This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Football series.
Barring any postponements or changes in schedule, Week 16 action is expected to be spread out over four different days, leaving 11 games for the Sunday main slate beginning at 1:00 p.m. EST. Besides the main slate, the 49ers and Titans will kick off the action at 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, followed by Browns-Packers and Colts-Cardinals matchups Saturday. After the main slate, Washington-Dallas (Sunday night) and Dolphins-Saints (Monday night) matchups round out the week. Whether you're playing the main slate or another one, some of the top options include a running back thrust into one of the league's most desirable starting roles due to an injury in front of him, a wide receiver who's laying his claim to being the best in the game and an affordable tight end primed to produce.
TOURNAMENTS (GPP – GUARANTEED PRIZE POOL)
QB: Jalen Hurts, PHI vs. NYG ($35): Some will be hesitant to go back to Hurts considering he was held to single-digit fantasy points by the Giants in Week 12, but the dual-threat quarterback has failed to score more than 19.4 fantasy points only four times this season and is coming off his fourth multi-touchdown rushing performance in Tuesday's win over Washington. New York has allowed 24 passing touchdowns, just four off the league-high total shared by Washington and Indianapolis, so Hurts could find success with both his arm and his legs at home in a game that means much more to the 7-7 Eagles than the 4-10 Giants.
RB: Justin Jackson, LAC at HOU ($12): Austin Ekeler's availability is in doubt, even though the lead back hasn't been added to the reserve/COVID-19 list after a report earlier in the week made it seem like such a move was imminent. Jackson split carries with Ekeler last week and mustered 99 scrimmage yards on 14 touches against Kansas City. If Ekeler sits out, Jackson would become a near must-start against a Houston defense that has allowed the most rushing yards (1,752) and second-most rushing touchdowns (16) to running backs. Even if Ekeler suits up, there should be some value to be found with Jackson if he sees a similar workload to last week.
WR: Brandin Cooks, HOU vs. LAC ($16): The Chargers have done a great job defending wide receivers this season, though Patrick Mahomes mustered 410 passing yards against this defense last Thursday. Houston will be hard-pressed to reach 410 yards of total offense in this one, but the Texans will likely be playing catch-up and turn to the air. Cooks has shown an excellent rapport with quarterback Davis Mills in the rookie's second stint under center this season, topping the 100-yard mark in each of the past two weeks with a total of 15 catches for 203 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 21 targets. He's the Texans' top skill position player and should remain heavily targeted here.
Other Against-the-Grainers
QB: Patrick Mahomes (KC, $37), Russell Wilson (SEA, $31), Cam Newton (CAR, $24)
RB: Najee Harris (PIT, $24), Javonte Williams (DEN, $23), Craig Reynolds (DET, $17)
WR: Justin Jefferson (MIN, $32), Gabriel Davis (BUF, $18), Mecole Hardman (KC, $12)
TE: Hunter Henry (NE, $15), Dalton Schultz (DAL, $16)
DST: Los Angeles Rams (at MIN, $10), New York Jets (vs. JAX, $13)
CASH GAMES (H2H, 50/50s and DOUBLE UPS)
QUARTERBACK
Joe Burrow, CIN vs. BAL ($30): Burrow carved up a healthier Ravens secondary for 416 yards and three touchdowns back in Week 7, so the sky's the limit for him against this version, especially with the Bengals at home this time. Baltimore's banged-up secondary has allowed a 7:1 TD:INT in its past three games, including three touchdowns without an interception to Aaron Rodgers last week. Meanwhile, Burrow has reached the 300-yard passing mark four times this season to go with a 26:14 TD:INT and has one of the league's deepest groups of wide receivers at his disposal with Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.
RUNNING BACK
James Robinson, JAX at NYJ ($26): Robinson has had an underwhelming sophomore season in Jacksonville, but the 2-12 Jaguars shouldn't be at much of a disadvantage against the 3-11 Jets. In addition to avoiding an overly negative game script, Robinson should also benefit from facing a defense that has allowed the most scrimmage yards (2,519) and touchdowns (25) to running backs this season. Even if Jacksonville's new coaching staff wanted to direct some of Robinson's touches to Carlos Hyde like Urban Meyer did, that's no longer an option with Hyde on IR due to a concussion, and Dare Ogunbowale touched the ball only twice as Robinson's backup last week. Robinson meanwhile tied a season high with 21 touches, so he's locked into a workhorse role for this favorable matchup.
Ronald Jones, TB at CAR ($18): Jones is set to take over as Tampa Bay's lead back following Leonard Fournette's hamstring injury. Fournette had 10 scrimmage touchdowns prior to getting hurt, and his 69 receptions led all running backs, as Tom Brady has an affinity for checking it down to running backs. Jones is averaging a robust 4.7 yards per carry and should also see substantial volume in the passing game, even if he can't quite match Fournette's production in the latter respect. He'll face a Panthers team that has allowed four rushing touchdowns to lead backs in the last three games.
WIDE RECEIVER
Cooper Kupp, LAR at MIN ($41): Kupp's enjoying a season for the ages and showing no signs of slowing down. He leads the league in catches (122), receiving yards (1,625) and receiving touchdowns (14), and he has at least 123 yards and a touchdown in each of his past three games. Paying up for the star wide receiver should be worth it against a Vikings defense that has allowed a league-high 2,670 yards to the position, and there are plenty of bargain options around that you can lock in to help afford Kupp.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET at ATL ($16): St. Brown has quietly come on in the latter stages of his rookie season, turning 35 targets into 26 catches for 249 yards and two touchdowns over the past three weeks. As the top option in Detroit's passing game with T.J. Hockenson done for the season due to a thumb injury, St. Brown should build on his recent success against a Falcons defense that's allowed 17 touchdowns to wide receivers, third most in the league. He'll lose some of his luster if starting quarterback Jared Goff doesn't clear the COVID-19 protocols by Sunday, but he'll still be an intriguing value even if it's Tim Boyle under center.
Antonio Brown, TB at CAR ($23): Brown's back in the fold after serving his suspension for lying to the NFL about his vaccination status. That absence has also given him time to heal up from his ankle injury, and Brown's returning to a receiving corps that will be without Chris Godwin (knee) and potentially Mike Evans (hamstring) as well. Brown had been rolling with 217 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games prior to suffering the ankle injury, and he could thrive as Brady's primary target against a struggling Panthers defense that has allowed 30 points per game in its last four and surrendered a trio of touchdowns to Buffalo's wide receivers last week.
TIGHT END
Foster Moreau, LV vs. DEN ($10): Moreau finally got more involved while filling in for the injured Darren Waller (knee) last week against the Browns, hauling in seven of nine targets for 65 yards while having the ball schemed into his hands with a number of tight end screens. Waller would make for a strong play himself at $19 if he's able to return, but if he remains sidelined, Moreau's an intriguing option at the minimum valuation given the dearth of enticing alternatives in Vegas' passing game, especially with defenses likely to continue focusing on taking away Hunter Renfrow.
DEFENSE
Los Angeles Chargers, LAC at HOU ($13): This unit has come alive with 30.0 fantasy points over the past three games, powered by four interceptions, four fumble recoveries, nine sacks and a touchdown. Los Angeles' weakness has been stopping the run, but a Houston offense that's averaging a league-low 77.4 rushing yards per game, as well as the second-fewest points (14.8), is unlikely to capitalize on that vulnerability. You'll be hard-pressed to find better value on defense.
Honorable Mentions
QB: Justin Herbert (LAC, $37), Matthew Stafford (LAR, $36), Jimmy Garoppolo (SF, $28)
RB: Cordarrelle Patterson (ATL, $27), Michael Carter (NYJ, $22), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC, $17)
WR: Keenan Allen (LAC, $27), Russell Gage (ATL, $17), Jamison Crowder (NYJ, $15)
TE: Mark Andrews (BAL, $26), Dallas Goedert (PHI, $20)
DST: Philadelphia Eagles (vs. NYG, $15), Dallas Cowboys (vs. WAS, $21)
