Lions Wire Fantasy Football Weekly: 2020 Week 16 preview
With it being the holiday season it is time to look at some of the best gifts under the fantasy football tree this year. The biggest present under the tree was one of the biggest running back in the NFL and that is Derrick Henry (RB Titans). Probably the best gift in all of fantasy football is a league winning type running back and Henry helps provide that by getting a heavy workload each week, rushing yards often in the high triples figures consistently, and plenty of touchdowns.
Most times kids at Christmas want the newest and shiniest type of toys under the tree. In fantasy football, those new toys are the rookies that enter the league each year and get fantasy owners very excited. The top rookie gifts this year have been Justin Jefferson (WR Vikings), Jonathan Taylor (RB Colts), Joe Burrow (QB Bengals), and D’Andre Swift (RB Lions). These rookies along with others have been good fantasy players this season and have bright futures ahead.
Lions vs. Buccaneers fantasy focus
Fantasy owners in 2020 continued to hope for the gift of a Kenny Golladay return, but that still hasn’t come since he left the field in early November. Kenny is looking for a large gift in the form of a new contract either from the Detroit Lions or some other team after this season is over. He played great for the limited time he played during this football season, but Kenny and fantasy owners alike will hope for much better gifts for him and from him next season when he hits the field again.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers skill players have had an up and down year throughout this season. Tom Brady (QB Buccanneers) has been a bit inconsistent at times and brilliant at other moments. Chris Godwin (WR Buccaneers) was poised for another breakout year until hand, finger, and other injuries forced him to miss multiple games. Mike Evans always seems to be dealing with multiple nagging injuries in between the tremendous catches he often makes on the football field. With all of that being said though the team is in prime playoff position and Antonio Brown (WR Buccaneers) seems to just be rounding into shape too.
The Detroit Lions have enjoyed having D’Andre Swift (RB Lions) back at running back, Marvin Jones (WR Lions) has impressed at wide receiver once again, and T.J. Hockenson (TE Lions) was named as the NFC Pro Bowl starting tight end after his second season in the NFL has been a great showing in a multitude of ways for the former Iowa prospect. The talk about the Lions centers around the toughness and quality play of quarterback Matthew Stafford in recent weeks though. Stafford has been playing great and again is showing he’s a top-quality fantasy quarterback that you can win with.
This game is on Saturday between the Buccanneers and the Lions at 1:00 PM EST inside of Ford Field. Expect all Buccanneers to have big days on offense. Tom Brady will throw it early and often to all of his skilled wide receivers and tight ends with Ronald Jones (RB Buccanneers) still dealing with injuries. Play everyone from Tampa Bay and expect big dividends, and play some of the Lions stars in hopes for quality return at least in fantasy football. This game will be a bombastic and boisterous win by the Buccanneers against the Lions.
Start
Justin Herbert (QB Chargers)
Darrell Henderson (RB Rams)
Terry McLaurin (WR Washington)
Dallas Goedert (TE Eagles)
Sit
Phillip Rivers (QB Colts)
Le’Veon Bell (RB Chiefs)
Marquise Brown (WR Ravens)
Tyler Higbee (TE Rams)
Top 3 projected players by position
Quarterbacks
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Tom Brady, Buccaneers
Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara, Saints
Derrick Henry, Titans
Dalvin Cook, Vikings
Wide Receivers
Davante Adams, Packers
Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
Stefon Diggs, Bills
Tight Ends
Travis Kelce, Chiefs
Darren Waller, Raiders
George Kittle, 49ers
Team Defenses
Ravens
Browns
Bills
Kickers
Justin Tucker, Ravens
Harrison Butker, Chiefs
Greg Zuerlein, Cowboys
Waiver wire options
Mitchell Trubisky (QB Bears)
Marcus Mariota (QB Raiders)
Tony Pollard (RB Cowboys)
Darrell Henderson (RB Rams)
Chad Hansen (WR Texans)
Russell Gage (WR Falcons)
Jordan Akins (TE Texans)
Cameron Brate (TE Buccanneers)
Intriguing games and players in Week 16
(Week 16 Bye Weeks: None)
Minnesota at New Orleans, Friday 3:30 PM, EST
MIN: Dalvin Cook (RB), Irv Smith (TE)
NO: Drew Brees (QB), Alvin Kamara (RB)
Tampa Bay at Detroit, Saturday 1:00 PM, EST
TB: Tom Brady (QB), Antonio Brown (WR)
DET: T.J. Hockenson (TE), D’Andre Swift (RB)
San Francisco at Arizona, Saturday 4:30 PM, EST
SF: Raheem Mostert (RB), Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
AZ: Kyler Murray (QB), Dan Arnold (TE)
Miami at Las Vegas, Sunday 8:15 PM, EST
MIA: Matt Berida (RB), Tua Tagovailoa (QB)
LVR: Brian Edwards (WR), Josh Jacobs (RB)
Atlanta at Kansas City, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
ATL: Matt Ryan (QB), Todd Gurley (RB)
KC: Demarcus Robinson (WR), Travis Kelce (TE)
Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST
IND: Michael Pittman (WR), Jonathan Taylor (RB)
PIT: JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR), Ben Roethlisberger (QB)
LA Rams at Seattle, Sunday 4:25 PM, EST
LAR: Jared Goff (QB), Darrell Henderson (RB)
SEA: Russell Wilson (RB), Rashaad Penny (RB)
Tennessee at Green Bay, Sunday 8:20 PM, EST
TEN: A.J. Brown (WR), Derrick Henry (RB)
GB: A.J. Dillon (RB), Allen Lazard (WR)
Buffalo at New England, Sunday 8:15 PM, EST
BUF: Devin Singletary (RB), Zach Moss (RB)
NE: Sony Michel (RB), Damien Harris (RB)
Bottom Line
The big question is do you or will you have a new bright shiny championship under your tree this year? After a year full of injuries, COVID-19, game reschedules, and many other unique factors it has been a fantasy football season like no other.
When it is all said and done though it is all worth it if you get to unwrap the bragging rights and all the other glorious gifts that come along with being named the reigning, defending, undisputed fantasy football champion of the world in your league.
With football Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday this week – have a Merry Fantasy Football Christmas everybody!
