This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Football series.
The Week 16 NFL main slate begins Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EDT and features 11 games, while the Vikings and Saints will kick off the week Friday at 4:30 p.m. EDT, followed by Saturday's Buccaneers-Lions, 49ers-Cardinals and Dolphins-Raiders games, before the week concludes with Monday's Bills-Patriots clash. Even with a number of top fantasy options playing on other days, there's still plenty of value to be found on the main slate. Some of the standout Week 16 options include a pair of top-three draft picks coming into their own under center, an affordable running back set to handle a heavy workload against a vulnerable defense, and a pair of modestly valued Chiefs.
TOURNAMENTS (GPP – GUARANTEED PRIZE POOL)
QB: Mitchell Trubisky, CHI at JAX ($28): Trubisky has a pair of three-touchdown performances in four games since retaking Chicago's starting quarterback role, and he has the Bears in contention for the NFC's final wild-card spot at 7-7 after back-to-back wins. It's hard to completely trust the second overall pick from the 2017 draft given some of the low points we've seen from Trubisky, but he certainly seems to be trending in the right direction heading into a matchup with a Jacksonville secondary that has allowed a league-high 31 touchdown passes. He also adds a bit of value with his legs, having rushed for 57 yards over the past two weeks.
RB: Austin Ekeler, LAC vs. DEN ($28): Ekeler is yet to find the end zone in four weeks since returning from a hamstring injury, but he has churned out plenty of yardage, rushing 50 times for 219 yards and catching 28 of 38 targets for 203 yards. That production averages out to 105.5 scrimmage yards per game, and Ekeler has a good chance of surpassing that mark against one of the 10 teams that's allowing over 100 rushing yards per game to running backs. If the diminutive running back -- who scored 11 touchdowns last season -- can also break his touchdown drought while seeing his usual volume, Ekeler could easily wind up among this week's highest scorers at his position.
WR: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB vs. TEN ($13): Valdes-Scantling is the field stretcher in Green Bay's high-powered offense, and he has scored 17.5 or more fantasy points three times in his last six games but totaled just 4.6 fantasy points in the other three. The affordable wideout is more likely to approach his high ceiling than his low floor in this clash between two of the league's three highest-scoring offenses, especially with Aaron Rodgers throwing to him against a Titans defense that has allowed the second-most catches (228), fourth-most yards (2,626) and sixth-most touchdowns (16) to wide receivers. MVS works well as part of a larger Packers stack or as a standalone cheap flier.
Other Against-the-Grainers
QB: Ryan Finley (CIN, $20), Lamar Jackson (BAL, $32), Tom Brady (TB, $32)
RB: J.D. McKissic (WAS, $17), Tony Pollard (DAL, $22), Melvin Gordon (DEN, $21)
WR: Tyler Lockett (SEA, $20), T.Y. Hilton (IND, $19), Alshon Jeffery (PHI, $12)
TE: Tyler Eifert (JAX, $14), Jordan Akins (HOU, $13)
DST: Seattle Seahawks (vs. LAR, $15), Carolina Panthers (at WAS, $13)
CASH GAMES (H2H, 50/50s and DOUBLE UPS)
QUARTERBACK
Baker Mayfield, CLE at NYJ ($32): Mayfield has been overshadowed by Cleveland's overpowering rushing attack for most of the season, but he's playing arguably the best football of his career over the past three games, having thrown for 974 yards and an 8:1 TD:INT while chipping in a rushing touchdown. The Browns will likely play from ahead against a Jets team that didn't get its first win until last week, but New York's defense is much more vulnerable to the pass than the run, which should keep Mayfield throwing throughout. The Jets allow the third-most passing yards per game (279.8) but are actually better than average against the run with 112.9 yards allowed per game. When it comes to passing touchdowns, only the Jaguars (31) have surrendered more than New York's 30.
RUNNING BACK
Giovani Bernard, CIN at HOU ($13): Bernard had gone quiet in recent weeks after the Bengals lost starting quarterback Joe Burrow to a season-ending knee injury, but his production was reinvigorated by another change under center. The insertion of mobile quarterback Ryan Finley -- who ran 10 times for 47 yards and a touchdown himself -- freed up more running lanes for Bernard, who turned 26 touches into 97 scrimmage yards while scoring once on the ground and once through the air in Monday's upset win over the Steelers. Cincinnati's affordable lead back is primed for a repeat performance against a Texans defense that has allowed the most scrimmage yards (2,531) and second-most touchdowns (18) to running backs.
Le'Veon Bell, KC vs. ATL ($19): Bell racked up season highs in carries (15) and rushing yards (62) while scoring his second touchdown of the season in last week's win over the Saints, and he should see a similar workload in Week 16 against Atlanta with Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle, hip) expected to sit out. The Chiefs would clinch the AFC's top seed and lone playoff bye with a win, and they'll likely play from ahead against the 4-10 Falcons, who allow the fifth-most scrimmage yards per game (392.4). Bell took on a lead role when Edwards-Helaire missed time previously, and he should make the most of it in this favorable matchup.
WIDE RECEIVER
Allen Robinson, CHI at JAX ($32): Robinson is by far the most prominent member of a Bears passing attack that should thrive against the vulnerable Jaguars secondary. His 133 targets this season rank fourth league-wide, and Robinson has compiled at least 70 yards in 11 of 14 games, including seven of the past eight. Even if the Bears pull ahead early, Robinson should still see enough volume to justify his spot in lineups.
Amari Cooper, DAL vs. PHI ($18): Cooper struggled against Richard Sherman and the 49ers last week, but he was on a three-game touchdown streak prior to that dud, racking up 15 catches for 206 yards on 22 targets over those three contests. Dallas' top wideout should regain form against an Eagles defense that has allowed 37 catches for 551 yards and three touchdowns to opposing No. 1 wide receivers over the past four games. Those gaudy numbers were put up by a combination of DK Metcalf, Davante Adams, a hobbled Michael Thomas and DeAndre Hopkins, but Cooper could fall well below their average of 9.25 catches, 137.75 yards and 0.75 touchdowns and still comfortably outperform his modest valuation.
Mecole Hardman, KC vs. ATL ($16): Hardman drew nine targets and found the end zone in last week's win over the Saints, and he should continue to play a prominent role as the resident speedster on the offense with Tyreek Hill battling a hamstring injury. Even if Hill suits up, Kansas City has little reason to put much strain on his barking hamstring with the playoffs around the corner. Coach Andy Reid loves drawing up plays to get his fastest players in space, and Hardman should get a steady diet of those against a Falcons secondary that's allowing the second-most passing yards per game (287.7).
TIGHT END
Austin Hooper, CLE at NYJ ($15): The Jets have allowed the most yards (926) and touchdowns (13) to tight ends, and they have only gotten worse at defending the position recently. New York has been burned for at least one touchdown by a tight end in each of the past five games, giving up seven scores over that span. With his quarterback rolling, Hooper -- who caught five of six targets for 41 yards and a touchdown in last week's win over the Giants -- is primed to add to New York's recent struggles.
DEFENSE
Indianapolis Colts, IND at PIT ($17): This unit has been outstanding all season, scoring double-digit fantasy points in each of the last three games and a league-high eight times overall. The Colts' success should continue here against a reeling Steelers offense that has failed to score 20 points in each of its last four games. Turnovers have been a major problem for Pittsburgh over that stretch, as opposing defenses have come away with five interceptions and forced nine fumbles, recovering three. Given recent trends, you won't find a defense with a higher floor in Week 16.
Honorable Mentions
QB: Jalen Hurts (PHI, $28), Patrick Mahomes (KC, $43), Deshaun Watson (HOU, $34)
RB: Derrick Henry (TEN, $39), David Johnson (HOU, $22), David Montgomery (CHI, $28)
WR: Davante Adams (GB, $41), Robert Woods (LAR, $26), Rashard Higgins (CLE, $17)
TE: Zach Ertz (PHI, $12), Logan Thomas (WAS, $21)
DST: Cleveland Browns (at NYJ, $17), Chicago Bears (at JAX, $15)
