The Yahoo Fantasy team shares their predictions for Week 16 — for most, semifinals week — the final step toward a trip to the Fantasy Football Super Bowl.
A big week in store for JSN
It sounds like we’ll get Geno Smith in this Week 16 game, rather than sack-eating backup Sam Howell under center for the Seahawks. Even if Smith is a better sack-avoider than Howell, he’s still set to face waves of pressure from the Vikings front. Seattle’s offensive line is a mismatch vs. Minnesota. As such, expect a ton of quick passes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba all game long.
Per Fantasy Points Data, when Seattle has faced two-high coverage since Week 10 — Minnesota has been among the most two-high-heavy defenses this season — JSN paces the team with a 3.2 yards per route run, while DK Metcalf sits just above 1.0. It’s not a coverage look that favors deep outside-the-number passes to begin with, and Seattle’s quarterbacks rarely have the time to uncork those throws behind their offensive line. — Matt Harmon
https://sports.yahoo.com/sports_ms/_rcv/remote?m_id=fantasy&ctrl=GenericPromo&m_mode=custom&template=iframe&darkmode=1
Maye gets the stamp of approval
I’m amazed Drake Maye continues to play well every week despite a patchwork offensive line and an ordinary set of pass catchers. He’s always poised despite high pressure rates, and the athletic Maye has proven resourceful as an occasional runner. I view Maye as a safe-floor and interesting-upside option for Week 16, as New England will have to be more aggressive as it likely faces a negative game script at Buffalo. Maye is strongly approved as your second QB in Superflex formats, and I would consider him as a QB1 in standard pools if your name-brand starter hasn’t been producing. — Scott Pianowski
Jauan Jennings returns to form
At first glance, Jauan Jennings’ production seems like it’s taking a turn into extreme volatility. He’s finished as WR48, WR52, WR5 and WR67 over the past four games. However, there are valid excuses for that production.
Purdy missed Week 12 — the WR48 performance — due to injury. He returned in Week 13 but was clearly still dealing with the injury and threw just 18 passes. Purdy returned to form in Week 14 against a tough Chicago secondary, and Jennings thrived with a top-five finish. Week 15 was the dreadful Thursday night game in the rain against the L.A. Rams where neither Purdy nor Matt Stafford exceeded 160 passing yards. This week is the perfect bounce-back scenario against the Miami Dolphins. Expect Jennings to return to his WR1 form and thrive against an inconsistent Miami secondary. — Tera Roberts
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Trey McBride finally scores a TD … no, seriously
I am just gonna continue to issue Trey McBride propaganda until the man finally returns to the end zone. It’s been an outrageously long TD drought — one that simply has to end soon. McBride is too talented and too heavily targeted for it to continue. Somehow, this man is the overall TE3 on the season without a single receiving score.
This week, the most touchdown-challenged player in recent memory is facing a Carolina defense that’s allowed the most touchdowns to the tight end position on the year. Something has to give, at least in theory. The Panthers have allowed 27 passing scores on the season, tied for the most in the league. Ten of those TDs belong to tight ends. Fantasy luminaries such as Noah Gray, Grant Calcaterra, Foster Moreau, Adam Trautman and Ben Sinnott have already visited the end-zone against Carolina (some of them more than once). Surely McBride can get home this week, right?
If not, I’ll return to re-hype the man next week. — Andy Behrens
Fire up Mr. Meyers!
Jakobi Meyers has seen the second-most targets (45) and air yards (447) in the league over the last month – and that was with Desmond Ridder starting last week. Aidan O’Connell is trending toward playing Sunday, and his return would be a boost for Meyers.
The Jaguars have allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, and this matchup should be fast-paced. Meyers’ target rate has jumped to 25.5% versus man coverage this season, which Jacksonville has used at the league’s fourth-highest rate (38.2%). Meyers finishes as a top-15 WR this week. — Dalton Del Don
James Conner keeps it rolling
Despite being nearly 30 years old James Conner is getting better as the season goes on for the Cardinals. He’s coming off back-to-back season-high fantasy performances which includes an RB1 overall finish in Week 15 when he produced 138 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots. Conner earned 70% of the backfield opportunities in this game which was more than his usual role due to both of the Cardinals’ backups dealing with injuries. Emari Demercado was placed on IR before Week 15 and Trey Benson injured his ankle in the second half against the Patriots.
This increased usage for Conner could continue in a great matchup this week against the Panthers who allow the most rushing yards per game and second most rushing touchdowns this season. Carolina has allowed 125 rushing yards per game to starting RBs the past six weeks making this the perfect spot for Conner to put up his third straight top-10 weekly RB finish. — Sal Vetri
