Fantasy Football Recap Week 16: 16 Things You Need To Know

Week 16 was much more than the average fantasy football week. For most leagues, the week was semifinal week and your last obstacle to making the championship game. Not to mention, the last day remaining before Christmas. It was a Christmas Eve celebration with some revelers getting into the holiday spirit more than others. Let’s unwrap the week.

Top Players

Amari Cooper is certainly celebrating a happy holiday after his record-breaking effort on Sunday. Cooper caught three passes for 150 yards and a touchdown at half. He went on to total 265 yards and 11 receptions. Cooper broke the team record for most receiving yards in a single game. The record previously belonged to Josh Gordon.

We wish you Amari Christmas #Browns

— Lake Erie’s Lone Beatnik (@marissadesantis) December 24, 2023

Breece Hall brought gifts for any of his managers who remained alive in their fantasy playoffs after his lackluster performance last week. Hall rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 96 yards by catching 12-of-16 targets. Hall set a career-high in both receptions and targets. This was the third time in his career that he topped 190 total yards and the seventh time he scored multiple touchdowns.

Derrick Henry is another back who bounced back from a disappointing outing. After totaling just 20 yards last week, Henry hauled the football 88 yards, ending one of those rushes in the end zone. He caught an 11-yard pass on his only target and he even threw a 12-yard touchdown to Chigoziem Okonkwu for his fourth career passing score.

Justin Jefferson started slowly and finished strong. His outstanding play of the day was a sensational 26-yard touchdown grab just before halftime. By the end of the game, Jefferson snagged six passes for 141 yards and a receiving score.

Joe Flacco is becoming a league winner. Snatched off the waiver wire by only the most desperate managers, the 38-year-old has delivered for those needy enough to use him. For the third consecutive week, he topped 300 passing yards. In a playoff position-preserving victory over Houston, Flacco amassed 368 passing yards and a trio of touchdown strikes. If you lost C.J. Stroud, Flacco may have saved your playoff life.

Mike Evans delivered yuletide cheer to fantasy managers on the night before Christmas. Tampa Bay maintained their division lead with a throttling of Jacksonville on Sunday. Evans was able to pull down seven of his eight targets gaining 86 yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns for the second time this season. Evans has caught 13 touchdown passes this year.

Flop Players

Tony Pollard had the lowest-scoring fantasy day of his up-and-down season. With 38 yards rushing and only five receiving, it was his first game with less than fifty total yards. The volatile running back has seven games of single-digit fantasy points.

Tony Pollard's entire body was in the end zone and the ball, somehow, was not. hands down the worst short yardage back in the league.

— Denny Carter (@CDCarter13) December 24, 2023

De'Von Achane put up modest numbers in the Dolphins’ victory against Dallas. Sharing backfield work with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, Achane saw just seven carries and three targets. He gained 24 rushing yards and made a catch for seven yards.

Sam LaPorta probably felt like he got coal in his stocking following his quiet afternoon. The standout rookie tight caught three passes for only 18 yards after catching three touchdowns the week before.

Pop Players

D.J. Chark turned in a great day at the office before his holiday break. Seeing eight targets, the veteran wide receiver snagged six throws for 98 yards and a pair of scores. It was his fourth two-touchdown game and the first of this season.

Chris Rodriguez scored his first two career touchdowns on Sunday. Facing the New York Jets, the rookie led the team in rushing with 58 yards and reached the end-zone of a pile-moving 12-yard run. Rodriguez later scored on a one-yard run. He was targeted once in the passing game with a seven-yard catch.

Drop Players?

T.J. Hockenson left the Vikings’ loss to Detroit in the third quarter with a knee injury. Shortly thereafter, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Jordan Addison also exited the Vikings’ game in the third quarter. Addison sustained an ankle injury and did not return to the contest.

Jaylen Waddle was knocked from the Dolphins’ matchup against Dallas in the second quarter. He sustained an eye injury and was taken to the locker room. Waddle then returned to the game, only to be knocked out again and taken to the locker room a second time with a shin injury.

Cole Kmet was removed in the third quarter of the Bears’ win against Arizona. After making four catches for 107 yards, Kmet was sidelined with a knee injury.

Cole Kmet has been downgraded to DOUBTFUL with a knee injury. Must have happened on that 29 yarder in the 2nd Q where Kmet was slow to get up. He's at a career high today (4 catches, 107 yards).

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) December 24, 2023

Trevor Lawrence suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of the Jaguars’ crushing defeat at the hands of Tampa Bay. Lawrence was replaced by backup, C.J. Beathard.