Tim Hightower, Allen Hurns spurred Week 16 winner in $250K Baller
Week 16’s winner of the “NFL $250K Baller” contest put up 201.42 points, as Tim Hightower and a Jacksonville stack helped lead the way to the $25,000 prize.
Hightower totaled 169 yards and scored two touchdowns and was one of the biggest difference makers in Week 16. Owned by just 9.4% of teams in this tournament, he cost only $17 and was the No. 1 scoring back. Hightower’s resurgence continues to amaze, as he’s gone from not having played a snap since 2011 to recording at least 27 carries in two of his past three games. At $20 and facing a Falcons defense that’s allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season, Hightower is again an intriguing option in Week 17.
[Yahoo Daily Fantasy: $10 could win you $20K in our $200K contest for Week 17]
The winning entry benefitted greatly from the shootout in New Orleans, as it stacked Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns to go along with Hightower and Brandin Cooks. Bortles shrugged off a slow start and threw for 368 yards with four touchdowns (and a two point conversion), finishing as the No. 2 scoring quarterback. Robinson, Hurns and Cooks combined for 21 catches, 380 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The 90-yard TD connection from Bortles to Robinson was the key play of the week for the winner.
Meanwhile, Hurns, who hauled in two scores, was surprisingly owned by just 7.1% of teams despite costing a modest $24 and facing a Saints defense that’s now allowed the most passing touchdowns in NFL history (43) with a game left to play. Hurns is up to 10 TDs on the year. Robinson, Hurns and Cooks each finished in the top-five in scoring among wide receivers in Week 16. New Orleans has allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends this season, so stacking Falcons in Week 17 makes sense.
With LeSean McCoy out, Karlos Williams was an intriguing play at just $18, although owners got a scare when Mike Gillislee got the start. Williams totaled 97 yards with a touchdown and is averaging 5.7 YPC during his impressive rookie campaign. He again looks like a bargain in Week 17 at $23, although Williams gets a tough Jets defense that’s ceded the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing backs this year.
The Texans at $11 was another key addition to the winner’s lineup, as they scored 22.0 points thanks to four turnovers and a score. Meanwhile, David Johnson was owned by 56.9% of teams, but it was surprising that number wasn’t even higher with his $21 price tag (it’s up to $30 in Week 17). He had another big game, totaling 127 yards with a touchdown (it could’ve been even bigger had he not sat out the fourth quarter thanks to the lopsided score).
This week’s winning entry featured the No. 1 scoring back, the No. 2 scoring quarterback and three wide receivers ranking in the top-five. Stacking five players in the Saints/Jaguars game that totaled 65 points was huge and the key to victory in Week 16.
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