Welcome to week 16. The graphs below summarize the projections from a variety of sources. This week’s summary includes projections from: CBS: CBS Average, NFL, FantasyPros, FantasySharks, ESPN, FFToday and FantasyFootballNerd. The data for this article was collected on 12/21/16. For more details on WR gold mining and how to interpret the graphs above, see Chad’s post explaining gold mining.

Projection Table

Projection Graphs Standard Leagues

RB

Standard Scoring League Running Backs

From the graph below notice that:

  • Bilal Powell, Kenneth Farrow, Tim Hightower, Justin Forsett and Derrick Henry are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Theo Riddick, Duke Johnson, Jalen Richard, Alfred Blue and Travaris Cadet are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Ezekiel Elliott, Melvin Gordon, Bilal Powell, Kenneth Farrow and Justin Forsett are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

WR

Standard Scoring League Wide Receiver

From the graph below notice that:

  • Rishard Matthews, Steve Smith, Chris Harper, Jamison Crowder and Ted Ginn are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Ty Montgomery, Tyreek Hill, Jeremy Maclin, Tavon Austin and DeVante Parker are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Mike Evans, Julian Edelman, Chris Harper, A.J. Green and Anquan Boldin are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

QB

Standard Scoring League Quarterback

From the graph below notice that:

  • Cam Newton, Tyrod Taylor, Philip Rivers, Sam Bradford and Trevor Siemian are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning and Robert Griffin are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Colin Kaepernick, Blake Bortles and Jared Goff are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

TE

Standard Scoring League Tight-End

From the graph below notice that:

  • Tyler Eifert, Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz, Jack Doyle and Jermaine Gresham are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • C.J. Fiedorowicz, Charles Clay, Jared Cook, Garrett Celek and Clive Walford are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph, Martellus Bennett, Hunter Henry and Ladarius Green are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

Projection Graphs Point-per-Reception Leagues

RB

Point-per-Reception League Running Back Roundup

From the graph below notice that:

  • Melvin Gordon, Bilal Powell, Mark Ingram, Kenneth Farrow and Justin Forsett are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • T.J. Yeldon, Theo Riddick, Duke Johnson, Darren Sproles and Travaris Cadet are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, David Johnson, Melvin Gordon, Bilal Powell, Kenneth Farrow and Justin Forsett are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

WR

Point-per-Reception League Wide Receiver

From the graph below notice that:

  • Chris Harper, Stefon Diggs, Rishard Matthews, Jamison Crowder and Ted Ginn are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Brandin Cooks, DeAndre Hopkins, Ty Montgomery, Jeremy Maclin and Tavon Austin are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Mike Evans, Chris Harper, A.J. Green, Malcolm Mitchell and Ted Ginn are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

QB

Point-per-Reception League Quarterback

From the graph below notice that:

  • Cam Newton, Tyrod Taylor, Philip Rivers, Sam Bradford and Trevor Siemian are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning and Robert Griffin are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Colin Kaepernick, Blake Bortles and Jared Goff are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

TE

Point-per-Reception League Tight-End

From the graph below notice that:

  • Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, Tyler Eifert, Jermaine Gresham and Jack Doyle are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Jared Cook, Garrett Celek, Clive Walford, Mychal Rivera and Austin Seferian-Jenkins are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph, Martellus Bennett, Hunter Henry and Ladarius Green are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

Projection Graphs Half-Point-per-Reception Leagues

RB

Half-Point-per-Reception League Running Back Roundup

From the graph below notice that:

  • Melvin Gordon, Bilal Powell, Mark Ingram, Kenneth Farrow and Justin Forsett are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • T.J. Yeldon, Theo Riddick, Duke Johnson, Darren Sproles and Travaris Cadet are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, David Johnson, Melvin Gordon, Bilal Powell, Kenneth Farrow and Justin Forsett are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

WR

Half-Point-per-Reception League Wide Receiver

From the graph below notice that:

  • Chris Harper, Stefon Diggs, Rishard Matthews, Jamison Crowder and Ted Ginn are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Brandin Cooks, DeAndre Hopkins, Ty Montgomery, Jeremy Maclin and Tavon Austin are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Mike Evans, Chris Harper, A.J. Green, Malcolm Mitchell and Ted Ginn are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

QB

Half-Point-per-Reception League Quarterback

From the graph below notice that:

  • Cam Newton, Tyrod Taylor, Philip Rivers, Sam Bradford and Trevor Siemian are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning and Robert Griffin are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Colin Kaepernick, Blake Bortles and Jared Goff are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

TE

Half-Point-per-Reception League Tight-End

From the graph below notice that:

  • Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, Tyler Eifert, Jermaine Gresham and Jack Doyle are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Jared Cook, Garrett Celek, Clive Walford, Mychal Rivera and Austin Seferian-Jenkins are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph, Martellus Bennett, Hunter Henry and Ladarius Green are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

Projection Graphs Defense/Special Teams and Kickers

DST

Standard Scoring DST

From the graph below notice that:

  • Giants, Redskins, Rams, Bills and Browns are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Falcons and Colts are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, 49ers, Texans, Eagles, Rams and Bills are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.

K

Standard Scoring K

From the graph below notice that:

  • Stephen Gostkowski, Matt Bryant, Sebastian Janikowski, Nick Novak and Randy Bullock are the five players with the largest upside (as measured from their (pseudo)medians). For these players, some projections are placing much higher valuations than others. If you are projected to lose this week by quite a few points and are looking for a risky play that may tip the balance in your favor, these are players to consider.
  • Adam Vinatieri, Cairo Santos, Dan Carpenter, Brandon McManus and Connor Barth are the players with the smallest downside, which suggests that while their median projection might not be great, there is less uncertainty concerning how poorly they may perform. So, if you are likely to win by a lot and want to reduce your downside risk, these players may deserve extra attention.
  • On the other hand, Stephen Gostkowski, Sebastian Janikowski, Ryan Succop, Steven Hauschka and Matt Prater are the five players with the largest downside this week. If you are planning on starting them, it may be prudent to investigate why some projections have such low expectations for these players.