December 20, 2025
The Buffalo Bills have elevated kicker
Michael Badgley from the practice squad to the active roster and activated wide receiver
Mecole Hardman (calf) from Injured Reserve. Badgley will be filling in for an injured
Matt Prater (quadriceps), who could be looking at a multi-game absence. The 30-year-old Badgley was signed to the Bills' practice squad after beginning the season with the Indianapolis Colts, where he made 10 of his 11 field goal attempts and 18 of his 21 extra points in seven games. Hardman, on the other hand, landed on IR after injuring his calf in his first game with the Bills in Week 11's win over the Buccaneers. The 27-year-old wideout is unlikely to be a significant factor in the Bills' offense, but should play a role on special teams in Week 16's game versus the Cleveland Browns.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Buffalo Bills PR
December 20, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado is expected to handle an increased workload against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, but his fantasy outlook remains murky. He is on track to operate as the backup to
Michael Carter this week after
Zonovan Knight (ankle) was placed on injured reserve. While Demercado was viewed as Arizona's passing-down specialist at points earlier this season, it's unclear whether that remains his role given how well Carter has performed in the passing game lately. Carter has 19 catches over his last five games, whereas Demercado has just 10 catches through parts of 10 games this year. Rather than being a true passing-down specialist, it seems more likely that the 26-year-old will fall into a change-of-pace role, allowing the Cardinals to manage Carter's workload and keep him fresh. Demercado has shown impressive burst in the past, and his 8.3 yards per carry over the last two seasons indicates that he's capable of breaking off big plays. His fantasy value in Week 16 likely hinges on whether he's able to break off any big runs or catches against the Falcons. In other words, he'll need high efficiency to overcome a backup's workload. He currently ranks as the RB51 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) missed practice for the third straight day on Saturday and is considered unlikely to play Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports. Pearsall aggravated his PCL injury during last week's win over the Tennessee Titans and is set to miss more time. The second-year wideout still produced a strong receiving line despite picking up the injury, catching six of seven targets for 96 yards.
Jauan Jennings should be in line to see an uptick in opportunities behind
Christian McCaffrey and
George Kittle in San Francisco's pass game on Monday night, with
Kendrick Bourne also in line to fill in for extra reps.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Matt Barrows
December 20, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Michael Wilson should remain a strong fantasy option against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 despite the potential return of
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel). Harrison, listed as questionable, is working his way back from missing four games in the last five weeks. Wilson has been at his best when Harrison is inactive. During those four games, he averaged a whopping 15.0 targets, 10.3 catches, 124.8 yards, and 0.8 touchdowns. Harrison's potential return would certainly lower his ceiling and floor, but he can still be a viable fantasy starter, especially with
Jacoby Brissett throwing the ball at least 40 times every game. Wilson has low-end WR1 upside if Harrison sits out, and he'd be a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 with Harrison playing. Even if Harrison suits up, we wouldn't be surprised to see Wilson lead the Cardinals' wide receiver room in snaps, targets, catches, and yards, given how well he has played lately. He ranks as the overall WR15 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie tight end
Gunnar Helm (toe) is expected to play on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Helm was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to full on Friday. The rookie fourth-rounder has emerged as one of the few bright spots on the Titans' offense in recent weeks. He caught all four of his targets for 49 yards and his second touchdown of the season in last week's loss to the 49ers. The Texas product leads the team with 131 receiving yards over the past four games, ranking as the TE15 in that span. Helm's stock is trending up, and he projects as an upside TE2 option even in a tougher matchup on Sunday against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has given up the fifth fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Jeremy Fowler
December 20, 2025
Arizona Cardinals tight end
Trey McBride remains a top fantasy option despite a difficult matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16. On paper, it may appear that the odds are stacked against McBride. Not only is he facing a Falcons defense that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in 2025, but he could also face additional competition if
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel, questionable) returns from his two-game absence. However, McBride has consistently established himself as matchup-proof this year, so he should feast despite facing Atlanta. Furthermore, he could still lead the team in targets and catches, even if Harrison does return to the mix. In total this year, the 26-year-old has 105 catches, 1,071 yards, and a career-high 10 touchdowns. He is on track to finish this year as the overall TE1 in PPR leagues after finishing 2024 as the TE2. McBride has especially benefited from the presence of quarterback
Jacoby Brissett. In full-PPR leagues, he averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game with
Kyler Murray (foot) as the starter, and a whopping 23.3 fantasy points per game with Brissett as the starter. We should expect more otherworldly, video-game numbers from McBride this week. He's the undisputed TE1 in this week's fantasy rankings and should be a must-start as the fantasy playoffs continue.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Tennessee Titans tight end
Chig Okonkwo isn't a realistic fantasy option for Week 16's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Okonkwo has yet to find the end zone in 14 games this season and hasn't exceeded four catches in a game. The 26-year-old tight end is second on the team in receiving yards over the past four games, but that's more of a reflection of how poor the Titans' offense is. Okonkwo has a tough matchup on deck in Week 16 against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. He's fallen outside the top 32 tight ends in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver
Elic Ayomanor hasn't been a trustworthy fantasy option despite playing a full-time role since the start of the season. Ayomanor has caught just one ball in each of the past three games after recording multiple receptions in his first 10 games. His two lowest target totals of the season have also come in the past two games. The rookie fourth-rounder has scored double-digit PPR points twice in 13 games, coming back in Weeks 2 and 3. Ayomanor is tough to trust beyond a deep league FLEX option for Week 16's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Michael Carter should lead the backfield against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, reinforcing his fantasy value as a low-end RB2 or high-end RB3 in fantasy football. Carter will handle a larger workload this week after
Zonovan Knight (ankle) was placed on injured reserve. After Knight exited last weekend, Carter played a season-high 80% snap share with 14 carries, 56 rushing yards, four catches, and 38 receiving yards. The 26-year-old is likely headed for similar volume this Sunday, but we also wouldn't be surprised if
Emari Demercado eats into his workload slightly. Nevertheless, Carter should remain the clear No. 1 back heading into a favorable matchup against the Falcons, who have allowed the 13th-most rushing yards and 14th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. A spread of ATL -3.0 also indicates that this should be a competitive game, which is another reason why we expect Carter to see a healthy dose of carries and targets. He ranks as the overall RB25 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver
Chimere Dike has held down a full-time role in the offense, but hasn't emerged as a reliable option for fantasy football. Dike leads the Titans with 24 targets in the past four games, but has generated just 93 yards. The rookie fourth-rounder delivered his two best fantasy performances in Weeks 7 and 8, scoring 16.9 and 16.4 PPR points. However, he has underwhelmed in six games since, averaging just 6.6 points per game. The Florida product still profiles as the most reliable receiver in the Titans' offense, but he is tough to trust for fantasy purposes for a tough matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. He profiles as a deep league FLEX option at best in Week 16.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Jacoby Brissett has filled in admirably for
Kyler Murray (foot), and he remains a strong fantasy option ahead of Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. The veteran quarterback wasn't expected to have any fantasy relevance coming into this season, and even when he took over as the Cardinals' starter, expectations were quite low. However, he has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers, ranking as a top-12 quarterback in all nine of his starts this year. Since replacing Murray in Week 6, he is the overall QB3 in fantasy scoring, trailing only
Josh Allen and
Trevor Lawrence. He already has talented receiving threats available in
Trey McBride and
Michael Wilson, and he could get additional reinforcements with
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) listed as questionable. Harrison is working his way back after missing four of the last five Cardinals games. Having all three of his top targets available would give Murray an extra boost against the Falcons, who rank near the middle of the league with the 16th-most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks in 2025. Just last week, Atlanta's defense surrendered 277 passing yards and two touchdowns to
Baker Mayfield. As it stands, Brissett is the overall QB7 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Tennessee Titans running back
Tyjae Spears recorded just five touches for 36 yards in last week's loss to the San Francisco 49ers. It was the third year back's fewest touches in a game since Week 5, his first game of the season after opening the year on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury. Spears' role in the Titans' offense hasn't expanded with
Tony Pollard locking down the lead back duties and delivering his two best performances of the season in the last two weeks. The 24-year-old has just one game this season with double-digit PPR points, coming back in Week 8. Spears will remain a low-upside FLEX option in a tough Week 16 matchup versus the Kansas City Chiefs, who have allowed the fourth fewest PPR points per game to running backs.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
Atlanta Falcons kicker
Zane Gonzalez has been solid as the team's third placekicker this year, going 11-for-13 in the six games he's played, with both misses coming from more than 50 yards out. He's also 11-for-11 on extra point attempts. The 30-year-old is on the streaming radar for Week 16's road matchup against the Cardinals, as Arizona has given up 35 points per contest over the last three weeks, which is second-worst in the NFL over that stretch, and Atlanta owns an implied total of 25 for this contest, so there is scoring expected in this one. Gonzalez won't have to deal with any elements playing indoors in Arizona either, so it sets him up as a potential top 12 kicking option for Week 16.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
December 20, 2025
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
David Sills V drew 10 targets in Week 15, converting them into six catches for 78 yards. The 29-year-old enjoyed a four-game stretch with
Drake London (knee) missing from action, which included touchdown receptions in Weeks 12 and 13, however, London is expected to return in Week 16. That could mean Sills' fantasy relevance could revert to near-zero, although he did manage to outsnap
Darnell Mooney each of the last two weeks, so it could be Mooney's playing time that takes a hit. Either way, with it being the fantasy playoffs for most managers, it's a situation that is probably best avoided if possible, leaving the 29-year-old as a deep league Hail Mary where needed.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
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
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