The 2021 Fantasy football season has been a bumpy ride, but the NFL has attempted to adjust its health and safety protocols to keep the latest surge in COVID-19 from derailing what remains. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce tested positive earlier this week, but because of the updated rules he could make it back in time to play the Steelers. Kelce is coming off a week in which he had 10 catches for 191 yards and two scores, so where should his fellow Chiefs tight ends be in your Fantasy football rankings?
Meanwhile, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp continued their remarkable seasons last week and remain easy Fantasy football start-sit decisions. With so many difficult choices to make, a reliable set of Week 16 Fantasy football rankings is vital. Before locking in any Week 16 Fantasy football picks, be sure to check out the Week 16 Fantasy football predictions from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
When it comes to ranking players, SportsLine’s model beat human experts in Fantasy football for the past several seasons especially when there were big differences in ranking. Over the course of a season, that could literally be the difference between winning your league or going home emptyhanded.
Last week, the model was extremely high on Lions running back Craig Reynolds, ranking him as a top-30 running back and a player you should have been giving serious FLEX consideration. The result: Reynolds rushed for 112 yards in a stunning upset win over the Cardinals. Anybody who had him in their lineup was well on their way to a huge week.
Now, the model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, has revealed its Fantasy football rankings for Week 16 of the 2021 NFL season. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top Week 16 Fantasy football picks
One player the model is high on this week: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Without Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley on the outside, Ryan hasn’t been as prolific as we’re used to seeing in his 14th NFL season. Still, he has completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 3,340 yards and 18 touchdowns and Atlanta has identified enough playmakers to take advantage of a poor defense.
The Falcons will take on the Lions on Sunday. Despite winning two of their last three games, Detroit ranks 26th in the NFL in scoring defense, 29th in total defense and 32 in net adjusted yards per pass attempt allowed. Ryan has two vital mismatch tools in rookie tight end Kyle Pitts and hybrid running back/wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. The model expects Ryan to use them effectively and finish as a top-12 quarterback in Week 16.
And a massive shocker: Bears running back David Montgomery, who was started in 91 percent of CBS Sports Fantasy football leagues last week, stumbles big-time and doesn’t even crack the top 20 at his position in Week 16. Despite being the center of attention in an offense that doesn’t do much well, Montgomery has put up solid numbers when healthy, with 884 scrimmage yards and four scores in 10 games.
However, he’s coming off a week in which he only managed 83 yards on 23 touches as the Bears squandered numerous possessions that started in their own territory. Now, he’ll take on a Seahawks run defense that ranks second in the NFL in yards allowed per carry (3.8).
How to set Week 16 Fantasy football rankings
The model is also calling for an under-the-radar quarterback to finish in the top 10 of its Fantasy football rankings. This pick could be the difference between winning big and going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.
So who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 16 Fantasy football rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that has out-performed experts big-time.
