December 20, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
Joe Burrow (knee) popped up on the injury report to begin the practice week. Fortunately, he logged full sessions and doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against Miami. The signal-caller completed only 52.2% of his attempts in the Thursday night win over Baltimore in Week 13, although he still tossed two touchdowns to make up for it. However, it was a different story in the Week 15 rematch, with Burrow throwing two picks while failing to connect with any of his receivers in the end zone. The Bengals aren't going to the postseason, but that shouldn't stop the 2020 No. 1 overall pick from trying to lead his squad to wins to close out the 2025 campaign. With the Dolphins also eliminated from playoff contention, both teams have nothing to lose in Week 16. All things considered, as long as Burrow is active, he remains a must-start in any fantasy setup, even if
Tee Higgins (concussion), who is questionable, can't suit up.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
Detroit Lions kicker
Jake Bates has been a bit shaky in recent weeks, as he's recorded a missed field goal in each of Detroit's last two games. He's now missed six field goal attempts across 14 games this season after missing just three attempts across 17 games as a rookie in 2024. Still, Bates leads the NFL in both extra-point makes (49) and attempts (51). He remains attached to the Lions offense, which enters Week 16 averaging a league-leading 30.6 points per contest. In Week 16, Detroit will host the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh currently ranks just 18th in points allowed per game (23.3), so Detroit could have opportunities to get Bates on the field in point-scoring situations. Additionally, the game will be held indoors at Detroit's Ford Field, so the weather will not be a factor. Bates profiles as a solid starting kicker option for fantasy managers in Week 16.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
After recording touchdown catches in back-to-back games in Weeks 13 and 14, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Isaac TeSlaa was held without a reception on just one target in Week 15 by the Los Angeles Rams. The 23-year-old saw a reduction in playing time thanks to the return of Lions wideout
Kalif Raymond, who had missed each of Detroit's previous two games with an ankle injury. On the bright side, TeSlaa still played 63% of his team's offensive snaps in Week 15, which was his third-highest mark in any game this season. However, he's recorded just eight catches on 15 targets across 14 games in 2025 and has been unable to carve out a consistent role in the Lions' passing game. The Lions have a favorable matchup on paper in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who currently rank 29th in the NFL in total passing yards allowed (3,649). Still, TeSlaa's inconsistency makes him very difficult for fantasy managers to trust, and he should likely remain off fantasy radars in Week 16.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders tight end
Michael Mayer remains off the fantasy radar ahead of Week 16 against the Houston Texans. Mayer was productive during his short stint as the team's starting tight end earlier this season, but he fell off the fantasy radar when superstar tight end
Brock Bowers returned to the mix mid-year. Mayer has dealt with his own injury problems, too, as the 24-year-old was sidelined for Weeks 13 and 14. In his return to action last week, he played just 19% of the offensive snaps and wasn't targeted in Vegas'
Kenny Pickett-led offense.
Geno Smith will return as the Raiders' starting quarterback this upcoming Sunday, but that shouldn't change Mayer's fantasy outlook much. He is averaging just 2.0 catches, 15.3 yards, and zero touchdowns in games where Bowers is active.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
After missing two games with an ankle injury, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Kalif Raymond returned to the lineup in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams and recorded one catch for 20 yards on one target. Despite his return, the 31-year-old saw a significant drop in playing time. Raymond played just 11 offensive snaps in Week 15, his first time playing fewer than 27 snaps in a game he was active for since Week 6. The veteran may be seeing his playing time usurped by rookie Lions wideout
Isaac TeSlaa, who hauled in touchdown grabs in both games that Raymond missed with the ankle issue. For the season, Raymond has recorded just 16 catches for 170 yards on 20 targets across 12 games. Even in a favorable matchup on paper against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16, he remains an unlikely candidate for production. Raymond should remain off the radar of fantasy managers in Week 16.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
Pat Freiermuth caught three of his five targets for 45 yards last Monday night against the Miami Dolphins, but he was still out-snapped by tight end
Darnell Washington and out-performed by tight end
Jonnu Smith. Washington played 73% of the offensive snaps in Week 15, which was the fourth time in his last five games that he saw the field for at least two-thirds of the plays. The 24-year-old is only the TE38 in PPR leagues this year, but he has been a major part of the Steelers' offense with his ability to set huge blocks, catch short passes, and use his physical strength to earn yards after the catch. Meanwhile, Smith only played 29% of the snaps last week, but he continues to get involved in playcaller Arthur Smith's offense. On Monday, the tight end had two catches and a rushing touchdown. There's a role for every tight end in this offense, including Freiermuth, who is the TE25 in PPR leagues with 31 catches, 352 yards, and four touchdowns this year. However, none of the trio can be trusted in fantasy football leagues over the final stretch of the 2025 season. As it stands, Freiermuth is ranked as RotoBaller's TE29 ahead of his Week 16 clash with the Detroit Lions.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
After a slow start to the 2025 season, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Jameson Williams has exploded over the second half of the year. Across his last seven games, the 24-year-old has recorded 647 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. After earning more than seven targets just once over the season's first 12 weeks, he's been targeted by Lions quarterback
Jared Goff at least nine times in three straight games. Williams could have a chance to continue his emergence in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who profile as a favorable matchup on paper. Entering the week, Pittsburgh ranks 29th in the NFL in total receiving yards allowed (3,649). With Lions tight end
Sam LaPorta (back) on Injured Reserve, Williams has emerged as the team's clear number two option in the passing game alongside wideout
Amon-Ra St. Brown. Williams profiles as a low-end fantasy WR1 with high-end upside in Week 16.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
Tennessee Titans running back
Tyjae Spears has dealt with a reduced role lately as
Tony Pollard earns a heavy dose of touches. Pollard was relatively disappointing from Week 5, when Spears returned from injured reserve, through Week 13. However, in Week 14, he broke out against a relatively strong Browns run defense, and he had another big showing last Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Through those two games, Pollard has totaled an absurd 265 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 39 carries. As a result of his teammate's sudden breakout, Spears has been left in nothing more than a change-of-pace role. In his last two games, Spears has just 11 carries for 53 yards. He has two catches in each of those contests, setting a new season-low mark. We expect that this backfield will belong to Pollard once again in Week 16 against the Chiefs, leaving Spears off the fantasy radar. He ranks as the overall RB50 in RotoBaller's fantasy rankings for Week 16.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown had a monster game in Week 15, recording 13 receptions for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets against the Los Angeles Rams. The 26-year-old has earned double-digit targets in seven out of 14 games this season and ranks second in the NFL with 11 touchdown grabs. In Week 16, St. Brown gets a favorable matchup on paper against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Entering the week, Pittsburgh ranks 29th in the NFL in passing yards allowed (3,649). The Lions have also been trending towards a more pass-heavy offense in the second half of the season, as quarterback
Jared Goff has attempted at least 33 passes in six out of the team's last seven games. Given the combination of likely target volume and his opponent, St. Brown could be in for another big performance and profiles as a must-start fantasy wide receiver in Week 16.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
Detroit Lions running back
David Montgomery enters his Week 16 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on a hot streak, as he's recorded a rushing touchdown in three straight contests. However, Montgomery's recent usage paints a more worrying picture for his production. The 28-year-old has recorded double-digit touches just once in his last five games, and he's played fewer than 40% of the Lions' offensive snaps in six out of the last seven contests. Montgomery's limited workload makes him highly dependent on touchdowns for fantasy production, which may be hard to come by against Pittsburgh. Entering Week 16, the Steelers defense has allowed just 10 rushing touchdowns on the season, which ranks tied for fifth-fewest in the NFL. Montgomery profiles as a low-end flex option for fantasy managers in Week 16.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
Carolina Panthers running back
Chuba Hubbard had just eight carries for 29 rushing yards in last week's loss to the New Orleans Saints. He also caught just one of his two targets for nine receiving yards. Fantasy managers were hoping that Hubbard would replicate his previous performance, in which he had 19 touches, 124 scrimmage yards, and one touchdown, but that wasn't the case. He mustered just 3.6 yards per carry, which was his lowest mark since Week 9, and only played 42% of the offensive snaps. The 26-year-old could be headed for a similar role this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as
Rico Dowdle projects to lead Carolina's backfield once again. The Bucs have allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards to running backs in 2025, and while they've been porous against running backs in the passing game, Hubbard will likely share passing-down work with Dowdle. Hubbard has dropped to the overall RB43 spot in RotoBaller's fantasy rankings for Week 16. He can be benched in most leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kaleb Johnson continues to be one of the most disappointing rookies from the 2025 draft class. The 22-year-old Iowa product played a marginal role once again last week, amassing two carries for four rushing yards on a 3% snap share in the Steelers' win over the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. In total this year, he has 28 carries, 69 rushing yards, one catch, and nine receiving yards. He hasn't earned more than six touches in a single game, and he has played more than 12% of the offensive snaps in just two contests. It's not like Johnson has been relegated to special teams, either. He has just 11 special teams snaps this year and hasn't handled a single kick or punt return since a Week 2 blunder in the end zone that directly resulted in an opponent touchdown. Johnson and his fantasy managers are certainly ready to close the book on the 2025 season and turn the page to next year. With
Kenneth Gainwell set to hit free agency in March, Johnson could have a chance to carve out a fantasy-relevant role behind
Jaylen Warren in 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
Detroit Lions running back
Jahmyr Gibbs had a disappointing game in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams, totaling just 58 scrimmage yards and failing to reach the end zone on 17 touches. On the bright side, the 23-year-old continues to feature heavily in the Detroit passing game. Gibbs earned seven targets in Week 15 and has seen 38 targets across five games since Lions tight end
Sam LaPorta (back) was placed on Injured Reserve with a back injury. In Week 16, Gibbs and the Lions will host the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh's defense profiles as a mid-pack unit against the run, ranking 19th in the NFL in total rushing yards allowed (1,692). Gibbs should continue to see a heavy volume of touches as both a rusher and a receiver, and his big-play ability allows for explosive upside. Fantasy managers can view Gibbs as a must-start running back in Week 16.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
Tennessee Titans wide receiver
Chimere Dike continues to earn snaps and targets deep into his rookie season, but he has posted a stretch of low yardage totals that make it difficult to trust him in fantasy football. Despite garnering 24 targets and 15 catches over his last four games, he has just 93 yards during that span. That comes out to a subpar average of 6.2 yards per catch and 23.3 yards per game. Outside of touchdowns, most of Dike's recent points have come from catches rather than yards, and that only benefits him in half-PPR or full-PPR leagues. Among 119 qualified wide receivers last week, he ranked fifth-lowest in air yards (1 yard) and average depth of target (0.2 yards). We could expect a similar trend this week as Dike faces the Chiefs and continues to handle a heavy dose of routes in the slot. This year, he has 307 slot snaps, which ranks ninth-most among NFL wide receivers. The Chiefs have allowed the 11th-lowest rate of wide receiver fantasy points to slot receivers (32%) in 2025. Dike has dropped all the way down to WR56 in RotoBaller's Week 16 fantasy rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 19, 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles defense/special teams unit achieved their first shutout of the season against the Raiders, while also recording four sacks and an interception. Philly has racked up 11 sacks over the last two weeks, and will now face the Commanders who have given up 33 sacks this season-tied for 13th-most in the NFL. Washington has also turned the ball over 20 times in 14 games, which is tied for the fourth-most in the league. The Commanders are also without starting QB
Jayden Daniels, and Philly held Raiders backup QB
Kenny Pickett to 64 passing yards and an interception last week. It's a promising matchup, and the Eagles D/ST is definitely a solid start in Week 16.
--Ricky Maloney - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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