Week 16 Matchups, In-or-Out, Mirage or Barrage?

Are you excited for Jordan Howard against the 49ers in this game? Moderately. 20 touches, each of the last two games? Moderately because I really like Mitch Trubisky this weekend. I think that his floor is safe and this is an opportunity for... Are you playing them in your title game? Yeah, against you for third place? Yes. Yes, I already bench all my players, Mike. Oh, sweet. I'll take that trophy. Third place? Better than nothing.

I'm really excited for Mitchell this week. I think he's safe. I'm putting it back in, Mike. I think he is safe and recovered enough from his injury that this could be the game where we see that the ceiling that we saw earlier in the year come back to fruition, which means great opportunities for Alan Robinson, who I think is sneaky. The past six weeks, the 49ers are 31st best against the wide receiver position. I know Robinson has been floundering.

But I think he can have a solid game. And just scoring opportunities means that I will actually play Jordan Howard. I play Cohen over him still. But I'm still, but I'll play Howard. Yeah, I think you can play both backs. Brooks and I have them going head to head against each other. But Howard has, I mean, the last few games you've seen when they are winning the games, they are going to Howard a ton. He's on pace for like 288 carries through that stretch.

which would be exactly what you dream for from a guy like Jordan Howard, and I expect them to be up in this case. I don't. You don't? I completely disagree with that. Yeah, I don't. I agree with the statistics on when they're up and the touches they get. I don't expect them to beat. No. Oh, wow. No, I don't. I mean, the game line is tight, too. So Vegas is pretty on par with that. It's a four-point line. I don't think this is going to be a blowout for the Bears. I do think that the 49ers are playing a lot better. Nick Mullins, he's been playing great.

And so I think this is another potential statement game for the 49ers. And so I think you're going to see more Cohen. I'd be a lot more confident with Cohen, unfortunately, for you. So if you like Nick Mullins, who is it just George Kittle? Or do you still think against this Bears past defense, Goodwin, Pettis? No, it's just George Kittle. I said he, I did not say I like Nick Mullins. I say he's been playing well. Well, I'm just speaking of it. If the game is close, then the Niners are scoring. No, they're not.

So you're just saying the Bears aren't scoring. I'm saying this game's going to be a low scoring, close game. It's going to be a 20 to 17, 17, 14, 20 to 14, something like that. You know, 43 point over under. That's not a lot of points. And I'd take the under in this one. So I, no, I don't trust any other past catcher other than George Kittle in the offense. Pettis, he's our wide receiver 30 by consensus. I would play Alan Robinson over Pettis in this game.

Very, very good in the past four weeks. But the Bears are very, very good. Yeah, I agree. But no, look, I mean, that's just my take on the game. If, Jason, if you think that the Bears are going to be well ahead, then your potential for Jordan Howard's success is there. I do think they will be, but, you know, you're very good at predicting the game lines. I'm just looking here. Nick Mullins, do you realize, so he's now started six games. That's a pretty good sample size for.

You know, his type of a career, he's still on pace for 4,775 yards over 16 games. He's been all right. He's averaging, he's fourth in passing yards per attempt since taking over. That's 8.6 per attend. 33rd in average depth of target, so you're getting a ton of the kid will run after the catch. But he's doing, he's a gritty dude. I love Nick Mullins. If you can beat the bears, you beat them at wide receiver because they're really good against the run.

All right, eight, five, and one, the Steelers taking on the 12 and two Saints. Saints are six-point favorites. A beautiful, wonderful, fantasy-friendly, 53-point over-under. In this one, games in New Orleans, look, I really, really like the potential for the Saints' offensive pieces in this game. I know that there's some storylines here, James Connor, Jalen Samuels, what's going to happen? I think we're all expecting Jalen Samuels.

Okay, let's get that out correctly. Jay and Samuels to be the running back of choice in this game. Look, if the Saints win, they'd move to 13 and 2, they'd guarantee them the number one seat in the NFC. The road to the Super Bowl would go through New Orleans, which is exactly what you need. The road, Drew Brees is not the Drew Brees I want in the playoffs.

If the Chargers, listen to this, this is a Steelers situation. If the Chargers beat the Ravens, the Steelers can clinch a division title by beating the Saints. So there's a lot on the line here. Where are you guys looking for fantasy answers? Because Michael Thomas, you're playing. Drew Brees, you're playing. Are you playing Drew Brees? Oh, I love Drew Brees this week. Yeah. He's my number one quarterback on the week. Why would you not love Drew Brees in this matchup? I...

Understand that he's at home, but I mean, Drew Breeze, it's been a rough three weeks for him. Those are all, I guess you could just, they're all road games for Drew Breeze, but the Steelers, the Steelers defense is not too shabby. They're not too shabby, but I think Drew Breeze at home in a game where if they win, they clinched everything. They, they, that's all they can do this entire season. I think Drew Breeze balls out here. And my worry, really, is,

is more so with the Steelers. Because one thing that has not got enough attention recently is how good the Saints' defense has been. The Saints' defense, look, I mean, I think, well, it was past 2000 the last time that the Saints won with as few points as they had last week. Their defense is shutting everyone down, and they are over the last six weeks the number one against running backs.

And that's including really good running backs. They played Zeke in that stretch. They played Christian McCaffrey in that stretch. They shut everyone down. So Jalen Samuels, I mean, okay, he catches the ball. Great. He'll be okay. But this whole Steelers offense scares me a little bit because the Saints are going to be up for this game at home. It's difficult to ascertain the running back situation because even though

You're telling me that they're number one in over the last four weeks. Ezekielis scored 25 fantasy points against them. Christian McCaffey scored 27 fantasy points against them. So if you are a dual threat running back, yeah, maybe they're stopping the running back in terms of, you know. Total team. Total team effect. But those two players did it. And if Jalen Samuels looks anything like he did last week, I think he's at least a safe RB2.

Mike, you clearly have strong opinions about Drew Breeze in this game. Vegas has them as a six-point favorite with the 53-point over under. I think that's where you're seeing the fantasy excitement on our end. What is concerns translate to? I mean, are you playing Big Ben in this exact same game over Drew Breeze? No. Okay. Are you playing Russell Wilson this week over Drew Breeze? Yes. Okay. You're less bullish. And I don't want this to come across.

As Jason says, don't hear what I'm not saying. I mean, Drew Brees is still in my top 12. He's still in my top five as of right now. I just, people are going to ask the questions. With the last three weeks, he has two total passing touchdowns in that time. He's thrown an interception in the last four weeks. Drew Brees. Yeah, he's looked shaky. He has not been Drew Breesie. Yeah, we're seeing that from several teams right now. The Rams, the Saints.

They've not looked themselves. Right. And it was a road game for the Patriots, but they essentially shut Tom Brady completely down last week. Mark Ingram or Jalen Samuels. Samuels. Mark Ingram or Tevin Coleman this week. Ooh. Oh, that's good. Ooh. I would go Mark Ingram. I assume, Andy, based on what you were saying of really buying into Coleman this week, you'd be on the Coleman side? Um, I would go.

I would go Coleman. Not by much, but I'll go Coleman. I have Ingram one spot higher right now. So they're back to back. Backup options for juju. We talked about the potential injury. If you need to flex to somebody else. James Washington. Let's say juju is in your flex. Are you going James Washington or Vance McDonald? Ah. Interesting. An adage. Man, that's tough. I would.

I think I would go. I'd go James Washington. James Washington. He was involved last week, got four targets, and they were the valuable kind. Both Eli Rogers and James Washington got four targets a piece and were involved. But one is close to the line of scrimmage. One is downfield. I would take the downfield guy. I think you're going to need him. Yeah, I do too. But we'll see if Juju's active. We're good to move on? Yep. The 11 and 3 Chiefs take on the 8 and 6 Seahawks. The Seahawks coming off the 49ers lost.

They are two and a half point underdogs at home against the Chiefs. 54 point over under. Got to love that. Patrick Mahomes and Company. We don't expect Spencer Ware to be active. We will obviously update you that Sunday Live. More information over the course of the day. Brooks, do we have anything new from practice reports since we started the show? No, sir. I've been checking. Okay. All right. This mini megalod. All right. Tyree Kill last week didn't look quite himself. Worst game of the season for Tyree Kill. Is he back this week against Seattle?

At home, what do you think? I would say so. I'm sorry, not at home, on the road. Which is good for Tyree Kill. I mean, his home road splits are insane how much better he is on the road than at home. I don't get why. But that's actually not just in the Pat Mahomes era. That's an Andy Reed thing where if you look at their home roads for running backs and wide receivers, they're just better on the road for Tyree Kill. With his foot healed, he's had extra time as well. I really like Tyree Kill. That was going to be my point. I mean, we didn't even.

You weren't even sure he was going to play last week. And now he's had extra time off. So I think he's right back to where you, what you're expecting from Tyreek. Travis Kelsey, the auto start of all auto starts, obviously at the tight-in position. No Sammy Watkins, not practicing. Is Chris Conley your next best dart throw? For a pass catcher? From the Chiefs. Correct. Sure. But... Seattle, I love Chris Carson.

Chris Carson at home. Chris Carson without Rashad Penny. He's questionable, not practicing. Carson is a 15 to 20 touch guy here. Mike Davis is more of the third down opportunity play. But I've got Carson in my top 10. Do you guys like him? I love Chris Carson this week. Absolutely love him. Russell Wilson should be put in a position to have to throw the football in this game a little bit more, you'd think. Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett. Jason, you brought up Doug Baldwin. I really like that.

insight at this point in the season because I think he's a forgotten man. And look, if you want to win at fantasy football, you want an opportunity to surprise a great team. Maybe you're facing, maybe you're an underdog. You cannot look to the previous 15 weeks and just use that as your template. You do need to independently look at this week and the opportunities that present themselves. And look, Doug Baldwin, he's a bad taste player this year. Yeah. It's not a good feeling.

But if there's an opportunity there, which I think there is, we've got them back to back right now in our ranks in terms of opportunity. So I think Baldwin, Lockett, they're both interesting. Yeah, I was going to bring up up. The Chief's defense is not good. Hot Lockett has, though the math finally caught him the past two weeks. Yeah, it was bound to. But against Kansas City, the opportunity to score, I think, is very strong. Yeah, like I said, I think Russell.

throws three touchdowns in this game. So Lockett and Baldwin is good. Maybe one each at least. Exactly. The Chiefs, Seahawks, who wins the game? Who do you think wins this one? I'm going to take the Seahawks here. I think Russell Wilson at home, I believe it's going to be close, go down the stretch. And if the ball is in Russell Wilson's hand at the end of the game, I think more often than not, despite the second Super Bowl that he lost on a pass, I believe he will get it done.

I'll take the Chiefs. I got the Chiefs as well. I think the Seahawks, I think their season ends this week. By the way, if they do win, they're not guaranteed a playoff spot quite yet, but they need to win to keep going. The 6 and 8 Broncos take on the 3-11 Raiders. Raiders are at home. They're 3-point underdogs, and it's a 43.5 point over under. Look, it's been a little bit difficult for Philip Lindsay to get it going the last two weeks. By the way, congratulations to Philip Lindsay. Yeah. First undrafted running back to make the Pro Bowl in history.

So congratulations, Philip Lindsay. But the otherworldly yards per carry has slowed in the last two weeks. Now, is this the salve that he needs facing an Oakland defense that is bad against the run, giving up 24 fantasy points a game? The two duds, but Philip Lindsay should get work. Yeah, Philip Lindsay is a great play. He's, I feel like it's really one dud. Fantasy purposes, you were happy two weeks ago this last week. You weren't.

He's a must start type of guy. I mean, unless you've got four of the best running backs out there against Oakland, Philip Lindsay is fantastic. All right. All right. What about Royce Freeman? Not so much. So I'm on the field a little too much last week. Got goal line carries. He's a deep league dart. But still did not get opportunity. I agree. He was out there. It seems like.