiency for his fantasy managers in Week 16 with a number of touchdowns.
Sleeper RB of the Week: Jerome Ford (at CIN)
With Nick Chubb taking place with one other season-ending harm in Week 15, Jerome Ford scored 18.4 fantasy factors and put up a season-high 84 rush yards. Ford has had 14-plus touches in simply two video games in 2024 however he scored over 15 fantasy factors in each of these video games. He ought to see nice quantity this Sunday in a incredible matchup in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals, who’ve allowed a league-high 32.5 fantasy factors per recreation to the working again place over the past weeks. They have been particularly dangerous at protecting working backs within the passing recreation, whereas Ford noticed not less than 5 targets in every recreation that Dorian Thompson-Robinson began in 2023.
Ice RB Start of the Week: Najee Harris (at BAL)
Najee Harris had one large recreation over the past month, in opposition to the poor Cincinnati Bengals protection. Outside of that, he has averaged simply 7.3 fantasy factors in three of his final 4 video games. Not solely is his dashing effectivity lackluster, however the Pittsburgh Steelers are additionally beginning to fade him out of their offense. In final week’s recreation, he tied his career-low with simply six carries and performed on solely 32.6% of the staff’s offensive snaps — the bottom % he has ever seen in a recreation he wasn’t injured. The Baltimore Ravens are permitting the fewest yards per carry within the NFL and except Harris’ workload considerably will increase this weekend, his fantasy ceiling and ground are each extraordinarily low.
Wide Receivers
Fire WR Start of the Week: Malik Nabers (at ATL)
It doesn’t matter which New York Giants quarterback is underneath heart, Malik Nabers goes to be hyper-targeted. It might be Drew Lock because the Giants’ sign caller in Week 16, and sure, that’s gross, however Nabers had 13 and 10 targets in two video games already performed, and he put up not less than 15 fantasy factors in each of these video games. Nabers made up for 37% of Lock’s passing yards over his two begins.
This is a incredible matchup for Naber to have a monster recreation. The Falcons have allowed essentially the most receiving touchdowns and fourth-most fantasy factors to the large receiver place in 2024. The eight large receivers to see not less than 10-plus targets of their matchup in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons have averaged 22.3 fantasy factors. The final large receiver to see double-digit targets in opposition to the Falcons was Jordan Addison in Week 14, who got here down and put up eight receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns!
Sleeper WR Start of the Week: Jalen McMillan (at DAL)
Third-round rookie Jalen McMillan has discovered the tip zone thrice over the past two weeks whereas notching 21.9 and 18.5 fantasy factors in these video games. He got here down with a career-high 5 receptions and 75 receiving yards final Sunday in a troublesome matchup in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers. He will get a a lot simpler matchup in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys this weekend, who’ve allowed the sixth most receiving yards to large receivers this season.
Ice WR Start of the Week: DeVonta Smith (at WAS)
It was an important day throughout for the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing assault final weekend in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. DeVonta Smith even recorded his first-ever profession recreation with 10-plus receptions and 100-plus receiving yards. However, Week 15 was Smith’s first recreation with 40-plus receiving yards since Week 9. He had simply 10 receptions for 80 yards and 1 TD over his three earlier video games mixed.
When the Eagles confronted the Washington Commanders final month, they ran 40 instances for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Smith had simply 4 receptions for 29 yards on six targets within the recreation — and that was with Marshon Lattimore on the sidelines for the Commanders. Smith will see his justifiable share of Lattimore in protection this weekend, who was focused zero instances on 35 protection snaps in his debut with the Commanders final weekend.
Tight Ends
Fire TE Start of the Week: Trey McBride (at CAR)
Trey McBride is having a monster yardage season however by some means he has nonetheless but to search out the tip zone. He can’t go the entire season with out scoring a landing… proper?… proper!!??? McBride already has 89 receptions on the yr, the second most amongst tight ends in 2024. No tight finish in NFL historical past has caught 70 balls in a single season and never scored a single landing. We know McBride will put up loads of yards however he must also come down with not less than one landing this weekend in opposition to the Carolina Panthers, who’ve allowed essentially the most touchdowns to tight ends this yr.
Sleeper TE of the Week: Brenton Strange (vs LV)
Extra enjoying time and targets can be found within the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense with Evan Engram on IR, and their backup tight finish Brenton Strange took full benefit of his alternative final week. Strange recorded a career-high with 12 targets, 11 receptions and 73 receiving yards in Week 15 in opposition to the Jets.
He will get a juicy matchup in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders, who’ve allowed the fifth-most fantasy factors to tight ends in 2024. Since Week 8, a decent finish has scored not less than 10 fantasy factors in opposition to the Raiders six instances — Travis Kelce (did it twice; 25.0 and 13.8), Jonnu Smith (28.1), Mike Gesicki (27.0) , Drew Sample (11.4) and Cade Otton (10.0).
Ice TE Start of the Week: Tucker Kraft (vs NO)
Tucker Kraft has had fewer than 42 receiving yards in 5 of his final six video games. The occasional touchdowns are the one factor that’s saving his fantasy worth however the New Orleans Saints have allowed only one landing to a decent finish all season lengthy. Even if finally ends up being the second tight finish to search out the tip zone in opposition to the Saints this season, his ceiling remains to be round simply 13 fantasy factors. While if he doesn’t rating a landing his ground is as little as 5 or fewer factors. The danger simply isn’t definitely worth the reward.
Fire & Ice Fantasy Football Plays
Here, I categorize each related fantasy participant into 5 completely different buckets: (1) fireplace begins (finest begins of the week); (2) thumbs up (good begins); (3) Risky gamers with upside (sleepers); (4) Ice begins (predicting dangerous efficiency from good participant); (5) Stop (should sits).
Note: If a participant/protection just isn’t listed, I’m not contemplating beginning them in Week 16. Also, I didn’t embrace the Broncos/Chargers as a result of they performed on Thursday evening.
Fire 🔥
- QB: Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield
- RB: Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, Josh Jacobs, James Conner, Chase Brown
- WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Mike Evans, Nico Collins, Tee Higgins, Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers
- TE: Trey McBride, Brock Bowers, George Kittle
- DEF: Packers, Vikings, Chiefs, Bills,
Thumbs Up 👍
- QB: Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford, Sam Darnold, Jayden Daniels
- RB: Kyren Williams, Derrick Henry, De’Von Achane, James Cook, Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Bucky Irving, Jerome Ford, Aaron Jones, Travis Etienne
- WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown, Davante Adams, Terry McLaurin, Drake London, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Garrett Wilson, Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, Jordan Addison, Jakobi Meyers
- TE: Jonnu Smith, Sam LaPorta, Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, Travis Kelce, David Njoku (if he performs)
- DEF: Cardinals, Eagles, Ravens, Steelers, 49ers, Texans, Bills
Upside 📈
- QB: Brock Purdy, Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, Cooper Rush, Caleb Williams
- RB: Breece Hall, D’Andre Swift, Isaac Guerendo, Alexander Mattison, Kendre Miller, Tyjae Spears, Tank Bigsby, Rachaad White, Craig Reynolds, Zach Charbonnet/Kenneth Walker
- WR: Jerry Jeudy, Jauan Jennings, Calvin Ridley, Khalil Shakir, Romeo Doubs, Darnell Mooney, Jalen McMillan, DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Watson, Calvin Austin
- TE: Brenton Strange, Dalton Kincaid, Chig Okonkwo, Hunter Henry, Dalton Schultz
- DEF: Bengals, Lions, Colts, Titans, Giants, Seahawks
Ice 🥶
- QB: Lamar Jackson (however you continue to play him), Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff, Anthony Richardson, C.J. Stroud, Geno Smith, Patrick Mahomes
- RB: Joe Mixon, Rhamondre Stevenson, Tony Pollard, Najee Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Brian Robinson Jr.
- WR: DeVonta Smith, Tyreek Hill, Zay Flowers, Marvin Harrison Jr., Adam Thielen, Jayden Reed, DK Metcalf, Jameson Williams, Tank Dell, Jaylen Waddle, Jalen Coker, Josh Downs
- TE: Tucker Kraft, Pat Freiermuth, Jake Ferguson, Kyle Pitts, Zach Ertz
- DEF: Jets, Buccaneers, Rams, Dolphins
Stop 🚫
- QB: Russell Wilson, Drake Maye, Mason Rudolph, Bryce Young
- RB: Chiefs RBs, Jaylen Warren, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Ty Johnson
- WR: Elijah Moore, Deebo Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Tim Patrick, Amari Cooper, Xavier Worthy
- TE: Saints TEs, Cade Otton, Cole Kmet, Noah Gray
- DEF: Browns, Commanders