Despite the fact that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks has scored a touchdown in two of the last three games, he remains a very volatile flex option for fantasy managers in Week 16 heading into a Sunday night showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since returning in Week 13 from a knee injury that required surgery, Cooks has seven receptions on 15 targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns. In the four games he played with quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) before his knee injury, Cooks had only nine catches (19 targets) for 91 yards and one touchdown. It's safe to say the 31-year-old veteran is showing serious signs of decline as a deep threat in the NFL, and he's highly dependent on getting into the end zone. The Bucs defense has been a plus matchup for receivers this year, although they've stiffened up in recent weeks. Cooks' limited volume makes him one to avoid.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars defense/special teams unit is worth considering for Week 16. The Jaguars face the Las Vegas Raiders this week, who allowed the Falcons D/ST to have a fantastic fantasy outing last week. While Aidan O'Connell is expected to start instead of Desmond Ridder, that shouldn't change much in the eyes of fantasy managers. The Jaguars defense has been one of the worst in the league this season, but the Raiders offense has been one of the worst in the league in their own right. That combination leads to a mix of risk and upside for a defense more likely than not available in free agency. While their unit has been difficult to trust all season, the Jaguars D/ST has a chance to succeed in fantasy in Week 16 against the Raiders.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson heads into Sunday night's matchup against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16 still searching for his first touchdown of 2024. Although the matchup is a good one against a Buccaneers defense that has allowed 12.1 half-PPR points per game to the TE position this year (sixth-most in the NFL), Ferguson just hasn't shown any real signs of breaking out with quarterback Cooper Rush under center. The 25-year-old has just five catches on 10 targets for 55 yards after returning from a two-game absence due to injury. But even before that, Ferguson was struggling to make a weekly impact for his fantasy managers. The good news is the Bucs have allowed the second-most receiving yards (974) to tight ends this year, so even if Ferguson stays out of the end zone, he could rack up some decent yardage to make him a top-12 TE in the fantasy semifinals in most leagues.

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington is a difficult player for fantasy managers in the playoffs to feel good about starting in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders serve as a good matchup for the young receiver, but Washington has been overshadowed by Brian Thomas Jr. and Brenton Strange ever since he broke out with six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Houston Texans in Week 13. Also, Mac Jones has been a volatile player when replacing Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, either having good enough games to support multiple receiving options in fantasy or struggling to support even one. Despite a great matchup with the Raiders, it is hard to recommend Washington with confidence in Week 16 due to his target competition and inconsistent quarterback play.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (knee) will be facing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense on Sunday Night Football in Week 16 that has allowed the fewest half-PPR points to opposing RBs in the last five weeks, which includes just one rushing touchdown given up. However, because of the high volume that Dowdle has been seeing of late as Dallas' clear-cut No. 1 RB, he'll carry high-end RB2 value for fantasy managers still alive in the playoffs. The 26-year-old is coming off a a career-best 149 rushing yards on 25 carries in last week's win over the Carolina Panthers after setting a previous career-best with 131 rushing yards the week prior. In the last four games, Dowdle has really been eating, seeing at least 18 carries per game and averaging 5.69 yards per attempt with a touchdown. Fantasy managers may not want to expect another career performance on Sunday night, but Dowdle is certainly trending up.

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Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little is a better option than usual in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Against kickers in fantasy, the Raiders have been the worst this season, making Little an interesting streaming option. Mac Jones and the Jaguars offense is difficult to trust in the fantasy playoffs, but the Raiders are good enough of a matchup to make Little worth consideration. The rookie kicker has been accurate and able to hit long kicks, so fantasy managers can feel good about him as a kicker. However, in a game where the Jaguars may be playing for a better draft pick, it is hard to predict how the offense will do. A great matchup with the Raiders puts Little on the table as a potential option for fantasy managers in need of a kicker in Week 16.

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush is set up with a friendly matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16 as he looks for a second straight strong performance. Rush had one of his better performances of the year in last week's win over the Carolina Panthers, throwing for 214 yards and a season-high three touchdowns in the 30-14 win. He'll now take on a Buccaneers defense that is tied with the bad Cincinnati Bengals defense for the second-most fantasy points allowed to opposing signal-callers. They've allowed 23 touchdown passes on the year with only seven interceptions, and they've also surrendered the fourth-most passing yards overall. The 31-year-old veteran backup's ceiling obviously isn't a high one, but Rush has the potential to be a very serviceable QB2 in superflex leagues in a primetime game at home on Sunday evening.

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Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange is a great option that isn't considered one of the top-tier names in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The young tight end had a breakout performance last week, putting up 11 catches for 73 yards. While the low yardage per catch is not ideal, it does show that Strange is developing into a security blanket option on short passes for quarterback Mac Jones with Evan Engram out for the season. The Raiders have struggled to defend tight ends this season, so for fantasy managers looking for something new at the tight end position this week, Strange is a great option, especially in PPR leagues. Strange could look like one of the top waiver wire adds of the week in hindsight due to a great matchup with the Raiders in Week 16.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell has just two receptions over the last four contests, but has an opportunity to get more involved on Sunday against the Titans. With Alec Pierce set to miss the game having not cleared concussion protocol, Mitchell could work in as the primary deep threat in this matchup. That may not mean much for fantasy, however, as the 22-year-old will be on the receiving end of passes coming from quarterback Anthony Richardson who has a 47.0% completion rate, while Pierce recorded three catches or less in 11 of the 13 full games he played prior to Week 15, so Mitchell's workload should look similar. The Titans have allowed the fifth-fewest points to opposing WRs on the season, which won't make it any easier for the wideouts. View Mitchell as nothing more than a WR5/6 dart throw for fantasy on Sunday.

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. is a decent flex option in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. He has been more heavily involved in the passing game as of late and even got more carries than fellow back Tank Bigsby in Week 15. However, that doesn't necessarily mean Etienne Jr. will dominate touches out of the backfield this week. The split between the two backs has been inconsistent all season and more in line with a hot-hand approach. Just two weeks ago, the 25-year-old back had just four carries. Given the unpredictable nature of the Jacksonville backfield, it is hard to trust either running back. Etienne Jr. is best viewed as a solid flex start who should be slightly upgraded in PPR due to his recent pass-game involvement in Week 16 against the Raiders.

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Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier has been the recipient of double-digit carries just four times all season and has yet to record those outings in back-to-back weeks. In Week 15, the 24-year-old carried the ball 12 times, so is he due for a return to single digits? With rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. under center on Sunday, the Falcons may need to rely on the run game more than usual. The team is favored by nine points in this game against the Giants, so they could be looking to kill the clock late as well, meaning more action for the running backs. The Falcons haven't been shy about giving goal line carries to Allgeier, so the 8:3 TD split for Bijan Robinson and Allgeier doesn't tell the whole story. Allgeier has received six carries inside the five while Robinson has received eight, so it's a near-even split. Nevertheless, fantasy managers still alive in the playoffs won't be using the BYU product as an RB1 or RB2, but one could make the case for an RB3/Flex play this week, albeit a risky one.

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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts reemerged from obscurity in Week 15 to haul in four passes, albeit for a measly 28 yards. The 24-year-old totaled three receptions over the previous three contests, has 14 fewer catches than running back Bijan Robinson on the season, and hasn't scored since Week 8. The former first-round draft pick has fallen well outside the top 12 TEs in fantasy scoring on the year and takes on a Giants pass defense that has been good at covering tight ends this season, yielding the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs thus far. Add in another variable -- a left-handed rookie quarterback -- and Pitts makes for quite the fantasy gamble in Week 16. The 6-foot-6 pass catcher projects as a mid-range TE2 option for Sunday's matchup and not a great option for managers who are still eying fantasy championships.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III caught just one of his three targets for 14 yards last week, but it wasn't just McCloud who had a dud. The receiving corps in general underperformed as a result of ineffective passing from Kirk Cousins and from a ground game that was clicking, with the backs totaling 168 rushing yards. The 28-year-old had been much more involved in Weeks 11-14, averaging six catches and over seven targets during that stretch. With Michael Penix Jr. making his first career start on Sunday, how the passing attack will unfold is a bit of an unknown, but if the left-handed quarterback needs a safety blanket, McCloud III could fit the bill. The wideout has the lowest average depth of target out of the first-team receivers with an aDOT of 6.27. The Clemson product is shaping up to be a WR5 this week with perhaps some slight upside in PPR leagues, but it's a risky proposition with the quarterback situation and fantasy playoffs on the line.

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Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders looks to extend his made-field goal streak past 18 in Week 16. The 29-year-old is having one of his best years as a pro and is now the eighth-ranked kicker in fantasy football. The San Francisco 49ers come to town in Week 16 and allow the 10th fewest fantasy points to opposing kickers. Sanders has also hurt fantasy owners by missing extra points in back-to-back weeks. This could be a spot where the Dolphins have trouble moving the ball due to Tyreek Hill (wrist/personal) and Jaylen Waddle (knee) injuries. He should be viewed as a shaky streaming option for Week 16. He comes in as RotoBaller's 16th-ranked kicker in the Week 16 rankings.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington may have a chance to have a productive performance in Week 16. Jaylen Waddle (knee) is listed as doubtful, and Tyreek Hill (wrist/personal) is questionable. The rookie had his best performance of the season last week with five receptions on six targets for 52 yards against the Houston Texans. The matchup against the San Francisco 49ers defense will be a difficult one. Their defense is ranked second in fantasy points and second in yards allowed per game to opposing wide receivers. Washington has looked great in special teams and has done whatever is asked of him on the field. He should be viewed as an emergency flex option in Week 16.

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Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith has been one of the most consistent players in all fantasy football over the last several weeks. The 29-year-old is ranked as the TE4 and has seen incredible volume down the stretch. He has touchdowns in four of the previous five games and eight or more targets in four of the last five. However, Week 16 presents a difficult matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, who have been stout against tight ends. They rank 2nd in fantasy points allowed to tight ends per game and allow the least yards per game to the position. With linebacker Dre Greenlaw questionable, that could present even more problems for Smith. With the injuries to Tyreek Hill (wrist/personal) and Jaylen Waddle (knee), Smith should command plenty of looks this week. He is still a TE1 and should be started in all formats. He ranks as the TE4 in the Week 16 RotoBaller rankings.

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The Detroit Lions D/ST had a rough outing last week against quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. The Lions allowed 48 points to the Bills and scored negative fantasy points. Look for that to change in Week 16 at the Chicago Bears. The Lions sacked Bears quarterback Caleb Williams five times in the last matchup between the teams. The Lions' defense has been hit hard by injuries a bit so the D/ST remains a borderline starting option in fantasy. The matchup against the Bears is a pretty good one but other elite defenses can be started ahead of the Lions during fantasy playoff time.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has continued to be a major contributor in fantasy football despite losing his quarterback, Dak Prescott (hamstring), in the middle of the season. Lamb has looked solid in six full games with Cooper Rush under center, as the two have connected for 41 completions, 429 yards, and two touchdowns. He ranks as the overall WR11 during that six-game span, and he has found the end zone in each of his last two contests. In Week 16, Lamb will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose defensive secondary has been suspect at times in 2024. The Buccaneers have allowed the 13th-fewest fantasy points to slot receivers, as well as the 13th-most fantasy points to receivers who operate out wide. Lamb has played 368 snaps (46.6 percent) from the slot this season, which is the seventh-most in the NFL. Still, he should be able to feast against the Buccaneers, who allowed Los Angeles Chargers slot receiver Ladd McConkey to put up five catches, 58 yards, and one touchdown against them in Week 15. For fantasy purposes, Lamb continues to rank as an intriguing fantasy playmaker in the mid-to-low WR1 range this Sunday.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray has continued to have a significant impact despite operating behind future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce. In fact, Gray has outscored Kelce in fantasy football since Week 11, with Gray ranking as the TE4 in fantasy football during that five-game span while Kelce was the TE15. A 25-year-old Duke product, Gray has appeared in all 14 games this season, catching 37 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns, all of which are career-high marks. This week, he takes on the Houston Texans, who have allowed the fifth-fewest catches and fourth-fewest receiving yards to opposing tight ends in the NFL. However, they have been susceptible to touchdowns at the position, letting tight ends find the end zone at the seventh-highest clip. All in all, Gray remains a solid fixture on the fantasy radar, ranking as a mid-to-low TE2 option at home this Saturday.

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Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass is worth starting in most fantasy football leagues ahead of his matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 16. The 27-year-old ranks ninth in fantasy points among kickers this year, going 50-for-54 on extra points and 21-for-26 on field goals. Even amidst some accuracy concerns on field goals, Bass has been able to rack up the scoring with an excessively high number of extra points. He has drilled 17 extra points over his last three games as the Bills continue to find the end zone at a rapid pace. That should continue this week against the New England Patriots. While New England ranks near the middle of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to kickers this year, they have surrendered an average of 2.7 touchdowns per game (eighth-most in the NFL), which means that scoring opportunities won't be too hard to come by for Bass. He should be deployed as a top-10 kicker in Week 16.

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