Rizzla discusses the hottest pickups for championship week and presents his waiver wire rankings.
Congratulations on making it to the finals.
With finals week here and injuries around the league piling up one of the names below may be the key to a championship victory. Conversely, some of the players named may help lead your opponent to victory so do set up a ‘pancake block’ or blocks where possible. Keeping a player like Kalen Ballage, John Kelly or Robert Foster off of your opponents team may prove just as important as starting one of these names yourself, so act accordingly.
2018 Fantasy Football: Week Sixteen Hot Pickups
Kalen Ballage erupted for 123 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries after Frank Gore left the game with a foot injury. Ballage was an offseason favorite who’s hype died down a little once it became apparent the Dolphins would be rolling with Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake as their 1-2 punch in the backfield. In fact Ballage was even a healthy inactive early in the season as the coaching staff kept him in the doghouse following a blown pass pro in the preseason which saw Ryan Tannehill send the talented rookie to the sidelines. Ballage is the most talented back (at this point in their careers) in the Dolphins backfield and could be a championship winner for teams still in the mix. Ballage set a new season high for Dolphins backs on the ground and is someone to add in the 99 percent of leagues he is available in as a priority pickup.
Wth Todd Gurley coming down with a knee injury in Sunday Night Football and potentially missing championship week talented rookie John Kelly may get his chance to start and solidify his 2019 role. Kelly becomes an instant RB2 if Gurley misses any time and could be the finals week difference maker. Available in 96 percent of yahoo leagues Kelly was an impressive college back who simply did not have a role this season behind a elite level workhorse in Todd Gurley and a solid veteran breather back in Malcolm Brown. Kelly is a slower back in the Kareem Hunt vein but has a versatile skill set and a power element to his game. Kelly is someone who should be added at all costs and proves once again why it is so important to roster your own handcuffs following the bye weeks.
The 85 percent available Jamaal Williams is a priority add this week with Aaron Jones looking likely to miss the championship week. Williams is a middling talent but has volume based upside against the New York Jets defense. Williams posted a solid 97 yards and a touchdown on sixteen touches this past weekend and could have a similar output in the most important week of the season long fantasy seasons. Add Williams wherever possible.
87 percent available Robert Foster showed up once again and was actually the top scorer on one of my semi final teams. Foster has been on fire and has now posted over 94 yards in four of his last five games and while this most recent explosion was predictable due to Darius Slay focusing on Zay Jones, Foster has been impressive nonetheless. Incredibly Robert Foster has recorded more receiving yards in his last five games than he put up his entire four year career at Alabama. Now eighth in the NFL in yards per route Foster should be treated as an high upside WR3 for fantasy football finals week.
Available in 74 percent of Yahoo leagues Robby Anderson had a monster seven reception, 96 yard and a touchdown outing against the Texans on Saturday afternoon. Anderson’s eleven targets more than doubled anyone else on the team and it has become apparent that Sam Darnold now recognizes who his only talented receiver is. Expect the Jets to move Anderson around the field to avoid lining up against Jaire Alexander in week sixteen helping to solidify a high fantasy floor in what for all intents and purposes should turn into a game in which the Jets are forced to air it out early and often. Add Anderson as an upside flex/flex2 option.
Somehow still available in 68 percent of yahoo leagues Elijah McGuire saw a feature back role against the Houston Texans and parlayed that into 71 yards and a touchdown off of 21 touches. McGuire posted a career high in carries for the second straight week and remains a high upside volume back for championship week against the Green Bay Packers. McGuire has solid volume based RB2 upside in what will be an easier matchup than he has seen in the last two contests as far as defensive fronts are concerned, especially if Kenny Clark misses another game.
78 percent available DaeSean Hamilton and 97 percent available Tim Patrick should be added where possible. Hamilton posted a 7-47 line in week fifteen leading the team in receptions while Tim Patrick’s 65 yards led the team in that category. Both of these receivers have seen the fantasy value spike with Sanders lost for the year and should be in line to make some more noise against the lowly Raiders in championship week. Add Hamilton and Patrick where needed, in that order.
Jordy Nelson may finally be healthy but his recent increase in production has coincided with him seeing more action in the slot. Seeing twenty snaps per game in the slot over his last three contests Nelson has responded with 7.3 receptions and 77.6 yards per game and a 6-88 line in week fifteen. Nelson needs to be moved around the field to take advantage of mismatches and also to avoid consistently being covered by the opponents top corner. Nelson remains a risky play but has shown enough consistency to trust as a deeper league flex2/3. Add the 54 percent available Nelson where needed, or you know, add him just so your opponent cannot.
