Throughout the 2024 season, NFL Network analysts will provide one bold prediction heading into each week's slate of games (see the full Week 16 NFL schedule).
Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels are two of just four quarterbacks this season to have compiled a passer rating of 100-plus while also rushing for 400-plus yards. In their first meeting, back in Week 11 (an Eagles win), the pair combined for two touchdowns, with Hurts rushing for one and the rookie throwing for the other. In the rematch, Daniels elevates his game and scores five total touchdowns (two rushing, three passing) to outduel Hurts and keep the Commanders' playoff aspirations alive.
Getting a zero from Cooper Kupp last week ended many fantasy seasons. But if you survived (or even if you didn’t), look for a course correction from Kupp following his catch-less Week 15 outing. He’s been targeted at least six times in every game before last week’s dud (when he was targeted three times). He also has seven end-zone targets this year -- second-most on the team. Regardless, do you believe Matthew Stafford will continue to ignore his favorite receiver? I, for one, do not. Kupp will score two touchdowns.
In NFL history, the most receptions by a player to finish a season without a receiving score is 86, by Diontae Johnson in 2022. Currently, Trey McBride has Johnson beat, with 89 receptions and still no touchdowns. That changes this week; Kyler Murray essentially promised as much on social media. The Panthers have allowed the most receiving touchdowns to tight ends in 2024. On Sunday, McBride will find the painted area for the first and second time this season to finish as the TE1 for the week.
Michael Penix Jr. is getting the first start of his career for the Falcons on Sunday, and it comes against the worst team in the league. Despite the New York Giants having the seventh-ranked pass defense this season, Penix goes to work, quickly establishing chemistry with his supporting cast to set the NFL rookie single-game passing yards record (breaking C.J. Stroud's mark of 470 from last season).
I predicted earlier this week that Trey McBride would finally snap his TD-less streak, so I’m definitely with Matt on that one. My other hot take for Week 16 is that Bijan Robinson will do something he's never done in his career: score 30 fantasy points. Not only do I expect a heavy workload for the Falcons running back as he supports a rookie QB making his first NFL start, but Robinson will be facing a depleted Giants team that has allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to RBs in the last month and has yielded explosive runs to the position at the sixth-highest rate this season. Big plays are coming!
