Fantasy Football Week 16 Cheat Sheet: Flex Rankings, Projections for Waiver Adds

The Minnesota Vikings have made significant improvements this season, and they are in an excellent position to clinch a playoff berth this week when they host the New York Giants.

Many expected Mike Zimmer's team to improve this year because he is one of the game's top defensive coaches and they were getting Adrian Peterson back after missing all but one game in the 2014 season. However, the Vikings have had a lot more to offer than just defense and a running game.

Teddy Bridgewater has made significant progress after a viable rookie year. He has been the trigger for an offense that is not impressive in the rankings, but one that has made key plays when needed.

The second-year signal-caller is coming off a four-TD performance in the Vikings' 38-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 15. He also ran for one touchdown.

Bridgewater and the Vikings have an even greater opportunity to put excellent numbers on the board this week against the New York Giants. The Giants rank 32nd in yards allowed, and there have been openings in the secondary all season. 

The former first-round pick has completed 267 of 403 passes for 2,964 yards with 13 TDs and eight interceptions. While the TD-to-interception ratio is not overly impressive, there will be quite a few opportunities against the Giants secondary.

Put him in your fantasy lineup if you need a waiver-wire quarterback.

Position	Player	Team	Opponent
QB	Teddy Bridgewater	Minnesota	N.Y. Giants
QB	Matthew Stafford	Detroit	San Francisco
QB	Kirk Cousins	Washington	Philadelphia
RB	Christine Michael	Seattle	St. Louis
RB	Spencer Ware	Kansas City	Cleveland
RB	James White	New England	N.Y. Jets
WR	Markus Wheaton	Pittsburgh	Baltimore
WR	Jermaine Kearse	Seattle	St. Louis
WR	Albert Wilson	Kansas City	Cleveland
TE	Will Tye	N.Y. Giants	Minnesota
TE	Kyle Rudolph	Minnesota	N.Y. Giants

RB Christine Michael, Seattle Seahawks

It is Week 16, and that means it's championship week in most traditional fantasy leagues. It's very unusual that a fantasy player can find a true sleeper at this point in the season who can help you win a championship.

But it is possible in the 2015 season, and the sleeper is Christine Michael of the Seattle Seahawks. The streaking Seahawks have won five games in a row thanks in large part to the explosive play of quarterback Russell Wilson.

However, the Seahawks are not one-dimensional. They don't have running backs Marshawn Lynch or rookie Thomas Rawls at their disposal as a result of injuries, so head coach Pete Carroll has turned to Michael.

The running back gained 84 yards on 16 carries in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns. Michael took advantage of Seattle's offensive line prowess to average 5.3 yards per carry.

Michael should be in an excellent position to come up with a championship-level effort when the Seahawks host the St. Louis Rams in Week 16. 

The Rams are a better defensive team than the Browns, but they have not played up to their talent level this year. They rank 22nd overall in yards allowed and 23rd against the run. Since the Rams have to be prepared for Wilson's passing, they are not likely to be overly concerned with Michael. 

This represents an excellent opportunity for him to step up and become a star player in championship week.

Don Wright/Associated Press

WR Markus Wheaton, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are rolling, and they may very well become the team in the AFC playoffs that nobody wants to play.

While the Steelers have a few issues on the defensive side of the ball, the offense is on a roll that does not figure to come to an end as long as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is in the lineup.

The Steelers have scored 30 points or more in six consecutive games, and the leading performers have been Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and DeAngelo Williams.

However, it doesn't stop there. Markus Wheaton may be the team's No. 3 receiver, but he has been explosive at times in catching 38 passes for 651 yards and four TDs. Wheaton also has eight receptions of 20 yards or more.

The Steelers face the injury-depleted Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, and this game represents an opportunity to pay the Ravens back for a number of painful defeats.

Look for Pittsburgh to keep a heavy foot on the gas pedal throughout. This will give Wheaton a chance to make big plays and contribute to what should be another high-scoring effort.

If you need a sleeper wide receiver, put Wheaton in your lineup.

Ranking	Position	Player, Team	Projection
1	RB	Doug Martin, Tampa Bay	135 yards, two TDs
2	WR	Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh	130 yards, two TDs
3	TE	Rob Gronkowski, New England	125 yards, two TDs
4	RB	Adrian Peterson, Minnesota	115 yards, one TD
5	WR	DeAndre Hopkins, Houston	110 yards, one TD
6	WR	Mike Evans, Tampa Bay	110 yards, one TD
7	WR	Jeremy Maclin, Kansas City	105 yards, one TD
8	RB	David Johnson, Arizona	105 yards
9	TE	Greg Olsen, Carolina	100 yards, one TD
10	RB	Charcandrick West, Kansas City	95 yards, one TD
11	WR	Julio Jones, Atlanta	95 yards
12	WR	Eric Decker, N.Y. Jets	90 yards, one TD
13	TE	Gary Barnidge, Cleveland	90 yards
14	WR	Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh	90 yards
15	WR	Demaryius Thomas, Denver	85 yards, one TD