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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 16 – WR, TE, DEF/ST

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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We only have two weeks left with a full slate of games in the NFL. After examining some quarterbacks and running backs to target for Week 16, let’s now highlight some wide receivers, tight ends and defenses/special teams that have favorable matchups. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

WIDE RECEIVERS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 16 - WR, TE, DEF/ST

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $8,600

Hopkins couldn’t have played any better last week against the Jets. He caught 10 of his 11 targets, marking his third game this season with 10 receptions. Not only did he finish with a season-high 170 yards, but he also scored two touchdowns. With 11 touchdowns for the season to go along with 94 receptions, Hopkins has one of the highest floors among wide receivers in DFS. Week 16 brings another opportunity for him to shine against a banged up Eagles secondary that has allowed the second-most passing yards per game (281) in the league.

Amari Cooper vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $7,500

There has been a lot made about how the addition of Cooper has improved the Cowboys’ offense, but he’s still struggled to be consistent. In his six games with the Raiders, he had four games with 17 receiving yards or fewer, but he had at least 116 yards in both of the other two contests. Across seven games with the Cowboys, he’s posted 58 yards or fewer three times. However, he finished with at least 180 yards and two touchdowns twice. He’s coming off of a dud last week against the Colts, but it should be noted that contest was on the road. Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott has much better numbers playing at home, so don’t be surprised if Cooper excels in this matchup against a Bucs defense that has allowed 30 passing touchdowns.

Robby Anderson vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,500

Anderson had a breakout campaign last year, but the change to Sam Darnold at quarterback has dealt a significant blow to his numbers. Over his first nine games this season, Anderson finished with 44 receiving yards or fewer eight times. The duo appears to finally be on the same page now, leaving Anderson to record 172 yards and two touchdowns over his last two games. Anderson received a season-high 11 targets with Quincy Enunwa (ankle) out last week and could again be extremely busy with Enunwa’s status very much in doubt for Week 16.

John Ross vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $3,800

The Bengals probably can’t wait for this season to be over. Injuries have completely derailed their offense, the latest of which was suffered by wide receiver Tyler Boyd (knee) last week. He has an MCL sprain and hasn’t practiced yet this week, so it seems highly unlikely that he’s going to play. If he doesn’t suit up, Ross is in line to be their top receiving threat. He’s battling his own ankle issue, but he has been a limited participant in practice so far, which is encouraging. The Browns allow the third-most passing yards per game (275), making Ross a viable cheap option in tournament play.

TIGHT ENDS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 16 - WR, TE, DEF/ST

Zach Ertz vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,900

Nick Foles might be one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league, but Ertz hasn’t topped 48 receiving yards in any of the three games that Foles has started this year. He had only three receptions last week against the Rams, but he did at least receive seven targets. His upside might not be as high as it was when Carson Wentz (back) was at the helm, but the Texans have allowed 889 yards and seven touchdowns to opposing tight ends. His price is still high on FanDuel, but it’s decreased significantly on DraftKings, making him a potential bargain at his position.

David Njoku vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Njoku has been on the field for at least 81 percent of the Browns’ offensive snaps in each of the last three games and has 15 targets to show for it. He didn’t do much with those targets, though, recording nine receptions for 73 yards. It’s hard to get too excited about him based on those stats, but the Bengals have allowed 839 yards and eight touchdowns to tight ends. The last time these two teams met, Njoku finished with five receptions, 63 yards, and a touchdown. If you want to take the cheap route at tight end in tournament play, Njoku is a viable option,

C.J. Uzomah vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $3,300

Uzomah had a favorable matchup last week against a Raiders team that has been mauled by tight ends, but he only caught one of his five targets for 27 yards. If you’re looking for a silver lining, at least Uzomah has received at least five targets in four of his last five contests. With the Bengals running out of healthy wide receivers, they may be forced to throw the ball more his way. The Browns have also struggled against tight ends, allowing 862 yards and six touchdowns to the position. In their last meeting, Uzomah caught six of 12 targets for 39 yards.

DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 16 - WR, TE, DEF/ST

Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $3,200

Yes, the Rams gave up 30 points last week to the Eagles with Foles at quarterback. However, they are still a great option against the Cardinals. Josh Rosen has been awful of late, totaling 521 passing yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns across his last three games. He’s also been sacked 11 times during that stretch, so expect the Rams defense to wreak havoc Sunday.

Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $2,700

This season turned into a disaster for the Jaguars. They neglected to address the quarterback position over the summer, leaving Blake Bortles to retain his starting role. He played so poorly that they have actually turned to Cody Kessler as their starter. While it’s hard to imagine, they’ve been even worse with him leading the way, scoring just one offensive touchdown across his three starts. The Dolphins defense is nothing special, but this matchup is almost too good to pass up.

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins: vs. KC, vs. TB

Berrios has allowed five home runs in his last two starts and has had problems keeping hitters inside the park, in general, this year with a 1.3 HR/9. However, he still has a 3.54 ERA and a 3.39 FIP because he has kept runners off base with a 1.00 WHIP. He had control issues when he was first called up, but he’s thrown a first-pitch strike to 65.6% of the batters that he has faced and has a 2.0 BB/9 this year. He also has career highs in swinging-strike rate (11.4%) and K/9 (9.0). His first start in Week 16 against the Royals is an excellent matchup considering they have hit the fewest home runs (70) and scored the fewest runs (310) in baseball. The Rays aren’t much better as they have the fifth-fewest home runs (79) and the fifth-fewest runs scored (347).

Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs: at SF, at SD

Hendricks has never finished with an ERA over 3.96 or a FIP over 3.88 in his career, but he has a 4.27 ERA and a 4.80 FIP this season. Not only would his 1.25 WHIP be the highest of his career, but so would his 1.5 HR/9. He’s never been an overpowering pitcher, but he has just a 6.7 K/9. He’s allowed 13 runs over 13.1 innings in his last three starts, but his fortunes could change this week since both the Giants and the Padres are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored. He has yet to face the Padres this year, but he allowed only one run and recorded seven strikeouts over seven innings in his lone start against the Giants. You shouldn’t count on him for strikeouts, but he can still provide value in Week 16.

Zach Eflin, Philadelphia Phillies: at NYM, at MIA

Eflin was supposed to start twice in Week 15 but left his first start with a blister issue. The Phillies decided to give him an extra day of rest for his next outing, pushing him from Sunday to Monday. He was rolling before suffering the blister against the Orioles, allowing two runs and recording six strikeouts in seven innings. He’s having by far the best season of his young career, posting a 2.97 ERA, 2.92 FIP, and a 1.08 WHIP over 11 starts. Not only does he get to face the aforementioned poor Marlins lineup, but the Mets have been even worse, scoring the third-fewest runs (336). As long as his blister doesn’t cause further issues, this is shaping up to be an excellent week for Eflin.

Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers: at MIA, at PIT

Chacin has been a good addition to the Brewers starting staff, posting a 3.63 ERA, 3.84 FIP, and a 1.29 WHIP across 19 starts. He has only allowed 0.6 HR/9, which is nothing new considering he has a 0.8 HR/9 for his career. That’s especially impressive considering he spent six seasons having to pitch in Coors Field as a member of the Rockies. The Marlins have had a couple of big offensive performances lately, but they have still scored four runs or fewer in 8 of their last 13 games. The Pirates offense is middle of the pack at best, setting up Chacin with the potential for two strong performances. He is still available in 67% of Yahoo! leagues, so pick him up if you are looking to stream someone.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners: at LAA, at COL

Leake was stellar for the Mariners in June, recording a 2.57 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in six starts. He was aided by a .225 opponents BABIP though and even with that hot stretch, he still has a 4.11 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP for the season overall. He’s never provided many strikeouts and this season has been no different with a 5.6 K/9. Leake has already faced the Angels three times this year and while he did have one good start where he allowed one run in six innings, he allowed seven runs (six earned) over 9.1 innings in the other two. It doesn’t get any easier having to pitch in Coors Field for his second start of the week, so this is not the week to take a chance on putting Leake into your lineup.

Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies: vs. ARI, vs. SEA

Like many of the Rockies’ pitchers, Anderson struggles to pitch in Coors Field. He has a 3.48 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP on the road this year, but a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP at home. He has thrown seven fewer innings at home, but he has allowed three more home runs there than he has on the road. The Diamondbacks have had much more success against lefties with a .762 OPS this year and hammered Anderson for seven runs over 2.1 innings in their first meeting. The Mariners won’t have the use of the DH playing in the National League, but they still have a potent offense that can score in bunches. Keep Anderson on your bench.

Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays: at ATL, at BOS

Stroman got off to an abysmal start this season, then landed on the DL with a shoulder issue. He put together two strong starts upon first being activated, but was rocked for six runs over 4.2 innings in his last outing against the Mets. Things get much harder for him this week against the Braves and the Red Sox as both teams are in the top-six in baseball in runs scored. The Red Sox have also hit the second-most home runs (128). This has the potential to be a really rough Week 16 for Stroman.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*


RING in 2018 with code "NEWYEAR40" at checkout for 40% off Seasonal Package
RING in 2018 with code “NEWYEAR40” at checkout for 40% off Seasonal Package

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

It’s important to know the intricacies of the NBA schedule to gain an advantage over your opponent in a head-to-head fantasy league as starting your best players might not always give you the best chance to win. Here are some moves you might want to consider for your team based on the week ahead.

Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors

There are 16 teams with four games each this week, likely giving you a solid base to work off of in your league. If you do need help rounding out your lineup though, consider adding the players below who are still available in the majority of leagues.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

Marcus Morris, Boston Celtics

The Celtics are not a good offensive team and place a heavy amount of the scoring burden on Kyrie Irving. Morris is one of their best secondary scorers and his 22.8% usage rate is actually second-highest on the team. He’s currently having his best month of the season, averaging 12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 three-pointers per game in January. It doesn’t matter if he starts or comes off the bench as he plays about the same amount of minutes in both roles. If you need help at forward, go pick up Morris, who is still available in 61% of Yahoo! leagues.

Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies have been decimated by injuries this season, leaving Brooks to average 28 minutes per game in his rookie campaign. He’s taken advantage of the added playing time, averaging 13.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 three-pointers and 1.1 steals in his last eight games. He’s been very efficient as well, shooting at least 50% from the field six of those seven contests. Although his scoring upside isn’t very high, he can provide significant value in three-pointers with four games this week. He’s still available in 88% of Yahoo! leagues.

Jarell Martin, Memphis Grizzlies

Martin has also seen increased playing time due to all of the Grizzlies injuries, logging at least 31 minutes in three of his last five games. He has played at least 30 minutes in a game five times this season, averaging 13.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals in those contests. The Grizzlies don’t appear to be getting any reinforcements soon, so Martin could be in line for a big week. He’s still available in 95% of Yahoo! leagues and is someone to consider picking up, especially if you need help with rebounds and blocks.

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers

With only two teams playing two games each this week, players on both the Bulls and Clippers will take a hit in value. As a result, consider benching the players below who you may normally start most weeks.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls

Mirotic got off to a hot start when he came back from injury for the Bulls, but has now scored 15 points or less in four of his last five games. He doesn’t provide much in the way of assists, steals, or blocks, so he’s far less valuable when he’s not scoring. Considering he only has two games this week, it might be a good time to put him on your bench. Taking a chance he turns things around offensively just isn’t worth the risk based on his other contributions.

Justin Holiday, Chicago Bulls

Holiday has provided significant value from behind the arc this season, averaging 2.4 three-pointers per game. To put that into perspective, that is higher than Garry Harris, Kevin Love and Carmelo Anthony. He’s been atrocious from the field in general though, shooting just 37.5%. He’s averaging just 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season, leaving him with little value in a week with only two games. If you’ve relied on Holiday’s three-point shooting this season, see if you can pick up Brooks.

Danilo Gallinari, Los Angeles Clippers

Gallinari has been out for well over a month, so you haven’t been starting him anyways. However, with the news that he is planning to return to action Tuesday, fantasy owners who have been patiently waiting for him might think about putting him back into their lineup this week. That’s not a good idea though as he is likely going to be on a minutes limit when he returns. The good news is he’ll have extra rest with only two games this, so you can get him back on your radar the following week.