December 20, 2025
Buffalo Bills running back
Ty Johnson carried the ball four times for 13 yards and added 15 receiving yards on three catches against the New England Patriots. Johnson entered the 2025 season as the expected RB3, behind
James Cook and second-year back
Ray Davis. However, Johnson's receiving ability has earned him more snaps than Davis, outsnapping him 29% to 12% on the season. He faces a Cleveland Browns defense that has ranked middle-of-the-pack against running backs this season but has struggled to slow down
Tony Pollard and D'Andre Swift in back-to-back weeks. While Johnson carries a safe floor with his strong skill set in the receiving game, his upside is capped by Cook's dominance of touches. Johnson should be out of starting lineups in fantasy leagues this week.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
New York Jets wide receiver
John Metchie III has cooled in recent weeks, but holds low-end PPR appeal for Sunday's road matchup with the New Orleans Saints. Metchie kicked off his tenure with New York, corralling an excellent 91% of his targets through his first three appearances (10-of-11). However, in the three games since, the 25-year-old has posted a paltry 57% catch rate while racking up 78 yards total. In spite of the minimal production, he's remained heavily involved, ranking only behind teammate
Adonai Mitchell in targets over that span (27-21). With
Garrett Wilson (knee) ruled out for the remainder of the season, Metchie and Mitchell are poised to lead New York's WR corps, though they'll do so with rookie
Brady Cook at the helm. Cook's performance through two weeks has undoubtedly left fantasy managers wanting, but there's been some good along with the bad. If he continues to develop, the aforementioned duo will be in a decent spot. For now, Metchie ranks as RotoBaller's PPR WR49 against the hosting Saints.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
Buffalo Bills running back
James Cook had a monster game in Week 15, totaling 111 yards and three total touchdowns against one of the strongest run defenses in the NFL, the New England Patriots. Cook has ascended every season of his career, as he ranks second in the NFL in rushing (1415) behind only
Jonathan Taylor. They face the Cleveland Browns in Week 16, who started the season as one of the best defenses against the run, but have struggled in recent weeks. Both
Tony Pollard and D'Andre Swift had over 100 scrimmage yards and multiple touchdowns against this Browns defense, so watch for another explosive game from the fourth-year back. Cook is a high-end RB1 who carries as much upside as any back in the NFL in Week 16.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
New York Jets wide receiver
Adonai Mitchell will attempt to keep the good times rolling in Week 16 when his team squares off with the hosting New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mitchell's output with the Jets has been anything but predictable. In five games since joining the team, the former second-round pick has notched three outings with two or fewer receptions and two with six or more and a touchdown, presenting as a true boom-bust option in New York's attack. With the news that teammate
Garrett Wilson (knee) will miss the remainder of the campaign, Mitchell should act as, at worst, a 1B option in tandem with
John Metchie III. Metchie and Mitchell complement each other nicely, though an inexperienced signal-caller in rookie
Brady Cook lowers the team's overall ceiling. That said, New Orleans' defense is by no means a juggernaut, leaving the door open for fantasy viability as the Jets try to close out the campaign on the right foot. Mitchell lands as RotoBaller's PPR WR36 for his outing with the Saints.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
New York Jets running back
Breece Hall is coming off one of his worst performances of the season in last weekend's road loss to the Jaguars, but he will look to rebound against a porous New Orleans Saints rush defense in Week 16. The Nebraska native tied a season-low percentage of team plays last Sunday (54%) while totaling 35 scrimmage yards on 14 combined touches. It was a disappointing output for him, even in a less-than-ideal matchup. Despite not missing any time in practice this week while designated with a knee injury, it's unclear if the issue played a part in his Week 15 workload. Fortunately, New Orleans presents as a much more favorable matchup, and he'll have a chance to bounce back against a unit that's yielded 130.6 yards per game on the ground to the opposition (seventh-most). Hall will still be a risky play with rookie
Brady Cook under center, but slots in as a low-end RB2, and, officially, RotoBaller's PPR RB18 for this week's slate of action.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen continues to dominate in December, as he looks to take down the Cleveland Browns. Over the past two games, Allen has completed 73% of his passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns on average, while adding 126 yards and a touchdown on the ground. In his career, he has thrown 60 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 32 career games in December, while scoring 24 rushing touchdowns on top of that. It's clear that no matter the weather conditions, Allen can overcome them, and he'll have to do so again this week in Cleveland. The Browns have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, and winds are expected to gust over 25 mph on Sunday. The "Winter Soldier" will look to dominate yet again in Week 16, as he's a locked-in QB1 against this Browns defense.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
New York Jets quarterback
Brady Cook will get another chance to prove he's the solution under center in this Sunday's road matchup with the New Orleans Saints. Cook took the field for his first start in Week 15's 48-20 loss to the Jaguars. While the outcome and stat line aren't anything to write home about, the 24-year-old showed at least a little capability in moving the offense, leaving a trace of hope that New York's skill players may still hold a bit of fantasy value down the stretch. New Orleans' defense has, on paper, been decent against quarterbacks, allowing the sixth-fewest passing yards per game (180.6). However, some of that might be in part to a front seven that's vulnerable to the rush (130.6 YPG [seventh-most]). If the rookie can contribute on the ground weekly, he may boast some streaming appeal in superflex formats over the season's final few weeks. That said, fantasy managers will want to look elsewhere for another game as he continues to grow accustomed to life in the NFL. Cook is RotoBaller's QB29 for Week 16's outing.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
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
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