Booms, Busts, Battlestar Galactica: NFL Week 16

From left to right: Alvin Kamara, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Baker Mayfield

Getty Images, Warner Bros. Pictures, Cleveland Browns

For many of you, your championship week turned out like Wonder Woman 1984.

You were so hyped about enjoying it only to be left confused and disappointed as to what you were watching for a few hours this weekend.

While Diana's latest adventure flopped in the forum of popular opinion, some of your fantasy studs might have carried you to the pandemic peak of your league.

Here are biggest booms and busts of Week 16:


Booms

Alvin Kamara RB New Orleans Saints

The bedazzled-grilled back went full Drake, running in the six—six rushing touchdowns, that is. Kamara gave New Orleans one hell of a gift on Christmas day, gaining 172 total yards while finding pay dirt half a dozen times: the first time that has been accomplished since Gale Sayers did it in 1965.

If you have Kamara for a Week 17 final, you're looking at a tasty matchup with the Carolina Panthers, but he could be subbed out to save his legs for the playoffs.

Davante Adams WR Green Bay Packers

What more is there to say about Davante Adams? After an 11-reception, 142-yard and three-touchdown performance, he finds himself at the top of the fantasy wide receiver food chain with 341.80 points in PPR leagues.

Next on the dance card for the Packers are the rival Bears and with a first-round bye far from guaranteed, Adams could be leaned on one more week to secure it.

Stefon Diggs WR Buffalo Bills

Diggs treated the Stephon Gilmore-less Patriots like Sony punishing CDPR for releasing Cyberpunk 2077 unfinished. The league's most productive wideout in terms of catches and yards finished with 9 receptions, 145 yards and three scores.

With a No. 2 seed on the line against the Miami Dolphins next week, Diggs will probably be plying his trade at full speed to end the season.

Myles Gaskin RB Miami Dolphins

Talk about a return. After spending two weeks on the COVID reserve list, the Miami Dolphins' unheralded running back continued his quiet, but productive, season, gaining 169 total yards and two receiving touchdowns.

After pulling off a miracle in Las Vegas, the Dolphins face off against the Buffalo Bills in Week 17. With a playoff spot potentially on the line, they'll need every yard and every score he can provide.

Busts

Baker Mayfield QB Cleveland Browns

Against the lowly Jets, Baker Mayfield showed why people still have doubts he can carry the franchise, fumbling the ball twice and being held without a touchdown. To be fair, he was without four of his best receivers, but eight points against the third-worst passing defense heading into Week 16 is a tough sell.

With the Pittsburgh Steelers next on the schedule, Mayfield may have an even more difficult time to end the season.

Brandon Aiyuk WR San Francisco 49ers

Game script is a gamble for wide receivers and Brandon Aiyuk managers came up with snake eyes against Arizona on Saturday. With Jeff Wilson Jr. dominating the Cardinals on the ground and George Kittle drawing targets in his first game back from a foot injury, the rookie wideout was the odd man out, only getting two touches for 31 yards.

After being diagnosed with an injured ankle after the game, Aiyuk's productive first year is over, finishing with 60 receptions, 748 yards and seven total touchdowns.

Le'Veon Bell RB Kansas City Chiefs

It was supposed to be Le'Veon Bell's week with Clyde Edwards-Helaire out with multiple ailments, but the former bell-cow back couldn't turn back the clock as Kansas City's feature back, only gaining 39 total yards on eight touches.

Still, with the Chiefs securing a first-round bye, Bell may be leaned on if the team decides to rest its more critical offensive players.

Josh Jacobs RB Las Vegas Raiders

Jacobs managers were a victim of circumstance on Sunday, watching Jacobs purposefully go down before the end zone a few times in the final drive in order to bleed more time off of the clock. Of course, that effort was pointless as the Dolphins went into field goal range in less than 19 seconds to win against the Raiders and people who started the running back were left with 6.9 touchdown-less points and a whole lot of disappointment.

The Raiders are already out of the playoff picture but can at least end their season on a high note against the Broncos, who have been vulnerable against the run lately.

Terms & Conditions: 21+ and present in CO, IA, IL, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA or WV. New users only. Must wager in designated offer market. $10 first deposit required. $150 max bonus. See full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call: 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, IL, VA), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).