Who are the best plays at wide receiver this week? Is there a Cowboys’ receiver who is better than the rest? What does facing the Jets do to the Giants wide receivers? Let’s take a look at who the recommended options are for Week 16:
- Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – vs. San Diego
- Wes Welker – New England Patriots – vs. Miami
- Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – at New Orleans
- A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Arizona
- Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – vs. Tampa Bay
- Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – vs. Atlanta
- Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers – vs. Chicago
- Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – at New England
- Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. St. Louis
- Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – at New York Jets
- Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – at Cincinnati
- Vincent Jackson – San Diego Chargers – at Detroit
- Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons – at New Orleans
- Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Philadelphia
- Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Oakland
- Demaryius Thomas – Denver Broncos – at Buffalo
- Victor Cruz – New York Giants – at New York Jets
- Laurent Robinson – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Philadelphia
- Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – at Washington
- Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. St. Louis
- Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – vs. Minnesota
- Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Philadelphia
- Stevie Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Denver
- Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – vs. New York Giants
- Jabar Gaffney – Washington Redskins – vs. Minnesota
- DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – at Dallas
- Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – vs. Atlanta
- Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at Dallas
- Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – vs. Jacksonville
- Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Carolina
- Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – at Seattle
- Darrius Heyward-Bey – Oakland Raiders – at Kansas City
- Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers – at Detroit
- Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Cleveland
- James Jones – Green Bay Packers – vs. Chicago
- Torrey Smith – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Cleveland
- Brandon Lloyd – St. Louis Rams – at Pittsburgh
- Mario Manningham – New York Giants – at New York Jets
- Plaxico Burress – New York Jets – vs. New York Giants
- Donald Driver – Green Bay Packers – vs. Chicago
- Kevin Walter – Houston Texans – at Indianapolis
- Eric Decker – Denver Broncos – at Buffalo
- Golden Tate – Seattle Seahawks – vs. San Francisco
- Greg Little – Cleveland Browns – at Baltimore
- Davone Bess – Miami Dolphins – at New England
- Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – vs. San Diego
- Denarius Moore – Oakland Raiders – at Kansas City
- Jerome Simpson – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Arizona
- Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Houston
- Damian Williams – Tennessee Titans – vs. Jacksonville
Thoughts:
- Last time Wes Welker faced the Dolphins he had 8 receptions for 160 yards and 2 TD. For his career he is averaging 105.4 receiving yards per game. I know the two young tight ends are now a much bigger part of the offense, but it is impossible not to consider Welker among the best in the league.
- Was the poor passing game of Ben Roethlisberger due to the matchup or the injuries? Obviously the 49ers played a role, but it’s possible that the Steelers ride the running game this week against the St. Louis Rams. That’s not to say that Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown aren’t tremendous options, but they may just not be quite as high as we would normally expect them to be.
- With the weapons the Giants have, will Darrelle Revis shadow one receiver? I wouldn’t expect it, meaning it’s hard to downgrade either Hakeem Nicks or Victor Cruz very far based solely on the “Revis Effect”. In other words, consider them both solid plays as the Giants season is on the line (unless there is some news during the week where we hear Revis will get matched up with someone).
- Tony Romo continues to get all three receivers into the mix, as Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Laurent Robinson all scored a TD in Week 15. At this point Austin appears to be his go to receiver once again, but consider all of them viable for Week 16.
- He didn’t find the end zone, but Demaryius Thomas had another big day in Week 15 with 7 receptions for 116 yards. Over the past three weeks he has 18 catches for 338 yards and 3 TD. He clearly is the go to option for Tim Tebow making him a solid play in all formats.
- Stevie Johnson has been coming alive once again with 198 yards over his past two games. He draws a Broncos defense that has allowed 24 TD (and has just 9 INT). Consider him a good play as a WR2 in all formats.
- Over his past four games Jabar Gaffney has averaged 91 receiving yards per game, while he’s also scored 2 TD. Against a Vikings defense that struggles against the pass (260.4 passing yards per game, 31 TD, 6 INT), he is a very good play. Santana Moss may be the top receiver for the team, but Gaffney is nearly just as good of an option.
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Make sure to check out all of our Week 16 articles:
I made my leauges superbowl but kinda concerned about how much rodgers is gonna play should sit the main reason I made it this far other options fitzpatrick and grossman, also since falcons and saints expected to be a shootout should I sit turner for demariyus Thomas
So, should I play McGahee or Santana Moss? I’m presuming Arian Foster, Mathews, Calvin Johnson and CJ Spiller are givens
I need 3 wrs. I was thinking v Jackson, maclin and demar Thomas. But i also have Nate Washington and gaffney on the bench. What do you think?
kyle – Rodgers is tough right now, but if he is playing it is impossible to sit him. I’d monitor the news over the next few days, but if indications are Rodgers is going to rest I would play Grossman. As for the FLEX, I’d probably stick with Turner but it is close enough that I’d go with your gut.
Triz – If McGahee is healthy it’s him for me, and yes, the others are all better options
Tony – I could see using Gaffney over Maclin, but it’s close. With the way Gaffney’s been playing, that’s the way I’d lean.
Don’t say “all better options” like that! My poor guys have got me now to the final 2 (actually, this is making me want to pick back up Tolbert and David Nelson just because I like to have them on my bench) (oh, and Scott Chandler! I should drop the creeper and pick up Chandler next week).
(Fine, fine, I know it is mostly Arian Foster and Calvin Johnson, your picks, that got me here. But I do love my team of misfit toys!).
All joking aside, thanks so much for all your so patient help all this year. You’re the best!
It’s what I am here for!! Good luck this week, let’s keep our fingers crossed that you can take home a championship!
Need 2 WRs non PPR
Laurent Robinson, Victor Cruz, Torrey Smith, Santana Moss, Demariyus Thomas.
I have Pettigrew as my flex, bout would you suggest I start Gaffney in his place?
I also could put K Smith in there but I think he has been to inconsistent.
Playoffs – A lot of them are very close, but I would probably go with Thomas & Cruz with Laurent Robinson as my next choice.
AncientHunter – Smith is an injury risk, so that’s a tough call, but I would definitely roll with Gaffney over Pettigrew.
Pick 2 WRs and 2 RBs and 1 Flex
Gaffney
V-Jax
Maclin
Harvin
Marshawn Lynch
CJ Spiller
Felix Jones
Thx Professor!
Here’s how I’d do it:
RB – Spiller & Lynch
WR – Jackson & Harvin
FLEX – Gaffney
We’ll have to monitor the news on Jones, though he is now a pretty big injury risk. If he appears healthy I’d probably slide him into the FLEX, but know that it’s possible to lose him in the first quarter. Not sure it’s worth the risk at this point, but we’ll have to see what the news says.
Pick 2
Malcolm Floyd, Dwayne Bowe, Julio Jones????
Im liking Floyd this week, just needs someone elses opinion
I like Floyd, but I think the other two have a significantly higher ceiling. I’d go with Jones & Bowe.
What would you do with flex choosing between Harvin and AHer. Got Witten, Welker, and Fitz to round out the rest of the WR and TE positions. This is a PPR, and thanks for the help all year long. You guys rock. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
It’s what we’re here for and a Happy Holidays to you as well!
As for Harvin vs. Hernandez, it is very close but I actually think I would go with Hernandez. We all know what NE did the last time they faced Miami and Hernandez is on a roll.
who do u start cruz or austin
I’d go with Austin, but it’s probably a coin flip. I just think the Cowboys have proven that Austin is going to be an integral part of the offense at this point.
Merry Christmas! I’m starting WR Steve Smith (Car) and RBs MJD and Kahlil Bell. Still need 2 more WRs and a flex. Very torn. Options are:
L Rob
Demaryius Thomas
Jordy Nelson
Jabar Gaffney
Antonio Brown
Heyward-Bey
Cedric Benson
Jordy’s awesome and ranked high again this week but I thankfully benched him last week. He seems very risky. Please help! Thanks.
Kelly, here’s how I’d roll with it:
WR – Nelson & Thomas
FLEX – It’s either Laurent Robinson or Cedric Benson. I’d probably go with Benson, as I tend to lean towards the RB when things are close (plus, Dallas could just as easily throw the ball to Austin or Bryant).
Thanks!
Tough one here for me in a PPR league…
Mike Wallace or Julio Jones
Leaning towards Wallace, but with Batch and the St. Louis run D and the shootout expected with NO, I think Jones might be worth starting. What do you think?
I think you can really go either way. I agree with you that Wallace is probably the better play, however. Pittsburgh is still going to throw the ball and Wallace is their best option. Shootout or not, Jones will be battling for targets.
I would go with Wallace.