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FantasyAces NFL Lineup Advice: Week 16

Blake Bortles looks to be the next quarterback who obliterated the Saints' soft defense

Blake Bortles looks to be the next quarterback who obliterates the Saints’ soft defense

There are 14 games on the Sunday schedule for Week 16 as we head towards the end of the regular season. Matthew Stafford, Demaryius Thomas, Antonio Gates and the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense all hit or exceeded value in Week 15.

Alex Smith was limited due to game flow. Denard Robinson was hobbled and just missed hitting value while Eddie Lacy went back to his old ways. Malcolm Jenkins managed to slow up Larry Fitzgerald and Lamar Miller was benched after halftime.

Calvin Johnson was the total bust of Week 15, as he managed just one catch for 19 yards. After highlighting last week’s hits and misses, let’s take a look at the lineup for Week 16.

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Quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger PIT @ BAL $7,100
The Steelers have shown a willingness to throw the ball as many times as needed to win and they need Roethlisberger’s arm now more than ever. The one concern here is that Pittsburgh jumps out to an early lead, and the pass attempts are limited, but the Steelers’ defense can be just as porous so Baltimore could make this interesting. If this game stays close, look for a big game from Roethlisberger against a defense that’s allowing 242 passing yards and two touchdowns per game.

Blake Bortles JAX @ NO $6,450
The Saints’ pass defense made Matthew Stafford look like an absolute stud in Week 15, allowing just as many touchdowns as incomplete passes. I expect Bortles’ ownership levels to be through the roof, and he’s all over my radar as well this week.

The Saints generate no pass rush to speak of, and it’s amazing that someone like Brandon Browner still has a starting job in the secondary. Bortles will be the next quarterback of many who have lit up this defense.

 

Running Back

Karlos Williams BUF vs. DAL $4,400
I expect some high ownership levels for Williams if LeSean McCoy is out for Week 16, but I probably won’t fade him this week, regardless. Williams looked good in Week 15, and he’s shown some flashes of brilliance throughout his rookie season. The matchup against Dallas is a good one, so utilize the salary relief in your lineup construction this week.

Doug Martin TB vs. CHI $5,200
Doug Martin ranks just behind Adrian Peterson in total rushing yards, but he comes at a meaningful discount with a fairly similar matchup. Martin is averaging 5.1 yards per carry, and if it weren’t for some curious coaching moves in the second half of a few games, I think he’d easily be leading the league in rushing. The Bears rank 20th in fantasy points allowed per game to running backs, and they surrender 126 rushing yards per contest.

 

Wide Receiver

Martavis Bryant PIT @ BAL $4,950
A lot of attention figures to be paid to Antonio Brown this week, and while I won’t argue with that, Bryant is right up with other elite plays in Week 16. Baltimore allows the most fantasy points per game to receivers and the pairing with Ben Roethlisberger carries massive upside. Bryant should see a lot of Shareece Wright in coverage, and that’s something that I look for Pittsburgh to exploit as they try to will themselves into the playoffs.

Kamar Aiken BAL vs. PIT $4,500
The Ravens figure to be trailing often in this game and they face a Steelers’ defense that is allowing the second-most passing yards per game. This should bode well for Aiken, who has emerged as the best option in the passing attack for Baltimore.

He’s coming off of a career game in Week 15 in which he caught eight passes for 128 yards and a score. I like Aiken’s value this week as Baltimore tries to play the spoiler role against their divisional foe.

 

Tight End

Julius Thomas JAX @ NO $4,700
The Saints are deplorable when it comes to defending the pass and that includes tight ends. After an agonizingly slow start to the season, Thomas has heated up over the last five games. With a lot of attention on Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, this is a high upside pivot to pair with Blake Bortles.

 

Flex

David Johnson ARI vs. GB $5,350
Johnson is emerging as a true feature running back for Arizona, and he contributes in all facets of this offense. The Packers are allowing 117 rushing yards per game, which is 22nd in the league. His price still hasn’t accurately corrected itself, so take advantage yet again in Week 16.

Rueben Randle NYG @ MIN $4,200
Randle isn’t a flashy pick, but with Odell Beckham Jr. suspended for Week 16, Randle figures to see an uptick in targets. The matchup isn’t great, but the price coupled with expected volume offsets some of this risk.

 

Defense/Special Teams

Kansas City Chiefs vs. CLE $3,150
The Chiefs have played like the top defense in the NFL over the last several weeks, and I don’t see Cleveland changing that trend in Week 16. The Chiefs are double-digit favorites at home, and the Browns have an implied team total of just 15.5 points. For a fantasy position that is known for variance, it’s tough to pass up the last eight weeks’ worth of fantasy scoring that Kansas City has produced on defense.

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Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net.

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