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FanDuel NFL: Week 16 lineup

By Joe D'Aloisio

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 16: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 23-0. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 16: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 23-0. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 16: Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings reaches out to catch the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 16: Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings reaches out to catch the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

Wide Receivers: Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings- $7,600

The Minnesota Vikings are back in the win column after dropping their previous two games. They defeated the Miami Dolphins 41-17 to improve to 7-6-1 and their playoff hopes are still alive. One player who struggled and has struggled as of late is Thielen.

In the victory, the wideout caught a season low two passes for 19 yards. Thielen started the season with eight straight games with at least 100 yards. Since then, he has only had eclipsed the 100-yard mark once.

Despite Thielen’s 10 receptions for 117 yards and one score over his last three games, the fifth year wide receiver is still second in the league with 105 receptions,  eighth in yards (1,255) and tied for seventh in the NFL with nine touchdowns.

Thielen and the Vikings take on the Detroit Lions in Week 16. In their first meeting the Lions limited the wideout to four receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown. The Lions have allowed wideouts to gather 2,308 yards and 17 touchdowns.

On average, opposing receivers are scoring 30.8 fantasy points per game. Minnesota’s offense score 40+ points for the first time this season under new offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski. Don’t let Thielen’s latest stretch scare you away from having him in your Week 16 lineup.

Alshon Jeffery, Philadelphia Eagles- $6,300

After losing to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14, the Eagles bounced back and took down the Los Angeles Rams, 30-23. The Eagles defeated arguably one of the best teams in the league with Nick Foles running the offense and with the help of Jeffery.

Jeffery’s caught a eight receptions for a season high 160 yards. He finished the evening with 20 fantasy points, despite not scoring a touchdown. The veteran wideout has finished with double digit fantasy points in consecutive games for the second time this season.

He has had three games with at least 20 fantasy points and five with at least 14 fantasy points. Outside of Zach Ertz, Jeffery’s leads the Philadelphia Eagles in every receiving category. If the Eagles want a chance at the postseason, Foles and Jeffery will need to be on the same page against the Houston Texans.

The Texans have given up 184 receptions for 2,416 yards and 12 touchdowns. Houston has done a great job keep opposing receivers out of the end zone, but they have given up the sixth most yards to the position group.

Jeffery’s has only played the Texans once in his career. In that matchup he caught four passes for 105 yards.

Robert Foster, Buffalo Bills- $6,000

Lastly, a receiver from the Buffalo Bills makes the Week 16 lineup because of his play as of late. Foster has played in 11 total games this year and has started in only two. His role in the offense has increased in his last five games.

He has played over 45% of the offensive snaps in his last five games, meanwhile he played above 45% only once in his first six games. Last week against the Detroit Lions, Foster caught four passes for 108 yards and one touchdown.

This was Foster’s second consecutive game with 100+ receiving yards. He has compiled over 100 yards in three of his last five games, which includes one game where he gained 94 yards. During that span he is averaging nearly 26 yards per reception. Foster leads the Bills with eight receptions over 20 yards.

In terms of fantasy numbers, Foster has had at least 12 fantasy points in four of his last five games. When the Bills are looking for a big play, Foster is the guy and he will have a chance to make big plays in Week 16’s matchup against the Patriots.

New England has surrendered 185 receptions for  2,279 yards and 16 touchdowns. On average they have allowed opposing receivers to score 30.2 fantasy points per game. They have given up a total of 422.8 fantasy points to the position group, which ranks amongst the middle of the NFL.

Buffalo has nothing to play for, but would love to have an impact on the Patriots’ seed come playoff time and it starts with getting Foster the ball.