Stars of Week 15

QB: Drew Brees, NO: 37-48, 389 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs

RB: Devonta Freeman, ATL: 20 carries, 139 yards, 3 TDs

WR: Brandin Cooks, NO: 7 catches, 186 yards, 2 TDs             

TE: Charles Clay, BUF: 7 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD

Saints players have posted strong numbers this season, but have also caused frustration for their owners due to their lack of weekly consistency. While Drew Brees has been a culprit of this, perhaps Brandin Cooks has been the poster child. This week if you started either player, you were rewarded handsomely. And if you happened to have both players in your lineup, you’re almost certainly advancing to next week’s games. The duo torched the Arizona Cardinals defense this past Sunday, and the Saints have taken steps to make noise for next year. But for that to happen, they will need to contend with the Atlanta Falcons and star running back Devonta Freeman. The second-year RB destroyed the 49ers, and could have run up more stats if the game hadn’t become a laugher early on. We’ll look at where Freeman figures to be drafted next season. Finally, Charles Clay won the honors for the top tight end this week with a solid performance against the winless Cleveland Browns.

Week 15 Special – Projection of First Two Rounds of 2017 FFL Draft 

Each week we’ve taken a close look at noteworthy performances and sorted out what they meant for the season and beyond. Having written about virtually every impactful player at this point, as hinted above I’m mixing it up this week and throwing in a way too early mock draft for 2017 – the first two rounds.

Round 1

Team 1: David Johnson

Team 2: Ezekiel Elliott

Team 3: Julio Jones

Team 4: Antonio Brown

Team 5: Le’Veon Bell

Team 6: Odell Beckham Jr.

Team 7: Mike Evans

Team 8: AJ Green

Team 9: DeAndre Hopkins

Team 10: Devonta Freeman

Team 11: Dez Bryant

Team 12: Todd Gurley

Comments: It will be interesting to see how the RB/WR dynamic sorts out at the top of fantasy drafts next year. I would have no problem with any rankings that place the top WRs ahead of the RBs, and perhaps my mind will change as well. Also speculating a bit here that the Texans improve their QB situation for Hopkins and the Rams bring in an offensive minded coach who inspires confidence in Gurley. We’ll see if that happens.

Round 2

Team 12: Sammy Watkins

Team 11: Spencer Ware

Team 10: Melvin Gordon

Team 9: Amari Cooper

Team 8: Rob Gronkowski

Team 7: DeMarco Murray

Team 6: Lamar Miller

Team 5: Allen Robinson

Team 4: LeSean McCoy

Team 3: Jordy Nelson

Team 2: Carlos Hyde

Team 1: Aaron Rodgers

Comments:   Where Rob Gronkowski gets drafted will be very interesting to see. Despite his detailed injury history, I still think he goes in the second round of most drafts – but that’s far from guaranteed. The Allen Robinson situation mirrors that of Gurley. I think it’s too early to take Aaron Rodgers, who should be the first QB taken next year, at the bottom of the second, but I bet that this is where he goes in many drafts. 

Rapid Fire Pickups 

Each week we throw out potential free agent pickups from each position, in each case 1) someone who has NOT been referenced above, and 2) a player available in most leagues.

QB: Matt Barkley, CHI

RB: Kenneth Dixon, BAL (somehow still available in nearly half of leagues)

RB: Dion Lewis, NE

WR: Tyler Lockett, SEA

WR: Dontrelle Inman, SD

TE: Charles Clay, BUF

Final Note 

As Week 16 serves as the championship week for most leagues, this will be my last write up for the 2016 season. Those of you who have your championship round next week, tweet me and I’ll give you my thoughts on who to start/sit. Thanks to all of you for a great year and for engaging with me on Twitter – it’s been great to connect with so many of you and to see you do so well in your leagues! And to those of you competing for titles – I’m pulling for you! Best of luck and talk soon.

Week 16 Rankings 

Quarterbacks:

1. Tom Brady, NE (vs NYJ)
2. Drew Brees, NO (vs TB)
3. Matt Ryan, ATL (at CAR)
4. Andrew Luck, IND (at OAK)
5. Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs MIN)
6. Philip Rivers, SD (at CLE)
7. Cam Newton, CAR (vs ATL)
8. Derek Carr, OAK (vs IND)
9. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (vs BAL)
10. Kirk Cousins, WAS (at CHI)
11. Jameis Winston, TB (at NO)
12. Russell Wilson, SEA (vs ARZ)
13. Marcus Mariota, TEN (at JAX)
14. Dak Prescott, DAL (vs DET)
15. Eli Manning, NYG (at PHI)
16. Tyrod Taylor, BUF (vs MIA)
17. Matthew Stafford, DET (at DAL)
18. Matt Barkley, CHI (vs WAS)
19. Colin Kaepernick, SF (at LA)
20. Joe Flacco, BAL (at PIT)

Running Backs:

1. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (vs DET)
2. Le'Veon Bell, PIT (vs BAL)
3. David Johnson, ARZ (at SEA)
4. LeSean McCoy, BUF (vs MIA)
5. DeMarco Murray, TEN (at JAX)
6. Jordan Howard, CHI (vs WAS)
7. Latavius Murray, OAK (vs IND)
8. Devonta Freeman, ATL (at CAR)
9. Todd Gurley, LA (vs SF)
10. LeGarrette Blount, NE (vs NYJ)
11. Lamar Miller, HOU (vs CIN)
12. Carlos Hyde, SF (at LA)
13. Jay Ajayi, MIA (at BUF)
14. Spencer Ware, KC (vs DEN)
15. Robert Kelley, WAS (at CHI)
16. Jeremy Hill, CIN (at HOU)
17. Frank Gore, IND (at OAK)
18. Thomas Rawls, SEA (vs ARZ)
19. Bilal Powell, NYJ (at NE)
20. Jonathan Stewart, CAR (vs ATL)
21. Ty Montgomery, GB (vs MIN)
22. Mark Ingram, NO (vs TB)
23. Doug Martin, TB (at NO)
24. Ryan Mathews, PHI (vs NYG)
25. Kenneth Farrow, SD (at CLE)
26. Isaiah Crowell, CLE (vs SD)
27. Tevin Coleman, ATL (at CAR)
28. Dion Lewis, NE (vs NYJ)
29. Kenneth Dixon, BAL (at PIT)
30. Rashad Jennings, NYG (at PHI)
31. Derrick Henry, TEN (at JAX)
32. Tim Hightower, NO (vs TB)
33. Adrian Peterson, MIN (at GB)
34. Terrance West, BAL (at PIT)
35. Justin Forsett, DEN (at KC)
36. T.J. Yeldon, JAX (vs TEN)
37. Dwayne Washington, DET (at DAL)
38. Chris Ivory, JAX (vs TEN)
39. Duke Johnson, CLE (vs SD)
40. Paul Perkins, NYG (at PHI)

Wide Receivers:

1. Antonio Brown, PIT (vs BAL)
2. Mike Evans, TB (at NO)
3. Odell Beckham Jr., NYG (at PHI)
4. T.Y. Hilton, IND (at OAK)
5. Jordy Nelson, GB (vs MIN)
6. Julio Jones, ATL (at CAR)
7. Dez Bryant, DAL (vs DET)
8. Julian Edelman, NE (vs NYJ)
9. Brandin Cooks, NO (vs TB)
10. Amari Cooper, OAK (vs IND)
11. Demaryius Thomas, DEN (at KC)
12. Michael Thomas, NO (vs TB)
13. Michael Crabtree, OAK (vs IND)
14. Doug Baldwin, SEA (vs ARZ)
15. Golden Tate, DET (at DAL)
16. Emmanuel Sanders, DEN (at KC)
17. Ty Montgomery, GB (vs MIN)
18. Tyrell Williams, SD (at CLE)
19. Davante Adams, GB (vs MIN)
20. DeAndre Hopkins, HOU (vs CIN)
21. Alshon Jeffery, CHI (vs WAS)
22. Jarvis Landry, MIA (at BUF)
23. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI (at SEA)
24. Dontrelle Inman, SD (at CLE)
25. DeSean Jackson, WAS (at CHI)
26. Rishard Matthews, TEN (at JAX)
27. Malcolm Mitchell, NE (vs NYJ)
28. Stefon Diggs, MIN (at GB
29. Kenny Britt, LA (vs SF)
30. Cameron Meredith, CHI (vs WAS)
31. Sammy Watkins, BUF (vs MIA)
32. Jamison Crowder, WAS (at CHI)
33. Tyreek Hill, KC (vs DEN)
34. A.J. Green, CIN (at HOU)
35. Allen Robinson, JAX (vs TEN)
36. Pierre Garcon, WAS (at CHI)
37. Steve Smith, BAL (at PIT)
38. Willie Snead, NO (vs TB)
39. Robby Anderson, NYJ (at NE)
40. Jordan Matthews, PHI (vs NYG) 

Tight End:

1. Greg Olsen, CAR (vs ATL)
2. Travis Kelce, KC (vs DEN)
3. Delanie Walker, TEN (at JAX)
4. Tyler Eifert, CIN (at HOU)
5. Cameron Brate, TB (at NO)
6. Jimmy Graham, SEA (vs ARZ)
7. Kyle Rudolph, MIN (at GB)
8. Zach Ertz, PHI (vs NYG)
9. Antonio Gates, SD (at CLE)
10. Jordan Reed, WAS (at CHI)
11. Eric Ebron, DET   at DAL
12. Martellus Bennett, NE (vs NYJ)
13. Jason Witten, DAL (vs DET)
14. Hunter Henry, SD (at CLE)
15. Vernon Davis, WAS (at CHI)
16. Jared Cook, GB (vs MIN)
17. Coby Fleener, NO (vs TB)
18. Charles Clay, BUF (vs MIA)
19. C.J. Fiedorowicz, HOU (vs CIN)
20. Lance Kendricks, LA (vs SF)

Defense/Special Teams:

1. New England Patriots (vs NYJ)
2. Seattle Seahawks (vs ARZ)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (vs DEN)
4. San Diego Chargers (at CLE)
5. Denver Broncos (at KC)
6. New York Giants (at PHI)
7. Green Bay Packers (vs MIN)
8. Tennessee Titans (at JAX)
9. Houston Texans (vs CIN)
10. Buffalo Bills (vs MIA)
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs BAL)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (at HOU)
13. Los Angeles Rams (vs SF)
14. Arizona Cardinals (at SEA)
15. Baltimore Ravens (at PIT)