Week 16 Sits

Here are 5 players who present risk you may want to consider in Week 16… in two minutes or less.

RB: Travis Etienne (JAX) @ DEN

This is a dangerous week to trust Etienne’s box scores instead of how the production is actually coming together.

• He’s averaged under 4.0 yards per carry in six of his last seven games, with efficiency slipping post-bye

• His recent spike weeks have been touchdown-driven, including three receiving scores in Week 15

• Denver represents his toughest matchup of the season, a defense built to shut down early-down RBs

Volume keeps him playable most weeks, but against a Broncos front that punishes inefficiency, this is a spot where Etienne can quietly disappoint when you need him most.

RB: Ashton Jeanty (LV) vs. HOU

Jeanty’s role has been elite on paper all season, but the environment around him keeps getting worse.

• He hasn’t topped 3.5 yards per carry since Week 5, grinding out inefficient rushing lines

• The Raiders’ offense has repeatedly collapsed into low-play, negative game scripts

• Houston is one of the few defenses tougher than Philadelphia, who just held Vegas to 75 total yards in Week 15

Jeanty’s workload keeps him afloat, but against Houston, this feels like another volume-without-reward performance that can sink a semifinal.

WR: Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) @ DEN

Thomas’ recent lines look passable, but the usage trend underneath is still troubling.

• His four catches last week were his most since Week 6

• He continues to trail Jakobi Meyers and Brenton Strange in consistent involvement

• Denver has consistently erased explosive plays, which is where Thomas needs to win

This is the exact type of matchup where “pretty good” turns into “not enough,” and that’s a risk you don’t need to take with your season on the line.

WR: George Pickens (DAL) vs. LAC

Pickens’ volatility has crossed from uncomfortable into dangerous at the worst possible time.

• His effort and route commitment were openly questioned in back-to-back weeks

• He’s coming off just 33 yards on six targets, with visible lapses on film

• The Chargers are among the league’s best at limiting wide receiver fantasy output

When trust becomes the issue, not talent, that’s when you step away. One quiet half can end a season, and Pickens brings that risk this week.

TE: Theo Johnson (NYG) vs. MIN

Johnson’s recent yardage masks how thin his margin for error really is.

• He hasn’t scored since early November, despite steady snaps

• His targets fluctuate week to week in an offense that struggles to sustain drives

• Minnesota profiles as a difficult matchup through the air, especially for tight ends

Johnson has been usable at times, but in a win-or-go-home semifinal, this is not the profile to gamble on hoping for a touchdown.

So that’s the list. Think twice before keeping these players in your lineups, if you can! … as promised, in 2 minutes or less.

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See you tomorrow,

-Joe

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