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Week 16 will be a long one for fans, especially those hoping to win a fantasy football championship.
The action begins Thursday as usual, but most of the weekend slate will take place on Saturday thanks to Christmas. However, there are still two big games taking place on Sunday followed by a usual Monday night battle, leaving a lot of time for stat-watching throughout the week.
You mostly want to play your studs at this stage of the season, trusting the men who got you to this point. However, there are still a few tweaks available that could be the difference in bringing home a trophy.
Here are the latest rankings by position for Week 16.
Quarterbacks
Even the best quarterbacks haven't been trustworthy on a consistent basis this season. Tom Brady was effectively shut down by the Denver Broncos, while Aaron Rodgers also couldn't find the end zone against the Chicago Bears.
Michael Fabiano of NFL.com summed up the surprising week:
These players likely don't care much since they helped their teams to wins, but those in the fantasy playoffs were certainly affected.
If you survived, however, you still want to go back to the ones you can trust the most. Drew Brees showed exactly why, following up two miserable outings (no touchdowns and six interceptions combined in Weeks 13 and 14) with four touchdowns and 389 yards in Week 15.
Although the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense has played extremely well lately, Brees is capable of putting up a quality performance and should remain in your lineup, just like Brady and Rodgers.
Marcus Mariota has been a bit more of a question mark after failing to reach the end zone in consecutive games, although a lot has to do with the game plan and a pair of tough opponents. While the Jacksonville Jaguars have fared surprisingly well against the pass this season, Mariota should be able to bounce back with a strong effort for fantasy teams.
Running Backs
Touchdown vultures like Robert Turbin, Derrick Henry and Mike Gillislee might have affected some leagues, but otherwise, Week 15 was a good one for the top running backs in the league.
Ezekiel Elliott and LeSean McCoy both had huge games, David Johnson scored 22 points in standard leagues in a "quiet" game, and Le'Veon Bell battled his way to 131 yards from scrimmage in one of his worst games. These four players can be trusted in any league and in any matchup as long as they are healthy.
Devonta Freeman also re-established himself as a top option, although the big riser of the week is Ty Montgomery. The former receiver showcased his dynamic ability earlier in the season but struggled to get touches over the past month.
That wasn't a problem Sunday, as Montgomery finished with 162 rushing yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns.
Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus showed how good the individual effort was against the Bears:
The Minnesota Vikings defense isn't as scary as it was earlier in the season, making Montgomery a must-start in most fantasy leagues.
Todd Gurley is a tougher call after an extremely disappointing year, but facing the miserable San Francisco 49ers run defense could be a chance to make up for it. Just about everyone has torched this unit in 2016, and Gurley might finally be able to break the 100-yard mark.
Dion Lewis could also be a player to watch after earning 18 carries in Week 15, although touchdowns might be difficult to find with LeGarrette Blount on the roster.
Wide Receivers
Brandin Cooks was the star of the week with seven catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns, although that doesn't necessarily put him on the top of the list going forward.
Consistency is a major problem for Cooks, who hadn't scored a touchdown since Week 10 before Sunday. Michael Thomas and Willie Snead have taken away targets at times, and any of them could have a big game on a given day.
Even Saints coach Sean Payton admitted the team is tough to trust.
"All those guys, you just don’t know sometimes where those plays are gonna go, really," the coach said, per Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. "And that’s the truth."
Still, Cooks possesses the most upside of the bunch and is worth keeping in your lineup. You certainly don't want to complain about leaving him on your bench when he puts up numbers like he did Sunday.
Taylor Gabriel also continues his rise with another touchdown Sunday, his sixth in the last seven games. Whether Julio Jones returns to the lineup or not, Gabriel has proved himself as a valuable weapon in a high-powered offense.
Finally, Alshon Jeffery can safely be placed back onto your roster after catching six passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in his first game back from suspension.
Tight Ends
Who knows what to expect at the tight end position this season?
Without a dominant player like Rob Gronkowski, the field has been mediocre at best. Every time it seems like someone can be trusted, they follow it up with a dud performance.
Travis Kelce has been the most consistent, despite only totaling 41 yards in Week 15. Prior to that, he had four straight weeks of at least 100 receiving yards. Although he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 8, he has been the best tight end in the league over the past month.
Zach Ertz is quickly climbing after averaging 90.3 receiving yards in the last three weeks. It took him a long time to get going this season, but the Philadelphia Eagles star is making an impact for fantasy teams at the right time.
Cameron Brate should also be in lineups after catching his fifth touchdown pass in his last eight games. He has earned a bigger role within the Buccaneers offense and now has a high enough floor to trust in a key week.
Defense/Special Teams
The New York Jets offense has been awful this season and hasn't fared much better with Bryce Petty under center. The Miami Dolphins forced four turnovers and then added to the big day with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown.
This unit will face the Patriots in Week 16, a team allowing the fewest points in the NFL this year at 16.6 points per game.
It's difficult to predict when defensive touchdowns will happen, but a great defense against one of the worst offenses in football represents a great chance to rack up some points for your fantasy team.
At the same time, the Dolphins remain a quality choice thanks to the opportunistic play over the past month of the season. Consistency is an issue, but the upside is as good as almost anyone.
Fans of defense will also love the AFC West battle between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. It wouldn't be all that surprising if both teams finish in single digits, making both teams a strong start this weekend.
Kickers
Justin Tucker has been the most consistent kicker in the NFL this season, and with the Ravens facing a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense, there could be a lot of long attempts available.
On the other side of the field, Chris Boswell will try to replicate his six-field-goal performance from Week 15. Considering these AFC North battles tend to be low-scoring affairs that are decided by just a few points, both kickers will probably be valuable in this one.
Players like Sebastian Janikowski and Matt Bryant also move near the top of the list thanks to their involvement in some of the best offenses in the NFL.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
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