Fantasy Football Week 16: Risers and Fallers

For many fantasy football players, it's the week we have all been waiting for—the championship!

To headline Week 16, the one-game suspension of New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.—stemming from his conduct against Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman in Week 15—came as little surprise to many.

If you're in the championship game, it's quite likely you own OBJ, and now you're left with a conundrum.

The game that could provide a number of stellar fantasy totals this week is the matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints.

Well, you've been grinding all season long to get to this point.

Good luck, and happy holidays!

Riser: Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Carolina Panthers

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Although Week 15's Panthers-Giants game was known for the MMA-like fight between Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, believe it or not, there were other players on the field for that game.

One of those players was Panthers rookie running back Cameron Artis-Payne.

Due to the absence of fellow Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, Artis-Payne saw the majority of the team's workload, playing in 32 snaps and receiving 16 total touches.

As of Tuesday, Stewart was yet to return to practice, according to the Charlotte Observer's Jonathan Jones, leaving his status for Week 16 in doubt.

The Panthers will take on the Atlanta Falcons for the second time in three weeks.

In Week 14 against the Falcons, Stewart carried the ball 10 times for 75 yards and a score.

If Stewart is on the shelf again, Artis-Payne has a chance to mimic that kind of a day.

Faller: Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills

Andrew Harnik/Associated Press

Over his last four games, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins has been on fire.

In those four games, Watkins has gone over 100 yards three times and has a whopping six receiving touchdowns.

However, in Week 16, the Bills and Watkins will be tasked with a Dallas Cowboys defense that showed the world on prime-time television in Week 15 they are no pushovers (on defense anyways).

Against opposing wide receivers, the Cowboys have given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points while allowing just eight receiving touchdowns.

In addition, the Cowboys are just as tough on opposing quarterbacks, allowing the ninth-fewest fantasy points to the position.

Watkins will cool down in Week 16.

Riser: Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

At this point in the season, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has obviously been far from a dud in fantasy football.

On the season, Bortles has the fifth-most passing touchdowns in the league.

And guess who is on the docket for Week 16: the New Orleans Saints. (I'm pretty sure I've bad-talked the Saints a ton this season).

As we saw on Monday Night Football, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was outstanding against this Saints' young secondary, completing 22 of his 25 passes for over 250 yards and three touchdowns.

With wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns at his disposal, coupled with the Saints' inability to prevent touchdowns through the air, Bortles should be in for a heck of a week during your championship game.

Faller: Todd Gurley, RB, St. Louis Rams

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

As we saw in the Ketchup-Mustard Bowl on Thursday Night Football in Week 15, St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley saved his fantasy day with a touchdown.

Although he has three touchdowns over his past two games, Gurley has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark just once over his last seven games.

Believe me—I know Gurley is fantastic.

Nonetheless, Gurley will do battle with arguably the hottest team in football in Week 16—the Seattle Seahawks.

This season, the Seahawks are allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and have surrendered just four rushing touchdowns.

Additionally, the Seahawks allow just under 84 yards rushing per game.

This will be another week where Gurley will need a touchdown to salvage his fantasy day.

Cross your fingers.

Riser: Rueben Randle, WR, New York Giants

Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

This one is for obvious reasons.

As mentioned in the intro slide, Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been suspended for Week 16 for his conduct in the team's Week 15 matchup against the Panthers.

As the old adage goes, it's next man up for the Giants.

However, OBJ has appealed his suspension, according to the New York Daily News' Ralph Vacchiano, and a decision is expected to come down Wednesday.

If the suspension holds, fellow Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle instantly becomes a hot commodity.

Faller: Chris Ivory, RB, New York Jets

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

New York Jets running back Chris Ivory has been quite frustrating lately.

Since the emergence of fellow running back Bilal Powell in Week 13, Ivory has been exceedingly average.

From Weeks 13-15, Ivory has finished as the RB21, RB19, and the RB51 in points-per-reception leagues, respectively.

In those three weeks, Ivory did manage to go over 100 yards once (Week 14), but was been kept out of the end zone.

In Week 16, Ivory and the Jets will be taking on the New England Patriots.

This season, the Patriots have allowed the eight-fewest points to opposing running backs.

From watching the games, it's clear that Powell has been the better, more explosive back lately.

Ivory is a middle-of-the-road RB2 in Week 16.

Stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Fantasy scoring totals courtesy of ESPN.com. 

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.