December 20, 2025
Houston Texans kicker
Ka'imi Fairbairn is in a great spot at home against the Raiders, and he's a great option for your fantasy lineups this week. He went 4-for-5 on field-goal attempts last week and made all four of his extra-point attempts. He's 33-for-37 on field goals for the season with all four of his misses from beyond 50 yards. The Texans' offense typically plays conservatively in the red zone and takes points, giving Fairbairn plenty of chances to kick field goals. He has two or more field goals in 11 of his 12 regular-season games, with four or more in three of those contests. With so many chances and playing indoors at home against the Raiders, Fairbairn is the No. 1 kicker in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
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
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz has emerged as a top-10 tight end this season as one of the primary options in his team's passing attack. Even though the Raiders have been good against the position this season, Schultz has been consistent enough to still be a good option for your fantasy lineups in standard-sized leagues. Schultz had eight catches for 76 yards and a touchdown last week against the Cardinals, and he has at least six catches in five of his last seven games. He's averaging 5.0 catches for 46.4 receiving yards per game this season and is a PPR beast. He gets plenty of targets and catches, so even though his yardage isn't always spectacular, he's a strong starter. In RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings, Schultz is ranked as the No. 8 TE.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Christian Kirk (illness) has a questionable tag for Sunday's matchup against the Raiders after missing practice on Friday. The veteran slot receiver has been in a minimal role lately for the Texans, playing just 16 snaps on offense in Week 15 against the Cardinals and not getting a target. He only had one catch in the last three games combined and has zero or one catch in six of his last seven contests. He's only the No. 83 WR in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings, so despite a favorable matchup against the Raiders, he isn't a good option even if he does manage to play through his illness. If he's out,
Xavier Hutchinson and rookie
Jaylin Noel could get a little more work.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Jayden Higgins has established himself as the team's secondary wide receiver behind
Nico Collins, but he remains a very volatile play from week-to-week since the team prefers to rely on its defense and running the ball instead of airing it out. Higgins only had one catch for four yards last week after hauling in at least three catches in five straight weeks. He should be able to bounce back in a favorable matchup against the Raiders, and he does have four touchdowns on the season. The rookie from Iowa State has upside enough to take a flier on if you are desperate in deep leagues, but he's only the No. 45 WR in RotoBaller's rankings, making him an option best left on the bench if possible this week.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins had his first multi-touchdown game of the season last week, hauling in three of his four targets for 85 yards and two scores. He has at least three catches in each of his 13 games this season and has racked up 1,001 receiving yards to go with his seven total touchdowns. Collins usually gets more targets than he did last week, but the Texans played from comfortably ahead of the Cardinals. A similar game script could be loading for this week against the Raiders, but Collins still brings plenty of upside as
C.J. Stroud's go-to target in every scenario. Collins is the No. 6 WR in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings, and he can be started confidently in all formats for this matchup with the Raiders, who have allowed 16 WR touchdowns in their 14 games this season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Jawhar Jordan had an impressive NFL debut last week, taking 15 carries for 101 rushing yards against the Cardinals. The sixth-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft out of Louisville had yet to make an NFL appearance until last week, and despite his impressive debut, it's not clear what his role will be as the Texans host the Raiders. Both
Woody Marks (ankle) and
Nick Chubb (ribs) are questionable, and if either is out or limited, Jordan could pick up significant work. He is high-risk since he could end up with just a few carries, but the potential is there for another good game if he gets chances against the Raiders, who have been a favorable matchup for opposing running backs, especially lately. Jordan is the RB No. 55 this week in RotoBaller's rankings, so he is a very high-risk play, but if he gets opportunities, he showed enough potential last week to be a fascinating fantasy football sleeper.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Nick Chubb (ribs) is questionable for this week's home game against Las Vegas, but he was able to get in full practices on Thursday and Friday, so he's trending towards being able to return. He could end up as the primary running back, depending on the status of
Woody Marks (ankle), who is also questionable. Chubb has 472 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the year, and he has been a solid grinder even though his big-play upside seems to be mostly behind him at this point in his career. Chubb is the No. 46 RB in RotoBaller's rankings this week, making him too high-risk to play in most formats. If Marks is ruled out, Chubb would have touchdown-dependent flex potential, but
Jawhar Jordan, last week's hero, could also be in the mix to still limit Chubb's upside. Facing the Raiders is a favorable spot, though, so whoever gets the carries for Houston should be a good fantasy play.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver
Jack Bech was pretty quiet in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, logging two receptions for 17 yards off three targets. Notably, the young pass catcher's playtime was remarkably consistent between Weeks 14 and 15. In both games, Bech played 81% of the snaps, ran 82% of the team's routes, and had two targets with over ten air yards. The rookie wide receiver has a terrible matchup in Week 16 on the road against the Houston Texans and their top-rated defense, which is likely to hamper his fantasy production. Bech is quarterback
Geno Smith's (shoulder, back) fourth or fifth receiving option, but he is carving out his niche and potential future with the Raiders heading into the season's final weeks. As a result, the rookie remains relevant only in dynasty leagues as a stash and is unlikely to warrant a starting position in Week 16 for redraft leagues.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
Houston Texans running back
Woody Marks (ankle) was set up for success last week, but he was forced to leave the game after just seven carries. If he does play, he'll be a strong option against the Raiders, but the Texans will be cautious with their rookie rusher. Last week, before his injury, he ran for 30 yards and caught his only target for eight yards. He still had a decent fantasy day since he had a touchdown on what was called a fumble recovery rather than a carry, when a goal-line snap went through
C.J. Stroud's legs straight to Marks. Marks didn't practice at all on Wednesday or Thursday, but was able to get a limited session on Friday before earning his questionable tag. If he plays, he'll be a solid RB2, since he's ranked as the RB No. 17 in RotoBaller's rankings. The Raiders have allowed 16 running back touchdowns on the season, including seven in the last four games, so whoever gets the work in Houston's backfield should be in position for a strong showing on Sunday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Houston Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud has helped the Texans to six straight wins and is coming off one of his best games of the season. He'll look to keep rolling in a favorable spot against the visiting Raiders on Sunday in the late wave of games. Stroud threw for three touchdowns and 260 yards last week against the Cardinals and has posted over 250 passing yards in three of his last four full games (not counting his early exit due to a concussion). Stroud is up to 15 touchdowns on the season, and he's been especially sharp at home with eight touchdowns and just one interception. The Texans' backfield is banged up with both
Woody Marks (ankle) and
Nick Chubb (ribs) questionable for this contest, so Stroud may have to pass a little more even if the Texans play from ahead. In this favorable spot, Stroud is ranked the No. 13 QB in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings, making him a great start in two-QB leagues but a low-end option in single-quarterback formats.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Miami Dolphins tight end
Darren Waller caught a pair of touchdown passes in his team's Monday Night Football loss to the Steelers, giving him six touchdowns in just six full games this season. He's in a great matchup this week against the Bengals, who allow more fantasy points to tight ends than any other team in the NFL by a wide margin. Waller has shown he can still be a key contributor, especially near the end zone, but he will be working with a new quarterback this week as the Dolphins turn to rookie
Quinn Ewers under center instead of
Tua Tagovailoa. Ewers could look to Waller even more, especially in such a juicy matchup, but there's also a chance that the rookie can't get much going or focuses on other options. He's a volatile play, but he has enough upside to still be a solid starting option, so he's ranked as the No. 9 TE in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Miami Dolphins wide receiver
Malik Washington has shown flashes of play-making ability and good upside, and he has clearly been the team's second receiver behind
Jaylen Waddle. However, his production has been inconsistent overall, and he'll be working with a new QB in a tough matchup this week, so he's not a strong fantasy option in most standard formats. Washington only had one catch on one target last week and has yet to reach 50 receiving yards in any game this season. With the whole passing game stuck in neutral, the Dolphins are changing from
Tua Tagovailoa to
Quinn Ewers for this week's matchup, which could jump-start the offense, or the team's passing game could continue to scuffle. With so much uncertainty and a low floor, Washington is only the No. 69 WR in RotoBaller's rankings, meaning he should be on the bench or on the waiver wire in most leagues.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Tre Tucker failed to haul in a single catch on three targets in the team's 31-0 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15. The 24-year-old pass catcher has a terrible matchup in Week 16 on the road against the Houston Texans and their top-rated defense. Tucker is primarily an intermediate-to-deep threat with his 10.5 average air yards per target. Still, the Texans are giving up an average of 5.1 passing yards per play this season, which is likely to limit Tucker's upside. Since Week 9, Tucker has averaged a 96% snap share and a near-perfect route participation rate, but has only 17 receptions for 185 yards and one touchdown over that span. The third-year wide receiver is still getting ample opportunities to produce, which may be appealing to deep league fantasy managers. However, Tucker is being profiled as a WR4/Flex and is outside starting lineups in most Week 16 formats.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
Miami Dolphins wide receiver
Jaylen Waddle has clearly been the Dolphins' go-to wide receiver since
Tyreek Hill (knee) sustained a season-ending injury, but this week against the Bengals, he'll be working with a new QB, which makes him much higher risk. Last week against the Steelers, Waddle only managed two catches for 26 yards in the Dolphins' defeat. Since that loss eliminated the team from playoff contention, it was also likely the end of the season for
Tua Tagovailoa, who will be replaced by
Quinn Ewers for this week's matchup. Waddle has turned his 90 targets into 59 catches for 838 receiving yards and six touchdowns this season, and he should remain the focus of the passing game with a high ceiling. The rookie QB taking over does raise Waddle's risk, though, which is why he's slid to no. 24 in RotoBaller's WR rankings this week, making him a WR3 or flex play in standard leagues, instead of a reliable WR2.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NFL.com
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