5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 16

1. Top fantasy football pickups for Week 16 – Detroit Lions RB Craig Reynolds

Let’s go back to Detroit for our top pickup of the week, running back Craig Reynolds. An unheralded second-year man out of Kutztown, Reynolds surprisingly led the Lions’ backfield in Week 14 against Denver, turning 11 carries into 83 yards when presumed starter Jermar Jefferson was slowed by the flu.

The Lions made Reynolds their primary ball carrier again in Week 15 and he delivered a huge effort against the Arizona Cardinals, racking up 26 carries for 112 yards while adding a reception for another five yards. Reynolds dominated the workload in the Lions’ backfield as Jefferson earned just five carries for nine yards while Godwin Igwebuike turned four touches into just 11 yards.

There is every chance that Reynolds is the Lions’ top running back for the next few weeks with Jamaal Williams enduring a lengthy stint on the COVID list while there is no reason for Detroit to rush bellcow D’Andre Swift back from a shoulder injury. Even if one of them comes back in Week 16 there is every reason to believe Reynolds has earned a significant role going forward.

Few owners bought in on Reynolds after Week 14 as he entered Sunday’s game rostered in just 13 percent of Yahoo leagues. That number should skyrocket as Reynolds is a volume-based RB2 now that could be a potential league-winner if he maintains sole ownership of the Detroit backfield.