Fantasy championship week is officially here! If you have made it this far in your league, congratulations and good luck! In this article, I will highlight some players who are on the rise ahead of championship week as well as some players who you may want to avoid starting this week.
Fantasy Football Stock Watch Week 16
Stock Up: RB Breece Hall, New York Jets
Hall exploded for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries on the ground while also catching 12 of an incredible 16 targets for 96 yards on Sunday against the Commanders. This was Hall’s first multi-touchdown game of the season, and he led the Jets in both carries and targets. Despite the tough matchup against the Browns on Thursday night, he is a must-start this week.
Stock Up: WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Nacua had a strong game on Thursday against the Saints, catching nine of his 11 targets for 164 yards and a touchdown. He also added 16 rushing yards on two carries. 164 yards receiving was Nacua’s highest total of the season to this point. He finished the game with just one less target than Cooper Kupp and will look to continue his elite production this week against the Giants.
Stock Up: WR Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns
Cooper was unstoppable on Sunday against the Texans, catching 11 of his 15 targets for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Cooper’s performance alone last week could’ve easily extended or ended your fantasy season. Despite this, as crazy as it may sound, Cooper should not be a lineup lock this week against the Jets, as they allow the fewest points per game to opposing wide receivers. Cooper is best used as a flex play this week.
Stock Up: QB Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Love played well against the Panthers on Sunday, completing 17 of his 28 pass attempts for 219 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 12 yards and a touchdown on the ground. This performance was encouraging since he was without his top two wide receivers Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Love projects to be a low-end QB1 this week against the Vikings and is a great option in deeper leagues or Superflex formats.
Stock Up: WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Higgins had another strong game last week against the Steelers, catching five of his eight targets for 140 yards and a touchdown. Higgins has been a clutch performer through the first two rounds of the fantasy playoffs, as he has scored three touchdowns in his last two games. Higgins should be trusted in lineups this week against the Chiefs even if Ja’Marr Chase returns to action.
Stock Down: RB De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Achane had another quiet game on Sunday against the Cowboys, carrying the ball just seven times for 24 yards and catching one pass for seven yards. He has now scored less than 10 PPR points two weeks in a row and has scored 20 or more PPR points just once in his last four games. Miami has a tough matchup against the Ravens this week, leaving Achane as a boom-or-bust flex play.
Stock Down: WR Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Adams struggled against the Chiefs, catching just one of his six targets for four yards. The Raiders’ floundered attack struggled as a whole on Sunday as quarterback Aidan O’Connell completed just nine passes, including zero over the final three quarters of the game. After a no-show like this, it is very tempting to bench Adams, but this Raiders team has shown the ability to be explosive before and Adams is top ten in the league in targets. Adams is a WR2 play this week.
Stock Down: RB Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
Etienne carried the ball just six times for 12 yards while catching all three of his targets for 19 yards last week against the Buccaneers. This was Etienne’s second game in a row where he failed to score at least 10 PPR points. His six carries were his lowest since Week 10, and with his fantasy value heavily tied to his usage, he becomes a risky play this week against the Panthers.
Stock Down: WR Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Diggs was ineffective on Saturday against the Chargers, catching five of his eight targets for just 29 yards. He led the team in targets and catches but was only able to produce 29 yards. Diggs has now scored less than 10 PPR points in three straight games and has just one game with 10+ PPR points in his last six games played. The Bills face the Patriots this week. Diggs had a strong game against New England in Week 7, but given his recent struggles, Diggs is a risky play.
Stock Down: RB Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Pollard struggled last week against the Dolphins, carrying the ball 12 times for 38 yards and catching just one pass for five yards. Pollard has been one of the most frustrating players for fantasy managers this season, and he has now scored less than 10 PPR points in consecutive weeks. The struggles are likely to continue this week as the Cowboys face the Lions, who have a top-five rush defense this season. There are more trustworthy options at running back this week.
