Christmas weekend is always a highlight of the NFL season. It’s close to the end of the year, close playoff battles are decided, and the holiday feel permeates every game. This year, it’s week #16 of the season, and some of the games are very interesting from a daily fantasy sports perspective. Let’s take a quick look at a few of the matchups and evaluate some of the fantasy decisions you might be considering..
Dallas Cowboys at Buffalo Bills
Now that the Bills have been forced out of the playoffs, their season is taking on a different note. They went from having one of the best defenses in the NFL last year to being ranked 21st this year. However, their rushing offense is currently ranked number one in the league, which has been good enough for the Las Vegas bookmakers to give Buffalo a 6 point edge over Dallas. Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor is having a monster year, one that not many critics expected him to have, and this should be a place for him to showcase what he is capable of. Also, wide receiver Sammy Watkins could have a big game against Dallas. He currently has 75.2 yards per game, and has a total of 9 touchdowns. This could be a good place for him to inflate those stats. Be careful if you are thinking about drafting RB LeSean McCoy. He is not yet definite for this game because of an injury.
Dallas does not have many redeeming features for this particular game. QB Kellen Moore is slated to get his first NFL start for this game, which makes him a cheap offering, but a very high risk one, and probably not worth drafting unless you have a very strong roster and have already accounted for this risk in other ways. His uncertainty pretty much takes away value from every other offensive player on Dallas, unfortunately. And thanks to their defense’s poor performance this year, there are far better choices in several other spots for this weekend.
New England Patriots at New York Jets
The Patriots have a playoff slot clinched, and the Jets are trying to secure a wild card spot right now. The Patriots have lost some of their steam this season, in an apparent attempt to get star players fully healthy before they make a Super Bowl push, and this has begun to level the playing field a little bit. The Pats are only 3 point favorites over the Jets for this one, opening up a chance for New York to have a decent game. New England QB Tom Brady leads the NFL in passing yards, but with two of his favorite targets battling injury, he is likely to be severely overpriced for this game. If TE Rob Gronkowski plays, he is good for a few catches and perhaps a touchdown in a tight spot, but his injuries are holding him back a little. Keep in mind as well that the Patriots do not have a standout running back.
The Jets do have a strong defensive unit, too, which also takes away some of the New England offensive value. This game will ensure that their defense is cheaper than it should be, which is encouraging for those looking for a good deal. Also, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been playing very well, and against a weaker New England, he could have some daily fantasy football potential. Their top WR, Brandon Marshall, is set to have some good numbers this game as a result of that.
Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins
This is one other game to consider this weekend. The Dolphins are 2.5 point favorites, and this means that Miami QB Ryan Tannehill will have a better than normal game. The Dolphins have potential, even though their season has been a rollercoaster. The Colts have suffered without QB Andrew Luck, and have really been a disappointment fantasy-wise. You may also want to consider the Miami defense as the Colts have not been great at putting up points this year. Their offense is only averaging 20.4 points per game. It’s not an awful number, but they are far weaker than many other teams out there, ranking only 26th in the NFL with yards per game.
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