Welcome to NFL Week 16 Hot Takes. This is your semi-final week in fantasy football, and things are getting really tense. Last week, from a fantasy perspective, was an all-timer, unless you were playing against just about anyone in the Los Angeles and Detroit game.
Hot Take #1
Rams Win NFC West
The Los Angeles Rams are playing on Thursday Night Football tonight! Against the Seattle Seahawks, seemingly for the division. This game is not a T-shirt and hat game, as they call it, but it surely feels like the case. The Rams are such a complete team, and the Seahawks are solid on offense, but inconsistent. They are truly great on defense, though. I would like to see if Seattle can come out with a more consistent approach on offense.
The Seattle Seahawks only scored one touchdown against the Rams last time they played, a little over a month ago, on November 16. This will not be enough as the Rams have the current NFL MVP in Matthew Stafford on their side. The running game is great with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum to switch up the pace, as well as their dominant passing game with Puka Nacua. They are most likely without veteran NFL Touchdown Leader this season, Davante Adams, after he fell during last week’s game against the Detroit Lions. This is an unfortunate blow to a team that has used him so effectively in the red zone. For Puka Nacua owners, this could be great for him as he could potentially be used in the red zone more. Colby Parkinson could also get more looks as he seems to be the best option at tight end for Los Angeles.
All in all, I think that if the Rams win tonight, the division is over. Technically, they would not clinch tonight, but it will all but be over. It is not necessarily a hot take to say that the Rams will clinch, but I do think they will blow out the Seahawks tonight, 34-17, and firmly plant themselves as Super Bowl Favorites.
Hot Take #2
Buccaneers Get Their Mojo Back
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started out the season 5-1, but with injuries and an inconsistent offense and defense, they are now a meager 7-7, fighting for their playoff life. Baker Mayfield has been injured just like every other offensive producer on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They play the Carolina Panthers this weekend for the division, most likely. They play each other twice over the next three weeks, and there is no secret that getting this first one will be a big deal for whoever wins the game.
The Buccaneers were a fantasy football wagon to start the year, and we have seen that production slowly dwindle as they land on IR or Bucky Irving‘s return gets pushed back 8 weeks in a row, but they are finally healthy, at least in regards to their offensive weapons. Mike Evans had a massive day in his return to the field against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football last week. He totaled 6 catches for 132 yards. Expect that trend to continue as their rapport has been built up over the last few years.
The Carolina Panthers are building something, and after we had thought Bryce Young may have been a terrible #1 overall pick, he is proving to be a QB that you can win with. They are building properly, too. They are in a classic case of the year before the year, and I think that the Buccaneers will win the division by winning both matchups over the next three weeks and will be a dangerous playoff team.
Hot Take #3
Texans Mercy Rule?
When I took a look at the schedule for this week, it must have slipped my mind that this game was happening because I saw it and thought that maybe the Houston Texans would mercy rule the Las Vegas Raiders. A 10-run game after four inning little league type of thing. If you watched the Las Vegas Raiders play football last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, you know how terrible that offense truly is. It is a shame, too, because they have two great players in Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty. The Raiders had 75 total yards. Now, the Eagles are a very good defense, but the Houston Texans are on another level. If you can start the Houston Texans defense this week, you definitely should, as it could boost you to the most important game of your fantasy season, the week 17 championship.
Jeanty is borderline unstartable if Kenny Pickett plays. I am not sure how to say this, but Geno Smith might be a better option, even though he has been dreadful to this point in the year. It was not quite as bad as Pickett in week 15. Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll had said that Smith may play, and I think that will serve Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty fantasy owners well this week, especially against this daunting Houston defense.
