Live Blog: Week 16
Welcome to Week 16 of the National Football League, Fantasy Division. This is it people! The Championship games are here and you can't make a single misstep. Below I have the actives and inactives and then I'll be jibber-jabbing about the early games. Let's. Play. Fake. Football!!!
As a last minute primer let Pat Daugherty answer your lineup questions with his Week 16 Rankings. For sleepers, let Nick Mensio fill you in on the best targets. And always be sure to read Evan Silva's detailed look at every game in his Matchups column.
* Ian Rapoport reports DeMarco Murray is "going to play" Sunday with a wrap on his surgically repaired hand, but the Cowboys are "nervous" about using him in pass protection. This could limit his upside, but his matchup is too good not to start him in redraft leagues.
* Ian Rapoport reports T.Y. Hilton (hamstring) will try to play but is a "longshot." The Colts have already won the AFC South and probably won't rush him back unless he is completely pain free in warmups.
* Albert Breer reports the Falcons are "optimistic" Julio Jones (hip) will play against the Saints. It's starting to look a little better for Jones and if he does go it would be tough not to play him in such a nice matchup.
* DeAndre Hopkins is will play after testing his ankle out this morning. He's risky with Case Keenum at QB and his ankle not 100%.
* Julio Jones will play today. He's risky to be sure, but has a nice matchup in what could be a shootout.
* Joe Haden is out today, which is a huge help to Kelvin Benjamin.
* Kyle Rudolph is inactive as expected. Chase Ford makes for a desperation play.
* DeAngelo Williams is out as expected. Jonathan Stewart will get the start.
* Julian Edelman and LeGarrette Blount are out. Upgrade Shane Vereen, Brandon LaFell and Rob Gronkowski.
* Reports are that Emmanuel Sanders will play on Monday night despite an illness.
* GOOD LUCK ALL!! Let's play some fake football!!
* Mark Ingram punches in a TD after Saunders returns the kickoff to the one.
* Case Keenum and Andre Johnson are hooking up early with three receptions for AJ.
* Antonio Brown is the 1st WR in Steelers history to reach 1,500 yards in a single season.
* Julio Jones makes a nice leaping grab. Great sign that he'll be a full go.
* Lamar Miller with 2 receptions for 24 yards. Good to see him getting receptions, should have had more this season.
* Joique Bell is on the sideline for some reason. Not injured, has yet to play.
* Jimmy Clausen looking like Jimmy Clausen so far.
* Cam Newton with a couple runs for 19 yards. That's good news for his health.
* Aaron Rodgers is sacked and fumbles. Tampa's ball.
* Still no Joique Bell. This is getting concerning.
* Albert Wilson has three receptions for 35 yards for KC. The only WR receptions so far for them.
* Arian Foster limps off the field after being tackled.
* Matt Asiata scores from the goal line.
* Mike Tolbert in nearish the goal line for Carolina. Bad for JStew.
* Reggie Bush rushes for a 13 yard TD much to the chagrin of Stafford and Bell backers like myself.
* Aaron Rodgers is under the weather according to the broadcast.
* Arian Foster is back in the game.
* Drew Brees is picked off on 4th and 7.
* Four Alex Smith completions, all to Albert Wilson.
* Eddie Lacy runs for a 44 yard TD.
* Tom Brady throws a 3 yard TD to Rob Gronkowski.
* Tannehill intercepted.
* Can only think that Joique Bell is being disciplined for something.
* Bridgewater completes a 21 yard TD pass to Greg Jennings.
* Joique Bell gets onto the field. Must have been sat down for the first quarter.
* Calvin Johnson having his way with Chicago so far.
* Stafford makes an amazing throw to Tate and then his next pass is picked off in the end zone.
* Julio Jones hasn't been in the game for much of the second quarter.
* Geno Smith TD to Jeff Cumberland. Pats and Jets tied at 7.
* Tannehill hits Dion Sims for a TD.
* Stafford picked off again.
* Le'Veon Bell scores from the one yard line.
* Steven Jackson is on the bench and appears to be inured.
* Cam Newton runs it in from the goal line.
* Flacco has a ball deflected at the line and it's picked off.
* Manziel is hurting. Hoyer warming up.
* Clausen hits Matt Forte for the TD.
* Flacco picked again.
* Julio Jones catches his third pass of the day, this one down to the 3.
* Matt Ryan shovel passes it to Eric Weems for the short TD.
* Bridgewater hits Chase Ford down to the one.
* Arian Foster throws a TD pass to Fiedorowicz! in the red zone. Houston is up 16-0 on the Ravens.
* Eddie Lacy and Albert Wilson are your rushing and receiving leaders at half time.
* Joe Flacco has completed 3 of 17 passes for 27 yards with 2 interceptions.
* Jamaal Charles just limped off field after last play.
* Looks like Hoyer will continue as the starter.
* Calvin Johnson limping off the field, calling for a substitute.
* QBs have only thrown 5 total TDs so far today.
* Steven Jackson (quad injury) is out for game. Devonta Freeman getting a lot of work.
* Jamaal Charles looks to be returning to the game.
* Pierre Thomas has a ribs injury and is questionable to return.
* Packers stopped at the goal line on three runs and then go for it on 4th and throw an incompletion.
* Percy Harvin has a rib injury and his return, questionable.
* Wow, Mike Wallace with a great catch and stretch for a TD.
* Devonta Freeman had a nice 31 yard TD run.
* Cam Newton picked off.
* Jimmy Clausen hits Alshon Jeffery with a great throw for a TD. Clausen has looked much better after the first couple drives. He's also had some bad drops by his receivers.
* Geno Smith intercepted.
* T.Y. Hilton is officially INACTIVE. Fire up Moncrief.
* Antonio Brown up to 120 receptions for the season.
* Torrey Smith is WIDE OPEN in the end zone for a TD from Flacco.
* Eddie Lacy hobbling a bit.
* Antonio Brown catches a 3 yard TD.
* Jonas Gray scores from one yard out.
* Roethlisberger shaken up after TD toss to Antonio Brown.
* Lamar Miller up to 138 total yards on the day.
* Now Roethlisberger being taken to locker room.
* Randle Cobb up to 10 receptions on 13 targets for 101 yards.
* DeMarco Murray is officially ACTIVE.
* Jimmy Graham has either caught a TD or fumbled the ball away at the goal line. We shall see.
* Ben Roethlisberger is probable to return with a knee injury.
* Lamar Miller having a huge day now as he gets in from the goal line.
* Joe Flacco throws his third interception.
* Graham does not catch a TD, but instead has the ball stripped at the goal line and the Falcons have the ball.
* Hoyer connects with Cameron for an 81 yard TD.
* Rodgers hits Nelson for a 1 yard TD.
* Joique Bell rushes for a 17 yard TD.
* Brees hits Graham for the actual TD this time.
* Tannehill to Wallace TD. The Dolphins up 28-20.
* Cam Newton connects with Jonathan Stewart for a 9 yard TD.
* Josh McCown throws an interception and the Packers are on their way to the playoffs.
* Brian Hoyer throws an interception, but the Benjamin strips and recovers the ball.
* Jarius Wright catches an 8 yard TD from Bridgewater. They'll go for 2 to tie.
* Drew Brees picked off at the worst time ever.
* Asiata gets in for the 2 point conversion to tie up the game.
* Jarvis Landry fumbles the kickoff and Minnesota recovers which then lets Matt Asiata score from 5 yards out to take the lead.
* Drew Brees fumbles and it is returned for an 80+ yard TD. The Saints are now out of the playoffs.
* Jonathan Stewart goes for 30 yards to help seal up a win.
* Carolina at Atlanta next Sunday for the NFC South title.
* The Steelers win puts them in the playoffs and knock the Dolphins out of contention.
* Lions play at Packers next Sunday for NFC North title.
* Flacco hits Torrey Smith for his second TD of the day.
* Eli to Odell Beckham Jr. TD
* Damian Williams catches a TD from Tannehill to tie the game up.
* Your 100+ yard rushers so far this week are Kaepernick, Gore and J. Stewart.
* The Dolphins block the punt and the safety to go up by 2.
* DeMarco Murray gets the first carry, but comes out for the second play.
* Caldwell said Joique Bell missed the first quarter due to a violation of team rules.
* Murray with 4 carries already, but zero yards.
* Orton hits Watkins for a 42 yard TD.
* Dez Bryant has a short TD called back after an illegal motion call.
* So instead Romo goes to Terrance Williams for the 9 yard TD.
* Ryan Tannehill is the top QB so far today with 396 yards and four TDs.
* The Colts try a fake punt but McDonald drops the pass and Romo hits Bryant on the next play for a 19 yard TD.
I hope y'all won your championship games! Have a great holiday season my friends. I'm off to take a doggone nap!
