Fantasy Football Week 16 Expert Picks: Jacoby Brissett, Darren Waller, and More

We have three weeks of regular season football left, and that means most fantasy leagues only have two weeks remaining. Most owners are eliminated from championship contention by this point, but for the lucky few who survive, things are becoming more and more stressful every week, making every decision imperative.

It's a daunting task, but luckily, the experts at FantasySP are here to help. Morgan Rode and Daniel Hepner answered five questions relating to fantasy football as we enter the weekend of Week 16.

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Which streaming-level quarterback is the best fill-in this week for the owner who lost Patrick Mahomes?

Morgan: I'd go with Jacoby Brissett, even though he shouldn't be in the streaming category with all the success he has had since he took over as the starter. He has an average matchup against the Falcons, but he's more a streaming asset because of his continued success.

Daniel: Mahomes' backup, Gardner Minshew, has a good outlook this week against Tennessee. The Titans have allowed the third-most yards per pass attempt and the seventh-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, giving a decent fantasy outlook for any QB. You can probably find a higher-upside option, but if you lost Mahomes in a deep league, Minshew is a fine replacement for one week (the matchups are bad after this).

Do you have a running back on the fringe who is close to a must-start player because of his matchup?

Morgan: Quinshon Judkins fits that description. He has the opportunity to take advantage of a good matchup against the Bills. The Browns' offense scares me a bit, but Judkins has shown enough this season to utilize in favorable situations like this.

Daniel: The New York Giants might have the worst run defense in the league, as they have allowed the most yards per rush attempt and the third-most fantasy points to running backs. Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason each take away from each other a bit, as they share the backfield duties, but they each are good flex options this week, with Jones having more value between the two.

Give us a wide receiver who is likely to disappoint fantasy owners in Week 16.

Morgan: I think Jaylen Waddle could struggle in Week 16. He now has Quinn Ewers throwing to him, and he's going into a tougher test against the Bengals. It all adds up to another possibly down week for Waddle.

Daniel: Jakobi Meyers just signed a three-year extension with the Jaguars, and he has looked good for a winning Jacksonville team since being traded from the Raiders at the deadline. Both he and Brian Thomas Jr. have a super-tough matchup against the Broncos this week, though, a team that is giving up the sixth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. I'm staying away from both players, as they are low-level WR3/4/flex guys at best.

How about a tight end with a great outlook?

Morgan: Oddly enough, after saying to fade Waddle, I'd say to be all-in on Darren Waller. He's coming off a big week, shouldn't be impacted a ton by the QB change, and has an elite matchup against the Bengals. I think he's a great option for Week 16.

Daniel: Waller is a great answer here due to the matchup. Just to give you something different, I'll focus on a guy on the other sideline, Mike Gesicki. Gesicki hasn't been consistent this season, but he put up a big stat line a few weeks back and finally has Joe Burrow under center again. The Dolphins have given up the ninth-most yards per pass attempt and the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, leaving Gesicki with a great outlook, especially with Noah Fant also out this week for Cincinnati.

Is there a weekly starter at any position who you would usually never bench but who is at major risk of a quiet Week 16 performance?

Morgan: George Pickens is a wide receiver who usually has been a starter this year but could be benchable this week. He has struggled over the past couple weeks and is going into a tougher matchup against the Chargers. It's still hard to bench him, but I'd understand if you wanted to.

Daniel: Brock Bowers is a superstar at his position, but he had a slower game last week in a tough matchup against the Eagles (six catches for just 28 yards) and has another brutal matchup in this one against Houston. The Texans have allowed the fewest yards per pass attempt and the eighth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends, so even with Geno Smith back under center, Bowers is at risk of a slow game against maybe the best defense in football.