Trending Wide Receivers and Running Backs- Week 16

The time has come and there will be no tomorrow. Fantasy football championship week is upon us, and setting that lineup to perfection will be paramount one last time.

This season has seen a great deal of ups-and-downs teamed with ample amounts of injury. While even top players haven’t been immune to lackluster performances this season, we continue to be unbiased in our opinions of evaluation. Let’s review the championship week version of trending players as we look to hoist that coveted fantasy trophy and title! Good Luck!

Trending Up

Saquon Barkley (NYG)

While the Giants Saquon Barkley has been rather uneven this season, the return of Eli Manning behind center is the most welcomed sight to this running back. Even though Manning is still as inconsistent with the ball as in the past, opposing defenses seem to account for the pass more than with Daniel Jones throwing the ball. First of all, the target share will naturally increase for Barkley with Manning, simply because he loves the check down - this alone lifts the value. Barkley secured his first 100-yard rushing day last week since week two, and has yet another great matchup on the horizon.

It truly is incredible to witness the change in approach between both quarterbacks in relation to how Barkley is used. Nevertheless, Manning is looking to be on his retirement tour playing the last games of his career, which will lift the offense as a whole. Barkley has been a disappointment this season overall, but he will finish strong. Value is trending way up for the fantasy championship contest here.

Courtland Sutton (DEN)

For where you would’ve secured his services in this past years fantasy draft, Courtland Sutton has been rather steady for most of the season. While elevating his play on greater matchups was a welcomed sight, Sutton still managed to fill the stat column in the worst of situations. As Denver has continued to rotate quarterbacks like a revolving door once again, they may have found traction with rookie Drew Lock, which will bring with it more shots of Sutton.

With the installment of Lock behind center, it appears that Sutton hasn’t been the primary focus outside of that week 13 contest. Heading into championship weekend, the Broncos return home verse the lowly Detroit Lions which has our mouths watering. If ever you needed a player to grace the uptrend from Denver this season, this will be the week it all comes to fruition. Becoming a steady earner with some level of drop off this season, it will pay dividends this week. Sutton is a high riser at the position for week 16.

Adrian Peterson (WAS)

At this point, the Redskins Adrian Peterson is like that car you own that has been extremely dependable, but you continue to look for an upgrade. With the injury to Derrius Guice once again, Washington has turned back to old reliable in hopes to travel long miles without a breakdown. All jokes aside, Peterson again is proving to be that trusted fantasy player we all require when it comes to the most important time of the season. With this offense trying to understand what they have in rookie Dwayne Haskins, Peterson is that relief valve.

Over the past three weeks, Peterson has averaged over 15-points per contest which is music to our ears this week. Holding a fantastic matchup against the Giants on championship weekend, the prospects of more glory is definitely on the docket. Never would’ve thought in 2019 that Adrian Peterson would help you lift a fantasy title, but here we are again.

Justin Watson (TB)

This uptrend has some speculation attached but we truly love the potential. With the fantasy community ready to pay big of the waiver to secure the services of Breshad Perriman, our belief is that Watson is the better trend and play. While we already knew that Mike Evans was lost for the season, the Buccaneers also lost Chris Godwin for the remaining two weeks. With the dynamics of this offense clearly shifting to Perriman being the top pass catcher in terms of depth, it also comes with greater coverage schemes and systems. 

Watson will be the overlooked receiver in this instance as this week’s opponent (the Texans) will key in on stopping Perriman from burning them deep. Watson will make his living as the safety net for Jameis Winston as there is no indication they will pull back on the passes. There is always one player in week 16 that goes under the radar but has a massive uptrend – Watson is that guy!

Trending Down

Dalvin Cook (MIN)

Are you surprised to see the Vikings Dalvin Cook on a list of trending down players, so are we! Dalvin Cook was our darling heading back to the beginning of the season as we truly believed he would be one of the best backs in all of football in 2019. While he hasn’t let us down, these past two weeks have been massively frustrating. Costing his owners the right to move on because of early exists in two of the last three weeks, the struggle is far from over for this man.

Once again we get word that Cook can play through this shoulder injury, but usage will be determined based on game flow. While we aren’t indicating any situation where you can sit Cook for the championship contest, we must highlight the potential pitfalls. Over the first 10-games of the season, Cook was averaging a whopping 22.94 PPR points per game. We now have seen that average plummet to the tune of 12.19 over the past four contests, you see the concern.

Cook rests on the down trend due to recent production and health issues, which will be the difference in your team winning or losing literally. We can only hope for the best here.       

Julian Edelman (NE)

While it appears we are witnessing the complete demise of the New England Patriots offense with a regressing Tom Brady, Julian Edelman has been the constant earner. Last week with a sound matchup, Edelman was clearly not himself as he was dealing with a number of injuries. Having provided one of his worst showings in years, we could suggest it was a sheer anomaly. However, facing the extremely stout Buffalo Bills defense while still nursing that hampered knee and shoulder, the prospects might be slim again.

New England hasn’t played meaningful football this late into the season in quite some time, and they will need the services of Edelman this week with potentially the division crown on the line. Needless to say, we fully expect Edelman to suit up again for this matchup, but we truly fear what type of productivity will be seen. We have no choice but to place this receiver on the down trend as the unknown is far too great in such an important week.    

Tevin Coleman (SF)

It really saddens us to once again place the 49ers Tevin Coleman on the down list as his role has become null and void at this point. Coach Kyle Shanahan has made no qualms about playing the hot hand which encourages competition and better play. Coleman clearly hasn’t been able to get it done these past several weeks, and with that comes limited fantasy value.

The interesting aspect to all this is that the 49ers find themselves in must win situations to claim that top seed from the Seahawks. This increased level of importance could reassert Coleman with a greater role, but it will be impossible to trust without recent proof. We have preached Coleman in high regard heading back to the offseason and he’s been uneven to call it right. Even if he shows-out and provides a good level of production, we can’t depend on him and place his trend as low.

Kenny Golladay (DET)

With Matthew Stafford behind center slinging the ball, Kenny Golladay was poised to be one of this year’s draft steals for return on investment. Now without Stafford since week nine, we have truly seen the culmination of such a promising fantasy season fall by the wayside.

While the thanksgiving showcase which inserted David Blough as the clubs starting quarterback, it appeared Golladay wouldn’t miss a step hauling in a healthy 158 yards and one touchdown. And while Golladay did follow that with another endzone trip the following game, last week brought with it giant alarm of what’s to come. Taking travel to Denver to face a still strong Broncos defense, Blough will have great struggles in getting his receiver the ball. Drafted with extremely high upside has falling to dreadful low trend for championship week.