Good day fantastic readers of LAFB Network. This week of football was loaded with outstanding performances for our fantasy football teams. Lamar Jackson tore it up and broke a record on Thursday night football. Jameis Winston lit up the Lions like it was the 4th of July and had his man Breshad Perriman finish the day with 3 TDs through the air.

This week of football is the most important week for those of you in the championship round. If you’re not in the fight for the crown, don’t fret. Life isn’t over. Daily fantasy is a thing so forget about the season-long commitment. Get some cash week to week.

If you are in the championship round though, good job. Your hard work has paid off. This is the week where men are born and boys are destroyed. As you all know, we’re going to go off of the ESPN Fantasy Football App, going off of players that are 50% rostered and less, and written before the Monday night showcase so adjust where needed.

Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Wire

Quarterback

(MIA) Ryan Fitzpatrick vs Cincinnati Bengals

Owned in 15.7% of fantasy leagues

In Sunday’s game between the New York Giants, Ryan Fitzpatrick had himself a nice little game. He went 23 for 41 for 279 and 2 TDs; he even recorded 33 rushing yards, giving him 98 rushing yards in the past two games. Fitzpatrick might be available in 84.3% of fantasy leagues because of the team he’s on but in some cases, it ends up working in that player’s favor.

Take Jameis Winston for example, the Bucs have been less than great for a few years but Winston’s numbers are great. This is primarily the reason that fantasy football is so fun. A team that might be bad in the win column can still have players who have great performances. Fitzpatrick has that same kind of action happening right now in Miami, he’s on a sinking ship yet still he chugs on.

(CHI) Mitchell Trubisky vs Kansas City Chiefs

Owned in 21.4% of fantasy leagues

Speaking of a sinking ship, the Bears and Mitchell Trubisky were defeated this week against the Packers. This is the second loss to their division rival this season but I think there’s interesting information if we were to compare the outcomes from Trubiskiy on both occasions.

The first time they met, the Bears scored 3 points and Trubisky had 12.5 fantasy points: 26 of 45 for 228 and an interception, plus 11 rushing yards. This time the Bears scored 13 and he finished with 23.6 fantasy points: 29 of 53 for 334, a TD, an interception and 29 rushing yards.

At the beginning of the season, the Bears and Trubisky weren’t exactly playing on the same field. Trubisky was hit and miss, literally going from 20-23 point performances to 6.8 point weeks in flux. Since Week 10 Trubisky and the Bears have been jelling with our buddy averaging 25.1 fantasy points a week.

Running Back

(TB) Peyton Barber vs Houston Texans

Owned in 37% of fantasy leagues

At this point in the season, if you have to look to the Tampa Bay backfield you might be in trouble. I want to talk about Barber this week, not because of his rushing abilities, but because of the opportunities that I think might present themselves to him.

Last week we saw the Bucs lose Mike Evans for the year. This week it is looking like Chris Godwin might be done as well. That means more targets being shared in the Tampa Bay offense. Ronald Jones is the starter but Barber has still been involved with the rushing game logging at least 10 carries the past four weeks. It’s not pretty. Barber is a speculative add.

(MIN) Mike Boone vs Green Bay Packers

Owned in 0.2% of fantasy leagues

(DET) Wes Hills @ Denver Broncos

Owned in 0% of fantasy leagues

I wanted to loop these two players together because I think that their virtual nonexistent ownage in fantasy football might spook some of you fantasy folk. I don’t want to say that it shouldn’t because it is very keen on you but I do think that they are worth chatting about.

Boone is on the Viking who have been dominating the rushing game with Dalvin Cook. Cook, this past weekend, didn’t end up finishing the game against the Chargers because of a shoulder injury. And because Alexander Mattison was already out with an injury, Mike Boone got the carries. Will Boone be as effective as Cook if Cook misses Week 16?

Hills, on the other hand, got the start because Bo Scarbrough ended up being sidelined for Sunday’s game. Scarbrough is, of course, replacing Ty Johnson, who replaced Kerryon Johnson. The Lions were officially branded a Band-Aid team when Matt Stafford was put on IR but I digress.

Hills and Boone are in this purgatory for us fantasy goers. They both have the opportunity to achieve greatness but the task would involve a lot of hoops being jumped through. Personally I would prefer Boone because of the team’s success in the running game but that would only be if Dalvin Cook doesn’t return to the field.