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Fantasy Stat Pack: Week Sixteen

Ryan McDowell Posted On December 19, 2018
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If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed a series of tweets I share on a weekly basis regarding player and team defensive performances, all from a fantasy lens. I’m going to be sharing some of that same information with you here.

I use this each week as I am making my own lineup and waiver wire decisions and thought you might find this valuable as well.

Note: The scoring system used for this data is always PPR with four points for passing touchdowns.

All year to date fantasy ranks are based on total points.

Quarterbacks

Week Fifteen QB1s (top 12 scorers)

Week Fifteen was one of the worst scoring weeks for quarterbacks in recent history. In fact, this was the first time in years that no quarterback managed three passing scores in a game. Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold put together his best statistical game of the season and backups Josh Johnson and Nick Mullens continued to surprise, both notching another QB1 week.

Year to Date QB1s

We saw a lot of movement among the season’s top signal callers. Ryan rode his Week Fifteen QB1 game up from the QB4 to the QB2 spot on the year, while Deshaun Watson moved up two spots to QB8. Jared Goff and the Rams have hit a cold streak and he fell to QB9 from QB7. Tom Brady fell out of the QB1 range, replaced by Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.

QB1 Games this Season

  • 12 Patrick Mahomes
  • 11
  • 10 Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson
  • 9 Ben Roethlisberger, Deshaun Watson
  • 8 Cam Newton, Philip Rivers
  • 7 Aaron Rodgers, Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins

Most QB1 Games Allowed

  • 9 ATL, KC, TB
  • 8 WAS
  • 7 CIN, NE, NO, PHI, SF
  • 6 GB, JAX, MIA, NYJ, OAK, PIT
  • 5 ARI, BAL, CAR, CLE, DEN, DET, HOU, LAC, LAR, SEA
  • 4 CHI, IND, NYG, TEN
  • 3 BUF, DAL, MIN

The Falcons have been joined at the top of this list by the Chiefs and Buccaneers. This week, Atlanta faces the Panthers. Typically, I’d be excited to insert Carolina quarterback Cam Newton into my lineup but he’s now been shut down for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury. The Chiefs are coming off a loss and now face Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in Seattle. This should be a big game for Wilson. Finally, the Bucs travel to Dallas to meet Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. This will be a chance for the Dallas offense to bounce back after being shut out a week ago.

There are also three teams tied on the other end of this list, having allowed an impressive three QB1 games all season. The aforementioned Cowboys are one of them, giving us reason to fade Tampa’s Jameis Winston with his second straight difficult matchup. The Bills face New England with questions surfacing about the Patriots offense in general as well as quarterback Tom Brady. This could certainly be a Brady statement game, but I’m not counting on it. Finally, the Vikings should enjoy facing Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has struggled all season. This won’t be the week he breaks out that cold streak.

Running Backs

Week Fifteen RB1s (top 12 scorers)

The headliner of the week once again was Titans big back Derrick Henry, who followed up his 238/4 record-setting game with another 170 yards and two scores. In the past two weeks, he’s moved from RB39 on the season to RB18. Unreal. We also saw injuries really shake up this group as backups Wendell Smallwood and Jamaal Williams took advantage of their increased playing time to post an RB1 game.

Year to Date RB1s

We saw very little movement among the running backs. Even former Chiefs back Kareem Hunt remains in the top ten despite not playing since Week Eleven. Broncos rookie Phillip Lindsay fell out of the RB1 group, replaced by Bengals starter Joe Mixon.

RB1 Games this Season

  • 12 Todd Gurley
  • 11
  • 10 Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley
  • 9 Alvin Kamara, Melvin Gordon
  • 8 Ezekiel Elliott
  • 7 James Conner, Joe Mixon
  • 6 James White

Most RB1 Games Allowed

  • 10 ATL, CIN
  • 9 MIA
  • 8 ARI, KC, NYG
  • 7 CLE, LAC, PHI, SEA
  • 6 DET, IND, TB
  • 5 BUF, CAR, CHI, DEN, HOU, OAK
  • 4 BAL, DAL, JAX, NE, NO, NYJ, SF, WAS
  • 3 GB, LAR, MIN, PIT
  • 2 TEN

Once again, we pick on the Falcons defense. Panthers Christian McCaffrey has established himself as one of the league’s elite backs and he should decimate the Atlanta defenders. Browns rookie running back Nick Chubb is also licking his chops as he prepares to face the Bengals in the battle of Ohio. Who knows which running back we’ll see in action for the Jaguars after starter Leonard Fournette was essentially benched in the second half of last week’s game. That stifles the nice matchup against the Dolphins defense.

The Titans have allowed only two RB1 games all year, including shutting down superstar rookie Saquon Barkley last week. This week, Tennessee hosts the Redskins in the first game of the week. If you needed another reason to bench veteran Adrian Peterson, here it is.

The Packers (vs. Elijah McGuire), Rams (vs. David Johnson), Vikings (vs. LeGarrette Blount) and Steelers (vs. Alvin Kamara/Mark Ingram) have also been stout against running backs this year, allowing three games each.

Wide Receivers

Week Fifteen WR1s (top 12 scorers)

DeAndre Hopkins single-handedly defeated the Jets on Saturday while Mike Williams took over for an injured Keenan Allen on Thursday. Both performances held up through the Sunday slate to hold down the top two spots for the week. Rookie receiver Robert Foster continued his strong play with his first WR1 game of his career.

Year to Date WR1s

Hopkins’ huge performance in Week Fifteen boosted him from WR8 all the way up to WR2. Tampa’s Mike Evans moved up two spots while Michael Thomas and Antonio Brown each fell two spots. Robert Woods moved into the top 12 while injury finally pushed superstar Odell Beckham from among the WR1 range.

WR1 Games this Season

  • 9 Julio Jones
  • 8 Adam Thielen
  • 7 Davante Adams, Antonio Brown, Michael Thomas
  • 6 DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen, Mike Evans, Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs
  • 5 Odell Beckham

Most WR1 Games Allowed

  • 11 CAR, NO
  • 10
  • 9 GB, PHI, TB
  • 8 DET, LAR
  • 7 ARI, CIN, CLE, SEA, TEN
  • 6 ATL, MIA, WAS
  • 5 CHI, DEN, KC, NYJ, PIT, SF
  • 4 BAL, NE
  • 3 BUF, DAL, HOU, JAX, LAC, NYG, OAK
  • 2 MIN
  • 1 IND

The Panthers and Saints faced off against each other and somehow did not produce a WR1 game despite their previous poor showing against wideouts. The Panthers are back in action this week against the Falcons and veteran Julio Jones should have a field day. Meanwhile, the Saints get the Steelers indoors in New Orleans. You were already starting Antonio Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster but this might make you even more confident in your league title game.

The Colts stand alone with an amazing one WR1 game allowed for the entire season. That is not encouraging for the Giants, especially given the uncertain health of wideout Odell Beckham. Given the injury and the matchup, OBJ owners face a very difficult decision if he is active. The Vikings have also been strong against receivers and will be challenged by breakout receiver Kenny Golladay and the Lions.

Tight Ends

Week Fifteen TE1s (top 12 scorers)

As usual, the top 12 tight ends is a disgusting list, filled with players you may not have heard of a few weeks ago. Evan Engram played well, as he often does when Beckham sits out, finishing as the TE1 for the first time this season.

Year to Date TE1s

Bears tight end Trey Burton broke out of his month-long slump with a touchdown and that was enough to move up from TE10 to TE7 for the year. Vance McDonald moved into the TE1 range, replacing Browns second-year man David Njoku, who fell out of the group. Injured Redskins tight end Jordan Reed fell from TE9 to TE11 and will likely fall further as he’s not expected to play the rest of the season.

TE1 Games this Season

  • 12 Travis Kelce
  • 11 Zach Ertz
  • 10 Eric Ebron, George Kittle
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7 OJ Howard, Trey Burton

Most TE1 Games Allowed

  • 10 KC, TB
  • 9 IND
  • 8 CAR, CLE, HOU, NE, PIT
  • 7 DAL, JAX
  • 6 ATL, CIN, MIA, OAK
  • 5 ARI, BAL, CHI, DEN, DET, LAC, LAR, WAS
  • 4 GB, MIN, NYG, SEA, SF
  • 3 BUF, NYJ, PHI
  • 2 NO, TEN

The Chiefs and Bucs sit atop the tight end list, meaning this could be a good week to use the Seattle tight end committee and Cowboys starter Blake Jarwin, who has already produced back to back top ten fantasy performances. The Colts have struggled against tight ends as well, allowing nine TE1 games. They get the Giants and Engram, though his startability has a lot to do with Beckham’s status.

The Saints have allowed consecutive TE1 games after going 13 weeks with a spotless record. Vance McDonald will test them this week, while the Titans should be able to shut down veteran Vernon Davis of the Redskins.

Finally, here’s the full defensive chart you might’ve already seen on Twitter.

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Ryan McDowell
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