December 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Sterling Shepard (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Carolina Panthers. Shepard didn't log a snap in last week's loss to the Falcons, as he saw his role disappear with
Mike Evans and
Jalen McMillan returning from injured reserve. Now, with Tampa Bay carrying only five wide receivers into today's divisional battle with Carolina, Shepard is the odd man out, rather than fellow depth receiver
Tez Johnson. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and
Emeka Egbuka continue to lead this receiver room, while McMillan and Johnson fill depth roles. Shepard can be dropped in most fantasy leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
December 21, 2025
New York Jets quarterback
Justin Fields (knee) is officially inactive for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, while
Tyrod Taylor (groin, knee) will be active as the QB2 behind undrafted rookie
Brady Cook. Both quarterbacks were questionable heading into Sunday, with Fields' status more in doubt after being limited in practice this week. As a result, the 2021 first-round pick will at least serve as the emergency QB3 in Week 16. Taylor was expected to serve as the backup to Cook after logging a full practice on Friday. Cook shouldn't be considered as a fantasy option against a New Orleans Saints defense that has been stingy against the pass in recent weeks. In his NFL debut last weekend, Cook threw three interceptions with just one passing score and 176 passing yards.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Rich Cimini
December 21, 2025
New York Giants wide receiver
Jalin Hyatt (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. The former third-round pick continues to be an afterthought in the Giants' offense, and this week, it will cost him his spot on the gameday roster. Hyatt played only 6% of the offensive snaps in Week 15, and he has caught just five of his 14 targets for 35 yards this season. His absence is likely a direct result of
Gunner Olszewski (concussion) returning from his one-week absence. The 24-year-old can be left on waivers in fantasy football.
--Andersen PickardSource: Madelyn Burke
December 21, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston (groin) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Johnston was listed as questionable after being a limited participant in practice this week while managing a groin injury. The 24-year-old missed last week's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he should return to a full-time role in a favorable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys' 32nd-ranked pass defense. The TCU product has played 12 games this season, collecting 42 receptions for 533 yards and seven touchdowns on 71 targets. He projects as an upside WR4 for Week 16, facing a weak Dallas secondary.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Adam Schefter
December 21, 2025
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
Jalen Tolbert (coach's decision) and running back
Jaydon Blue (coach's decision) are both healthy scratches for Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. Tolbert is now headed for his third consecutive absence, and he hasn't logged a catch since Week 8.
Ryan Flournoy,
KaVontae Turpin, and
Jonathan Mingo have offered more value in their depth roles behind
CeeDee Lamb and
George Pickens, leading to Tolbert being inactive. He can be dropped in all fantasy leagues. Meanwhile, Blue remains the odd man out from the Cowboys' backfield and is inactive for the seventh game in a row. Dallas' backfield will continue to feature just two running backs --
Javonte Williams and
Malik Davis -- as well as fullback
Hunter Luepke. Blue can be dropped in redraft leagues, but he remains an intriguing dynasty stash.
--Andersen PickardSource: Patrik Walker
December 21, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver
D.J. Moore hauled in five of seven targets for 97 yards and a touchdown, while adding 12 rushing yards in the 22-16 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers. After being held without a catch in the first half, Moore erupted, reeling in the game-winning 46-yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Caleb Williams. With
Rome Odunze (foot) and rookie
Luther Burden III (ankle) inactive for Saturday's showdown, Moore was the top receiver, leading the team in nearly every statistical category and playing a season-high 95% of the snaps. With no update on whether either receiver will be back by their Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Moore could once again operate as the WR1 in this offense and be a must-start option if Odunze and Burden are ruled out once again.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 21, 2025
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. He had been listed as questionable but was expected to play after the Cowboys activated him from injured reserve on Saturday. He's returning from an eight-game absence, offering key reinforcements to a Dallas secondary that just lost Daron Bland (foot) to IR. Through his first six games this year, Diggs had logged 18 tackles. He's still looking for his first interception of the season.
--Andersen PickardSource: Patrik Walker
December 21, 2025
Chicago Bears rookie running back
Kyle Monangai was efficient in Week 16, carrying the ball nine times for 50 yards and adding three catches for 43 yards in the 22-16 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers. After struggling to produce in the previous two outings, Monangai was a freight train on Saturday, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and moving the chains five times on his 12 total attempts. Monangai is averaging 8.9 fantasy points per game this season and is just 99 rushing yards away from passing Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco for most rushing yards by a seventh-rounder in their rookie season. He faces the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 and should be considered a FLEX play moving forward.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 21, 2025
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Keon Coleman will be a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns, NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reports. The Bills recently activated
Mecole Hardman (calf) off Injured Reserve, and he will be active in Coleman's place. Coleman was a healthy scratch in Weeks 11 and 12 for disciplinary reasons, and his Week 16 absence is reportedly a coach's decision. It's been a disappointing season for the second-year wideout, totalling 36 catches (55 targets) for 355 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games, with 112 of those yards coming in Week 1. With Coleman out again,
Joshua Palmer,
Brandin Cooks,
Tyrell Shavers, and Hardman will all be in the mix for more opportunities behind
Khalil Shakir, who remains Buffalo's clear WR1 on Sunday.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Cameron Wolfe
December 21, 2025
Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Quinnen Williams (concussion, neck) is inactive for Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. He had been listed as questionable. Williams logged a full practice on Friday, but the team updated his status on Saturday to clarify that he's now dealing with a neck injury, in addition to the concussion. It's possible that Williams cleared concussion protocol in time for the kickoff, and the neck injury could be the reason for his absence. The 28-year-old has appeared in 13 games with the Jets and Cowboys this season, amassing 48 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception. Kenny Clark and Solomon Thomas should earn more defensive snaps in his absence.
--Andersen PickardSource: Patrik Walker
December 21, 2025
Chicago Bears quarterback
Caleb Williams completed 19 of 34 passes for 250 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in the thrilling 22-16 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers. Williams entered the fourth quarter with under 125 passing yards and just nine completions, but a positive game script and the second-year quarterback's clutch playmaking saved the day. The Bears are now 11-4 and control their destiny to win the NFC North, and none of this would be possible without the massive leap Williams has taken in his second season. They face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night in Week 17, which could be a hat-and-T-shirt game for Williams and the Bears. For fantasy purposes, Williams will continue to be a risky QB2 due to his low volume in Ben Johnson's offense.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 21, 2025
New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Mason Tipton (illness) is officially active for Sunday's Week 16 contest against the New York Jets. He had been listed as questionable after missing two consecutive practices. In the end, though, he'll suit up for this contest between two eliminated teams. Tipton saw a bump in targets after the Saints' Week 11 bye, around the same time they parted ways with wide receivers
Rashid Shaheed and
Brandin Cooks. The 25-year-old has seven catches for 47 yards over his last four games, but only one catch over the last two weeks. On a more positive note, he played 80% of the snaps last week. If he logs a similar amount of plays this week, his target share could go up, especially with
Devaughn Vele (shoulder) now on injured reserve. With that said, Tipton remains stuck behind
Chris Olave and
Juwan Johnson in the passing game pecking order. He can be avoided in all fantasy leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ross Jackson
December 21, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins (concussion) is active for Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Miami Dolphins, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Higgins, who had been listed as questionable, cleared concussion protocol prior to kickoff and is officially back from a one-game absence. The 26-year-old has impressed with 46 catches, 667 yards, and nine touchdowns over his last 12 healthy games, and he continues to trend upward after
Joe Burrow returned from his toe injury earlier this month. Time and time again, the former second-round receiver has shown that he and Ja'Marr Chase can co-exist as dependable fantasy options in this high-powered offense. Higgins, who has turned into quite the scoring threat with 19 touchdowns over his last 22 games, ranks as a high-end WR2 this week in Miami.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeremy Fowler
December 21, 2025
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Courtland Sutton has been highly productive in three games since his team's bye week, catching 18 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He ranks as the overall WR8 in half-PPR leagues during that span. The veteran receiver has found his stride at the perfect time, breaking an ugly stretch of four games with 11 or fewer fantasy points prior to the bye. In particular, he has emerged as an intriguing threat deep downfield, just in time for the fantasy playoffs. Last week, Sutton racked up 136 air yards (ninth-most among NFL wide receivers) and an ADOT of 13.6 yards. He should remain highly productive in Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who rank right near the middle of the league with the 16th-most fantasy points allowed to wide receivers in 2025. Sutton has jumped to the WR14 spot in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 21, 2025
New York Giants wide receiver
Wan'Dale Robinson has been playing at an incredibly high level ever since quarterback
Jaxson Dart returned from his concussion. Over his last three games, the 24-year-old receiver has 32 targets, 21 catches, 244 yards, and two touchdowns. He ranks as the overall WR7 in full-PPR fantasy points per game during that span. In addition to commanding a high dose of targets, Robinson has impressed with his ability to create after the catch. Last week, he had 23 yards after the catch, which ranked 16th-highest among all NFL receivers. Now, he'll take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. The Vikings have a strong defense under coordinator Brian Flores, allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025. Still, Robinson should have another productive game with a high dose of targets and catches, as well as plenty of opportunities to make plays with the ball in his hands. He remains a very strong WR2 for fantasy football in Week 16.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
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