Jonathan Taylor, it’s been real man and while many people won’t appreciate you, I do. No disrespect to Zack Moss or Deon Jackson, but we know they can’t do it the same. If your eyes are peeled on this article, congratulations, because you’re either still alive in the fantasy playoffs or you’re supporting my work (so I know you’re solid). Very few people have an ideal lineup at this point or are still rolling with the roster they drafted out of the gate. That’s the beauty of fantasy, gutting it out for the gold, finding those unsung heroes and getting the victory. The points may come from where you least expect it. Here are some of those players.
Optimal Flex Plays
Christian Watson - WR, Packers @ Dolphins
Watson’s amazing touchdown streak came to an end and he put up somewhat of a dud in Week 15 with four receptions for 46 yards (WR48). In that game, he didn’t make his first catch until the third quarter, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Romeo Doubs is back in the fold and while that takes away some production, that’ll hurt Allen Lazard more than Watson. Aaron Rodgers made it a point to feed Watson late in the game. The Dolphins’ defense has given up seven touchdown passes in their last three games and in two of those they’ve let up over 300 passing yards. The Dolphins’ secondary has been banged up over the past couple of weeks and that only heightens the optimism for Watson. Get ready for the bounce back.
Marquise Goodwin - WR, Seahawks @ Chiefs
Obviously starting Goodwin isn’t ideal, but this is the fantasy playoffs and desperate times call for desperate measures. I would say that if you’re a Tyler Lockett manager and pickings are slim, throwing Goodwin in your lineup would make sense. He steps into a great opportunity against a Chiefs’ defense that’s given up the sixth-most points to receivers in fantasy this season. There will be plenty of opportunities for Goodwin as Geno Smith has thrown at least 33 pass attempts in each of his last seven games. An even more impressive stat is that Smith has thrown for at least two touchdowns in all but three games this season. Make no mistake, Goodwin’s Week 16 value is tied strictly to the absence of Lockett. The Chiefs-Seahawks matchup has the week’s second-highest Over/Under at 49 and with the Seahawks as 6-point underdogs, Goodwin will have plenty of opportunity.
Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon - RB, Chiefs vs. Seahawks
At this point you’re likely starting these two anyway, but if you have either of them, they certainly haven’t been your top-two options for a long time. You most definitely will be rolling them out against a Seahawks’ defense that’s the second-worst against running backs in fantasy. Since taking over as the Chiefs’ lead ball carrier in Week 10, Pacheco has averaged 15.8 carries for 80 yards per game. Meanwhile, McKinnon has absolutely scorched the turf as fantasy’s RB1 overall over the past two weeks. Both have a chance to keep the good times rolling in a game where the Chiefs are 6-point favorites. In McKinnon’s case, he’s averaging 7.5 carries per game over his last four which adds to his already high receiving ceiling. These two will be fun to watch in Week 16.
K.J. Osborn - WR, Vikings vs. Giants
Am I point chasing? You damn right I am and why not? Osborn has a chance to build on his career-high performance (11/157/1) against a depleted Giants’ secondary. He has the right matchup at the right time in another game that’s expected to be high scoring (Total of 48). The Giants’ defense is fresh off of a game in which they let Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel (the Commanders’ WR2 and WR3 respectively) combine for 7/149/1. In that game Taylor Heinicke only attempted 29 passes, we expect more passing volume out of Kirk Cousins and the Vikings’ offense. With the Vikings only being favored by four points, I don’t expect the Vikings to ever be in run-heavy mode. You may feel like Osborn’s performance was a fluke, but there’s reason to believe he has value in Week 16.
DeVonta Smith - WR, Eagles vs. Cowboys
If your fantasy team is loaded at receiver and you’ve been on the fence about Smith every week, keep throwing him in your lineup. He’s been the WR11 over the past three weeks which is impressive considering that A.J. Brown has been WR2 in that same span. The news of the week is that his quarterback Jalen Hurts may miss this game or even multiple games with a shoulder injury. With Gardner Minshew probable to get the start, don’t fade Smith even with the expected return of Dallas Goedert. While Minshew is mobile, he won’t eat up rushing yards and take away others’ production like Hurts. Smith and the rest of the Eagles’ supporting cast is good enough to help Minshew keep the offense flowing.
Raheem Mostert & Jeff Wilson - RB, Dolphins vs. Packers
Oh how I love this matchup for the Dolphins’ running backs. It’s not yet official that Wilson will be active in Week 16, but we expect that he will be. Despite losing to the Bills in Week 16, the Dolphins found out that the run game can actually help them. Mostert ran for a season-high 136 yards on 17 carries and Salvon Ahmed even chipped in with 6/43. The Packers have given up the fifth-most points to running backs this season and are on the heels of letting up 100 yards from scrimmage to Cam Akers. In what’s expected to be one of the highest scoring games of Week 16 (total of 49.5 points), expect all of the Dolphins’ key offensive figures to get a piece of the pie. Fire up these running backs unless you have high-end to elite options at the position.