Evan Silva’s Matchups Update Log: Week 16

 

Evan Silva releases his full matchups column on Thursday nights. After that, news will break. This update log is the place to find his running takes on all the latest happenings around the NFL.

* Click here for the full Matchups Column

* Click here for the Matchups Homepage

 

December 24

 

* The Colts placed LG Quenton Nelson on the Covid list, where he joined RG Mark Glowinski. (Nelson is unvaccinated.) C Ryan Kelly (personal) has been ruled out, creating a cluster situation on Indy’s vaunted offensive line and making Jonathan Taylor‘s life more difficult ahead of Saturday’s bout with the Cardinals.

* NFL Network reported Friday that Tyler Huntley is expected to start in place of Lamar Jackson (ankle) against the Bengals after Jackson failed to practice all week. Huntley was Week 15’s No. 1 overall fantasy quarterback, and Baltimore-Cincinnati offers shootout potential with Joe Burrow in an enticing spot on the other side.

* As Gabriel Davis joined Cole Beasley on the Covid list on Friday — neither is vaccinated — the Bills will trot out Stefon Diggs as their No. 1 receiver against the Patriots, Emmanuel Sanders as No. 2, and Isaiah McKenzie as No. 3. McKenzie should play nearly 100% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps as Beasley’s replacement in the slot. Dawson Knox also receives a target-projection boost.

* The Bills are dealing with a Covid-cluster situation on the offensive line; LT Dion Dawkins, RG Jon Feliciano, and G/T Cody Ford are all on Covid-Reserve. I opened the week liking New England’s D/ST and like it even more now.

* The Patriots will definitely not have Rhamondre Stevenson (Covid) against the Bills, while Damien Harris (hamstring) and Brandon Bolden (knee) are both questionable after practice weeks. Bolden seems to be the surest Pats running back to face Buffalo. Behind them, J.J. Taylor is the next man up.

* The Patriots ruled out Nelson Agholor (concussion), while Kendrick Bourne remained on the Covid list as of Friday night. Jakobi Meyers, N’Keal Harry, and Gunner Olszewski project as New England’s three-receiver set against the Bills, although the Pats will almost certainly use more two-tight end packages featuring Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.

* Listed as doubtful due to knee and back injuries, Darren Waller will once again be replaced by Foster Moreau against the Broncos. In Weeks 14 and 15, Moreau combined to draw 15 targets and played 99% of Las Vegas’ offensive snaps.

* The Saints placed RT Ryan Ramczyk on the Covid list on Friday. He won’t play against the Dolphins on Monday. As LT Terron Armstead (knee) has yet to practice this week, rookie QB Ian Book is in danger of making his first NFL start missing both of the Saints’ starting offensive tackles. Upgrade Miami’s D/ST.

* The Saints placed rangy ILB Demario Davis on the Covid list on Friday. His absence upgrades Mike Gesicki‘s matchup.

* The Seahawks activated Tyler Lockett from the Covid list. At full health and facing a no-name Bears secondary, Lockett is a mouth-watering DFS-tournament play in Week 16.

* The Seahawks activated Travis Homer from the Covid list. His return threatens Rashaad Penny‘s already minimal passing-down role.

* The Browns activated Baker Mayfield off the Covid list and will start him at Green Bay. Jarvis Landry is also back from the Covid list. Unfortunately, LT Jedrick Wills, C J.C. Tretter, and reserve OG Drew Forbes remain on the Covid list, while RT Jack Conklin (patella tendon) is done for the year. The Packers’ D/ST is entirely playable.

* Miles Sanders missed practice all week with a reported quad injury but did not appear on Friday’s final injury report, indicating he is in no danger of missing Sunday’s bout with the Giants. I’m viewing Sanders as a locked-in RB1 starter in what sets up as incredibly run-friendly script. Sanders-plus-Philly’s D/ST is an enticing DFS-correlation play.

* Jalen Hurts (ankle) practiced fully on Friday and did not appear on the Eagles’ final injury report. He looks to be all systems go versus the lowly G-Men.

* Austin Ekeler (Covid) all but ruled himself out against the Texans on his fantasy show this week. Justin Jackson deserves to be the highest-owned player on Week 16’s DFS slate. But Keenan Allen also stands to benefit; when Ekeler missed Weeks 5-11 last season, Allen averaged over ten targets and hit paydirt six times in seven games.

* The Jets listed Jamison Crowder (calf) as doubtful with Corey Davis (core muscle surgery) and Elijah Moore (quad) done for the year. Against the Jaguars, I’d expect Gang Green’s top-three receivers to consist of Braxton Berrios, Denzel Mims, and Keelan Cole versus Jacksonville.