Fantasy Football Booms and Busts for Week 16

It’s Championship Weekend for most, meaning that it’s all the more crucial to make the right start. And in order to help you do so, here’s Pro Football 101’s Week 16 fantasy booms and busts.

Booms

1. QB Drew Brees vs. Detroit Lions. It is our belief that, with the season lost for the Saints, Drew Brees will still try and surpass Dan Marino’s all-time NFL passing yardage in a season mark of 5,048.

He’s still a little over 700 yards away. And since we’ve all seen 350-400 yard games out of him this season, look for another when they face the lowly Lions.

2. RB Steve Slaton vs. Oakland Raiders. Holes can be found in the interior of the Raiders’ defense that are large enough to drive a truck though. All of Oakland’s offseason money went to the secondary; after watching them play the run, perhaps it should’ve went to the defensive line.

Slaton is on fire of late—averaging over 20 carries per game and eclipsing the 100 yard mark in his last three starts. After Sunday, it’ll be four.

3. WR Calvin Johnson vs. New Orleans Saints. What Johnson has done this year might be unprecedented. Playing with zero talent around him, he is single-handedly beating double and triple coverage and has scored 10 TDs on the season.

On Sunday, in what should be a high-scoring affair, look for TD No. 11 to come and a lot of yards to go with it.

Busts

1. Tony Romo vs. Baltimore Ravens. Romo is still nursing a back injury which he received on a sack in the Giants game, and in come the angry Ravens after a heartbreaking loss to the Steelers.

With no threat of a running game to contend with, look for the Ravens to apply consistent pressure on Romo and for Ed Reed and the secondary to be opportunistic on a few errant throws.

2. Michael Turner vs. Minnesota Vikings. Even without one-half of the Williams’ twins (Pat is out for two to six weeks with an injury), the Vikings are still a beast to run against. The front seven is excellent at shedding blocks and getting a push against the offensive line, and that’s why we think Atlanta will come out attacking through the air.

3. Derrick Mason vs. Dallas Cowboys. Mason has quietly become Joe Flacco’s favorite passing target, but on Saturday, we advise you to look elsewhere. A big reason for the resurgence in the Cowboys’ defense is the play of now healthy Terence Newman.

The guy is a stud. Two weeks ago, he limited Hines Ward to one catch and two yards and last week he blanketed Giants’ receiver Domenik Hixon. He’ll do the same to Mason this week.