It’s Week 16, and precisely one team has clinched a playoff spot. If that doesn’t tell you how crazy this NFL season is, maybe the hundreds of absences due to COVID protocols will. I have never seen a year like this in my 20 years of fantasy football experience, and it makes things exciting every week. It makes it challenging, though, and I’m sick of having at least one player in every article that does not suit up. That’s something we simply can’t predict, but I’ll do my best to keep the good picks rolling in!

NOTE: In the consideration section, DraftKings price is first, and FanDuel price is second!

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The players below are ones I’m looking at for cash game considerations for Week 16:

Quarterbacks

DraftKings

Justin Herbert (LAC): $7,200, at HOU
This might sound crazy to say, but Herbert needs to be considered as the top quarterback off the board in next year’s season-long leagues. This season, the sophomore stud has taken his game to another level, scoring at least 24 DraftKings points in six of his last seven games. That sort of floor is a godsend for a cash game signal-caller, mainly since he’s the top-scoring player in fantasy in that span. This matchup is the icing on the cake, though, with Houston ranked 28th in yardage surrendered and 29th in points allowed.

Matthew Stafford (LAR): $6,700, at MIN
If you think Houston is a good matchup, wait until you hear this! This season, Minnesota surrenders the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, sitting 30th in yards surrendered. That’s a horrific sign against an offense like this, with Stafford scoring at least 23 DraftKings points in four straight fixtures. He’s done that damage with limited attempts, and it’s scary to think how big he’ll go in this potential shootout with the highest total of the week.

FanDuel

Patrick Mahomes (KC): $8,700, vs. PIT
Patty Mahomes is having the worst season of his career, but it’s still nothing to cry about. The former MVP averages 22 FanDuel points per game, dropping 31 fantasy points in his Week 15 gem. That’s the stud we know and love, with Mahomes slinging all over the field. Facing the Steelers sounds scary because of past Pittsburgh defenses, but they currently rank 27th in yardage surrendered. With all that said, we’d probably stay away if Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce remain in COVID protocols.

Lamar Jackson (BAL): $7,800, at CIN
There’s a chance that Lamar will sit again, but if that’s the case, we love Tyler Huntley at $7,500. We adore either guy because of this matchup, with the Bengals allowing the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. That’s excellent news, with Huntley dropping 36 FD points in Week 16 and Jackson providing 20-point games at ease. It’s the rushing floor that makes both of these guys such good cash game plays, guaranteeing each of them for 15-20 fantasy points on a bad day.

In Consideration: Russell Wilson (SEA): $6,100/$7,500, vs. CHI

Running Backs

DraftKings

James Robinson (JAX): $5,900, at NYJ
This price made my jaw drop. Jacksonville showed us in the first game without Urban Meyer that Robinson is their go-to guy, leading the way with 18 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. He also threw in three catches for good measure, and that’s the stud we saw for most of last season. All of that makes him impossible to fade in this pristine matchup, with the Jets surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing backs.

Ronald Jones (TB): $5,100, at CAR
Talk about a jaw-dropping price. It’s clear that DK didn’t know about Leonard Fournette when this price was dropped because RJ should be a $7K player in this role. He’s going to step into the Lenny role at ease, guaranteeing him for 15-25 carries and 3-7 targets. We say that because Giovani Bernard is out as well, putting him in line for 100 percent of the team’s snaps. He was a stud in that role last season, averaging 19 carries for 120 yards in the five games he played at least 36 snaps. Tampa also enters this matchup as a double-digit favorite, making it even more likely that RJ will see 20-plus carries.

FanDuel

Cordarelle Patterson (ATL): $7,200, vs. DET
Detroit has one of the worst defenses in the NFL, ranked 28th in rushing yards allowed and 29th in total defense. All of that has led to some monster performances from many of their opponents, and we have to believe Patterson is in line for a masterpiece against them. Despite posting a dud in Week 15, Cordarrelle had at least 11 FanDuel points in 10 of his previous 11 games en route to a 17-point average. That was a Top-5 total in that span, and it’s hard to understand why he’s not closer to $8K in such a tasty situation.

Ronald Jones (TB): $5,100, at CAR
Everything we said in the DraftKings write-up abides here. I never use the same guy, but Jones is that good of a play!

In Consideration: Austin Ekeler (LAC): $8,100/$9,400, at HOU

Wide Receivers

DraftKings

Keenan Allen (LAC): $7,700, at HOU
This guy is incredible. In five of his last six games, Allen has at least 10 targets, scoring at least 16 DK points in seven straight outings. That’s the consistency you need from a cash game player, and he’s a great pairing with Herbert. The matchup only makes him more enticing, with the Texans ranked 28th in yardage surrendered. As long as Allen gets the double-digit targets that he regularly does, he should be in line for another 15-plus fantasy points.

Antonio Brown (TB): $4,900, at CAR
Man, if the Jones price was tasty, this AB price is delicious. This former Pro Bowler was fourth at the position with 20.3 DK points per game before his suspension, and he’s in for a monster role here. Tampa is expected to be without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, leaving AB to feast. That means 10-15 targets should be a breeze, making Brown the best value on the board below $5,000.

FanDuel

Cooper Kupp (LAR): $9,800, at MIN
Not much needs to be said here with Kupp. This guy is leading all position players with 21.5 FD points per game, leading the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Only a handful of guys have done that in NFL history, and it’s a testament to how good this guy is. Getting to face a subpar Vikings secondary only adds to his intrigue, with Kupp scoring at least 13 FD points in all but one game this season.

Diontae Johnson (PIT): $7,400, at KC
DJ just had a dud in Week 15, but this man was cruising before that. In fact, Johnson had double-digit targets in all but two games before that, averaging 15 fantasy points per game. This game script has shootout written all over it against Kansas City, with Pittsburgh needing to throw a ton to stay in this game. That means Johnson should see 10-plus targets again, making him tough to fade with the Chiefs owning a 19th OPRK against opposing receivers.

In Consideration: Hunter Renfrow (LV): $6,800/$7,100, vs. DEN

Tight Ends

DraftKings

Rob Gronkowski (TB): $6,200, at CAR
Gronk is easily the best tight end play on this slate. He was already third at the position with 14.6 DK points per game, but it’s scary to think how many targets he’ll receive with Godwin and Evans both expected to miss this game. We believe double-digits are in play, and that makes Gronk a smash play at just $6,200, with his touchdown upside as well.

FanDuel

Mark Andrews (BAL): $8,000, vs. CIN
Andrews is the top-scoring tight end in football right now, and it really doesn’t matter who’s throwing him the ball. The stud tight end has at least eight targets in six straight games, combining for an absurd 53.6 FanDuel points per game over the last two outings. All of that makes him the best option on every slate, but we certainly don’t mind that Cincy surrenders the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends either.

In Consideration: Travis Kelce (KC): $7,300/$7,800, vs. PIT

Defense/Special Teams

DraftKings

Seattle Seahawks D/ST: $3,000, vs. CHI
You know why this is a good play if you just watched the Monday Night meltdown that I did. Chicago looked like an NCAA team, making mistake after mistake against a terrible Vikings defense. That makes Seattle an easy choice here, entering this matchup as a 7.5-point favorite in a game with a 43-point total. That means Chicago is projected for only 18 points, which is actually north of their pitiful season average.

FanDuel

Tampa Bay Buccaneers D/ST: $4,700, at CAR
Tampa is the highest-priced D/ST on DK by a significant margin, but they sit third in terms of pricing on FanDuel. That alone makes them a good value, entering this matchup as a 10.5-point favorite in a game with a 44-point total. That’s far from surprising, with Carolina scoring 21 or fewer points in seven of their last eight games. The Bucs defense knows they’re going to have to step up with this shorthanded offense, and ranking third in fantasy points scored is a good indicator that they’re going to get some sacks and turnovers here as well. Carolina’s only stretch is running the ball, and this happens to be the best run defense in the NFL.

In Consideration: Philadephia Eagles D/ST: $3,600/$5,000, vs. NYG

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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.