Any given Sunday in the NFL gives us a whole new set of fantasy football trends each week. We have organized some of the big trends here in order to help you answer some of the questions you may have about these top-searched fantasy football trends and players for NFL Week 16.
Is Joshua Palmer a sneaky flex play with Keenan Allen out? | Fantasy Football Trends
As we enter Week 16, the Los Angeles Chargers seem to be shifting their focus toward the future, with key offensive players, including Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen, not playing due to injury. Then, the firing of head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco after the lopsided 63-21 defeat last week.
During this, one bright spot emerged in the form of Joshua Palmer last week. Palmer’s impressive performance saw him catch all four of his targets, amassing 113 yards and securing a touchdown.
Despite Palmer’s potential, I don’t believe he will be able to replicate the performance he had last week. I’m concerned about the pressure that will get to Easton Stick. The Bills have also limited the most-targeted wide receiver to under 72 yards in the last three games, even if they managed to score a touchdown. It’s worth noting that CeeDee Lamb‘s touchdown last week came in garbage time and was a rush touchdown.
The key factor that could impact Palmer’s performance is the Bills’ ability to create pressure. If the Bills succeed in forcing interceptions, as they have done in four straight games, and maintain generating multiple sacks, as seen in four of their last five games, Palmer’s potential for a huge game could come back to bite you. I think the outcome hinges on the Chargers’ ability to navigate these challenges and capitalize on opportunities.
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How Will Tyler Boyd Fare Without Ja’Marr Chase? | Fantasy Football Trends
Ja’Marr Chase‘s absence due to a shoulder injury presents an opportunity for Tyler Boyd to step into the WR2 role for the Bengals. Boyd has experience in a similar situation last season when Chase missed four games due to an injury. During that stretch in 2022, Boyd averaged three receptions on 5.5 targets, 35 yards, 0.2 touchdowns, and eight PPR fantasy points per game. Additionally, in the four games this season with Jake Browning starting, Boyd has seen five or more targets in three of those four games.
However, Boyd’s Week 15 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers poses challenges. Since Week 12, the Steelers have proven effective in limiting non-WR1s. In the games where three non-WR1s saw five or more targets against the Steelers, these wide receivers failed to exceed 24 receiving yards and 5.4 PPR fantasy points, on average. Even Boyd himself faced this defense in Week 12 and only recorded three receptions on five targets for 23 yards and 5.3 PPR fantasy points.
While Boyd has the opportunity to step up in Ja’Marr Chase’s absence, the Steelers’ recent defensive performance against secondary wide receivers suggests a tough challenge for Boyd in Week 15.
Should I Start Saquon Barkley in Fantasy? | Fantasy Football Trends
Saquon Barkley fantasy football owners have seen inconsistent production over the last six weeks, alternating between scoring over 14 PPR fantasy points one week and under seven PPR fantasy points the following week. While it might be tempting to follow the pattern and expect a bounce-back week for Barkley, let’s look at the trends and see what they say.
When considering the Eagles’ defensive line, the common perception is that running backs often struggle against them. While historically true, recent performances are starting to prove that wrong. The Eagles have faced four consecutive games in which they allowed a running back to score over 16 PPR fantasy points. This stretch includes four straight games of running backs accumulating 96 or more scrimmage yards and three consecutive games with at least one rushing touchdown by a running back.
These recent struggles against opposing running backs by the Eagles present an interesting opportunity for Saquon Barkley to find success in Week 16. While his recent inconsistency might cause some hesitation, the favorable matchup against a defense struggling against running backs should see more of a productive performance from Barkley in Week 16.
If you are interested in a differing opinion, check out our Week 16 Fantasy Football Start ’em, Sit ’em where Saquon Barkley is a recommended “sit.”
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