Fantasy Football Week 16: Rankings and Advice for 'Thursday Night Football'
Kicking off a majority of fantasy football championships this week will be the San Diego Chargers on the road to take on their divisional rival Oakland Raiders.
Heading into this game, the major headline surrounds Chargers rookie running back Melvin Gordon being out for the remainder of the season after suffering cartilage damage in his knee against the Miami Dolphins.
As a result of Gordon's injury, fellow running back Danny Woodhead exploded for what felt like 10 touchdowns in Week 15.
Although both of these teams are eliminated from playoff contention, the Raiders have been a surprising squad this season after years of being the definition of mediocrity.
According to Odds Shark, the Raiders are a six-point home favorite.
This game could be a little closer than you think. I'm taking the Raiders, 24-20.
Happy holidays!
Big Board
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| Rank | Player | Pos. | Team |
| 1 | Antonio Gates | TE | San Diego Chargers |
| 2 | Amari Cooper | WR | Oakland Raiders |
| 3 | Derek Carr | QB | Oakland Raiders |
| 4 | Danny Woodhead | RB | San Diego Chargers |
| 5 | Philip Rivers | QB | San Diego Chargers |
| 6 | Latavius Murray | RB | Oakland Raiders |
| 7 | Michael Crabtree | WR | Oakland Raiders |
| 8 | Dontrelle Inman | WR | San Diego Chargers |
| 9 | Clive Walford | TE | Oakland Raiders |
| 10 | Donald Brown | RB | San Diego Chargers |
Injury Report
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San Diego Chargers
- Ladarius Green, TE, Questionable (Ankle)
- Stevie Johnson, WR, Questionable (Groin)
Oakland Raiders
- Seth Roberts, WR, Probable (Abdomen)
- Amari Cooper, WR, Probable (Foot)
Injury reports courtesy ESPN.com.
Quarterbacks
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San Diego Chargers: Philip Rivers
After going touchdownless over his past two games, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers bounced back in Week 15 by tossing for three scores and over 300 yards.
This was Rivers' first 300-yard game in two weeks, and his eighth this season.
Although the Chargers are having a down year, Rivers has put together quite a decent campaign for himself, ranking second in the league in passing yards.
Additionally, River is the QB9 in terms of fantasy points on the season.
Due to a shortage of weapons, Rivers will have his work cut out for him in Week 16.
Projections: 270 passing yards, 2 TDs
Oakland Raiders: Derek Carr
In his sophomore season, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has blossomed into a fantastic young quarterback.
This season, Carr has thrown multiple touchdowns in 11 games.
Heading into Week 16, Carr is the QB11 in terms of fantasy points.
In his last outing against the Chargers, Carr had a stellar day, throwing for nearly 300 yards, three scores and no interceptions.
Projections: 290 passing yards, 2 TDs
Running Backs
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San Diego Chargers: Danny Woodhead
After exploding for multiple touchdowns in Week 15, Chargers running back Danny Woodhead is an extremely interesting points-per-reception running back for the championship game.
What also makes Woodhead an interesting commodity is that fellow running back Melvin Gordon is done for the remainder of the season.
In addition to his great receiving game, Woodhead carried the ball eight times—the most carries he's had in a game since Week 4.
The Oakland Raiders are one of 10 teams to have allowed 80 or more receptions to opposing running backs on the season.
Projections: 20 rushing yards; 5 receptions, 50 receiving yards, 1 TD
San Diego Chargers: Donald Brown
As mentioned above, Gordon is out for the remainder of the season.
In his absence, Brown managed to total 90 rushing yards on just 12 carries in the team's Week 15 win over the Dolphins.
Without Gordon in the fold, Brown should be in line for a healthy amount of carries in Week 16.
Projections: 55 rushing yards
Oakland Raiders Starter: Latavius Murray
Going up against a Chargers defense that allows the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, Raiders running back Latavius Murray could be in line for his first 100-yard rushing game since Week 8.
In the previous meeting with the Chargers, Murray carried the ball for 85 yards and scored a touchdown.
Projections: 90 rushing yards, 1 TD
Wide Receivers
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San Diego Chargers: Dontrelle Inman
Due to the abundance of injuries to San Diego's wide receiver corps, it has been tough to peg which receiver is the guy week in and week out.
In Week 15, Dontrelle Inman led Chargers wide receivers in snaps.
With the injuries and inconsistencies faced at the receiver position, you're probably avoiding them all together in the championship.
Projections: 3 receptions, 55 receiving yards
Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper
Raiders rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper is phenomenal in every sense of the word.
On the season, Cooper is the WR16.
Additionally, Cooper exploded for 133 yards and a touchdown on five receptions against the Chargers earlier in the year.
Oh, Cooper is also the first Raiders wide receiver to go over 1,000 yards receiving since Randy Moss did so back in 2005.
Projections: 6 receptions, 90 receiving yards, 1 TD
Oakland Raiders: Michael Crabtree
What do you know? Michael Crabtree is just six fantasy points behind Cooper and is the WR17 in points-per-reception formats.
Over his last five games, Crabtree has seen double-digit targets three times.
Crabtree should continue to be one of the surprises of the season in Week 16.
Projections: 5 receptions, 70 receiving yards, 1 TD
Tight Ends
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San Diego Chargers Starter: Antonio Gates
Over his last three games, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates has caught exactly six passes in each of them.
Although he's had a healthy amount of targets and receptions, Gates did not find the end zone over that three-game stretch.
However, due to the inconsistency at the receiver position for the Chargers, and the Raiders being tied for the most receiving touchdowns given up to opposing tight ends, Gates could be in for a great week.
Projections: 7 receptions, 85 receiving yards, 1 TD
Oakland Raiders: Clive Walford
Raiders tight end Clive Walford caught his first-ever touchdown as a pro against the Chargers in their first go-around in Week 7.
Since Week 7, Walford has seen five or more targets four times.
Unfortunately, the Raiders tight end position is a little messy with Mychal Rivera and Lee Smith in the fold.
Walford is a desperation play with upside in Week 16.
Projections: 4 receptions, 45 receiving yards
Defense/Special Teams
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San Diego Chargers Defense/Special Teams
The Chargers are the second-worst defense/special teams unit in fantasy football.
The championship is not the time to start playing them.
Projections: 24 points allowed, 2 sacks
Oakland Raiders Defense/Special Teams
Although the Raiders offense did well against the Chargers in Week 7, the defense/special teams finished as the 19th-ranked unit that week, and is the 23rd-ranked option this season.
Neither defensive unit is worth a look this week.
Projections: 20 points allowed, 3 sacks, 1 FF
Best Sleeper Add
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Donald Brown, RB, San Diego Chargers (Owned in 5.7 percent of ESPN Leagues)
An ownership percentage of 5.7 is such a low number for a Chargers running back who is likely to see the majority of the team's carries with lead back Melvin Gordon out.
Even if you do not necessarily need a running back such as Donald Brown, your opponent may.
Sometimes the best offense is a good defense.
Start or Sit?
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Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers
Chargers tight end Antonio Gates is in a great position to find the end zone in Week 16.
The narrative of the Oakland Raiders being bad against opposing tight ends is all too real.
Verdict: Start
All advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Pro-Football-Reference.com. All fantasy numbers courtesy of ESPN.com.
Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.
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