DFS Alerts
Drew Brees officially active Week 16
Drew Brees will play and start this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last week Brees suffered a torn plantar fascia, but he is going to play in what should be a shootout at 4:05 pm. It was reported earlier that Brees was expected to start, so this is just making it official. The Jaguars present positive match ups for the Saints at all positions with DvP rankings of #24 vs. QB’s, #26 vs. RB’s, #19 vs. WR’s and #23 vs. TE’s. Brees will be without Marques Colston (chest) in this game, but will have Benjamin Watson (knee) available who missed practice time this week.
As reported by: Official Actives/Inactives
C.J. Spiller to be a healthy scratch Week 16
After playing on 26 snaps last week (season high) C.J. Spiller will be inactive for Week 16 when the Saints host the Jaguars. Tim Hightower should see plenty of snaps in a game that could be a shootout, Hightower will be backed up by Travaris Cadet and Marcus Murphy. Jacksonville had been a formidable defense against RB’s early on in the season, but come into Week 16 ranked 26th in DvP rankings. After receiving 29 touches in Week 14, Hightower touched the ball 16 times last week with 3 of those touches coming on receptions. With Spiller out, Hightower may have another chance today to catch a few passes.
As reported by: Rand Getlin Other tagged players: Tim Hightower Steven Jackson to take on LeGarrette Blount's old role
Newly acquired Steven Jackson will take over for the Patriots as their short-yardage back and goal line specialist with LeGarrette Blount out for the rest of the season. In a game where the Patriots will most likely limit their rushes against a top rush D (#4 vs. RB’s in DvP rankings), Jackson may not have a big role in his first game. Last time out against the Jets, the Patriots passed over 90% of the time, calling only a handful of rushes the entire game. Jackson will likely have to split short-yardage carries still with the likes of Brandon Bolden and Joey Iosefa as well.
As reported by: Jay Glazer Karlos Williams announced as starter, but Gillislee working with 1st team in warmups
According to ESPN’s Mike Rodak, during warm-ups for the Buffalo Bills, Mike Gillislee is getting reps with the “ones”. Originally projected as the change-of-pace option, Gillislee looked good with his opportunities last week (81 rushing yards, 1 TD) while Karlos Williams was returning from his shoulder injury. The Cowboys come in struggling against the run, leaving opportunity for both Williams and Gillislee to see work.
As reported by: Mike Rodak Other tagged players: Karlos Williams Karlos Williams listed as Bills' starting RB
The Buffalo Bills have listed Karlos Williams as their starting RB for Week 16 with LeSean McCoy inactive. Mike Gillislee will operate as a change-of-pace option in a plus match up against the Dallas Cowboys who are #26 in DvP ranking vs. RB’s.
As reported by: Michael Fabiano Brian Hoyer officially inactive Week 16
Brian Hoyer has been officially ruled out for Week 16 against Tennessee. With Brandon being announced the starter yesterday and Hoyer not cleared from his latest concussion, this was expected today. The Titans come into Week 16 ranked #27 against the QB in DvP rankings, but the Texans will most likely look to limit Weeden’s exposure and lean on the ground game if they are able to. While Weeden starting for the Texans is a bit of a downgrade for DeAndre Hopkins, Hopkins did catch 5 passes from Weeden last week in his spot relief of TJ Yates.
As reported by: Aaron Wilson Other tagged players: Brandon Weeden Rishard Matthews inactive for Week 16
After getting in full practices Wednesday and Thursday, Matthews was downgraded to a limited practice on Friday and has now been listed as inactive for the Dolphins’ Week 16 game at home against the Colts. DeVante Parker will again get the start for the Dolphins who will run many of his routes against Vontae Davis, PFF’s T-27th rated in coverage, though he will also run routes against Greg Toler who comes into Week 16 as PFF’s 2nd-worst in coverage only behind Brandon Browner. The Colts as a whole come in #26 in DvP vs. WR’s, making Parker a sneaky GPP tournament play. Parker has had 5 or more targets in each of his last 5 games with 7, 10, 5, 5 and 6 targets last week.
As reported by: Armando Salguero Other tagged players: DeVante Parker Roethlisberger/Brown/Bryant makes for a great stack
The Ravens and the Saints defenses have been preyed on this year by DFS players and we have definitely been rewarded. Quarterbacks in particular have seen huge increases in their averages with the Ravens allowing 8.7 points over salary-based expectation according to Fantasy Labs. This week the high-powered Steelers offense got the lucky draw of matching up with the Ravens and Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Martavis Bryant all make for great plays on Sunday. The Steelers have arguably the best offense in the league and it all starts with Ben Roethlisberger who is still underpriced compared to his production in games in which he has actually played the whole game. Antonio Brown is Antonio Brown and that should be all that needs to be said, but we will just say that he has eclipsed 40 fantasy points in four of his last six games. Go ahead and lock him in. Martavis Bryant is also underpriced specifically on DraftKings averaging double-digit targets and over 21 fantasy points per game in his last five games and sitting at a measly $5,600 on DK. Look for this well-oiled machine of the Steelers’ offense to have another great performance on Sunday vs. the poor Ravens defense.
Other tagged players: Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant
Donte Moncrief active against Dolphins
After returning to practice on Friday, Moncrief was expected to play for the Colts as they travel to Miami for Week 16. The Dolphins come into Week 16 ranked #27 in DvP against WR’s, making Moncrief an interesting GPP tournament play. In his last 2 games, Moncrief has had 10 and 7 targets (last week) with a touchdown last week. Despite nursing all sorts of injuries, Hasselbeck has looked Moncrief’s way pretty consistently when they have played together.
As reported by: Colts Actives/Inactives Houston D/ST a contrarian and fairly safe value play
The Texans’ defense has been somewhat of a surprise this season, but what really makes this matchup juicy for Houston is the matchup. The Texans get the Titans this Sunday with Zach Mettenberger at starting QB and Antonio Andrews at starting RB. The Titans will likely struggle to score points with one of the lowest implied point totals of the week at 18. Houston has actually improved throughout the second half of the season and with the exception of the Patriots and Bills have really limited their opposition in terms of scoring. With J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney on the ends, they also have the potential to rack up some sacks. With a lot of people spending up on the Chiefs, Seahawks, Panthers, or Broncos defense, you could save some money and spend down and go with a Texans defense in a good spot on Sunday.
Mike Evans is a potential GPP play
Vincent Jackson has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, and that leaves Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins as the only two capable pass-catchers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Evans has been an absolute target monster whenever Jackson has missed games, and that should remain the same this week vs. the Bears. Last week Evans had 17 targets and 9-157-0. In games that Jackson has not played, Evans has had 9, 19, 13, and 17 targets and will look to continue that this weekend. Now granted, it is almost comical how many drops Evans has as he leads the league in dropped passes. It also doesn’t help his value that Seferian-Jenkins has been in the lineup for the last few weeks, but don’t be scared away as Evans will still see a ton of targets and is a great GPP and risky cash play this week.
Zach Miller is a contrarian TE option
With Marquess Wilson out with a foot injury and Alshon Jeffery out for the week with a hamstring injury, the Bears offense will rely on a combination of Eddie Royal, Marc Mariani and Josh Bellamy at WR with Zach Miller as the TE. With Martellus Bennett out as well, Zach Miller has been seeing the majority of the snaps at TE and has played well over the last two weeks with lines of 5-85-1 and 6-57-0 and sitting at only $4,000 on DraftKings. The Bears have been decimated by injuries this season and has brought opportunity to guys like Miller and with Jeffery out it will likely only lead to more targets. The Bucs rush defense is stout and the Bears will likely pass a lot, and the defense actually gives up a decent amount of points to opposing TEs due to the design of their secondary. Miler is by no means a safe TE option, but he does have decent upside and will likely be very low-owned on Sunday.
Brandon LaFell & Scott Chandler expected to play Week 16
Brandon LaFell (foot) and Scott Chandler (knee) were able to get in limited practices this week and were expected to be available for the Patriots against the Jets. Chandler has been an afterthought with his injuries and Rob Gronkowski coming back, but could have a role this week when the Patriots will be without Danny Amendola (knee) and Julian Edelman (foot) still. Brandon LaFell should be in line for some extra work this week, though his fantasy output will depend more on who he sees most in coverage – either Darrelle Revis or Antonio Cromartie – while LaFell has still been quite disappointing most weeks even when given extra opportunities. In DvP rankings, the Jets are #4 against RB’s, #20 vs. WR’s and #5 vs. TE’s coming into their Week 16 match up with the Patriots.
As reported by: Adam Schefter Other tagged players: Scott Chandler Ryan Mallett expected to start for Ravens
After being signed almost two weeks ago, Ryan Mallett will make his first start for the Baltimore Ravens in what is expected to be his audition for next season’s backup job. Earlier in the week Ravens coach John Harbaugh suggested that Mallett could start the final two games this season and that now appears to be the case. The Steelers come in strong against the run and vulnerable against the pass – #27 vs. QB’s & #32 vs. WR’s DvP – though it will remain to be seen if Mallett can take advantage of the Steelers’ secondary with his depleted offensive weapons. Kamar Aiken has taken over as the team’s #1 WR option and has received targets of 14, 8, 10, 11, 7 and 12 the last 6 weeks.
As reported by: Ian Rapoport Other tagged players: Kamar Aiken Doug Baldwin game-time decision - expected to play
Earlier in the week, Pete Carroll said that Doug Baldwin would most likely be a game-time decision for the Seahawks, who take on the St. Louis Rams in Week 16. Ian Rapoport is reporting that Baldwin is expected to play and “it would be a surprise” if he did not play. With a 4:25 pm start time, DFS players will be smart to have options to pivot off of Baldwin in case he is a surprise inactive ahead of game time. The Rams are ranked #5 against WR’s in DvP and #5 against QB’s, though both Doug Baldwin and Russell Wilson have been nearly unstoppable lately. Baldwin will square off against Lamarcus Joyner in the slot who is ranked as #57 (tie) in PFF’s coverage rankings. Baldwin saw his targets drop to 6 last week in a game against the Browns that was never close, after getting 8, 7 and 9 targets in the previous 3 weeks – there will be concerns about the Rams not keeping this game close as well, however, Baldwin was been incredibly efficient with 10 touchdowns on 30 targets the past 4 weeks.
As reported by: Ian Rapoport Other tagged players: Russell Wilson