FanDuel NFL Week 16 Picks, Sleepers and Strategies

Do you like free money? See who are the best plays this Week 16 of the DFS FanDuel season.

Welcome back to Fanduel Picks Week 16, your one-stop-shop for the best FanDuel player picks. Never say it is too late! In Week 15 we put together one of our best weeks this season led by stud performances from Cam Newton (31.48), Mark Ingram (29.6), Le’Veon Bell (25), Randall Cobb (17.90), Michael Thomas (19.80), Robbie Gould (24), and the Baltimore Ravens DST (20). YOWZERS. Those are dynamite across the board. Hopefully you input several combinations of the above players and enjoyed a nice holiday payday in advance of your Christmas shopping. With two Saturday and two Monday games, we are again down to a short slate of 12 games this Sunday, so we must differentiate ourselves, and hit on the sleepers. As a note, these picks are based on Sunday only leagues, so players on Thursday, Saturday and Monday night will be ignored, as well as London games.

Quarterbacks

The Locks

  • Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers ($8,300) – You do me right and I will gladly go back to the well for another sip. Newton put up his third highest output of the year (and third 30+ point FanDuel game) last week against the Green Bay Packers, throwing for 242 passing yards and 4 touchdowns, adding 58 rushing yards. That is the type of QB1 productivity we saw from Newton a few years ago, and that is the type of game that keeps me coming back to Cam quite often. In Week 16, Newton gets a Tampa Bay defense allowing the most passing yards per game and fourth highest completion percentage. His leg always provides that solid floor, worst-case-scenario backend QB1 performance, so given the matchup I do not think it is out of line to predict a top 3 finish.

Sleepers

  • Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars ($7,600) – Is he even a sleeper anymore? Maybe Mark Brunell entered the body of Blake Bortles, but I barely recognize this man. Over his last three starts, Bortles has thrown for 7 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, and has scored over 18.5 FanDuel points in each of his past four starts (three of which he scored over 23.5). Up next, Bortles gets a 49er defense that has allowed multiple passing touchdowns in 8 of its last 9 games (truly remarkable) and allows the third most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Running Backs

The Locks

  • Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams ($9,100) – Not much more can be said about Todd Gurley‘s Week 15 superhero performance. 180 total yards and 4 total touchdowns. I hope you did not face him in the fantasy football semifinals. And while the matchup does not profile well for Gurley (the Titans allow the fourth least fantasy points to opposing running backs), his volume and usage rates are off the charts, making him a consistent high end RB1. Vegas also projects the Rams as almost a touchdown favorite on the road, so a positive game script will lead to extra touches for this beast of a back.
  • Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints ($8,500) – Well, it is either one or the other each week. So I guess I will just flip a coin. I expect Alvin Kamara to exact revenge on the team that concussed him two weeks ago, continuing his streak of seven straight games in which he has scored a touchdown (excluding said concussed week). The highest over and under Sunday and the only game projected over 50 points (53 projected as of right now to be exact), expect the two headed running attack to be New Orleans primary focus, with Kamara getting his steady diet of carries and targets.

Sleepers

  • Dion Lewis, RB, New England Patriots ($6,700) / James White, RB, New England Patriots ($4,700) – With Red Burkhead nursing a knee injury that will keep him out until playoff time, and Mike Gillislee unlikely to provide much in the way of usefulness (if Bill Belichick even activates him), the two remaining Patriots running backs (Dion Lewis and James White) could be in line for an absolute monster workload Sunday. The Bills are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, and a positive game script will fuel Belichick’s desire to pound the run (Vegas projects the Patriots as an 11.5 point home favorite Sunday). With the Patriots likely playing in front early in the game, look for the Pats to dwindle the clock away late in the second half to secure the victory, and secure the health of their players (here’s looking at you Rob Gronkowski).

Wide Receivers

The Locks

  • Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons ($8,500) – I know, I know. I have no reason to suggest Julio Jones. With less than double digit FanDuel points in 4 of his past 6 games, Julio is bordering on “bust” designation this year, if he is not already there. One of the games he did score double digits was against this same Saints team, where he scored 12.3. Yay! But still, he did receive 11 targets and recorded 98 receiving yards. With the Falcons needing a win in a potential shootout, I expect Matt Ryan to target his monstrous playmaker early and often while playing from behind.
  • Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks ($7,300) – With Russell Wilson playing as well as he ever has (sans last week), I expect big things from Doug Baldwin Week 16 against a Cowboy team allowing the fifth most points to opposing wideouts. Their connection seems to have somewhat taken a step back this year, but in a game where the loser will likely be watching the playoffs from home, I expect Wilson to rely more on his security blanket.

Sleepers

  • Dede Westbrook, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars ($5,900) – With Marqise Lee likely out until playoff time, it is time for a changing of the guards in Jacksonville. Sure Keelan Cole has impressed as of late, but we here at RSJ have been screaming Dede Westbrook‘s name form the mountaintops for weeks now, even highlighting him as one of the most pivotal and crucial Week 16 adds in your quest for your fantasy championship. Finally he will get his chance to shine against a porous 49er pass defense.
  • DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins ($5,700) – With the Kansas City Chiefs allowing the third most fantasy points to opposing wideouts, look for the Dolphins to attempt to exploit this weekly problem. Last week DeVante Parker‘s connection with Jay Cutler returned to early season form as he caught 6 of 12 targets for 89 yards.

Tight End

The Locks

  • Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs ($7,000) – The Miami Dolphins allow the fifth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, so traveling to Arrowhead to face the tight end scoring the second most fantasy points per week should yield positive results. Travis Kelce has scored less than 11 FanDuel points in three of his last four games, and has scored a touchdown in just one of his past five contests. However, with the Chiefs season on the line the next two weeks, I trust they’ll get their most consistent playmaker involved much more.

Sleepers

  • Antonio Gates, TE, Los Angeles Chargers ($4,500) – This week’s tight end on the Stream Team is poised to have a huge Sunday. With Hunter Henry placed on IR, and Keenan Allen banged up with a back injury, Antonio Gates could give us a flash from the past performance. Gates did catch a touchdown last week, so the longtime connection with Philip Rivers seems alive and well.

Kicker

The Locks

  • Matt Bryant, K, Atlanta Falcons ($5,000) – Age does not matter for this ageless wonder. Matt Bryant booted home a 57 yard field goal last week, and not in the friendly confines of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but rather outside in Tampa. Imagine what he can do Sunday in the Superdome.

Sleepers

  • Phil Dawson, K, Arizona Cardinals ($4,600) – With 13+ FanDuel points in three of his past four outings, Phil Dawson still continues to be one of the better, most consistent place kickers in the NFL. Sunday, Dawson squares off against an injury-ravaged Giant defense, but with Drew Stanton at the helm Week 16 expect the Cardinals to struggle putting it in the end zone.

Defense

The Locks

  • Los Angeles Chargers DST ($4,900) – With an implied team total under 18 points Week 16, the Jets offense will struggle mightily against a Los Angeles Chargers DST that has scored at least 8 FanDuel pints in 5 of its last 6 games, and double digit FanDuel points in four of its last six games. Led by Bosa and Ingram, the Chargers rank tied for 7th in the league in sacks, so expect a solid floor against a Jet team allowing the ninth most sacks in the NFL.

Sleepers

  • Los Angeles Rams DST ($4,600) – Ranking second in the NFL in sacks (recording 7 in two of its last three games) and averaging almost 16 FanDuel points over its past three games, the Los Angeles Rams DST finds itself in prime position against a Titans offense ranking in the bottom third of the league in total yards per game. With the Titans playing from behind, the Rams can quickly ratchet up the sack total.

And that’s a wrap for Fanduel Week 16 analysis. Remember to always look at the matchups and Vegas totals, which are always telling, and do not be afraid to admit they know more than you, because they usually do. Until next time, good luck and don’t forget to tip me 10% of your earnings. Thanks in advance.

To contact me with any questions or general fantasy football discussion, please email me at redsocker45@gmail.com or tweet me @AJGamballer.

Author

  • There are many myths about RedSocker45. Is he, in fact, Pedro Martinez? Is he a mathematician gone rogue? Does he have magical powers equal to Gandalf The White? In actuality, he is a normal dude that grew up in the North End of Boston and he loves being Italian, eating delicious food and the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. Myth, busted.

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