Welcome to week 16!

Custom gold-mining charts (that are specific to your league settings) are now available in our app. They are calculated slightly differently -using the top and bottom deciles for the error bars instead of the pseudomedian confidence interval. Visit our app and set up an account to input your league settings.

The graphs below summarize the projections from a variety of sources. This week’s summary includes projections from: CBS: CBS Average, Yahoo Sports, ESPN, NFL, NumberFire, FantasyPros, FantasySharks, FFToday, FleaFlicker and FantasyFootballNerd. The data for this article was collected on 12/21/18. 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:

  • Kalen Ballage, Damien Williams, Jaylen Samuels, Spencer Ware and James Conner 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.
  • Saquon Barkley, Jordan Howard, Rex Burkhead, Giovani Bernard and Chase Edmonds 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, Damien Williams, Matt Breida, Jaylen Samuels, Spencer Ware and James Conner 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:

  • Julio Jones, T.Y. Hilton, Tyler Lockett, Kenny Golladay and Dante Pettis 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.
  • Julian Edelman, Larry Fitzgerald, Jordy Nelson, Tyrell Williams and Josh Doctson 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, Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, Tyler Boyd, Robert Foster and Chris Hogan 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:

  • Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, Eli Manning and Taylor Heinicke 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.
  • Andrew Luck, Kirk Cousins, Josh Allen, Nick Foles and Nick Mullens 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, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Marcus Mariota, Taylor Heinicke and Ryan Tannehill 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:

  • Eric Ebron, Evan Engram, Chris Herndon, David Njoku and Cameron Brate 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.
  • Ian Thomas, C.J. Uzomah, Gerald Everett, Dallas Goedert and Ricky Seals-Jones 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, Eric Ebron, Rob Gronkowski, Chris Herndon, Jimmy Graham and Vance McDonald 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:

  • Damien Williams, Jaylen Samuels, Kalen Ballage, Spencer Ware and James Conner 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.
  • Jordan Howard, Nyheim Hines, Rex Burkhead, Giovani Bernard and Royce Freeman 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, Jamaal Williams, Matt Breida, Jaylen Samuels, Spencer Ware and James Conner 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:

  • Julio Jones, Tyreek Hill, Robert Woods, Kenny Golladay and Dante Pettis 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.
  • Julian Edelman, Larry Fitzgerald, Tyrell Williams, Zay Jones and Michael Crabtree 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, Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, Tyler Boyd, Randall Cobb and Chris Hogan 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:

  • Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, Eli Manning and Taylor Heinicke 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.
  • Andrew Luck, Kirk Cousins, Josh Allen, Nick Foles and Nick Mullens 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, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Marcus Mariota, Taylor Heinicke and Ryan Tannehill 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:

  • Evan Engram, Chris Herndon, Anthony Firkser, Blake Jarwin and Jordan Thomas 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.
  • Jesse James, James OShaughnessy, Ed Dickson, Dan Arnold and Virgil Green 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, Eric Ebron, Rob Gronkowski, Vance McDonald, Blake Jarwin and Geoff Swaim 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:

  • Damien Williams, Jaylen Samuels, Kalen Ballage, Spencer Ware and James Conner 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.
  • Jordan Howard, Nyheim Hines, Rex Burkhead, Giovani Bernard and Royce Freeman 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, Jamaal Williams, Matt Breida, Jaylen Samuels, Spencer Ware and James Conner 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:

  • Julio Jones, Tyreek Hill, Robert Woods, Kenny Golladay and Dante Pettis 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.
  • Julian Edelman, Larry Fitzgerald, Tyrell Williams, Zay Jones and Michael Crabtree 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, Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, Tyler Boyd, Randall Cobb and Chris Hogan 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:

  • Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, Eli Manning and Taylor Heinicke 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.
  • Andrew Luck, Kirk Cousins, Josh Allen, Nick Foles and Nick Mullens 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, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Marcus Mariota, Taylor Heinicke and Ryan Tannehill 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:

  • Evan Engram, Chris Herndon, Anthony Firkser, Blake Jarwin and Jordan Thomas 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.
  • Jesse James, James OShaughnessy, Ed Dickson, Dan Arnold and Virgil Green 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, Eric Ebron, Rob Gronkowski, Vance McDonald, Blake Jarwin and Geoff Swaim 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:

  • Rams, Colts, Cowboys, Jaguars and Saints 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.
  • Saints, Texans, Redskins, Jets and Seahawks 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, Broncos, Dolphins, Colts, Jaguars and Cardinals 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:

  • Harrison Butker, Adam Vinatieri, Steven Hauschka, Dustin Hopkins and Kai Forbath 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.
  • Greg Zuerlein, Wil Lutz, Jason Myers, Robbie Gould and Justin Tucker 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, Greg Joseph, Jake Elliott, Sebastian Janikowski, Jason Sanders and Kai Forbath 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.