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FFL: Playoff Week 1 | NFL: Week 16

Chiefs WR Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown active vs. Texans

Sat Dec 21 11:51am ET
Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown will make his season debut on Saturday afternoon against the visiting Houston Texans.

Brown, who was listed as active for the game, has worked his way back after being placed on injured reserve on Sept. 13 with a sternoclavicular joint injury sustained in the preseason opener.

Brown, 27, signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs in March after three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2019-21) and two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2022-23).

Brown has 313 catches for 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns in 72 career games (65 starts). He posted a 1,000-yard season with the Ravens in 2021.

The Chiefs (13-1) opened up a roster spot for Brown earlier this week when they released veteran running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

While Brown will play on Saturday for Kansas City, the team listed the following players as inactive: defensive ends Joshua Uche and Malik Herring, defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, defensive back Chamarri Conner, offensive tackles D.J. Humphries and Ethan Driskell and offensive lineman C.J. Hanson.

As for the Texans (9-5), guard Nick Broeker, defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, defensive end Jerry Hughes, wide receiver John Metchie, center Juice Scruggs, tight end Cade Stover and inside linebacker Devin White were listed as inactive for Saturday's game.

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Bender's DFS Pickem Plays: Week 16

Player Notes
Demarcus Robinson Dec 21 11:50am CT
Demarcus Robinson

Even though Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (shoulder) has scored a career-high seven touchdowns in 14 games for the Rams this year, he cannot be trusted in starting fantasy lineups in Week 16 on the road against the New York Jets on Sunday. It's pretty impressive that Robinson has seven touchdowns while working behind target hogs Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. The 30-year-old has been battling through a shoulder injury of late, which could be part of the reason he's gone without a catch on just two targets in the last two games against the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills. In the two previous games, he had four catches on six targets for 64 yards and a touchdown. Robinson should get more involved this weekend in New York, but against a Jets defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest half-PPR points per game to the position, we'd stay away from Robinson this week.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aubrey Dec 21 11:40am CT
Brandon Aubrey

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, who has one of the strongest kicking legs in all of football, needs to be in all fantasy lineups in Week 16 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. Aubrey enters Week 16 action as the No. 4 kicker in overall fantasy points on the season thanks to 32 made field goals (third-most in the league) on 38 attempts (third-most in the league). He's also made all 26 of his extra-point tries in 14 games played. He was busy in last week's win over the Carolina Panthers, too, making three of his four field-goal attempts and all three of his extra points. Aubrey's 8.7 fantasy points per week rank him as the No. 6 fantasy kicker on the year. The Buccaneers defense is leaky enough and should give the Cowboys plenty of kicking opportunities. They've allowed 23.3 points per game. Kicking at home indoors again this week, Aubrey needs to be in all starting lineups.

From RotoBaller

Tim Patrick Dec 21 11:40am CT
Tim Patrick

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick will be looking to keep his two-game touchdown streak going in a Week 16 divisional clash versus the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday. Patrick has seen a bigger role in the last two weeks against the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills, catching 10 of his 15 targets for 73 yards and three touchdowns. Prior to Week 14, though, Patrick hadn't seen more than four targets in a game. The 31-year-old veteran pass-catcher has 19 catches for 202 yards and the three TDs on 26 targets in his last five games, which has made him the WR29 in that span. With the elevated role of late, Patrick has settled in as Detroit's No. 3 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams in a high-volume passing offense. However, he's still more of a touchdown-dependent WR4/5 in fantasy that will be taking on a Bears defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest half-PPR points per game to wideouts in the last five weeks.

From RotoBaller

Brandin Cooks Dec 21 11:30am CT
Brandin Cooks

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.

From RotoBaller

Desmond Ridder Dec 21 11:20am CT
Desmond Ridder

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.

From RotoBaller

Jake Ferguson Dec 21 11:20am CT
Jake Ferguson

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.

From RotoBaller

Parker Washington Dec 21 11:10am CT
Parker Washington

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.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle Dec 21 11:10am CT
Rico Dowdle

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.

From RotoBaller

Cam Little Dec 21 11:10am CT
Cam Little

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.

From RotoBaller

Cooper Rush Dec 21 11:10am CT
Cooper Rush

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.

From RotoBaller

Brenton Strange Dec 21 10:50am CT
Brenton Strange

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.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Dec 21 10:50am CT
Adonai Mitchell

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.

From RotoBaller

Travis Etienne Dec 21 10:40am CT
Travis Etienne

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.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Allgeier Dec 21 10:30am CT
Tyler Allgeier

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.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Dec 21 10:00am CT
Kyle Pitts

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.

From RotoBaller

Ray-Ray McCloud Dec 21 9:30am CT
Ray-Ray McCloud

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.

From RotoBaller

Jason Sanders Dec 21 9:30am CT
Jason Sanders

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.

From RotoBaller

Malik Washington Dec 21 9:20am CT
Malik Washington

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.

From RotoBaller

Jonnu Smith Dec 21 9:10am CT
Jonnu Smith

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.

From RotoBaller

Josh Allen Dec 21 9:00am CT
Josh Allen

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.

From RotoBaller