One of the best feelings in fantasy football is when your team gets off to a hot start and you just keep pouring it on. A dominant win from start to finish is always better on the nerves and stress levels for fantasy football owners.
Another scenario in fantasy football that feels great is when you insert players you recently plucked off the waiver wire or have had on your bench for weeks, and they show up big on the field that week in particular. Did you happen to play Craig Reynolds (RB Lions), Sony Michel (RB Rams), or Josh Reynolds (WR Lions) this past week in your fantasy football playoffs and those guys helped you get a big win?
Lions at Falcons fantasy focus
The Detroit Lions played a great game last week from the first whistle to the final horn against the Arizona Cardinals. Will that dominant win propel them to play well again this week as they visit the Atlanta Falcons on the day after Christmas?
We will have to wait and see on that, but the offense and some of lesser-known offensive players they are putting out there continue to impress recently. Jared Goff is currently on the COVID-19 list, so we will see if he is available to build of his strong performance at quarterback that he had last week. The Lions are also hoping for the potential return of D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, Tracy Walker, and others in this matchup.
The Falcons have been up and down it seems all year. Calvin Ridley (WR Falcons) has been out due to personal reasons for the majority of the season now, Kyle Pitts has had the typical rookie season for a tight end, and Matt Ryan continues to show his age at times along with other moments of brilliance at quarterback.
Expect Pitts to possibly have a big game against Detroit as they often have trouble with premier players at that position in recent memory. With this game being in a dome, it could be a fun offensive shootout and juicy fantasy matchup that no one expects this week depending on who ends up being healthy for game day.
Start
- Matthew Stafford at Vikings
- James Robinson at Jets
- Michael Gallup vs Washington
- Kyle Pitts vs Lions
Sit
- Tua Tagovailoa at Saints
- Chuba Hubbard vs Buccaneers
- Marquise Brown at Bengals
- Dalton Schultz vs Washington
Top 3 projected players by position
Quarterbacks
- Justin Herbert at Texans
- Jalen Hurts vs Giants
- Lamar Jackson at Bengals
Running Backs
- Jonathan Taylor at Cardinals
- Austin Ekeler at Texans
- Dalvin Cook vs Rams
Wide Receivers
- Cooper Kupp at Vikings
- Davante Adams vs Browns
- Justin Jefferson vs Rams
Tight Ends
- Mark Andrews at Bengals
- Travis Kelce vs Steelers
- Rob Gronkowski at Panthers
Team Defenses
- Eagles vs Giants
- Chargers at Texans
- Buccaneers at Panthers
Kickers
- Nick Folk vs Bills
- Greg Joseph vs Rams
- Mason Crosby vs Browns
Waiver wire options
- Drew Lock (QB Broncos)
- Tim Boyle (QB Lions)
- Duke Johnson (RB Dolphins)
- Ke’Shawn Vaughn (RB Buccaneers)
- N’Keal Harry (WR Patriots)
- Brandon Zylstra (WR Panthers)
- Jimmy Graham (TE Bears)
- Anthony Firkser (TE Titans)
Intriguing games and players in Week 16
(Week 16 Bye Weeks: None)
San Francisco at Tennessee, Thursday 8:20 PM, EST
- SF: George Kittle (TE), Deebo Samuel (WR)
- TEN: A.J. Brown (WR), Ryan Tannehill (QB)
Cleveland at Green Bay, Saturday 4:30 PM, EST
- CLE: Baker Mayfield (QB), Nick Chubb (RB)
- GB: Aaron Jones (RB), A.J. Dillon (RB)
Indianapolis at Arizona, Saturday 8:15 PM, EST
- IND: Carson Wentz (QB), Jonathan Taylor (RB)
- AZ: Kyler Murray (QB), Rondale Moore (WR)
Detroit at Atlanta, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- DET: Craig Reynolds (RB), Brock Wright (TE)
- ATL: Kyle Pitts (TE), Mike Davis (RB)
Baltimore at Cincinnati, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- BAL: Lamar Jackson (QB), Rashad Bateman (WR)
- CIN: Joe Burrow (QB), Tee Higgins (WR)
Buffalo at New England, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- BUF: Josh Allen (QB), Devin Singletary (RB)
- NE: Mac Jones (QB), Rhamondre Stevenson (RB)
LA Rams at Minnesota, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
- LAR: Matthew Stafford (QB), Van Jefferson (WR)
- MIN: Dalvin Cook (RB), Justin Jefferson (WR)
Pittsburgh at Kansas City, Sunday 4:25 PM, EST
- PIT: Ben Roethlisberger (QB), Chase Claypool (WR)
- KC: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB), Demarcus Robinson (WR)
Washington at Dallas, Sunday 8:20 PM, EST
- WFT: Antonio Gibson (RB), Terry McLaurin (WR)
- DAL: Dak Prescott (QB), Michael Gallup (WR)
Miami at New Orleans, Monday 8:15 PM, EST
- MIA: Jaylen Waddle (WR), Miles Gaskin (RB)
- NO: Taysom Hill (QB), Alvin Kamara (RB)
Bottom Line
Winning in dominant fashion is always fun, but it is never easy. If your team gets off to a hot start and builds a big lead, it is still very important that they build on that lead. This is true both in the NFL and fantasy football.
The fantasy football playoffs will be in full swing this week. Please keep your eyes and ears open for those medical updates on players in regards to COVID-19, injuries, and more. A.J. Brown (WR Titans), Lamar Jackson (QB Ravens), D’Andre Swift (RB Lions), Darren Waller (TE Raiders), Tyreek Hill (WR Chiefs), and others are all players to watch to see if they are available in this crucial fantasy football week.
The hope is no more games will be rescheduled this week and that would mean there is plenty of football on around the holidays. Unlike those socks your Aunt gets you every holiday season, NFL games are that gift we can all enjoy.
Good luck in all your matchups, it’s never over until it’s over, hoping you win in comfortable fashion so your heartbeat doesn’t raise too high with everything on the line, and if the matchup is close throughout then enjoy that as well in hopes your team comes out victorious. Merry Christmas to everyone and especially to all the fantasy football owners out there. I hope you have a fantasy football championship trophy under your tree when it’s all said and done.