With Week 16 of the NFL season in the books, we have a bunch of new information to break down. Let’s dive right into the Top 10 dynasty football takeaways from week 16.
Takeaway #1: Is Breece Hall a top 3 RB?
Now that Hall has been removed from his ACL injury for almost an entire season, where should he be ranked? The former RB1 is now up to RB4 on KeepTradeCut following his monster Week 16 performance. Hall scored 43.1 points for anyone who started him in the fantasy playoffs.
Amazing what Breece Hall can do when there aren’t defenders in the backfield
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) December 24, 2023
pic.twitter.com/hmH1DD2DNn
Coming out of Iowa State, Hall was touted as an elite running back prospect, and we saw him flash as a rookie. However, ACL injuries can be detrimental to these backs, and caution is very important. That said, heading into 2024, Hall should be ranked as a top-three dynasty back with his improved situation.
#2: Bryce Young Shows Improvement
Young has had an abysmal rookie season, to put things lightly. Young is currently averaging 10.7 PPG but had his best game of the season, scoring 22.18 points last week. Seeing CJ Stroud dominate while Young disappointed left a sour taste in most people’s mouths.
Young had a very nice game, going 23 of 36, throwing for 312 yards and two touchdowns. Anyone relying on Young shouldn’t be in the playoffs, but this improvement is a step in the right direction.
#3: Playoff Hero – Amari Cooper
Coming into the 2023 season, I was high on both Deshaun Watson and Cooper. Before Week 16, Cooper was averaging a meager 12.5 PPG, but that all changed in the fantasy playoffs. In what was most owners’ semi-final matchup, Cooper went nuclear, scoring 51.5 points.
AMARI COOPER 51 YARD TOUCHDOWN‼️
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 17, 2023
WHO STARTED HIM?? pic.twitter.com/Dy1tpdIdnU
With Watson out, Joe Flacco has turned back the clock, giving the Browns offense life. Cooper was easily the biggest playoff hero with this new spark, catching 11 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns.
#4: Playoff Hero Part Two – George Pickens
Coming into the 2023 season, Pickens was being valued as high as the WR21, but since then, he’s dropped to WR35. To me, Pickens is just another one of those big alpha X receivers constantly overrated by the dynasty community. Even though he is talented, he’s never going to draw many targets.
That said, Pickens showcased his talent, scoring 35.8 points this week. Remember that Pickens did this on four catches and six targets. I wouldn’t overreact to this game, but if you started Pickens last week, he was a playoff hero.
#5: Stop Doubting Puka Nacua
Anyone who’s bet against Nacua this year has been burned. He is averaging 17.7 PPG and has been outplaying Cooper Kupp for most of the year. Even though Nacua was drafted in the fifth round, you have to disregard his draft capital at some point.
It seems like the NFL just missed on Nacua, as he’s been productive since he stepped into the NFL. Although I am concerned about the situation around Nacua moving forward, I’m no longer questioning his talent.
#6: Tee Higgins is back
After having a big game in week 15, Higgins was even better, scoring 25 points in week 16. Despite having a horrible season, for the most part, a lot of the misfortunes can be blamed on injuries. Not only was Higgins injured for most of the year, but he hardly got to play with Joe Burrow.
Higgins is rising right now, and I expect his value to keep climbing. In 2024, he will be a free agent and likely sign elsewhere to become a true number-one wideout. If this is the case, Higgins will only increase in value based on the projected opportunity.
#7: Chris Rodriguez Jr. Thrives in an Expanded Role
Without Brian Robinson, Rodriguez stepped in and had a big fantasy day. Rodriguez only had ten carries but made the most of them, averaging 5.8 YPC. However, he scored two touchdowns, propelling him to a 19.5-point performance. If Rodriguez’s situation changes, he could be a back worth owning for 2024.
#8: Justin Jefferson Looks Like Himself Again
Jefferson had a good game in Week 15, but Week 16 was the first time we saw him look like a superstar since his injury. Jefferson torched the Lions for six catches, 141 yards, and a touchdown. All of this resulted in a 26.1-point fantasy day for Jefferson.
WOW!!
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 24, 2023
Unreal catch by Justin Jefferson on 3rd & 27!!! 🤯
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/JXHMTiN3LN
Remember that Nick Mullens was terrible, but he provided enough passing volume to feed Jefferson. Although it’s likely too late for Jefferson owners, it’s great to see him producing at that elite level once again.
#9: Calvin Ridley Crushes
Ridley has had a very up-and-down season, averaging 13.3 PPG. The hype for Ridley was insane coming into the 2023 season, and on KTC, he was being valued as the WR19. While this was insanely high for several reasons, Ridley disappointed these owners and is now ranked as the WR37.
Trevor Lawrence isn’t as elite as many thought he would be, and Ridley is a 29-year-old receiver. Ridley has shown flashes at times, but he’s not consistent enough to be a stud receiver for any win-now team.
#10: Know The Name: Brian Thomas Jr
Due to playing behind Malik Nabers, Thomas has become very underlooked in the 2024 rookie class. In 2023, Thomas posted a remarkable 60-1,079-15 season. That said, I’m not very high on Thomas for several reasons. For one, Thomas is 6’ 4” and 205 lbs, which is great for the NFL but doesn’t always translate to fantasy points. On top of this, Thomas didn’t do anything until his third year, and he had Jayden Daniels throwing him the ball. Thomas is a solid prospect based on his upside, but please don’t overrate him just because of his 2023 stats and size.
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