Losing your virginity. Graduating. Landing that job. Staring down the aisle at your beautiful wife and sealing a life together with a kiss. Holding your little bundle of joy child for the first time.
These moments pale in comparison to what Week 16 could be — a fantasy football title. Having that trophy as a centerpiece in your living room for a full year, reminding both you and your loser league mates of your dominance. Being able to sneak in barbs and brags into every conversation, no matter how irrelevant.
The way is simple: set the better lineup, and score more points. Make sure you’re doing so by checking out The Wolf’s rankings, and sending in some Sit/Start questions to our Twitter @RotoStreetJ or message our Facebook page.
Tier One – Potential Top Scorers
1) Antonio Brown (PIT) vs. BAL
2) Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG) @ PHI
3) Mike Evans (TB) @ NO
4) T.Y. Hilton (IND) @ OAK
5) Julio Jones (ATL) @ CAR – They’ve been extra cautious with Julio, and reportedly will not play him until he is exploding at full speed. With his return to practice, Jones is likely ready to roll versus the team he roasted for 300 yards. There is a Scarecrow risk (he’d be top-two otherwise), but the bubble-wrap the team has been using minimizes the concern.
Tier 2 – Remaining WR1s
6) Dez Bryant (DAL) vs. DET
7) Julian Edelman (NE) vs. NYJ
8) Jordy Nelson (GB) vs. MIN
Tier 2.5
9) Brandin Cooks (NO) vs. TB
10) Michael Crabtree and 11) Amari Cooper (OAK) vs. IND – Despite his lower ranking in most eyes, Crabtree is the true fantasy WR1 here — he’s less likely to draw Vontae Davis, and has been far more reliable on a game-to-game basis.
Tier 3 – High-End WR2s
12) Ty Montgomery (GB) vs. MIN
13) Michael Thomas (NO) vs TB
14) Golden Tate (DET) @ DAL
15) Alshon Jeffery (CHI) vs. WAS
16) Emmanuel Sanders and 17) Demaryius Thomas (DEN) @ KC – Sanders feasted the last time these two teams met, topping 160 yards and scoring a TD. Perhaps the game film can shift things in Thomas’ favor, who has been consistently showered in double digit targets.
Tier 3.5 – Middling WR2s
18) Jarvis Landry (MIA) @ BUF
19) Dontrelle Inman (SD) @ CLE
20) DeSean Jackson (WAS) @ CHI – Since the Bye Week, Jackson has scored 15, 21, 6, 19, and 18 FPs — certainly more of a boom than a bust type of play.
21) Malcolm Mitchell (NE) vs. NYJ
22) Davante Adams (GB) vs. MIN
23) DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) vs. CIN – Shocking, once the Osweiler plague is lifted, Hopkins suddenly produces again. While expecting a return to elite form would be headstrong, Hopkins should be far more usable this week. Unfortunately, the matchup is tough, as Cincy has been very strong against WRs this year and are fresh off shutting down Antonio Brown.
24) Doug Baldwin (SEA) vs. ARI
25) Rishard Matthews (TEN) @ JAC
Tier 4 – Upside WR3s / Flex Plays
26) Donte Moncrief (IND) @ OAK – ‘Crief has practiced all week, and should again be counted upon for at least a TD, with the upside for much more against a struggling Oakland secondary
27) Kenny Britt (LA) @ CAR
28) Tyrell Williams (SD) @ CLE – Inman seems to have taken over the clear #1 role, but a date with Cleveland keeps him plenty relevant.
29) A.J. Green (CIN) @ HOU – Green has practiced this week and is expected back. With nothing to gain, the Bengals have little incentive to roll him out if he isn’t close to 100%; still, this seems to carry some serious “Scarecrow” risk, and the matchup isn’t too inviting (29th most points allowed). If you wanted to bench him for one of the below options, we certainly wouldn’t blame you.
30) Robby Anderson (NYJ) @ NE
31) Taylor Gabriel (ATL) @ CAR
32) Tyreek Hill (KC) vs. DEN – While the matchup is frightening, Hill’s touches often come in the run game; his versatility should keep him usable.
33) Cameron Meredith (CHI) vs. WAS
34) Ted Ginn (CAR) vs. ATL
Tier 5 – Last startable options
35) Allen Robinson (JAC) vs. TEN – Throwing him in at this juncture is certainly playing with fire, but the Titans secondary is simply atrocious. Perhaps he redeems everything with a massive, week-winning game, but the chances of this are very slim.
36) Stefon Diggs (MIN) @ GB – QUESTIONABLE – Hip injury
37) Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) @ SEA – Clearly, I’m not hoping to start Fitz in my championship.
38) Pierre Garcon (WAS) @ CHI
39) Jamison Crowder (WAS) @ CHI
40) Sammy Watkins (BUF) vs. MIA
41) Steve Smith (BAL) @ PIT
42) Kelvin Benjamin (CAR) vs ARL
Tier 5.5
43) Jordan Matthews (PHI) vs. NYG
44) Willie Snead (NO) vs. TB
45) Tyler Lockett (SEA) vs. ARI
46) Sterling Shepard (NYG) @ PHI
47) Chris Hogan (NE) vs. NYJ
48) Mike Wallace (BAL) @ PIT
49) Terrelle Pryor (CLE) vs. SD – RGIII has truly torpedoed his value from a low-end WR1 to barely usable; his new finger issue is not helping.
50) Brandon Marshall (NYJ) @ NE
