Rachel Wold
It is crunch time in the NFL as Week 16 rolls around. Some franchises have already clinched their divisions while other teams will fight tooth and nail attempting to oust their rivals out of of first place. Things are particularly tight in the NFC South where the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers — both 10-4 — must deliver their best performances.
Still in the hunt, the Dallas Cowboys will receive a huge boost when running back Ezekiel Elliott returns to the scene. Will his presence be enough to help keep the ‘Boys in playoff contention?
One the other end of the spectrum, struggling players will be competing to ensure their job security heading into the next season. The Cincinnati Bengals, for one, is a club that needs for its quarterback to play better. Though, a daunting opponent awaits.
Perhaps the Cleveland Browns finally win their first game. Or not. Without further ado, here are our stud and dud predictions for NFL Week 16.
Stud: Martavis Bryant, wide receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
We saw an larger-than-average share of Bryant in action without star wideout Antonio Brown (calf injury) on the field last week. Minus Brown, Bryant should have a field day of his own when he plays the Houston Texans in Week 16. He will be facing a defense that just allowed 326 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns to the Jacksonville Jaguars. On the season, Houston has given up 27 passing touchdowns, which ties for second most in the league.
Dud: Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
Garoppolo is off to a smashing start, having not lost as a starter with his new team. Though, this week might be a different story when those high-rolling Jaguars come to town. This is a defense not to be messed with that has tallied 31 total takeaways and is averaging a league-high 3.6 sacks per contest. If any team is going to force some vulnerability out of Garoppolo, it will be Jacksonville. Plus, the Jags are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete just 55.9 percent of their passes.
Stud: Ezekiel Elliott, running back, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys finally get Elliott back from his six-game suspension. Elliott has reportedly been keeping in excellent shape and has a friendly home matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. We say friendly because the Seahawks had no answers in stopping Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley when he rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns last week. He also added 28 receiving yards and a touchdown. Elliott bet Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson that he would rush for 200 yards in his return. We will see soon enough if Elliott delivers on that bet.
Dud: Brandin Cooks, wide receiver, New England Patriots
In this divisional showdown, we anticipate Cooks to have one of his quiet games. The Patriots host the Buffalo Bills, who adequately closed Cooks down three weeks ago. Cooks managed just two catches for 17 yards in that contest. With quarterback Tom Brady spreading the ball around like mayo on bread each week, Cooks is no sure bet to catch his quarterback’s eye on a weekly basis. And, the Bills have surrendered only one wide receiving touchdown in their last four games. That’s pretty scary.
Stud: Brandon Carr, cornerback, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens defense has been one of the most entertaining to watch this season. Carr and his teammates have managed a league-high 33 turnovers so far and the action should not stop in Week 16. The Ravens host the Colts, who could easily gift Carr his fifth interception of the year. If so, the veteran corner will have set a career high in this stat. Going up against quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who is currently completing just 59.6 percent of his passes, Carr is primed to shine.
Dud: Jordy Nelson, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers
Most thought the long-anticipated return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers would provide a boost to Nelson’s sagging numbers. But, we all thought wrong. Nelson was practically Mr. Invisible once again just like he was with Brett Hundley under center. This game around, Hundley returns and things won’t get any better for Nelson competing against the Minnesota Vikings defense. The Vikings were vicious in their last game holding Cincinnati Bengals top wideout A.J. Green to two catches and 30 yards. There is little reason to expect Nelson suddenly busts out an A+ performance against the Vikings, who are in hot pursuit of a top seed in the NFC.
Stud: Tyrod Taylor, quarterback, Buffalo Bills
Taylor should fare better in his second annual meet-up with the Patriots. New England’s defense is reverting back to its giving ways and has surrendered 51 points in its last two games. Two contests ago, Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns against New England. Then just this past game, the Patriots gave up 117 rushing yards and a touchdown to Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell. Taylor should be able to take advantage in both categories with playoff stakes on the line.
Dud: Isaiah Crowell, running back, Cleveland Browns
Crowell has been lightening in a bottle having averaged 10.3 yards per carry in his last two games. Though this week, Crowell should loft back to normalcy when the Browns head to Chicago. The Bears are giving up a humbling four yards per attempt, which should squeeze the brakes on Crowell. And, the chances of Crowell scoring will be slim. No running backs in their last four games have scored a rushing touchdown against Chicago. This is grim for the winless Browns, but true.
Stud: Marcus Peters, cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs
Peters returned from his one-game suspension with a vengeance and nabbed two interceptions in his last game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, he stands to add to his five total when the Chiefs host the Miami Dolphins. It did not take Cutler long to turn into “Smoking Jay” and throw three picks in his last contest. This matchup has turnovers written all over it, and we predict Peters will be a thorn in Cutler’s side the entire game.
Dud: Samaje Perine, running back, Washington Redskins
There is not a lot to be excited about for Perine facing the Denver Broncos defense in Week 16. The rookie running back’s production has come to a near screeching halt over the past three weeks, when Perine has not managed more than 45 rushing yards. The Broncos rushing defense is giving up just 3.3 yards per attempt and only six running back rushing scores all season. Perine has not graced the end zone since Week 11 and in those said three games he has averaged a measly 2.8 yards per carry.
Stud: Robert Woods, wide receiver Los Angeles Rams
Those worried about Woods being rusty after missing three games fretted needlessly. Woods caught 85.7 percent of his targets for 45 yards and one touchdown last Sunday. He stands to get back into the groove even more so playing the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. This is a defense that crumbled under the hands of the 49ers in their last matchup and gave up a total of 381 receiving yards. Woods should thrive under such giving conditions and might just double those 45 yards we mentioned above.
Dud: Derek Carr, quarterback, Oakland Raiders
Carr is coming off of one of his worst performances after completing just 55.3 percent of his passes for 171 yards in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He might not find things much easier on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles. Carr will be playing without tackle Donald Penn, which is a huge negative. In addition to getting attacked by the Eagles’ pass rush, Carr will be tangling with a defense that ranks fourth in overall takeaways with 25. Carr and the Raiders should be at the Eagles’ mercy as Philly aims to clinch the NFC’s top seed.
Stud: Jerick McKinnon, running back, Minnesota Vikings
McKinnon is a sneaky play in Week 16 going up against the Packers. The fourth-year running back just turned seven catches into 114 yards his last game and stands to do more of the same this weekend. Green Bay has yielded the the sixth-most receiving (693) yards to opposing running backs on the season as well as five receiving touchdowns. The Packers are also surrendering 116.4 rushing yards on average each game. McKinnon as well as Latavius Murray should reward with grand performances.
Dud: Robby Anderson, wide receiver, New York Jets
Anderson is one of the biggest surprise breakout players in 2017. This is until he lost quarterback Josh McCown for the season two games ago. Anderson’s success moving forward unfortunately is tied to Bryce Petty. Playing a full game catching passes from Petty, Anderson nabbed only five of his 12 targets for 40 yards. There’s simply no reason to trust Anderson will turn things around when those hot Chargers defensive backs roll into town.
Stud: Darius Slay, cornerback, Detroit Lions
Slay and the Lions have a tasty matchup on the calendar when they head to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. Sadly for the Bengals, the quarterback Andy Dalton of old emerged last game. Dalton plopped out a putrid two-interception performance and passed for a season-low 113 yards. Surely, Slay — who leads the NFL with seven interceptions and 27 defended passes — can continue the mayhem. This is a dream matchup for Slay as he helps to keep his Lions in the playoff hunt.
Dud: Greg Olsen, tight end, Carolina Panthers
Olsen just had monster nine-catch, 116-yard, one-touchdown game and looked like his old self against the Packers. But this weekend, the Panthers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have been tough on tight ends. Fantasy football-wise, the Bucs have given up the second-fewest points to the tight end position. This equates to three touchdowns on the year and only 43.4 yards per game. Expectations for Olsen need to be tempered a bit.
Stud: Jarvis Landry, wide receiver, Miami Dolphins
Even though we pegged Landry’s quarterback Jay Cutler to struggle against the Kansas City Chiefs, Landry should still produce plenty of volume. The Chiefs are yielding 256.5 receiving yards on average per game at a rate of 12.6 yards per catch. Only two other NFL teams are giving up more yards per reception. Also keep in mind that Landry remains the third-most targeted receiver to date. He should feed here.
Dud: Matt Ryan, quarterback, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons won their last battle with the New Orleans Saints just two games ago. But, Ryan was simply horrible in his performance earning a 55.2 quarterback rating after throwing three interceptions versus one touchdown. We are going to predict the Saints have Ryan’s number once again as the two teams go head-to-head at the SuperDome. The Saints are hanging on by a thread to first place in the NFC South, and their defense should strike heavily at Ryan who has not completed more than 55.6 percent of his passes his last three games.
Stud: Kendall Fuller, cornerback, Washington Redskins
Fuller and the Redskins host the Broncos, who will be featuring quarterback Brock Osweiler. Need we say more? Granted, Osweiler had a pretty decent performance his last game when he stepped in for the injured Trevor Siemian. But, that was against a poor Colts secondary. Fuller and the Redskins should prove much more troublesome for the Broncos sputtering on offense. According to Pro Football Focus, Fuller has not allowed more than 38 yards in coverage and has given up just one touchdown this season.
Dud: Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals
Poor Larry. He is the unfortunate byproduct of bad quarterback play and has caught just 10 balls for 104 yards and zero touchdowns in his last two games. Now in Week 16, he will play with Drew Stanton under center in yet another quarterback exchange for the Cardinals. On the season, Stanton has completed 44-of-91 passes for 540 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Even going up against the lowly New York Giants, we do not have much confidence in Stanton connecting accurately with Fitzgerald — let alone combining for a touchdown.
