This is how things are supposed to go. There was minimal stressing involved and a 4-0 was secured almost without issue. Again though, this is not the time to let up or get cocky. The last three weeks of the season are always challenging for multiple reasons. There are 15 teams that cannot be chosen again, and teams are really going in opposite directions to close out the season. With a new week upon us, let’s keep the success going. With no more time to waste, let’s jump right into our Week 16 NFL Survivor Picks.
How Did We Do in Week 15?
Did we even need to play the Baltimore game last week? The Giants ended up on the fourth-string quarterback after Tommy DeVito suffered a concussion, and it really wasn’t a fair fight. Anything but in fact, as the Ravens took advantage of the weakened state of their opponent and cruised to victory.
Jake Haener began the week starting for New Orleans but soon gave way to Spencer Rattler. While Rattler didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard, he did lead the Saints to within a point of victory. We were a missed two-point conversion away from Washington going down, but then we would have just made a larger issue of the clock management by the referees.
At this point, it’s clear that the Patriots are playing out the string, and that was evident this past week. Arizona was able to handle their visitors without much issue. Picking a previously reeling Cardinals team could have been dangerous, but things transpired exactly as expected.
While we expected that the Vikings would dispatch the Bears to close out the week, the expectation is that things would be closer. Instead, Minnesota dispatched Chicago and their rookie quarterback without issue.
The referees could have made us 3-1 this week, but each of those games ultimately went in the direction we expected.
Week 16 NFL Survivor Picks
We are now down 15 teams from our pool of options to work with this week. That doesn’t make things any easier, and we are now in an exciting part of the season. A fourth day of NFL excitement has now been added with two games upcoming Saturday. This forces you to potentially make a decision earlier than you would like, but you have to take what the schedule gives you.
Each week, we’ll continue to pick four games to target. Based on the available options, all games are truly on the table. Some are clearly more desirable, but there is no big favorite that I’m looking to fade. They will be ranked in order of our preference along with the lines that we hope to see building off each other each week. Let’s jump right into those survivor picks. Things are also becoming more difficult as some of our options have already been utilized. That means our first choice might not be necessarily available.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns – Bengals -8
Not only are the Browns on their third quarterback, but they are, once again without Nick Chubb. Unfortunately, Chubb is back on Injured Reserve, but this time with a foot injury. The switch at quarterback, to Dorian Thompson-Robinson was due to Jameis Winston’s struggles, but that doesn’t make things much better. Thompson-Robinson will potentially be without a top target in the injured David Njoku.
The Bengals have struggled defensively this season, but facing Cleveland provides a soft landing spot. Cleveland ranks just 30th with an average of 17.1 points per game and they are heading in the wrong direction. Cincinnati on the other hand continues to light up the scoreboard with 28.5 points per game. If this turns into a shootout, Thompson-Robinson won’t be able to keep with Joe Burrow.
Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants – 8.5
Going with a rookie starting quarterback making his debut seems risky. But then again, we are in Week 16 and the Giants are terrible. It looks like Tim Boyle might be back under center for a New York team that is unable to get anything done on either side of the ball.
If the Falcons were looking for a soft landing spot for Michael Penix, they certainly found it this week. Penix is stepping into a good situation with plenty of offensive weapons to work with. New York is allowing the 23rd most yards and 20th most points this season. Especially lately, the Giants haven’t shown the ability to stop anyone defensively. Atlanta has also struggled on that side of the ball, but can we really trust Boyle, or whoever starts under center for New York, to move the ball with any kind of consistency?
Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints – Packers -14.5
Playing in Lambeau Field is never an easy endeavor. When you December weather to that mix, it only becomes more difficult. When we then consider the fact that the Saints are a team used to playing half their games in a dome, and also in the NFC South, things get harder.
The assumption is that Spencer Rattler will be back under center for the Saints, but that shouldn’t matter here. Green Bay is ranked seventh in points scored and eighth in points allowed (27.1 and 20.5, respectively) which makes them a tough opponent on both sides of the ball. Offensive weapons continue to drop for the Saints, and Alvin Kamara isn’t fully healthy either.
Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots – Bills -14.5
At this point, it only seems to be a matter of time until we see Jarrod Mayo back with Bill Belichick in college. The Bills have turned into an unstoppable force on both sides of the field. This is a situation where the Patriots really don’t have an avenue to success. Offensively, New England is ranked in both total yard (314) and points scored (17) while allowing 24 points per game. That doesn’t line up with a Buffalo team scoring 32 points per game. Drake Maye simply cannot be in a shootout with Josh Allen.
Line 1
Washington/Atlanta/Los Angeles Rams/Kansas City/Philadelphia/Baltimore/Detroit/Houston/Tampa Bay/Miami/Minnesota/Buffalo
Line 2
Houston/Washington/Baltimore/Kansas City/Buffalo/Minnesota/Denver/Detroit/Tampa Bay/Arizona/Green Bay
Line 3
Tampa Bay/Cincinnati/Denver/Baltimore/Kansas City/Houston/Detroit/Buffalo/Philadelphia/Washington/Atlanta
Line 4
Kansas City/Pittsburgh/Baltimore/Cincinnati
Make sure to check out all of our Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!