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
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
Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) is trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday Night Football against the New England Patriots in Week 16. According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Hamilton "is more likely to play than not." The 24-year-old had been listed as questionable and will work out pregame to gain more clarity on whether he'll be able to suit up. He has been productive in his fourth NFL season, amassing 87 tackles, one sack, and two forced fumbles over the course of 13 games. The Ravens' list of inactive players will be published around 6:50 p.m. EST on Sunday evening.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
December 21, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (lung) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Detroit Lions, and he could miss additional time beyond this week, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Watt is headed for his second consecutive absence after a scary situation in which he was hospitalized with a partially collapsed lung. The defensive superstar is prioritizing his health and acknowledges that returning to play is far less important than getting healthy. Watt is due for more medical evaluation next week, and while a Week 17 return remains possible, it's far from certain. Pittsburgh will welcome him back with open arms whenever possible, as he terrorized opposing offenses with 53 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one interception through 13 games.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
December 20, 2025
Three players were disqualified during the fourth quarter of Saturday's Week 16 contest between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders. Following a scuffle after a two-point conversion, Eagles right guard Tyler Steen, Commanders defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, and Commanders safety Quan Martin were all disqualified. Several players threw punches in the fracas. Steen hadn't previously missed a snap since Week 4. He'll be replaced by Matt Pryor at right guard for the final minutes of Saturday's contest. Kinlaw, who had three tackles before his ejection, will be replaced by Jer'Zhan Newton. Finally, Jeremy Reaves should take over for Martin, who had amassed two tackles.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ari Meirov
December 20, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (hamstring) exited during the first quarter of Saturday's Week 16 contest. He is officially listed as questionable to return. Dean suffered the injury while tackling
Treylon Burks on a completion over the middle. The 25-year-old had four sacks over his previous six games, so Philadelphia will hope he's able to return sooner rather than later. In the meantime, first-round rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell will enter the game in Dean's absence.
--Andersen PickardSource: Philadelphia Eagles
December 20, 2025
The Broncos' defense enters Week 16 as one of the league's best and will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in what could be another defensive matchup. The Broncos' defense currently ranks second in the league in average points per game allowed at just 18.6, and the Jaguars' defense isn't too far behind them at tenth with just 20.9. Since the Jaguars are ranked as a top-ten offense in scoring with 26.9 points per game, the Broncos will have a great test in containing them. With RotoBaller ranking the Broncos' defense at seventh overall for Week 16, fantasy managers should still feel confident in starting them despite the tough matchup.
--Luke DeMarcusSource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars DST is a decent starting option most weeks, but could struggle against the Denver Broncos. In important Week 16 playoff matchups, fantasy teams should be looking for defenses with better matchups. However, given the defense's ability to force turnovers, the Broncos aren't the worst matchup.
Bo Nix is a good quarterback, but he is prone to turnovers at times, so the Jaguars could get a pick-six and have a fantasy-worthy week. Still, in a matchup that is important for both teams in the real NFL standings, the Broncos will likely play a bit more carefully and protect the ball. Fantasy managers can do worse, but Jacksonville can be used as a streamer and come in as DST12 in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 16.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBallerSource: D/ST 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
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
The New Orleans Saints D/ST allowed 17 points, recording one sack and one fumble recovery in the Week 15 victory against the Panthers. The Saints defense has been surprisingly solid all season, allowing 23.7 points per game (19th), 311.2 yards per game (11th), and ranking 19th in takeaways. They draw an ideal matchup in Week 16 against the Jets, who have turned the ball over three times in each of their last two games and have allowed 50 sacks on the year, the third-highest total in the league. New York will also start rookie quarterback
Brady Cook, who threw three interceptions and was sacked three times against the Jaguars. The Saints D/ST is a top-tier fantasy option this week.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
The Houston Texans defense has been outstanding all season, and they're in an awesome matchup this week against the struggling Raiders. The Texans are the No. 1 DST in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings and make a great start in all formats. Houston has forced 24 turnovers and racked up 38 sacks while holding opponents to 20 points or fewer in 12 of their 14 games. The Raiders have been the best matchup for DST this season, allowing at least four sacks in five straight games, with a total of 27 sacks allowed over that span. They've also had 18 turnovers in 14 games, so look for the Texans to harass
Geno Smith all game long and rack up sacks and takeaways in a great home matchup for this elite squad.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
The New England Patriots D/ST comes with plenty of risk in fantasy football ahead of their Week 16 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Although Baltimore and quarterback
Lamar Jackson endured a rough patch filled with plenty of turnovers back in November, they've since cleaned things up and executed an impressive 24-0 win over the Bengals last weekend. Jackson had two passing touchdowns and
Derrick Henry rushed for 100 yards in the win, suggesting that the Ravens' offense is back to being quite potent. To make matters worse, New England finds itself short-staffed on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle) has already been ruled out. Meanwhile, linebacker Harold Landry III (knee) and defensive tackle Christian Barmore (knee) are both questionable. The Patriots' defense, which has scored the 12th-most fantasy points among D/ST units in 2025, could be without key personnel as they look to slow down this Jackson-led Ravens offense on Sunday Night Football. As it stands, New England ranks #17 among D/ST units in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
The Detroit Lions' defense has had its struggles of late, allowing an average of 32.3 points per game over the last four weeks. The Lions' pass defense has been the major issue, as it currently ranks 27th in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.5) and tied for 30th in passing touchdowns allowed (28). Detroit has lost both safety Brian Branch (Achilles) and Terrion Arnold (shoulder) to season-ending injury, and will remain without All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph (knee) in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh profiles as a middling pass offense, entering the week ranked 23rd in total passing yards (2,904) and 18th in yards per pass attempt (6.9). However, the Steelers are coming off two of their better offensive performances of the season, dropping 27 points on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14 and 28 points on the Miami Dolphins in Week 15. Given their banged-up secondary and recent difficulties, the Lions D/ST profiles as a unit for fantasy managers to avoid in Week 16.
--Will BradySource: 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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