This article is part of our FantasyDraft NFL series.
Each week, RotoWire provides picks and values for FantasyDrafts lineups. Users have a salary cap of $100,000 to select a lineup comprised of one quarterback, two running backs, two receivers, a tight end, two flex spots and one defense. The scoring is standard point-per-reception.
To roster some top-tier players in tournaments or in cash game lineups, you need some lower-priced sleeper options with upside. That's what we aim to bring you in this column.
Here are our fantasy football value picks for Week 16 on FantasyDraft.
QUARTERBACK
Ben Roethlisberger, $12,700 vs. BAL
While not exactly a sleeper, Roethlisberger's play has far outpaced his price. Cam Newton and Tom Brady are the two highest priced quarterbacks this week at $14,1000, but one averages 26.22 FPts/G while the other averages 25.52 FPts/G. Roethlisberger has scored more than 27 FPts in four of his last five games, but he's the seventh quarterback listed at $1,400 cheaper. He will also be playing a division game against a terrible Ravens pass defense (25th in limiting production to opposing quarterbacks) that the Steelers need to win in order to maintain their place in the playoff race.
Blake Bortles, $12,300 vs. NO
Bortles is in this space for the second week in a row, because he continues to provide elite quarterback production but at a lower price point. He has now scored 25 or more fantasy points in four straight games, including a 35.78 FPts effort in Week 13, and he faces the absolute worst passing defense in the NFL in the Saints (32nd in NFL at limiting production to opposing quarterbacks).
RUNNING BACK
David Johnson, $10,900 vs. GB
Johnson has produced elite numbers since taking over as the Cardinals' starter three weeks ago, boasting three straight games over 17 FPts including last week's 47.9 FPts detonation against the Eagles. While his matchup this week is more challenging than Philadelphia, Johnson has established himself as one of the most reliable options out there in a league in which injuries to top running backs have seriously depleted the options.
Denard Robinson, $10,100 vs. NO
With T.J. Yeldon out again due to injury, Robinson mans the helm for the Jaguars against a weak Saints defense. Robinson can do it on the ground like he did against the Colts two weeks ago (14 rushes, 75 yards and a touchdown) or he can do it through the air like he did against the Falcons last week (eight receptions, 46 yards). This double-threat makes him a strong play this weekend against a Saints defense that is dead last in the NFL in production allowed to opposing running backs.
WIDE RECEIVER
Martavis Bryant, $10,600 vs BAL
While teammate Antonio Brown deservedly gets crazy attention for the Steelers (Brown has by-far the highest expected value in the league this week), Bryant has quietly put together a spectacular season. He has at least 85 receiving yards or a touchdown in five of his last six games, and has scored double-digit fantasy points in all six of those outings. He is coming off of a 10-catch performance for 18.7 FPts against the No. 1 pass defense in the league--the Denver Broncos--just a few weeks after hanging 19 FPts on the No. 2 pass defense in the league, the Seattle Seahawks. This week he gets a weak Ravens pass defense that is 30th in the NFL in limiting production to opposing wide receivers.
Kamar Aiken, $10,600 vs. PIT
Aiken is a name that only a fantasy football player would know, having come from nowhere to take over as the go-to receiver for the Ravens once Steve Smith went down. He now has seven straight double-digit fantasy scoring efforts in a row, including a 29.8 FPts explosion against the Chiefs last week. This week Aiken will face a poor Steelers pass defense (32nd in NFL at production allowed to opposing wide receivers) in a game where the Ravens will almost certainly have to throw the ball a lot to try to keep up.
TIGHT END
Julius Thomas, $9,600 vs. NO
Continuing the theme of Jaguars against the Saints, Thomas makes for a strong play this week. He has scored 9.5 or more FPts in five straight games, a stretch in which he has averaged 16.6 FPts/G. The Saints are dead last in the NFL at limiting production to opposing tight ends, giving Thomas the best matchup among the upper tier of tight ends this week.
DEFENSE
Denver Broncos, $6,600 vs. CIN
The Broncos are the No. 1 defense in the game, averaging 11.78 FPts/G. However, they come in as the fifth highest-priced defense this week, $1,800 less expensive than the Chiefs. Presumably, this is because the Bengals are one of the better offenses in the league. However, the Bengals are without starting quarterback Andy Dalton, and in his NFL debut as a starter last week AJ McCarron was only able to manage 192 passing yards against the lowly 49ers. And what McCarron lacks seemed to manifest itself on the running game as well, as the Bengals only managed 68 rushing yards as a team against the 49ers then-worst ranked rushing defense. Unless there is vast improvement this week, the Bengals' offense should struggle against an elite unit like the Broncos.
