This weekend signals the end of the fantasy season for the majority of you so we felt it only made sense to bring advice from the top 5 most accurate experts to help you through the championship. It’s been a long and hard fought battle to get to this point and winning in week 16 won’t be a cake walk with plenty of pressing questions for a large number of fantasy owners.

We’ve gotten plenty of people asking the questions below so without further ado, see how these experts are answering them.

Featured Experts
Matthew Hill – DataForce Fantasy Football
Robert Waziak – Pyromaniac
Jared Smola – Draft Sharks
Patrick Thorman – Pro Football Focus
Justin Boone – theScore

Q1. With Josh Gordon’s suspension, who is a desperation pickup that fantasy owners could turn to?

Antonio Callaway (WR – CLE)
“There are a ton of intriguing options still out there at receiver. If Robert Foster, Tre’Quan Smith, and DaeSean Hamilton are owned, I’m comfortable starting Antonio Callaway. The Browns’ rookie wideout has posted 50 yards or a touchdown seven times this season, including three of his last four outings. One of those games came against his Week 16 opponent, the Bengals, who he hit for 62 yards and a score. Don’t be surprised if he tops those numbers this week.”
– Justin Boone (theScore)

“While it’s likely impossible to not freak out about being a starting WR short in Championship Week, there are a few WRs that I’d consider giving the nod to in hopes that they reach the end zone. If he’s available, Antonio Callaway is facing the same Bengals team he posted a 4/62/1 line on just four weeks ago. If not, I’d be willing to spin up one of either Robert Foster or Isaiah McKenzie and hope that one of them can score in a game where the Bills are looking to play spoiler against the AFC East division-leading Patriots.”
– Robert Waziak (Pyromaniac)

Robert Foster (WR – BUF)
“If Robby Anderson is somehow still available, he is the no-brainer answer here — but Robert Foster is the more likely option in most leagues. The Bills top passing game option fits well with Josh Allen’s big arm, and has averaged 3.4 catches on 4.6 targets for 87.6 yards and 0.4 touchdowns over his last five games. Buffalo will need to throw to beat New England.”
– Patrick Thorman (Pro Football Focus)

John Ross (WR – CIN)
“Chances are pretty good that your waiver wire has long been picked clean, but if you are fortunate to find John Ross available, don’t hesitate to plug him into your last wide receiver slot. Ross is the type of bye-week level talent that often gets jettisoned for running back handcuffs going into the fantasy playoffs, so he may be available. With Tyler Boyd joining Cincinnati’s growing list of inactive pass catchers, Ross, who caught four touchdowns from weeks 10-14, will find himself #1 on the wide receiver depth chart making him a high-end WR3 with upside.”
– Matthew Hill (DataForce Fantasy Football)

DaeSean Hamilton (WR – DEN)
“I’d be comfortable starting DaeSean Hamilton this week, especially in PPR leagues. Case Keenum has shown an affinity for slot receivers over the past 2 years — first with Adam Thielen, then Emmanuel Sanders and now Hamilton. He’s racked up 21 targets and 14 catches over the last 2 weeks and now gets a plus matchup against the Raiders.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)

Robert Foster (WR – BUF)
“If Robby Anderson is somehow still available, he is the no-brainer answer here — but Robert Foster is the more likely option in most leagues. The Bills top passing game option fits well with Josh Allen’s big arm, and has averaged 3.4 catches on 4.6 targets for 87.6 yards and 0.4 touchdowns over his last five games. Buffalo will need to throw to beat New England.”
– Patrick Thorman (Pro Football Focus)

Q2. What non-obvious player has the best chance of being a league-winner this week?

Robby Anderson (WR -NYJ)
“Boasting one of the highest implied totals of the week, the Packers/Jets contest is expected to be one of the highest scoring games of the weekend. With at least seven targets in each of the last three games and coming off of his best game of the season where he posted a line of 7/96/1, Robby Anderson is poised for another productive game. New York has already ruled out Quincey Enunwa, meaning Anderson should be in line for double-digit targets in a potential shootout.”
– Matthew Hill (DataForce Fantasy Football)

Elijah McGuire (RB – NYJ)
“McGuire has tallied 35 carries and 8 targets over the past 2 weeks. The Jets coaches love him, so expect a similar workload on Sunday against a Packers defense that ranks 19th in fantasy points allowed to RBs. That gives McGuire RB1 upside.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)

Calvin Ridley (WR – ATL)
“Ridley is averaging more than seven targets per game over the last month and put up 64 yards and a touchdown when the Falcons last faced the Panthers. With Julio Jones hobbled — or worse — look for Ridley to take on a more central role. Carolina has been soft on No. 2 receivers, as James Bradberry focuses on opponents’ top options.”
– Patrick Thorman (Pro Football Focus)

Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)
“If you’re hoping to find a mid-range player that could double his three career touchdowns this week, then you’re going to have to put some faith in Case Keenum and get Courtland Sutton into your lineup. Sutton is going against a Raiders team that has allowed more passing touchdowns than any other team this season. When you’re looking to win your league, start by picking on the Raiders.”
– Robert Waziak (Pyromaniac)

John Kelly (RB – LAR)
“Kelly has only two carries for four yards on his NFL resume, but that might change dramatically in Week 16. If Todd Gurley is held out or limited due to the inflammation in his knee, Kelly will see plenty of volume in a positive game script. The Rams are 14.5-point favorites against the Cardinals – a team they beat 34-0 earlier in the season. So even if Gurley starts, it’s unlikely we’ll see much of him in the second half, allowing Kelly to rack up yards (and maybe touchdowns) as a flex play with a mountain of upside.”
– Justin Boone (theScore)

Q3. Name one dud for Week 16 and tell us why you think this is one player owners should strongly consider benching.

Leonard Fournette (RB – JAC)
“Fournette is a complete Week 16 wild card after carrying just once in the 2nd half of last Sunday’s game. HC Doug Marrone said he wanted to get a look at David Williams, Fournette is dealing with a foot injury, and he admitted that he’s not in ideal shape. If you have a locked-in RB1 and someone like Elijah McGuire or Jamaal Williams, I’d strongly consider benching Fournette.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)

“Leonard Fournette owners have to be worried heading into their championship game after the Jags’ star was only given one touch in the second half last week. The coaching staff initially suggested they wanted to see more from rookie David Williams before eventually blaming Fournette’s lack of snaps on another foot injury. But Fournette is practicing in full for this week’s tilt with the Dolphins – a matchup that would normally be enticing if it weren’t for his unpredictable usage down the stretch. The situation makes for a very risky play in the most important fantasy week of the season. ”
– Justin Boone (theScore)

Gus Edwards (RB – BAL)
“Since Lamar Jackson took over as the Ravens quarterback, Baltimore has leaned heavily on their running game, with Gus Edwards being the primary beneficiary. Edwards has broken 100 yards on the ground in three of the last five games, totaling 486 yards on the ground. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, Edwards was not targeted one time in those five games. With the Chargers on tap, perhaps the league’s hottest team, I see the Ravens falling behind early and having to largely abandon their trademark ground game. When that happens, look for Kenneth Dixon who has seen his touches rise in recent weeks to dominate the snaps.”
– Matthew Hill (DataForce Fantasy Football)

Chris Godwin (WR – TB)
“Godwin’s matchup in Dallas is not favorable, as their coverage is tough on the perimeter and the Cowboys drain opponent play volume. He has earned his two lowest PFF grades, by far, during the last two games — in which he’s caught only one of 13 targets for 13 yards. With DeSean Jackson returning to soak up snaps and targets, it’s time to put Godwin away for the winter.”
– Patrick Thorman (Pro Football Focus)

Q4. Between Green Bay, Washington, Miami and Cleveland, which D/ST unit are you streaming this week and who would be your second choice?

“Still in the playoff hunt and facing the Jacksonville Jaguars, one of the league’s worst offenses, the Miami Dolphins defense is a relatively safe championship week option for streamers. If you miss out on Miami, Cleveland gets a home game against a Bengals team that’s running out of healthy players and has not allowed more than 23 points in a game since week nine.”
– Matthew Hill (DataForce Fantasy Football)

“The Cleveland Browns are 10-point home favorites against a Bengals offense trotting out Jeff Driskel at QB and John Ross, Cody Core and Alex Erickson at WR. Cleveland already ranks 2nd with 30 takeaways and should add to that total this weekend. My 2nd choice would be the Dolphins, who are 4-point home favorites in what should be an ugly, low-scoring game.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)

“When you’re looking in this tier for a fantasy defense, your best chance of success is to lean on a home favorite. The Browns have won four of their last five and are laying nine points to the visiting Bengals, who are decimated by injuries and quarterbacked by Jeff Driskel. The Dolphins would be my second choice as four-point home favorites against the floundering Jags.”
– Justin Boone (theScore)

“Cleveland tops the list as ten-point home favorites facing a backup quarterback. The Packers would be option two, as they take on an improving, but still turnover-prone rookie in what should be a looser game script than the other matchups. Washington and Miami face run-based offenses not likely to put the ball in harm’s way as often as the Bengals and Jets, and while they may give up fewer points, fantasy defenses score more via sacks, turnovers, and (hopefully) defensive touchdowns.”
– Patrick Thorman (Pro Football Focus)

“If I’m not streaming the pissed-off Packers against the Jets, I’m streaming the Browns against an injury-ridden Bengals team that has just one win (the Raiders…) in their last six games.”
– Robert Waziak (Pyromaniac)

—

Thank you to the experts for answerng these pressing questions. Best of luck to all of you in Week 16.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | TuneIn | RSS