NFL

FanDuel Single-Game Daily Fantasy Football Helper: Week 16 Sunday Night (Buccaneers at Cardinals)

Matthew Lo Dec 25th, 2022
In an offense ranked first in pass percentage, Tampa Bay's Tom Brady is numberFire's top option on Sunday night with 16.2 FanDuel points. Who else stands out for Week 16's Christmas showdown?

In a unique fantasy format, single-game slates feature five flex spots with identical scoring to the main slate. However, kickers are included in these contests, and there is an "MVP" roster slot. The MVP receives 1.5-times his total fantasy points, making this spot crucial.

Our Brandon Gdula has done a deep dive on single-game strategy, and we have projections for the single-game slate if you select the game from the slate tab. It's worth checking out both of those things before you make your lineups.

MVP Candidates

Tom Brady ($15,000): In a favorable spot versus an Arizona Cardinals' team allowing 19.2 FanDuel points and 1.8 touchdowns passes per game to quarterbacks, Tampa Bay's future Hall of Famer ranks first overall with 16.2 expected fantasy points. The 45-year old will have plenty of chances to challenge a defensive unit ranked last in completion percentage (69.7%) in an offense opting to pass the most in the league.

James Conner ($13,500): Even in a tough matchup against a Tampa Bay defense ranked fifth (17.1) in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position, Arizona's workhorse running back stands second with a 15.2 FanDuel point expectation. Conner leads all players in touches (22.8), scrimmage yards (102.5), and touchdowns (0.68) after the 27-year old averaged 18.2 rush attempts and 3.4 receptions in his last five contests.

Flex Considerations

DeAndre Hopkins ($15,500): Despite recent quarterback changes, Hopkins ranks first among tonight's pass catchers with 5.7 receptions for 72.1 yards on 8.8 targets. According to Player Profiler, Arizona's lead wideout is averaging 1.75 fantasy points per target and 0.53 per route run.

Chris Godwin ($14,000): In a primary slot role (74%) versus a Cardinals' unit allowing 26.2 FanDuel points per game to wideouts, Godwin is Tampa Bay's top rated receiver with 5.3 receptions for 51.2 yards on 7.6 targets. Since Week 10, Godwin has seen consistent volume in the red zone with five targets within the opposing ten-yard line including three inside the five.

Trace McSorley ($13,000): Ranking third overall with 12.6 FanDuel points, McSorley could be an underrated option versus a Buccaneers' defense ranked 17th (17.1 FanDuel point) in fantasy production given up to quarterbacks. The 27-year old offers some dual-threat ability with 54% of his career rushing yards occurring on scrambles and 46% on designed runs.

Mike Evans ($12,000): Despite inconsistent production, Evans has still seen volume in Tampa Bay's pass heavy attack, averaging 8.2 targets per game. In a matchup against a Cardinals' secondary giving up 12.9 receptions for 140 yards per game to wideouts, numberFire's models project Evans to record 4.2 receptions for 51.5 yards on 6.9 targets.

Marquise Brown ($11,500): Since his return from the injured reserve in Week 12, Brown has been utilized in the slot on 68.9% of his snaps. "Hollywood" ranks as his team's second rated pass catcher with 3.8 receptions for 38.9 yards on 6.6 targets against a Buccaneers' defense allowing 28.0 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Leonard Fournette ($11,000): Among Tampa Bay's skill position players on Sunday night, Fournette ranks second on his team with 10.8 expected FanDuel points. In his last three games, the veteran has logged at least a 47% offensive snap percentage while averaging eight rush attempts and 5.3 receptions.

Rachaad White ($10,500): In a good matchup versus a defense allowing 22.7 FanDuel points per game to running backs, White ranks first on his team in rushing (55.7), touches (14.4), and scrimmage yards (70.1). When considering his team's committee approach to his position and White's lower salary, Tampa Bay's third round pick is an underrated option with a 0.99 value rating and a 10.4 fantasy point projection.

Tampa Bay D/ST ($10.000): On 551 pass attempts this season, Arizona's offensive line has allowed a 19.0% pressure rate, 32 quarterback hits, 40 sacks, 48 hurries, and an average of 2.2 seconds in the pocket while the Buccaneers have generated a 22.2% pressure rate, 40 sacks, a 9.6% quarterback knockdown percentage, and a 6.0% hurry rate.

Matt Prater ($8,500) / Ryan Succop ($8,500): Arizona's veteran kicker has converted 80.0% of his 25 field goal attempts and 96.7% of his extra point tries in 14 home games since last season while Succop has produced a 87.1% field goal percentage on 31 attempts and a 93.8% extra point percentage in 15 away games since 2021.

Julio Jones ($7,500): If the veteran can play through his questionable designation with a knee injury, Jones is projected for 5.1 targets on Sunday night. If Jones is inactive, Russell Gage is a viable option after he hauled in eight receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns on 12 targets in an expanded role last week.

Trey McBride ($6,500): Coming off his best performance in Week 12 with four receptions for 55 yards, Arizona's rookie is expected to see 3.4 targets in a promising opportunity against a defense ranked 27th (11.3) in FanDuel points allowed to tight ends.