Fantasy football projections, Week 16: Lions-Cowboys featuring Matthew Stafford, Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, more

The Week 16 matchup between the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys features one team still fighting for a playoff spot while the other looks to further solidify itself as a Super Bowl favorite. We’ve got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has failed to throw a touchdown in a game on three occasions this season. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, one of those instances came in Week 15 against the New York Giants. In what was certainly a big game in terms of the standings for Detroit, Stafford threw for 273 yards and an interception, resulting in a loss. He has fewer than two touchdown passes in six of the last eight games.

Fantasy owners hoping that he will deliver an MVP-like performance in Dallas on Monday night are probably being overly optimistic. It’s unlikely that Stafford tops his projections this time around, though the Lions and fantasy owners certainly hope he will. Fortunately for those starting Golden Tate in their lineup last week, Stafford’s poor showing had little effect on the receiver’s totals. Tate hauled in eight of 13 receptions for 122 yards against the Giants.

The yardage total marked the third time this season Tate has crossed the 100-yard receiving plateau. It’s the second time he’s accomplished that feat in the last three weeks. Given Tate is hot at the right time and Stafford needs to improve, things are looking up for the Lions’ most reliable possession receiver and his fantasy owners. Tate will almost undoubtedly top his projections in the fantasy season finale.

After being held under 100 rushing yards in four straight games, rookie Ezekiel Elliott has now put together 266 rushing yards in the last two games combined. His 159 rushing yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week represents a career high. Elliott also added a touchdown and three catches for 29 yards in the game. Thanks to Dallas’ sparkling 12-2 record, Elliott is now the Las Vegas favorite to win the regular season MVP Award.

Detroit has one of the better fantasy run defenses in the league, but Elliott will top his projections anyway, the same way he has all year long. If it just so happens the Lions find a way to contain him, fellow rookie Dak Prescott will put the passing game to work. He failed to throw a touchdown against the Buccaneers last week, but also didn’t turn the ball over. His 32 completions and 279 passing yards last week were enough to get him beyond his projections.

It’s hard to trust Prescott to throw more than one touchdown pass in the game considering he hasn’t done that since Week 11. However, fantasy owners who can accept the Cowboys being a run-first team anyway can still start him against Detroit. The Lions have given up the fifth-most number of fantasy points to the quarterback position this season. Expect Prescott to deliver.