Monday Recap, Week 16

Has the Christmas hangover set in? We were treated to an entire weekend full of football. We round things out with one more game tonight and then we find out who advances to the fantasy championship round. Do you need a big game from a Charger or Colt to advance? I’ll look at your chances below, but first let’s consider what else we learned over Christmas Weekend.

The Packers are catching fire

When the Packers came out of a bye with Aaron Rodgers saying it was simple, win four games and make the playoffs, it seemed like a stretch. After watching him go two-for-two, with home games against the Vikings and Lions remaining, it seems more plausible. The Packers are now 7-8 and seem to be in good position to make a run for the final playoff spot. And one thing’s for sure, no one wants to see Aaron Rodgers coming to them in a Wild Card game. It’s been a down season for the Packers, possibly the last for Rodgers in Green Bay, but it’s ending in style.

Zach Wilson is done in New York

Thursday’s game against the Jaguars was critical and ugly. The crowd was restless, booing Wilson lustily as the offense failed to get the ball moving. Then, of course, Wilson was benched. With Mike White closer to full health and it clear the fans have turned on Wilson, I’d expect that was his last snap as a quarterback with the Jets. Whether the former No. 2 overall pick can ever find success on the field remains to be seen, but it won’t be as a Jet.

Baker Mayfield has boosted his stock

Winning a game after two days with a team certainly boosted his legend, but after seeing Mayfield and the Rams run all over the Broncos Sunday, it’s clear getting cut was the best thing that ever happened to Mayfield. His time with the Rams has already paid off. Mayfield is due to hit the free agent market this off-season and given the brutal landscape for quarterbacks throughout the league, there’s no doubt he’ll have some options.

And now, let’s talk about tonight’s game.

Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) at Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)

The Chargers haven’t had a magical season but they are getting it done at the right time. Wins over the Dolphins and Titans have them in prime position to lock up a playoff spot. They just need to get a win. In fact, I think the Chargers still have a shot at the No. 5 seed if they win out. The Colts, meanwhile, have been eliminated. In the wake of a disappointing season, the team has turned over quarterback duties to veteran Nick Foles. Will it matter? I doubt it.

For fantasy, the Chargers are a fantasy-rich offense. Justin Herbert is a QB1, Austin Ekeler is an RB1, Gerald Everett is a fringe TE1 and Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are two great options at wide receiver. And against a Colts’ defense that just got destroyed last week, they should all be good plays in Week 16.

For the Colts, Jonathan Taylor is done and Foles doesn’t particularly inspire me. Zack Moss and Deon Jackson will split the backfield duties. I prefer Jackson, but neither is likely to be a boom play. Among receiving options, I still like Michael Pittman, Jr., the best, but I’m not optimistic about any option.

The Pick: Chargers

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.