December 20, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Jaylen Warren was outshined by teammate
Kenneth Gainwell last week but will look to get back on track against the Detroit Lions in Week 16. Detroit has been much stronger defensively against the run than the pass this season, but it has softened up a bit as of late. The Lions have surrendered 4.2 yards per carry and over 20 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past four weeks. With this contest projected for a healthy amount of points, fantasy managers should look to start offensive pieces on both sides. Even if Pittsburgh continues to take a hot-hand approach in the backfield, Warren should see enough volume on the ground to provide fantasy value while offering touchdown upside. The 27-year-old checks in as the RB28 in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings and should be viewed as a high-end flex play.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end
Brenton Strange is tough to trust in Week 16 against the Denver Broncos. He had a down week in Week 15 despite a huge offensive performance from
Trevor Lawrence, showcasing that Strange may be falling in the target pecking order.
Jakobi Meyers and
Brian Thomas Jr. seem to be more at the forefront of the passing offense, which limits Strange's upside. The Broncos have an elite pass rush, which could mean a security blanket tight end is necessary, but it is hard to predict, given the target competition. Strange isn't the worst starting option, but fantasy playoff teams should have a better choice if they want to advance in Week 16.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBallerSource: Brenton Strange RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Dallas Cowboys running back
Malik Davis saw more run in last week's loss to the Minnesota Vikings after
Javonte Williams (neck) missed time in the first half. The 26-year-old ended up playing a career high 53% of the offensive snaps and handled eight carries for 21 yards and a touchdown while adding two catches (three targets) for 16 yards. Williams eventually returned for the second half and was a full participant in practice this week. Still, it remains clear that Davis is the primary backup ahead of rookie
Jaydon Blue, who has been a healthy inactive for the past six games. Davis' fantasy upside for Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers remains capped, as he hasn't seen much usage when Williams has been healthy, handling just 14 touches in the five games leading up to last week.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers has been solid over his past two games and will look to carry that momentum into a Week 16 meeting with the Detroit Lions. Although the Lions are favored by a touchdown at home, this contest is projected to have the highest point total of the week. The main reason is Detroit's struggling pass defense, which has surrendered the most fantasy points, the most yards, and the third-most passing touchdowns to opposing signal-callers over the past four weeks. Given the inconsistencies of Pittsburgh's banged-up defense, there should be no shortage of offense in this one. Rodgers will need to throw the ball early and often to keep pace and will have a full allotment of weapons at his disposal, including a surging
DK Metcalf. While he's not an ideal fantasy option in single-quarterback formats, Rodgers is firmly on the streaming radar and should be viewed as a solid QB2 this week.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Dallas Cowboys tight end
Jake Ferguson has cooled off in the second half of the season after ranking as the TE1 in Weeks 1 through 9. Ferguson caught just two of four targets for 16 yards in last week's loss to the Minnesota Vikings and hasn't scored in four consecutive games, his longest drought of the season. The 26-year-old draws another tough matchup on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, who have held opponents under 20 points in three straight games. The Chargers are giving up the fifth-fewest receptions and seventh-fewest PPR points per game to tight ends. Ferguson has fallen to TE14 in RotoBaller's rankings for the second round of the fantasy playoffs.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
George Pickens is coming off his worst two-game stretch of the season and faces a Chargers defense in Week 16 that has been the sixth-toughest matchup for opposing receivers. In spite of that, he ranks as RotoBaller's WR12 for the week and should be a reliable play for the fantasy semifinals. The Cowboys are slight home favorites in a game that features the second-highest over/under of the week. Prior to his mini-slump, Pickens faced two of the league's stingiest pass defenses in the Eagles and Chiefs, and was able to put up a combined 234 yards with a receiving touchdown. And despite failing to crack a 20% target share in either of the past two games, with Dallas' high-volume passing attack, that has still been enough for a healthy 15 targets over that span. With
Javonte Williams (neck) limited to begin the week and
CeeDee Lamb (illness) unable to practice until Friday, it would not be surprising to learn that this week's install featured a healthy dose of Pickens, and he remains a trustworthy start despite his last two lackluster efforts.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers seems to be the primary benefactor of the Jaguars' offense clicking heading into Week 16. The team also just extended him to a three-year contract, so Meyers should be feeling good heading into a tough matchup with the Denver Broncos. Meyers seems especially useful in PPR given his skillset, which could come in extra handy this week, given the Broncos' elite pass rush. The Jaguars' offense as a whole should struggle compared to last week's beatdown of the New York Jets, which shouldn't limit Meyers too much. Fantasy managers should be happy starting Meyers as he comes in as RotoBaller's WR18 in Week 16.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBallerSource: Jakobi Meyers RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
CeeDee Lamb (illness) missed the team's first two practices of the week, but he was able to log a full participation on Friday and is a locked-in WR1 for Sunday's fantasy semifinal matchup with the Chargers. Los Angeles has boasted one of the strongest pass defenses in the league, but the Cowboys' explosive offense, coupled with their own porous defense, has superseded matchups all year long. We see evidence of this once again with Sunday's 50.5 point over/under, the second-highest total of the week. Lamb has averaged 104.8 receiving yards over his last four games, despite facing three of the league's best pass defenses in the Eagles, Chiefs, and Vikings. He is RotoBaller's WR4 for the week and is a must-start along with the rest of the Cowboys' offensive pieces.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
The Carolina Panthers' Defense is a deeper streaming option for Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The unit has held opposing teams to 20 or fewer points in four of their last six games. The Carolina D/ST has given up the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs overall this year. Since Week 7, Carolina has allowed one QB to finish top-12 at the position. In Week 16, Carolina will face
Baker Mayfield, who has registered fewer than 15 PPR points in three of his last four games. The Tampa Bay QB has been sacked multiple times in three of the last four games, including five times last week against the Falcons. Fantasy players can consider starting the Panthers' defense as a deeper option in this important game against their NFC South rivals!. Last week against the Saints, linebacker D.J. Wonnum registered two sacks. CB Jaycee Horn remains the only player in the NFL with two games of two-plus interceptions, and he leads the team with five overall. The Panthers D/ST unit ranks 16th this week on RotoBaller.com. Carolina has scored 26.0 fantasy points over the last four weeks, which ranks 12th among all teams. They have five sacks during that span, which is tied for fifth in the league.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. is a tough player to trust, but he does have upside in Week 16 against the Denver Broncos. The offense is clicking at the right time, making his upside intriguing. However, Thomas Jr. remains a flex option given his struggles this season and a tough matchup. The Broncos are a top team in the AFC mainly because of their defense. Denver is the third-best scoring defense in the NFL, but it is better against the run than the pass. If the Jaguars decide to go pass-heavy, that could mean a big day for Thomas Jr. He is a risky start, but certainly worth consideration in Week 16.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBallerSource: Brian Thomas Jr. RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Drake London (knee) has missed the last four weeks with a knee injury, and despite a questionable tag after being limited in practice all week, he is expected to suit up for Sunday's road matchup against the Cardinals. The 24-year-old was rolling before going down with the injury, recording five 100-yard receiving games in his last six contests, along with six touchdowns to boot. Those games all featured
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) under center, though, so there is some uncertainty whether or not
Kirk Cousins will display the same affinity for the team's No. 1 receiver. Cousins showed a penchant for targeting his tight end,
Kyle Pitts Sr., the most during London's absence. Nevertheless, London slots right back in as a mid-range WR1 for Week 16's road matchup against an Arizona defense that is middle of the road in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wideouts, but that has been hemorrhaging points over the last three weeks, giving up 35 points per game over that stretch (second most). Managers should just make sure to double-check his status on Sunday to make sure he is playing.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers D/ST allowed 24 points to the Titans in Week 15 and failed to record a turnover or a sack, even though
Cam Ward is tied with two others as the most-sacked quarterback in the league. The 49ers have now recorded an interception in only three games, have 16 sacks on the season, and own the league's second-lowest pressure rate. In Week 16, San Francisco will take on the Colts, led by 44-year-old
Philip Rivers. The rust was evident in Rivers' first game in five years when he faced the Seahawks last week, but Indy's strong offensive line should have no problem protecting him from the 49ers' impotent pass rush. Despite an inviting matchup due to the Colts' quarterback situation, the 49ers' track record in 2025 makes them hard to trust in the semi-final round of the fantasy football playoffs.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Ja'Tavion Sanders finished Week 15 against the Saints with two receptions for five yards. Sanders was mainly utilized as a blocker and played on 53% of the snaps. In 11 games played this season, Sanders has averaged 4.1 PPR Points Per Game. The Panthers will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. The Buccaneers rank 27th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the TE position this year. Despite a great matchup, Sanders is still not worthy of a roster spot during the fantasy playoffs. Sanders has totaled 5+ targets in a game only twice this season, and he has no receiving touchdowns.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Dallas Cowboys running back
Javonte Williams (neck) was able to log a full practice session on Friday, and he looks to be a locked-in RB1 option for Sunday's Week 16 matchup with the Chargers. Los Angeles' defense has been strong against the pass all season, forcing most opponents into a run-heavy game plan, but the Cowboys also boast one of the few offenses in the league capable of turning any game into a shootout. Sunday's 50.5 point over/under is the second-highest of the week, implying that both teams will see plenty of scoring opportunities, and with the Cowboys a slight favorite at home, Williams should be in line for his normal bellcow workload. His 230 carries on the season were the seventh most in the league coming into Week 16, and he ranks in the top six in both rushing yards and touchdowns. Williams is RotoBaller's RB12 against the Chargers' league-average run defense.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Xavier Legette caught two passes for 39 yards and totaled 5.9 PPR points in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints. The Carolina WR remains mostly irrelevant in fantasy football right now. He has logged three consecutive games with under 6.0 PPR points. In Week 16, Legette has a decent matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers rank 17th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the WR position this year, but he is still not playable for fantasy purposes. Since Week 5, Legette has seen inconsistent volume. He had 5+ targets in only three games since then. Due to his varying volume and underwhelming fantasy output for the season, Legette is not worth rostering for the fantasy football playoffs.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
RADIO
