The weekend of reckoning has arrived.
The Fantasy Football Championship is here!
If you have reached this week you have made the ultimate journey. At the beginning of the fantasy season your goal was to make it to this final game. It is an accomplishment worth celebrating.
Here are the essential Week 16 pickups to win you the Fantasy Football Championship.
Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups
Note: We've limited recommendations to players owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. All data as of Monday.
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Running Backs
Tony Pollard, Cowboys
Ownership: 45%
Pollard did quite a job in the starting running back role in place of Ezekiel Elliott. The second-year Memphis product accounted for 132 total yards, six receptions, and two touchdowns in the Cowboys 41-33 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
His performance was even more impressive given that the 49ers entered the game allowing just the ninth-most rushing yards in the league. When he gets opportunities, Pollard always produces.
Tony Pollard is first in both missed tackles forced per rush and yards after contact per carry among 73 RBs with 100+ carries over the past two seasons (PFF)
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 21, 2020
If Elliott remains out, Pollard would be a must-start at home, even against a strong Eagles run defense. I would prefer Pollard over a player such as Mike Davis at Washington.
If Elliott returns, Pollard is not worth a start in Week 16.
Gus Edwards, Ravens
Ownership: 44%
Mark Ingram was a surprise healthy scratch in Week 15, setting up a two-man backfield with Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. Edwards rushed nine times for 42 yards and caught his two targets for 36 yards.
Edwards is definitely a flex option in Week 16 at home against the Giants, in a game the Ravens are already favored by 10 points. There should be plenty of positive game script, translating into touches for Edwards.
Salvon Ahmed, Dolphins
Ownership: 34%
Returning from an injured shoulder, Ahmed produced 127 total yards and a touchdown in Miami's 22-12 win over the Patriots. It was Ahmed's first game since Week 11, and he has always found fantasy relevance when given the opportunity.
Week 16 probably brings the return of Myles Gaskin, which torpedos Ahmed's fantasy championship value. However, if Gaskin does not play, Ahmed is a fantastic start against a Raiders defense that has allowed the fifth-most schedule adjusted fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Lynn Bowden, Dolphins
Ownership: 27%
Bowden is simply a desperation Week 16 play with possible running back eligibility depending on your fantasy platform.
He saw a team-high seven targets and led Miami with six receptions. Bowden actually led the Dolphins in both receptions (seven) and receiving yards (82).
Bowden in an intriguing RB3/4 play in deeper leagues, especially with a rookie "revenge game" narrative at Las Vegas.
Wide Receivers
Keke Coutee, Texans
Ownership: 41%
With Will Fuller suspended for the remainder of the season, fantasy owners are finally getting rewarded for their long-time faith in Keke Coutee.
Coutee caught a touchdown pass in back-to-back weeks, tallying five receptions for 53 receiving yards. If he is still available on your waiver wire, grab him.
You couldn't ask for a better opponent for a WR3 fantasy championship play, than at home against the Bengals.
John Brown, Bills
Ownership: 40%
Don't forget about Smoke.
Brown returned to practice mid-week, but was held out of the Week 15 Broncos game as a precaution. If the Bills activate Brown for their big clash at New England, he becomes a very viable WR3.
In Buffalo's 24-21 Week 7 win, Brown totaled one reception after coming off a knee sprain.
The Bills haven't swept the Patriots since 1999, and Brown would greatly increase their chances. If he is still available on your waiver wire, pick him up as stash with WR3 upside.
Allen Lazard, Packers
Ownership: 32%
If you are in need of a home run play, take a look at the Packers' Allen Lazard. In Week 15 against the Panthers, Lazard had his third-highest receiving total of the season with five receptions and 56 receiving yards.
The Packers' wide receivers have a dream matchup at home against the Titans, who have allowed the fifth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to opposing wideouts. It's only a play for deep leagues, but Lazard just needs to find the end zone to produce a nice WR3 stat line for the fantasy championship.
Jakobi Meyers, Patriots
Ownership: 31%
Meyers finally saw significant pass volume again, converting 10 targets into seven receptions and 111 receiving yards in New England's 22-12 loss at Miami.
When the Patriots are trailing, Meyers is a strong PPR play. That game script is likely in Week 16 against the Bills. Meyers tallied six receptions (10 targets) for 58 yards and two-point conversion in their first meeting. If you need a WR3 in PPR leagues, Meyers is a solid waiver pickup.
Russell Gage, Falcons
Ownership: 24%
Gage took advantage of Julio Jones' absence to turn 10 targets into five receptions, 68 yards, and a touchdown. Gage now has two touchdowns (one thrown) in the past two games.
He is a volume-dependent fantasy play, but should see a ton of opportunities at Kansas City in Week 16. It will likely be a negative game-script dominant game.
Calvin Ridley is the clear WR1, but if Jones sits again, Gage is a more than serviceable WR3 play in the fantasy championship.
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Tight Ends
Austin Hooper, Browns
Ownership: 48%
Hooper caught his second touchdown in the past three weeks as the Browns comfortably beat the Giants 20-6. With six targets and five receptions, Hooper is one of the few Week 16 options who can could reasonably find a starting role on championship lineups.
In Week 16, he has the ideal fantasy matchup against a Jets team that has allowed the most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to opposing tight ends. In the most shallow of fantasy positions, Hooper is the most likely difference-maker on this list.
Dan Arnold, Cardinals
Ownership: 2%
In two-tight end leagues, there is a strong case to be made for Dan Arnold. The Cardinals tight end had six targets, three receptions, and 54 receiving yards. He has 50 yards and/or a touchdown in two of the past three games.
In Week 16, he will face a tough matchup against the 49ers. However, the Niners did allow a touchdown pass to Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz on Sunday.
Defense
Philadelphia Eagles
Ownership: 27%
The Eagles are my Week 16 streaming defense of choice and they have a great matchup at Dallas. The Cowboys have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, and face an Eagles defense with six sacks, two interceptions, and three fumble recoveries the past two games.
If you don't like your defensive matchup for the fantasy championship, go with the Eagles in a bitter NFC East rivalry matchup.
