December 18, 2025
Despite having to deal with a new quarterback in Week 16, Miami Dolphins tight end
Darren Waller (knee, rest) is expected to maintain a critical role in the team's passing game when they line up with the Cincinnati Bengals at home. The 33-year-old is fresh off his best outing of the campaign, hauling in a season-high seven passes and two more touchdowns, giving him six scores in seven appearances. Unfortunately for Waller, any rapport he'd built up with quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa won't translate when rookie signal-caller
Quinn Ewers takes the field for his first NFL start. With the current state of Miami's offense, there's little reason to believe the veteran's role would shrink, although it's fair to expect diminished production. Favorably, Cincinnati's defense has allowed the most fantasy points per game to TEs (22.66), leaving Waller as a back-end TE1 for the outing.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 18, 2025
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz has quietly had a solid season for the team, and figures to be productive again in Week 16's home matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. Schultz is coming off one of his better games of the season last Sunday (8/76/1). Despite just two trips to pay dirt in 2025, the Stanford alum has not been short of opportunity. Since Week 3, Schultz has had at least six targets in all but three appearances, and eight or more in six of his last nine. Additionally, he leads Houston in receptions (70) and is well on his way to surpassing his personal best in that category (78). While the veteran doesn't offer much in the way of YAC, he's been a reliable target for quarterback
C.J. Stroud and should continue to work as the second option in the passing game behind wide receiver
Nico Collins. For what it's worth, Las Vegas has been tough against tight ends, but Schultz should be involved enough to matter for fantasy.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 18, 2025
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Chicago Bears wide receiver
Rome Odunze (foot) is expected to miss this Saturday night's clash with the visiting Green Bay Packers. Odunze has been shelved for a few weeks now. Unfortunately, he was scheduled to suit up for the Week 15 win against the Browns, but he aggravated his stress fracture during pre-game warmups and seems to be trending toward being inactive again, considering he's yet to log even a limited practice session since. It's an unideal situation for the Bears' offense, particularly with rookie
Luther Burden III (ankle) also in danger of missing with an injury of his own. As it stands,
DJ Moore,
Olamide Zaccheaus,
Devin Duvernay, and
Jahdae Walker are the only wideouts heading into this weekend sans a designation.
--Alex CiullaSource: Ian Rapoport
December 18, 2025
Green Bay Packers running back
Josh Jacobs (knee) is expected to play in Week 16, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Jacobs has been fighting through a knee injury since Week 11, when he slammed his knee onto the turf against the New York Giants. While he may be fighting through an injury, his production hasn't changed, putting up 92 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 14 attempts against the strong Denver Broncos defense. He faces the Chicago Bears in Week 16, who have been middle-of-the-pack against the run this season. While Jacobs will likely be limited in practice this week, he should be able to play and be an RB1 for fantasy managers this week.
--Nathan HarveySource: Ian Rapoport - NFL Network
December 18, 2025
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Rashid Shaheed had the most productive game of his Seahawks career in Week 15, hauling in five of seven targets for 74 yards in the 18-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Shaheed was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Seahawks at the trade deadline, but hasn't quite seen his former production until recent weeks. In Week 14, Shaheed had 67 yards and a huge kick return for a touchdown that changed the game against the Atlanta Falcons, and his best receiving output in Week 15. Shaheed faces the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16, which should be one of the biggest games of the regular season in 2025. The Rams have allowed he fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, so watch for Shaheed to make an impact on this game.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Mike Evans exploded in his first game back from injury, hauling in six of 12 targets for 132 yards in the 29-28 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Against the defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to outside receivers this season, Evans took advantage, putting up his best stat line of the 2025 season. While his 1,000-yard streak is likely to come to an end this season, that doesn't mean he can't win fantasy managers' championships. Despite being limited to just 51% of the snaps in Week 15, Evans produced as the WR1 in this offense. He faces a Carolina Panthers defense in Week 16, which he has decimated in recent seasons. Evans has tallied over 90 receiving yards in eight of his last ten games against Carolina and has scored 10 touchdowns during that span. The Buccaneers are in must-win mode, so expect Evans to play a ton this week and beyond.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Washington Commanders running back
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (hip) was a full participant in both Tuesday's and Wednesday's practice sessions and is expected to return in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rodriguez missed Week 15's game against the New York Giants with a hip injury but was reportedly close to playing last week. Even if the third-year back is fully healthy entering Week 16, rookie
Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a big game on the ground in Week 15 and may have cut into Rodriguez's workload. Rodriguez has played only 30% of the snaps this season, and with Washington's offensive struggles with quarterback
Jayden Daniels, it's hard to trust any back on this team. Assuming he's good to go for their divisional showdown against the Eagles, Rodriguez offers low-end FLEX value in Week 16.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
New Orleans Saints running back
Evan Hull could see an expanded workload this week when the Saints host the New York Jets. In three games with the Saints this season, Hull has only had 10 carries for 31 yards, while adding one reception for six yards. However, with
Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) still not practicing and rookie
Devin Neal (hamstring) already ruled out for Week 16, Hull has a chance to play a significant role this week. After Neal left the game in Week 15, both Hull and second-year back
Audric Estime carried the backfield, with Estime playing 39% of the snaps while Hull played 31%. Even if it's a committee in New Orleans, they face a Jets defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Both backs carry fantasy value this week and are worth monitoring heading into Week 16.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
With the Los Angeles Rams unlikely to have receiver
Davante Adams (hamstring) available on Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks, tight end
Colby Parkinson is emerging as an increasingly important pass catcher for one of the NFL's top offenses. Under head coach Sean McVay, the Rams haven't exactly been renowned for their favoritism of tight ends. Lately, however, Parkinson's production has been unavoidable. In the six weeks since
Tyler Higbee (ankle) sustained an injury, the veteran tight end has finished among the top 15 among PPR tight ends five times, including two games in the top five. After a monster Week 15 in which he caught two touchdowns in a win against Detroit, Parkinson is a viable option in all formats in a massive game against Seattle.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Troy Franklin was one of the biggest surprises of Week 15, going for six catches, 85 yards, and a touchdown in a victory against Green Bay, though changes could be coming. Franklin's increase in targets was correlated to the absence of fellow wide receiver
Pat Bryant (hamstring), who was unavailable last week but practiced in full on Wednesday and looks likely to return for Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Franklin is a top-30 PPR receiver on the season, but he's been a boom-or-bust player throughout. He has three top-10 finishes among receivers, but five outside the top 50. Against a Jags' defense that ranks 20th against fantasy receivers, Franklin has a quality matchup, but remains a volatile option prone to big swings in production.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department charged
Samson Nacua, the brother of Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Puka Nacua, with taking a vehicle belonging to L.A. Lakers forward Adou Thiero without the latter's consent, according to NBC4 in Los Angeles. Police allege that Samson Nacua and another man took Thiero's SUV, which police tracked to a hotel in West Hollywood, where surveillance footage showed the duo had valeted the vehicle and entered the premises. Authorities arrested both men, who remain jailed and face charges relating to the theft. According to the station, police are unsure where the SUV was originally stolen.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: NBC4 Los Angeles
December 18, 2025
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon gave running back
Michael Carter a vote of confidence on Wednesday, saying that the team was "very comfortable" with Carter serving as the team's top option out of the backfield as the team prepares for a Week 16 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Gannon's comments have merit, as the fifth-year back played a commanding 80% of the team's offensive snaps a week ago. Injuries have absolutely ravaged the Arizona backfield in 2025, as
James Conner (ankle),
Trey Benson (knee), and now
Bam Knight (ankle) are all out for the remainder of the season. While Arizona is out of the playoff picture, Carter will be a hot commodity who could be a valuable lineup option with favorable matchups against Atlanta in Week 16 and Cincinnati in Week 17.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Arizona Cardinals
December 18, 2025
Though this has been an undoubtedly frustrating season for
Brian Thomas Jr., the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver is coming off back-to-back solid performances as his team has ascended to the top of the AFC South. The second-year player, ranked as the No. 44 overall PPR receiver, is certainly in the conversation for the biggest fantasy disappointment of the season relative to draft position. However, managers who weathered modest outputs and an injury may have a light at the end of the tunnel, as Thomas has looked more like his rookie self with 13 targets, 7 catches, 153 yards, and a touchdown during the past two weeks. The Jags have a tough Week 16 matchup against a Denver Broncos defense that ranks ninth against PPR receivers, but Jacksonville and quarterback
Trevor Lawrence are on such a hot streak that Thomas should carry WR3/flex consideration for managers deep in the playoffs.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
December 18, 2025
Los Angeles Rams kicker
Harrison Mevis has been trending up lately with three field goals and 11 extra points over his last two games. He has the ninth-most fantasy points among kickers during that two-week span, but he'll likely drop outside of the top 12 as he faces suboptimal weather conditions on Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16. The forecast calls for occasional rain showers and winds consistently above 20 mph during the game, with gusts up to 45 mph. The wind could pose a major threat to Mevis' outlook on Thursday night, limiting his accuracy on field-goal attempts from medium or long distance. As a result, Mevis has dropped to #15 in the latest RotoBaller fantasy football rankings for kickers in Week 16. Managers should use RotoBaller's rankings to find a better option at the kicker position for this week.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 18, 2025
The Los Angeles Rams' defense will get another tough task in Week 16 as they face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. It's been a frustrating few weeks for the Rams, whose D/ST has posted subpar fantasy performances against the Panthers, Cardinals, and Lions. This unit had been the second-highest scoring D/ST in fantasy football, but they have since dropped to #6. Now, they'll look to get back on track during a thrilling yet winnable game on Thursday in Seattle.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is having a phenomenal year for the Seahawks, but quarterback
Sam Darnold has shown that he's capable of delivering some ugly performances. Similarly, the Seahawks' rushing attack has left a lot to be desired. Seattle ranks near the middle of the league with the 19th-most fantasy points allowed to opposing D/ST units in 2025. When these two teams met back in Week 11, the Rams allowed a modest 19 points with one forced fumble and a whopping four interceptions. The Rams D/ST ranks #11 in this week's RotoBaller fantasy rankings and should still be started in most leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
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