Week 16 Fantasy Football Projections: Stat Predictions for Top 100 Players

This is it. More than a month remains until the actual Super Bowl commences, but Week 16 hosts the championship for most fantasy football leagues.

You clicked here, so chances are you have something to play for, whether it's a title game, consolation bout or a daily contest. Either way, savor this week of hair-pulling lineup dilemmas, as you'll miss it all when the season ends.

Granted, this is not the time nor the place to get too cute. Sure, several owners went down swinging last weekend with Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning, but nobody in his or her right mind is shunning either star to the bench with everything on the line.

Don't go overboard playing the matchups, but stay alert for opportunities to pounce. Juggling risk and reward is a delicate task, but one necessary to nail down as the fantasy season concludes.

Week 16 NFL Schedule

Thursday, Dec. 18	Time (ET)
Saturday, Dec. 20	Time (ET)
Sunday, Dec. 21	Time (ET)
Monday, Dec. 22	Time (ET)
Tennessee at Jacksonville	8:25 p.m.
Philadelphia at Washington	4:30 p.m.
San Diego at San Francisco	8:25 p.m.
Baltimore at Houston	1 p.m.
Cleveland at Carolina	1 p.m.
Detroit at Chicago	1 p.m.
Green Bay at Tampa Bay	1 p.m.
Kansas City at Pittsburgh	1 p.m.
Minnesota at Miami	1 p.m.
New England at NY Jets	1 p.m.
Atlanta at New Orleans	1 p.m.
NY Giants at St. Louis	4:05 p.m.
Buffalo at Oakland	4:25 p.m.
Indianapolis at Dallas	4:25 p.m.
Seattle at Arizona	8:30 p.m.
Denver at Cincinnati	8:30 p.m.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	350 PASS, 3 TD
2	Drew Brees, NO	325 PASS, 3 TD, 1 INT
3	Andrew Luck, IND	350 PASS, 2 TD, 1 INT
4	Peyton Manning, DEN	275 PASS, 3 TD
5	Tom Brady, NE	265 PASS, 3 TD
6	Matt Ryan, ATL	325 PASS, 2 TD, 1 INT
7	Matthew Stafford, DET	280 PASS, 2 TD
8	Russell Wilson, SEA	225 PASS, 40 RUSH, 1 TD
9	Tony Romo, DAL	260 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT
10	Mark Sanchez, PHI	250 PASS, 2 TDS, 1 INT
11	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	240 PASS, 1 TD
12	Jay Cutler, CHI	245 PASS, 2 TD, 2 INT
13	Joe Flacco, BAL	255 PASS, 1 TD
14	Philip Rivers, SD	240 PASS, 1 TD, INT
15	Alex Smith, KC	180 PASS, 1 TD
16	Eli Manning, NYG	225 PASS, 2 TD, 2 INT
17	Robert Griffin III, WAS	230 PASS, 40 RUSH, 1 TD, 2 INT
18	Andy Dalton, CIN	250 PASS, 1 TD, 2 INT
19	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	200 PASS
20	Colin Kaepernick, SF	170 PASS, 30 RUSH, 1 INT

Sleeper: Mark Sanchez, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS)

Al Bello/Getty Images

Let's preface this recommendation with an important disclaimer: Mark Sanchez isn't that great.

Anyone who made the stupid, "I bet the New York Jets wished they had a quarterback like Sanchez" joke should feel bad. In an offense tailor-made for fantasy success under center, he'd play well against some shaky defenses.

He has also surrendered nine interceptions in seven games, including two on Sunday night during his first contest without scoring a touchdown. ESPN's Kevin Negandhi provided a telling stat about his performance against the Dallas Cowboys.

After the loss, Sanchez made a questionable declaration to CSNPhilly.com's Reuben Frank.

"

I’m better than that. I can only be accountable for myself, and I know all the guys feel the same way I do. Every missed assignment, guys take ownership. Nobody’s hiding from anything. There’s no, ‘Well, you know, he could have caught it, and maybe if he would have dove for it.'

"

If he still played for a run-first team with no pass-catching weapons, he'd still put up the same wretched numbers from his days with Gang Green. Now he has help and an offensive-minded coach. Most importantly for this weekend, he also has a great matchup.

Under ESPN.com standard scoring, no team allows more fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks than Washington. Although Sanchez is awfully turnover-prone, he faces a defense that has surmounted a measly five picks all season, minimizing the risk typically associated with the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback.

Don't get too cute and start him over Peyton Manning, but he's a worthwhile plug-in for somebody weary of employing Ben Roethlisberger or Philip Rivers in a brutal matchup.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	95 RUSH, 70 REC, 2 TD
2	Matt Forte, CHI	75 RUSH, 65 REC, 1 TD
3	C.J. Anderson, DEN	120 RUSH, 1 TD
4	Eddie Lacy, GB	105 RUSH, 1 TD
5	Jamaal Charles, KC	70 RUSH, 30 REC, 1 TD
6	Mark Ingram, NO	90 RUSH, 1 TD
7	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	80 RUSH, 1 TD
8	Arian Foster, HOU	85 RUSH, 50 REC
9	LeSean McCoy, PHI	80 RUSH, 15 REC 1 TD
10	Joique Bell, DET	60 RUSH, 25 REC, 1 TD
11	Justin Forsett, BAL	115 RUSH
12	Alfred Morris, WAS	55 RUSH, 1 TD
13	Lamar Miller, MIA	75 RUSH, 35 REC
14	Tre Mason, STL	50 RUSH, 1 TD
15	Jeremy Hill, CIN	80 RUSH
16	Steven Jackson, ATL	75 RUSH
17	Isaiah Crowell, CIN	35 RUSH, 1 TD
18	DeMarco Murray, DAL	60 RUSH
19	Fred Jackson, BUF	55 RUSH, 20 REC
20	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	55 RUSH, 15 REC.
21	Daniel Herron, IND	40 RUSH, 20 REC
22	Doug Martin, TB	65 RUSH
23	Andre Williams, NYG	30 RUSH, 1 TD
24	Joseph Randle, DAL	75 RUSH
25	Matt Asiata, MIN	50 RUSH
26	LeGarrette Blount, NE	25 RUSH, 1 TD
27	Chris Ivory, NYJ	50 RUSH
28	Latavius Murray, OAK	45 RUSH
29	Giovani Bernard, CIN	45 RUSH
30	Pierre Thomas, NO	10 RUSH, 35 REC

Sleeper: Joseph Randle, Dallas Cowboys (vs. IND)

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

After enduring an unfathomable workload all season, DeMarco Murray could miss Week's pivotal clash with the Indianapolis Colts. Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News passed along concerning news on the star running back.

Even if Murray is available to play, which remains a possibility, why in the world would Jason Garrett give him his regular reps? Having already amassed 405 touches, it's incredible Murray lasted 14 games before getting hurt. 

Regardless, Joseph Randle should eat into Dallas' workload. At the very least, as pointed out by Sports Illustrated's Michael Beller, he's an essential handcuff for Murray owners.

If given the green light to start, he evolves into much more. The 22-year-old has averaged a resounding 7.0 yards per carry but has never received double-digit touches in a single game. 

For those worried about Lance Dunbar stealing Randle's thunder, he'll make his impact in a different way. Pro Football Focus' Mike Clay documented Dallas' division of labor between Murray's understudies.

The Indianapolis Colts relinquish 4.3 yards per carry, so Randle has a chance to steal some fantasy titles with a big performance on Sunday.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Calvin Johnson, DET	12 REC., 150 YDS, 2 TDs
2	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	9 REC., 130 YDS, 2 TDs
3	Antonio Brown, PIT	12 REC., 125 YDs
4	Jordy Nelson, GB	9 REC., 90 YDS, 1 TD
5	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	9 REC., 85 YDS, 1 TD
6	Dez Bryant, DAL	6 REC., 95 YDS, 1 TD
7	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	5 REC., 100 YDS, 1 TD
8	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	6 REC. 80 YDS, 1 TD
9	Randall Cobb, GB	10 REC. 70 YD, 1 TD
10	A.J. Green, CIN	7 REC. 95 YDS
11	Julio Jones, ATL	5 REC., 70 YDS, 1 TD
12	T.Y. Hilton, IND	5 REC., 70 YDS, 1 TD
13	Mike Evans, TB	5 REC. 60 YDS, 1 TD
14	Julian Edelman, NE	9 REC. 90 YDS
15	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	8 REC., 75 YDS
16	Roddy White, ATL	6 REC., 60 YDS, 1 TD
17	Golden Tate, DET	9 REC., 70 YDS
18	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	4 REC. 90 YDS
19	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	5 REC., 50 YDS, 1 TD
20	Josh Gordon, CLE	5 REC., 75 YDS
21	Mike Walace, MIA	7 REC. 70 YDS
22	Kenny Stills, NO	4 REC., 50 YDS, 1 TD
23	Marques Colston, NO	4 REC. 50 YDS, 1 TD
24	Vincent Jackson, TB	7 REC,. 65 YDS
25	Jarvis Landry, MIA	8 REC., 55 YDS
26	Jordan Matthews, PHI	3 REC., 30 YDS, 1 TD
27	Brandon LaFell, NE	5 REC. 60 YDS
28	Keenan Allen, SD	5 REC., 60 YDS
29	Charles Johnson, MIN	4 REC., 60 YDS
30	Harry Douglas, ATL	5 REC., 55 YDS
31	DeSean Jackson, WAS	3 REC., 60 YDS
32	Sammy Watkins, BUF	5 REC., 50 YDS
33	Torrey Smith, BAL	4 REC, 50 YDS
34	Steve Smith, BAL	5 REC., 45 YDS
35	Andre Johnson, HOU	5 REC., 45 YDS

Sleeper: Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins (vs. MIN)

Given the sheer allotment of studs at wide receiver, this is not a position where many championship competitors need to get too fancy. Jarvis Landry isn't really a sleeper at this point, yet few players in his tier are as consistently involved in a passing game.

Landry has received at least five receptions in each of the last eight games, collecting 46 or more yards in every contest. Even though he hasn't tallied a 100-yard or double-digit-reception game, there's comfort in getting guaranteed points from a No. 3 wideout.

Date	Opp.	Tar.	Rec.	Rec. YDs	TDs
12/14	@NE	11	8	99	0
12/7	BAL	6	6	55	0
12/1	@NYJ	11	8	68	0
11/23	@DEN	11	7	50	2
11/13	BUF	5	5	46	1

All of a sudden, the Miami Dolphins receiver is tied for No. 20 on the reception leaderboard with fellow rookie deity Odell Beckham Jr. For managers looking to play it safe, write him in and know he won't leave you empty-handed. 

Are the Minnesota Vikings a good matchup? No, not really, as they're No. 6 against the pass. But the New England Patriots weren't a friendly opponent, and Landry still delivered 99 yards on eight grabs. 

He won't single-handedly win a title, but he's not going to be the reason anyone loses.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	7 REC., 90 YDS, 2 TDS
2	Jimmy Graham, NO	6 REC., 80 YDS. 1 TD
3	Martellus Bennett, CHI	10 REC., 100 YDS
4	Greg Olsen, CAR	9 REC., 90 YDS
5	Julius Thomas, DEN	5 REC. 45 YDS, 1 TD
6	Travis Kelce, KC	7 REC., 80 YDS
7	Antonio Gates, SD	4 REC., 40 YDS, 1 TD
8	Dwayne Allen, IND	3 REC., 35 YDS, 1 TD
9	Jason Witten, DAL	7 REC., 65 YDS
10	Coby Fleener, IND	5 REC., 60 YDS
11	Delanie Walker, TEN	5 REC., 50 YDS
12	Jared Cook, STL	4 REC. 40 YDS
13	Mychal Rivera, OAK	6 REC., 35 YDS
14	Jordan Reed, WAS	4 REC., 30 YDS
15	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	3 REC., 40 YDS

Sleeper: Dwayne Allen, TE, Indianapolis Colts (vs. DAL)

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Coby Fleener had his fun, but Dwayne Allen is back to reclaim his spot as Indianapolis' tight end to start.

Andrew Luck's former Stanford teammate enjoyed some huge production with Allen sidelined, but the assembly line is back to its usual order. While both players caught two passes on five targets, Dwayne Allen scored his eighth touchdown this season despite missing two games.

Now the Colts get the Cowboys, who mostly just ignore opposing tight ends and let them do their thing. Nobody allows more receptions to the position, and they've also surrendered 10 scores. 

This isn't to disparage Fleener, as both guys could finish Week 12 as top-10 tight ends. In a point-per-reception (PPR) league, he remains the preferable play. Yet when healthy, Allen commands Luck's attention in the end zone, making him worth the nod on Sunday.

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