Week #16 Sweet Streams

Welcome back to Sweet Streams! Week #16 is upon us and here are two players from each position that I see as good streaming options for this upcoming week. 

Quarterbacks

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals – After a hot start to the season, Joe Burrow’s cooled off quite a bit in recent weeks, throwing only 6 TDs over his last 6 games, the QB13 over that time frame.  This week the Bengals host the Ravens in a game which I project to be somewhat high scoring.  The Ravens’ defense isn’t the same unit we’ve been used to over the years, allowing the 7th most points to QBs this year.  Baltimore is a pass funnel defense, ranking 1st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed, but 31st in passing yards allowed.  The Ravens have sustained a multitude of injuries all year long in their secondary, and Burrow and his weapons should be able to exploit this matchup this week.  

Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts – Wentz has certainly hit a rough patch in the season, throwing for 1 or less touchdowns and under 200 yards in 4 of his last 5 games.  Outside of an explosion against Tampa, Wentz has given managers production worthy of the waiver wire.  This week the Colts travel to Arizona in a game with a 49-point Over/Under, tied for highest on the week, and they are only 1-point underdogs, a much closer spread that people probably expect.  Last week showed there might be some cracks in that Arizona team, and in particular their secondary.  Just recently in Week 15 Jared Goff completed 80% of his passes for 216 yards and 3 TDs against Arizona.  Arizona ranks in the top third in the NFL in run defense which should slow down Jonathan Taylor a smidge, leading to a few extra pass attempts for Wentz in a high scoring game.  

Running Backs 

Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Most likely the consensus #1 waiver wire target this week, Ron Jones figures to step in and assume a bell-cow workload for Tampa Bay since starter Leonard Fournette got hurt this past week.  Fournette is considered week to week with a hamstring injury, which typically means at least a game on the side lines for players.  In addition to Fournette, star WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are most likely inactive this coming week as well.  Godwin for sure, since his season is over with a torn ACL, and Mike Evans also considered week to week.  This week Tampa Bay are heavy 10-point road favorites against Carolina so we should see a heavy dose of Jones in the run game, and he should also soak up some of those RB targets, given Tampa Bay targets the RB position more than any team in the league.  

Justin Jackson, Las Angeles Chargers – This is a much deeper play, but one that could pay off huge in Week 16.  Austin Ekeler got banged up a few weeks ago, and was questionable coming into the Chargers’ game with KC.  While Ekeler suited up and got a decent workload, Jackson played 54% of snaps, his highest mark on the season, and received 14 opportunities, also his highest mark on the season.  Perhaps Ekeler isn’t 100% from his injury, and the Chargers have a real soft matchup this weekend against Houston as heavy favorites, so I could see Jackson getting another 13+ touches which should lead to a productive day.  

Wide Receivers

Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams – Jefferson has been a fixture in the Rams’ offense this season, with or without Robert Woods, playing over 75% of snaps in most games this season.  Up until Week 15, he had gotten 7+ targets in 4 straight games, before only getting 3 this past week against Arizona.  The score seems closer than the actual game, as Los Angeles had a comfortable lead the majority of the time and ran the ball a ton.  This week they’re up against the Minnesota Vikings, who allow the most fantasy points to the WR position this season.  The Rams are 3-point favorites in a game with a 49-point Over/Under, tied for highest on the week, so expect a lot of scoring in this one.  As long as the Rams don’t runaway early, I expected Jefferson to get his normal 7+ targets which should be gold against the Vikings’ porous secondary.  

KJ Osborne, Minnesota Vikings – One of the hot waiver wire adds last week, Osborne didn’t get much going in Week 15 against Chicago in a low scoring affair on Monday night.  The Vikings were able to control the game with defense and their running game, leading to a low volume output for the passing game.  I imagine much more involvement from the passing game this week as the Vikings are underdogs to the Rams in a game tied for the highest Over/Under on the week.  Osborne received 7 and 9 targets each of the previous 2 games respectively when Adam Thielen was out, so as long as Thielen misses another week, I expect the volume to be there again this week for Osborne.  

Tight Ends 

James O’Shaughnessy, Jacksonville Jaguars – Over the last 4 weeks with Dan Arnold sidelined, O’Shaughnessy has seen 4+ targets in each game and this week takes on the Jets who have been one of the worst teams in the NFL allowing fantasy points to TEs.  With several tight ends including Darren Waller and TJ Hockenson on the shelf, O’Shaughnessy is a decent dart throw this week to get you a few points in a pinch.  

Noah Fant, Denver Broncos – While Fant hasn’t taken the next step many fantasy managers expected this season, he’s been consistent along the way, receiving 4+ targets in every game this season except one.  He’s had 7+ points in 4 of his last 5 games and we know he has the athletic ability to turn any catch into a big gain.  This week Denver travels to Las Vegas, where the Raiders allow the 3rd most fantasy points to Tight Ends, so I expect 4-5 targets at minimum from Fant this week can turn into a solid day. 

Sweet Streams y’all and as always, stay true.