This article is part of our Fanball Fantasy Football series.
While many season-long fantasy owners are preparing for their fantasy championships, Week 16 is just another entry in a long line of chances to win with Fanball. Whether you prefer the two-game Saturday-only slate or the 12-game Sunday/Main slate, there are valuable recommendations to be found below for both. The Fanball format calls for a QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, FLEX WR/TE, FLEX RB/WR/TE, D/ST lineup with a $55,000 salary cap. The players below can fit into lineups regardless of strategy, as they all offer strong value relative to price.
QUARTERBACK
Brock Osweiler, DEN at WAS ($5,300): Osweiler is not for the faint of heart given his underwhelming history, but he looked like a completely different quarterback after taking over for an injured Trevor Siemian (shoulder) last week against the Colts, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another despite operating with a depleted offense. You'll have to check to make sure Paxton Lynch (ankle) doesn't usurp Osweiler's starting spot, but the hulking signal-caller has a chance to be surprisingly effective once more with top wideouts Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders both expected to be healthy for Sunday's clash with a middling Redskins secondary. In a PPR format like Fanball's, it's not a bad idea to take a chance on a low-cost quarterback and fill your lineup with elite pass-catchers at other positions.
Jared Goff, LAR at TEN ($7,400): Goff often takes a backseat to MVP candidate running back Todd Gurley, but this is the perfect matchup for the second-year quarterback to stretch his wings. Tennessee ranks third against the run with 87.2 yards allowed per game, but is just 25th against the pass with 242.6 yards allowed per contest. With a full complement of receiving weapons at his disposal now that top option Robert Woods is back from his shoulder injury, look for Goff to further improve on his 15:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio from the last seven games.
RUNNING BACK
Kenyan Drake, MIA at KC ($7,500): Drake's been an elite RB1 in everything but price the last three weeks, totaling 447 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns while catching 14 of 22 targets over that span. The explosive workhorse has another enticing matchup on his hands, as Kansas City's 368.6 yards allowed per game are fifth most in the NFL.
Theo Riddick, DET at CIN ($5,800): Riddick's pass-catching style is perfect for Fanball's PPR format, and his recent play makes him a terrific value at $5,800. He remained the lead back even in Ameer Abdullah's return from a neck injury last week, and now has 99 yards and three touchdowns on the ground to go with 14 catches for 117 yards through the air the last three weeks. There should be no shortage of opportunities for Riddick to shine against a Bengals team that's been outscored 67-14 in its last two games.
Tarik Cohen, CHI vs. CLE ($4,300): Cohen's inconsistent workload makes him tough to trust, but the explosive rookie can beat you in as many ways as any player in football. He's the first player since 1975 to score touchdowns passing, rushing, receiving and returning a punt in one season, and any of those is possible to achieve at home against the lowly Browns. This isn't a safe pick, but Cohen's upside relative to price is tremendous against this 0-14 foe.
WIDE RECEIVER
Mike Wallace, BAL vs. IND ($5,800): Wallace looks primed for an increased workload Saturday with Jeremy Maclin (knee) unlikely to suit up after exiting early last week. But the speedy wideout should find success in this favorable matchup regardless of Maclin's status. Joe Flacco's favorite target has topped 70 receiving yards in three consecutive games while averaging 76.2 yards on 7.6 targets over the last five. Meanwhile, the Colts allow the third-most passing yards (257.1) and second-most points (26.3) per game.
Keelan Cole, JAC at SF ($5,500): With touchdowns in three consecutive weeks and 10 catches for 285 yards in the last two, Cole's been a stud down the stretch. Marqise Lee (ankle) is expected to sit this one out, so Cole should once again lead Jacksonville's suddenly effective passing game against a 49ers defense that allows 24.1 points per game.
Robert Woods, LAR at TEN ($6,100): Woods found the end zone in last week's return from a three-week, shoulder-related absence. That performance gave the Rams' No. 1 receiver 562 yards and five touchdowns on 41 catches in his last seven games, and he should once again be a major factor in this favorable matchup. It's already been outlined why Goff is likely to do more damage through the air than usual, and Woods is the man he'll look for most when doing that damage.
TIGHT END
Ricky Seals-Jones, ARI vs. NYG ($5,700): Tight ends have victimized the Giants all season, finding paydirt 13 times in 14 games. The athletic Seals-Jones hasn't established himself as a consistent contributor, but he's shown some serious flashes with an average of 16.8 yards per catch and three touchdowns in Blaine Gabbert's five starts. With all the defensive attention legendary wideout Larry Fitzgerald figures to draw in this one, Seals-Jones is the best candidate to end Arizona's two-game touchdown drought.
Travis Kelce, KC vs. MIA ($7,500): Don't let an early week illness scare you away from using Kelce in this wonderful matchup. The Dolphins have been victimized by tight ends to the tune of 5.6 catches for 59.1 yards per contest and eight touchdowns in 14 games. Considering Kelce's already amassed 79 catches for 991 yards and seven scores this season, the sky's the limit for his production across the board in this one.
DEFENSE
Chicago Bears, CHI vs. CLE ($2,800): A nearly non-existent passing game on offense has put a lot of pressure on Chicago's defensive unit to perform, but the Bears' playmaking defense has often been up to the task. Chicago ranks sixth in sacks (39.0) and leads the league with 13 fumble recoveries. Those numbers should both rise following this matchup with an inept and winless Browns team that's tied for sixth with 43.0 sacks allowed and second with 11 lost fumbles. The generous Cleveland offense has thrown in a league-high 25 interceptions to boot.
Minnesota Vikings, MIN at GB ($3,400): The Packers were riding high coming off a two-game winning streak with Aaron Rodgers returning to lead their playoff push last week, but Green Bay should be equally deflated Saturday with its playoff hopes dashed and Rodgers placed back on injured reserve. Expect no mercy from their NFC North rival Vikings, who picked off backup Brett Hundley three times in less than a full game last time. Minnesota's also 5-1 on the road since losing its first road tilt to the Steelers, so coming away with a strong effort at Lambeau Field shouldn't be a tall order for a team with top seed aspirations.
