That seems far more important. The bragging rights that come with winning the fantasy football championship across leagues in the country are an entire year’s worth of friendships that will be impacted.
The 2015 campaign has been a tumultuous fantasy football season, with a handful of defenses that have essentially been nonexistent and breakout players and injuries causing it to come to an end in Week 16.
Considering how random some of the performances have been this year, fantasy owners can come prepared with as much information as possible to make the right lineup decisions, which can make the difference between a disappointing second-place finish and a title.
Here is a look at some projections, rankings, and considerations for players who were owned in less than 60 percent of ESPN.Com leagues if they were considered waiver-wire targets for Week 16. Keep in mind that this is just an overview.
Running Backs
Top Waiver-Wire Acquisition of the Week: Bilal Powell, New York Jets.
If your hand is raised, you were more astute than anyone else in your league when it came to making moves on the waiver wire. Bilal Powell would prove to be a crucial player for the New York Jets in fantasy football playoff matchups at the conclusion of the season. If you believed this, please raise your hand.
Ryan Fitzpatrick has also emerged as a legitimate threat in the air, with 191 receiving yards through three contests for valve safety. He found the end zone with a touchdown in his third straight game on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys.
It is worth monitoring their status as the week progresses. Both McCoy and Peterson left their respective Sunday games with injuries, but you may not have to rely on guys like Powell, Williams, DeAngelo, and Gurley from the waiver wire. Fortunately, you have enough stalwarts like Martin, Doug McCoy, LeSean Peterson, and Adrian Peterson.
Quarterbacks
Waiver-Wire Acquisition of the Week: Kirk Cousins, Washington.
Lately, Cousins has been on a remarkable streak, but he will probably never be mistaken for the likes of Cam Newton, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers.
He was on fire again on Sunday, leading the Buffalo Bills to a win over the highlighted NFL team. One major reason for his success is that in his last eight games, Cousins has reached 300 passing yards in five of them. This is a major reason why Cousins is sitting in the pole position in the NFC East.
Sports Illustrated provided a fantasy perspective on Cousins’ recent impressive performance, helping to put things into context.
Over the past couple of weeks, the ex-Wisconsin Badger achieved a significant milestone in the NFL, as mentioned by NFL on ESPN. It is important not to underestimate Wilson, even though Brady and Newton have been competing for the title of MVP throughout the entire season. The typical contenders will still manage to put up impressive statistics from the quarterback role in other teams.
Any of those top players are fantasy gems heading into Week 16.
Wide Receivers
Player to Watch: Ted Ginn Jr., Carolina Panthers, emerges as the top choice from the waiver wire this week.
Ted Ginn Jr.–Record-breaker.
ESPN provided information and statistics highlighting that the ex-Ohio State playmaker has successfully caught a minimum of two touchdowns for three consecutive weeks, making it the longest such streak in the history of the Carolina Panthers. Thanks to his breakaway speed, he has managed to outrun defenders who are attempting to cover him individually. Furthermore, Newton has consistently found him in perfect synchronization, resulting in an impressive display of offensive prowess.
Despite the fact that he has caught 10 touchdowns and is heading into the red-hot stretch, he is still owned in less than 60 percent of ESPN.Com leagues. Somehow, he is still owned.
The AP reported that Tim Booth, a journalist from the Journal News Pensacola, discussed the connection between two key cogs in the passing attack of the Seattle Seahawks. Over the past four weeks, Russell Wilson has been on a hot streak, throwing 10 touchdowns and entering superstardom in fantasy football. Joining him in the realm of fantasy superstardom are wide receivers Doug Baldwin, Odell Beckham Jr., DeAndre Hopkins, and Antonio Brown, who are also considered must-starts in fantasy football.
For those two guys in particular, they’re really on it. The plays we’re calling are not that much different than we’ve ever called them, but they’re seeing it well, they’re taking advantage of all the little nuances that need to be done to take advantage of what’s happening on defense. Just a natural growth has happened there.
Moreover, at the wide receiver position, there are numerous fantasy game-changers. Allen Robinson has garnered more touchdown receptions (13) than any other player in the league. Additionally,
Tight Ends
Waiver-Wire Addition of the Week: Will Tye, New York Giants.
Sometimes, it takes an injury to create an opportunity for fantasy football, and that’s exactly what happened to Will Tye of the New York Giants.
Larry Donnell has taken advantage of the opportunity to be a reliable fantasy owner’s option, hauling in 200 receiving yards and a touchdown in each of the last two weeks.
On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs were ranked 15th in the league in terms of defending against the pass, whereas Jacksonville was ranked 25th and New Orleans was ranked 30th. Given that all three defenses are weak against the pass, Gary Barnidge, Julius Thomas, and Benjamin Watson have a lot of potential for success. Every week, Rob Gronkowski and Greg Olsen are guaranteed to perform well in fantasy football, with the exception of Tye.