At long last, we’ve arrived! Whether you’re competing for a championship this week or simply trying to avoid a last-place punishment, Week 16 means it’s time to empty the tank for one final showdown. You don’t make it this far if your team is garbage, but what separates championship teams from good teams is the ability to adapt and find small advantages when the stakes are highest. Don’t overthink it; you’re here for a reason so there’s no point in straying from what got you here. However, if you need an injury replacement or feel uneasy about any of your starters this week, here are a few RB/WR/TE streamers that I feel can help lead your squad to championship glory.
* Players marked with an asterisk below can also be found in the priority waiver wire adds article.
Running Back
Adrian Peterson (RB, Washington Redskins)
If you’re looking for players that will help you finish the season on top, it’s not a bad idea to start with a dude that delivered championships to countless fantasy teams for the better part of a decade from 2007 – 2015. Although he’s not the same megastar he was back then, the 34-year-old is still getting the job done with 13+ carries and a touchdown in each of the past three weeks. He doesn’t offer much in the passing game, making Peterson more of an asset in Standard or Half-PPR formats, but the championship round is a time to sit back and enjoy watching the result of all your hard work once your lineup is set. Adding one of the most legendary fantasy players in history to your lineup [who can actually produce Flex-level numbers] for the most important game of the fantasy season is a great way to close out your successful playoff run.
Wide Receiver
Anthony Miller (WR, Chicago Bears)
As much as I aim to discuss a variety of players throughout the season, some names are worth shamelessly repeating when they continue to be vastly under-owned. The championship round is not a time to get cute, so follow the targets (Miller has nine or more in four of the last five games) and at least put Anthony Miller in your Flex slot this week. Although the Chiefs are one of the top defenses against WRs this season, Miller has the requisite volume and consistency on high-percentage throws to navigate around the tough matchup on paper. If he has yet another impressive performance in Week 16, you’ll be hearing his name mentioned among “league winners” after finishing the year on a certified hot streak.
Breshad Perriman* (WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Frankly, I wasn’t able to view much live football in Week 15 since I was caught up in one of those long layover travel days at the airport that essentially feels like a time warp where you lose all sense of the outside world. What’s even more disorienting is when you open your phone to see your league’s group chat exploding with intense Breshad Perriman discussions. However we got to this point (primarily due to the Mike Evans and Chris Godwin injuries), Perriman is one of the most intriguing players to add and start this week. I’m typically one to caution chasing points, especially with a player who had just two touchdowns all year prior to last week’s three-TD bonanza, but Perriman represents a nice blend of volume and big-play ability that could pay dividends for teams that decide to start him in Week 16. Personally, I would stick with Miller of the two WR recommendations due to his floor, but Perriman may have the higher ceiling if you’re more of the risk-reward type.
Tight End
O.J. Howard (TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
If you drafted Howard to be your primary tight end this season, it’s completely understandable if your reaction to this is “Never again!” However, this could very well be the week where he makes you forget about any disappointed feelings he’s stirred up on your team in the past. The supremely-skilled Howard has never had an issue in terms of natural ability. In fact, it has left many analysts and fantasy managers scratching their heads while daydreaming about his potential if he could only get consistent targets. With all the attrition among the Bucs’ top pass-catchers, it appears that those targets may have finally arrived if for no other reason than process of elimination. Howard has at least five targets and 45+ yards in each of the last three games, setting up a solid floor for one of the few tight ends capable of rumbling for a long touchdown at any time.
This is the week you’ve been working your tail off for since the summer. Enjoy the moment and go get yourself a championship!
(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire)