Week 16 Fantasy Football Strategy | Hank’s Bank

By Henry John | Apr 15, 2023, 9:44am

It’s Championship Weekend in fantasy football! Congrats to those who have made it to the finals and good luck as you try to bring home all the glory. Hank’s Bank is locked and loaded for one final time here in Week 16 to close out the 2020 fantasy season. Hopefully, the fantasy football strategy and advice we’ve provided on a weekly basis has helped you notch a win or two this season. Let’s do it one more time and bring home a championship, shall we? BANK THAT!

Oh, and I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year ahead!

Contents

Hank’s Bank Vocabulary Key

Cash: Start
Deposit: Bench
Asset: Trade Target
Transfer: Trade Away
Invest: Free Agent Acquisition
Loan: Weekly Streamer

Week 16 Banking

Cash: Le’Veon Bell | RB | Kansas City Chiefs

It’s been a while since fantasy managers could plug Le’Veon Bell into their starting lineups without much doubt. Heck, it’s been a while since fantasy football strategy would’ve recommended Bell as deserving of a roster spot outside of deeper leagues. That all changed this week when it was announced that rookie Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be out for the remainder of the regular season after suffering an ankle injury last week.

Bell is the next man up in the backfield of the most potent offense in the NFL. He did well last week after Edwards-Helaire went down, posting 79 yards on 14 carries. While the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City’s Week 16 opponent, have actually been tough on opposing fantasy running backs, the Chiefs are a different animal. Bell is in line for plenty of touches both on the ground and as the multi-faceted pass-catching back that he is. Yes, this is 2020 we’re talking about here, not 2017. And yes, Le’Veon Bell could help propel you to a fantasy championship.

Cash: Rashard Higgins | WR | Cleveland Browns

Baker Mayfield and the entire Browns offense around him have ironically been playing better since star wideout Odell Beckham Jr. was lost for the season to injury. While the surge in fantasy production from Jarvis Landry is far more noteworthy, Rashard Higgins has been quietly producing on a weekly basis as well. In last week’s game against the New York Giants, Higgins hauled in four of five targets for 76 yards. This came after back-to-back six-reception weeks with a touchdown in each game to boot.

Next up for Higgins and the Browns is another road game at MetLife Stadium against New York’s other team, the Jets. The matchup is promising for Cleveland pass-catchers, as the Jets have allowed the seventh-most PPR fantasy points per game (FPPG) to opposing WRs (40.88). What’s more, New York is actually sneaky decent at bottling up opposing rushing attacks. The Browns will need to air it out to win, making Higgins an excellent fantasy football strategy play as you try to bring home the gold.

Deposit: D.J. Chark Jr. | WR | Jascksonville Jaguars

Even with Gardner Minshew reclaiming the reigns as the Jaguars starting QB, this just continues to be a lost fantasy season for D.J. Chark. In a game where the Jags were never in it, Chark only mustered four catches for 53 yards against Baltimore last week. The output came on five total targets, which was actually one of the lower target shares Chark has seen all season. But despite getting plenty of looks, reliable fantasy production has been few and far between.

Chark has just one game with over 100 receiving yards all season and has also only reached paydirt four times. If he wasn’t able to solve the Ravens’ secondary, Chark figures to be in for another disappointing effort against a Chicago Bears defense that surrenders only 32.14 FPPG to opposing WRs, the fifth-best mark in the NFL. Chark is a sit with fantasy championships on the line. With the health of James Robinson also up in the air, you’d be hard-pressed to comfortably start and Jacksonville players this week.

Deposit: James Conner | RB | Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers The ship has sailed when it comes to the offseason hype train surrounding Steelers running back James Conner. Injuries and inefficiency have been common themes throughout 2020 for the fourth-year pro. Prudent champ week fantasy football strategy involves as little Pittsburgh players in starting lineups as possible.

In addition to poor performances when on the field, part of a reeling Steelers offense as a whole, Conner has been battling various injuries over the course of the season as well. As he deals with a quad injury this week, he does appear likely to play on Sunday against Indianapolis after practicing in full on Thursday. The Colts defense is middle of the pack in terms of FPTS allowed to RBs, but with Benny Snell Jr. also in the mix for some touches, I want nothing to do with any Pittsburgh backs with first place at stake.

Invest/Sneaky Cash: Chad Hansen | WR | Houston Texans

Houston Texans If you are in a deeper league or just looking to make the ultimate fantasy football strategy call on your way to winning a league title, Texans wideout Chad Hansen (4.9% ownership in ESPN leagues) could very well be your guy.

Since being elevated to the active roster following Will Fuller’s suspension, Hansen has had a solid fantasy showing in every game. After seeing seven targets each in Weeks 13 and 14, Hansen salvaged a three-target day last week by converting the looks into 55 yards and a score. QB Deshaun Watson is capable of making even no-name receivers’ fantasy relevant. While he is third in the official pecking order behind Brandin Cooks and Keke Coutee, Hansen’s production over the last three weeks speaks for itself. So, how gutsy are you feelin’?

Loan: Los Angeles Chargers D/ST

Los Angeles Chargers The Chargers’ defense has struggled to stop anyone this season, let alone be fantasy relevant. Their struggles are evidenced in a 26.4% ownership in ESPN leagues. But poor season aside, the matchup is enticing for those in need of a defensive streamer to help bring home a fantasy championship. The Denver Broncos allow the second-most FPPG to opposing defenses, behind only the Jets. With Drew Lock prone to making mistakes, defenses have been able to cash in when matched up against Denver all season.

One other fantasy football strategy angle to consider is that in the first meeting between the AFC West rivals this year, Los Angeles held Denver to just 10 points through the first three quarters. The fourth quarter (and game) may have ultimately gotten away from the Bolts there, but I highly doubt they let that happen again.

Henry John

Henry is pursuing a Communication Studies degree and a Psychology minor at SUNY University at Buffalo. He has been a passionate sports fan from a young age and got hisstart writing about Fantasy Football. In an effort to combine an aspect of specialization along with his enjoyment of any and all sports, Henry expanded to cover other Fantasy Sports while also foraying into the Sports Betting sector. He continues to relish every opportunity to learn, grow and network within the industry. He counts the New York Jets, Toronto Raptors, Vegas Golden Knights and San Diego Padres among his team loyalties. In addition to school and sports, Henry is passionate about health and fitness and is currently studying to earn certification as a personal trainer.