It’s about the only situation where you can type Sam Darnold’s
name into a lineup… against the Lions. Despite their winning ways
of late (six-of-seven), Detroit is still the most generous of
pass defenses allowing a league-high of 27.4 FPts/G over the last
five and 27 FPts/G for the season. It would be a “Hail Mary” type
play, but if you are stuck for quarterback options, it’s going
to be there as he’s rostered in just six-percent of all leagues.
Smith ranks sixth-overall this season averaging 23 FPts/G and
faces a Chiefs’ pass defense which is giving up the fourth-most
points thru Week 15 and even worse over the last five (25.6).
They have allowed a league-high 11 wide receiver touchdown passes
since Week 11. That makes Smith a must start.
The Jaguars rank 27th in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks
(23.3) and even worse over the past four games allowing 24.9 FPts/G.
With Mike White still sidelined (ribs), Wilson will make a second
consecutive start. He produced a solid 24.6 fantasy points in
Week 15 versus the Lions (18-of-35 for 317 yards, two TDs and
one INT) worthy of a top-10 result. He faced Jacksonville in Week
16 of 2021 and put up 24.2 fantasy points mostly because of his
legs (4-91-1). You could do a lot worse.
Teams are too busy, and too successful, running on Cleveland
to throw the ball that much. The Browns rank fifth against fantasy
quarterbacks and 30th against running backs. Dalton has cracked
the 20-point mark just once in the last seven games and twice
all season. After throwing the ball just 17 times in Week 15,
he’s not about to see enough action to produce big numbers
in Week 16 against the Browns.
Sure, Purdy has produced three wins in three games, but he’s
only averaging 20.2 FPts/G which ranks 15th for the last three
weeks. While the Commanders rank just 14th in QB fantasy points
allowed for the season, a further examination shows they rank
third (16.4 FPts/G) since Week 11. Expect a low-scoring battle
here (O/U 39.5) leaving few opportunities to post a big number.
Pickett is expected to return to the starting lineup, but even
if it’s Mitchell Trubisky, this is not a great place for
a Steelers quarterback. The Raiders were one of the worst teams
over the first nine games (25.2 FPts/G allowed), but has become
one of the best over the last five allowing just 16.9 FPts/G.
