Tight Ends Start 'Em, Sit 'Em and Fantasy Football Trends for Week 16 (2025)

December 18, 2025

Rob's tight end fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 16 of the 2025 season. Who should I start at tight end for fantasy football in Week 16 lineups?

Two more wins. That's it. That's all that's left on the to-do list. That's how close we are. Can you taste it? It's right there in front of us. You can almost reach out and touch it, but the job isn't done yet. No, all the hard work you've put into the season can be undone by how bad a week or an unfortunate start/sit decision. The margin for error is small.

Unfortunately, the tight end position never makes it easy for us. Last week, Trey McBride was going up against the red-hot Houston defense, and while no one would've ever dreamed of sitting him, there were reasonable concerns that he might disappoint. Nope, 31.4 half-PPR points. Lesson learned, do not doubt McBride with Jacoby Brissett under center. Sadly, it may not be so easy with the other tight ends.

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Colby Parkinson is a Must-Start

Since Week 10, Parkinson is the TE4 with an 11.67 half-PPR PPG average. During this stretch of six games, Parkinson has scored over 8.0 half-PPR points in five of them and over 12.0 half-PPR points in four of them. The Rams are currently leading the league in snaps with 13 personnel (three tight ends on the field), and this is greatly benefiting Parkinson, especially near the end zone.

Since Week 10, Parkinson has found the end zone six times. At this point in the season, you likely need no history lesson on Davante Adams' historical scoring prowess or how a goal-line fade to Adams from Matthew Stafford seems as automatic as a Jalen Hurts tush push. Consider that Parkinson has scored six times with Adams in the lineup. Adams is currently listed as doubtful for tonight's game, making Parkinson an absolute must-start.

Two-Touchdown Performance Makes Colby Parkinson a Priority Waiver-Wire Addition https://t.co/YxoQWJV7dL

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 15, 2025

Since Week 10, just six games, Parkinson has a whopping 14 targets inside the red zone! Because of that, his scoring isn't nearly as fluky as some may think. Parkinson isn't getting "lucky." He's getting targeted around the end zone a lot, and when that happens, high touchdown totals sometimes follow. In the case of Parkinson, that's actually what is happening.

He's also been super efficient with his routes, averaging 2.32 yards per route. Tonight's game between the Rams and Seahawks has real shootout appeal, as long as the weather cooperates a bit. Regardless, Parkinson needs to be taken very seriously this week.

Should I Bench Brock Bowers?

Yes. No. Maybe. Look, I have no idea. Bowers is one of the most talented tight ends in the NFL. I absolutely hate putting someone like that on my bench, but on the other hand, it looks like Kenny Pickett is going to start again. Pickett is not good. The Las Vegas coaching staff and offensive system are even worse than Pickett, and on top of all of that, they're playing the best defense in the NFL.

If you want to bench Bowers, I won't fight you on it. Would I consider Parkinson over Bowers? Yes, I get it! Dalton Schultz, or Harold Fannin Jr., or Jake Ferguson? Yes, I get all of those. That's where I'd draw the line, though. When you start getting to Juwan Johnson, Oronde Gadsden II, Hunter Henry, etc., give me Bowers every time. I think...

Bowers has scored 28.1% of his total points in one game. While his half-PPR PPG average is 12.0, if you take away just that one game where he scored 37.3 half-PPR points, his average would fall all the way to 9.5 half-PPR PPG. While I'm not a big fan of this kind of math -- taking away a player's best game -- in this case, I think it's fair. It just showcases what has been typical of Bowers.

While McBride was able to get the best of the Houston defense, given the Raiders' ecosystem, I don't expect Bowers to have the same success. He's a low-end TE1 for me this week, and I wouldn't argue with anyone who wants to start a few of the guys directly underneath him instead.

Colston Loveland Might Be Chicago's No. 1 Target in Week 16

Rome Odunze is dealing with a stress fracture, and recently, there have been reports that he could be shut down for the rest of the season to ensure he's the healthiest he can be for the playoffs. Luther Burden III is dealing with an ankle injury. Fantasy X doctors and physical therapists are speculating that the injury mechanism appears to be a high-ankle sprain. That hasn't been verified yet, but neither player has practiced this week.

While Chicago still has DJ Moore, it's been Loveland and Burden who have been Caleb Williams' favorite and most effective targets the past few weeks in Odunze's absence. If both players miss this upcoming game, Loveland would be set up for a monster week. It's not just the injuries on his own team that are benefiting him, but on the Packers as well.

Colston Loveland Fantasy Value on the Rise, Provides a Safe Floor in Week 16 https://t.co/hUkqSAbnWj

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 17, 2025

The Packers lost Micah Parsons this past weekend. While Parsons wouldn't have had anything to do with Loveland directly, his absence does help Loveland. He won't need to stay in and help block as much, and Williams won't be under as much pressure.

Safety Evan Williams is also in danger of missing Week 16. That would be a significant benefit to Loveland. If he's out, Loveland could very well be the key to moving into the fantasy football championship.

Streamer Tight Ends to Avoid this Week Due to Matchup

• Hunter Henry, New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens
• Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos
• Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints vs. New York Jets

Streamer Tight Ends to Target this Week Due to Matchup

• Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
• Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots
• Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Starting Tight Ends with Bust Potential Due to Matchup

• Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Chargers
• Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns vs. Buffalo Bills 
• Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans

Starting Tight Ends with Spike-Week Potential Due to Matchup

• George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts
• Kyle Pitts Sr., Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals
• Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders

Week 16 Rankings

1. Trey McBride vs. Falcons

2. George Kittle at Colts

3. Kyle Pitts Sr. at Cardinals

4. Travis Kelce at Titans

5. Colston Loveland vs. Packers

6. Dallas Goedert at Commanders

7. Dalton Kincaid at Browns

8. Brock Bowers at Texans

9. Harold Fannin Jr. vs. Bills

10. Dalton Schultz vs. Raiders

11. Colby Parkinson at Seahawks

12. Jake Ferguson vs. Chargers

13. Juwan Johnson vs. Jets

14. Oronde Gadsden II at Cowboys

15. Darren Waller vs. Bengals

16. Mark Andrews vs. Patriots

17. Hunter Henry at Ravens

18. Theo Johnson vs. Vikings

19. Brenton Strange at Broncos

20. Tyler Warren vs. 49ers

21. Mike Gesicki at Dolphins

22. T.J. Hockenson at Giants

23. Evan Engram vs. Jaguars

24. AJ Barner vs. Rams

25. Isaiah Likely vs. Patriots

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