December 20, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver
DK Metcalf has scored as a top-24 fantasy option in each of his past two games and should stay hot against the Detroit Lions in Week 16. On the season, Detroit has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts, and over the past four weeks, it has surrendered the most receptions, the most yards, and the second-most touchdowns to the position. This contest has shootout potential with the highest projected point total of the week, and with the Lions entering as heavy home favorites, Pittsburgh may be forced to air it out. While Metcalf's utilization in the offense has been underwhelming at times, the connection between him and quarterback
Aaron Rodgers has been heating up recently. Fantasy managers should fire up Metcalf in all formats as a borderline WR1 this week.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Jaylen Warren was outshined by teammate
Kenneth Gainwell last week but will look to get back on track against the Detroit Lions in Week 16. Detroit has been much stronger defensively against the run than the pass this season, but it has softened up a bit as of late. The Lions have surrendered 4.2 yards per carry and over 20 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past four weeks. With this contest projected for a healthy amount of points, fantasy managers should look to start offensive pieces on both sides. Even if Pittsburgh continues to take a hot-hand approach in the backfield, Warren should see enough volume on the ground to provide fantasy value while offering touchdown upside. The 27-year-old checks in as the RB28 in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings and should be viewed as a high-end flex play.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers has been solid over his past two games and will look to carry that momentum into a Week 16 meeting with the Detroit Lions. Although the Lions are favored by a touchdown at home, this contest is projected to have the highest point total of the week. The main reason is Detroit's struggling pass defense, which has surrendered the most fantasy points, the most yards, and the third-most passing touchdowns to opposing signal-callers over the past four weeks. Given the inconsistencies of Pittsburgh's banged-up defense, there should be no shortage of offense in this one. Rodgers will need to throw the ball early and often to keep pace and will have a full allotment of weapons at his disposal, including a surging
DK Metcalf. While he's not an ideal fantasy option in single-quarterback formats, Rodgers is firmly on the streaming radar and should be viewed as a solid QB2 this week.
--Jorden HillSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
George Pickens is coming off his worst two-game stretch of the season and faces a Chargers defense in Week 16 that has been the sixth-toughest matchup for opposing receivers. In spite of that, he ranks as RotoBaller's WR12 for the week and should be a reliable play for the fantasy semifinals. The Cowboys are slight home favorites in a game that features the second-highest over/under of the week. Prior to his mini-slump, Pickens faced two of the league's stingiest pass defenses in the Eagles and Chiefs, and was able to put up a combined 234 yards with a receiving touchdown. And despite failing to crack a 20% target share in either of the past two games, with Dallas' high-volume passing attack, that has still been enough for a healthy 15 targets over that span. With
Javonte Williams (neck) limited to begin the week and
CeeDee Lamb (illness) unable to practice until Friday, it would not be surprising to learn that this week's install featured a healthy dose of Pickens, and he remains a trustworthy start despite his last two lackluster efforts.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
According to On3's Pete Nakos' sources, Tennessee and Missouri are potential schools to watch in the recruitment of TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover. Tennessee is preparing to lose starter Joey Aguilar, though the veteran has an outside shot of getting another year of collegiate eligibility. Missouri is losing Beau Pribula to the transfer portal, leaving freshman Matt Zollers as the only viable signal-caller on the roster for 2026. Hoover has played in 36 games over the last three seasons with the Horned Frogs, passing for over 9,600 yards, 71 touchdowns, and 33 interceptions. The 21-year-old is also linked to Indiana, depending on whether or not Fernando Mendoza declares for the 2026 NFL Draft. He was committed to Indiana under Tom Allen before flipping to TCU.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: On3.com
December 20, 2025
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
CeeDee Lamb (illness) missed the team's first two practices of the week, but he was able to log a full participation on Friday and is a locked-in WR1 for Sunday's fantasy semifinal matchup with the Chargers. Los Angeles has boasted one of the strongest pass defenses in the league, but the Cowboys' explosive offense, coupled with their own porous defense, has superseded matchups all year long. We see evidence of this once again with Sunday's 50.5 point over/under, the second-highest total of the week. Lamb has averaged 104.8 receiving yards over his last four games, despite facing three of the league's best pass defenses in the Eagles, Chiefs, and Vikings. He is RotoBaller's WR4 for the week and is a must-start along with the rest of the Cowboys' offensive pieces.
--Patrick McGrathSource: 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
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Drake London (knee) has missed the last four weeks with a knee injury, and despite a questionable tag after being limited in practice all week, he is expected to suit up for Sunday's road matchup against the Cardinals. The 24-year-old was rolling before going down with the injury, recording five 100-yard receiving games in his last six contests, along with six touchdowns to boot. Those games all featured
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) under center, though, so there is some uncertainty whether or not
Kirk Cousins will display the same affinity for the team's No. 1 receiver. Cousins showed a penchant for targeting his tight end,
Kyle Pitts Sr., the most during London's absence. Nevertheless, London slots right back in as a mid-range WR1 for Week 16's road matchup against an Arizona defense that is middle of the road in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing wideouts, but that has been hemorrhaging points over the last three weeks, giving up 35 points per game over that stretch (second most). Managers should just make sure to double-check his status on Sunday to make sure he is playing.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
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
Ja'Tavion Sanders finished Week 15 against the Saints with two receptions for five yards. Sanders was mainly utilized as a blocker and played on 53% of the snaps. In 11 games played this season, Sanders has averaged 4.1 PPR Points Per Game. The Panthers will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. The Buccaneers rank 27th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the TE position this year. Despite a great matchup, Sanders is still not worthy of a roster spot during the fantasy playoffs. Sanders has totaled 5+ targets in a game only twice this season, and he has no receiving touchdowns.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Dallas Cowboys running back
Javonte Williams (neck) was able to log a full practice session on Friday, and he looks to be a locked-in RB1 option for Sunday's Week 16 matchup with the Chargers. Los Angeles' defense has been strong against the pass all season, forcing most opponents into a run-heavy game plan, but the Cowboys also boast one of the few offenses in the league capable of turning any game into a shootout. Sunday's 50.5 point over/under is the second-highest of the week, implying that both teams will see plenty of scoring opportunities, and with the Cowboys a slight favorite at home, Williams should be in line for his normal bellcow workload. His 230 carries on the season were the seventh most in the league coming into Week 16, and he ranks in the top six in both rushing yards and touchdowns. Williams is RotoBaller's RB12 against the Chargers' league-average run defense.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Xavier Legette caught two passes for 39 yards and totaled 5.9 PPR points in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints. The Carolina WR remains mostly irrelevant in fantasy football right now. He has logged three consecutive games with under 6.0 PPR points. In Week 16, Legette has a decent matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers rank 17th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the WR position this year, but he is still not playable for fantasy purposes. Since Week 5, Legette has seen inconsistent volume. He had 5+ targets in only three games since then. Due to his varying volume and underwhelming fantasy output for the season, Legette is not worth rostering for the fantasy football playoffs.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
San Francisco 49ers kicker
Eddy Pineiro returned to action in Week 15 after missing two games due to a hamstring injury. Pineiro was money against the Titans, nailing every one of his attempts in the game. Pineiro was 3-for-3 on field goals, with makes from 33, 37, and 40 yards out, and was 4-for-4 on extra points. He has missed four PATs in 2025, but remains perfect on field goal tries. In Week 16, Pineiro has the benefit of playing inside a dome when the 49ers travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts. Over the last four weeks, the Colts have allowed more fantasy points per game (12.8) to opposing kickers than any team in the NFL. Pineiro makes for a solid choice in Week 16.
--Dan StephensSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Jalen Coker delivered one of his better fantasy outings in Week 15 against the Saints. The Carolina WR caught four passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 14.0 PPR points, marking the third time in the last four weeks that he posted double-digit PPR points. Carolina will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16 in a showdown for the NFC South lead. Tampa Bay ranks 17th in Fantasy Points Per Game to WRs this season. Although Coker has a decent matchup, his overall volume is a concern. Only once has Coker been targeted 5+ times in a game this year, and he averages 3.6 targets per game. Still, fantasy players can consider Coker in Week 16 if they need a flex streamer. He has caught a touchdown pass in each of his last two games, and
Bryce Young may have to throw frequently to keep pace with the Tampa Bay offense. Considering the magnitude of this matchup for the Panthers, Coker is more likely to stay involved in the passing game this week. He is not an upside play, but can provide a decent statistical floor again.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Tetairoa McMillan will play in Week 16 after missing practices earlier in the week due to foot/ankle concerns. Last week against the Saints, McMillan had two receptions for 25 yards and finished with 4.5 PPR points, his lowest total this season. It was the third straight game in which McMillan had fewer than three receptions, and it was also the first time he did not catch a touchdown pass since Week 10. In Week 16, the Panthers will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay ranks 17th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the WR position in 2025. McMillan has been Carolina's top overall receiver for the year, averaging 12.9 PPR points per game, but has been unreliable in recent weeks. The Carolina rookie has logged less than 12 PPR points in five of his last six starts, including each of his last three. This is a very crucial game for Carolina in the NFC South race this week, so McMillan should provide double-figure PPR totals, but he is certainly not an upside play.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachiumura (groin) is questionable for the meeting with the Clippers on Saturday night. The Lakers are already down
Austin Reaves (calf) and
Deandre Ayton (elbow), so it's not a good time for Hachimura to miss his second contest of the 2025 campaign. However, considering this isn't the first groin injury of his career, there's a realistic chance he won't be out there on Saturday evening. If Hachimura doesn't suit up,
Jake LaRavia is the favorite to replace him in the rotation. The 27-year-old has started seven times this season, averaging 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals, giving him some upside for those in need of a deep-league streaming option. Still, Hachumira's absence should just mean even more offensive production from
LeBron James and
Luka Doncic.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
December 20, 2025
Chuba Hubbard posted underwhelming numbers in Week 15 against the Saints. The Carolina RB had eight carries for 29 yards. He also added nine receiving yards on one reception to total just 4.8 PPR points. Hubbard has registered less than 5.0 PPR points in three of his last five games. The Panthers will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. Tampa Bay ranks 23rd in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the RB position this year. Although Hubbard has a good matchup this week, he has not seen enough consistent volume to warrant a roster spot on most fantasy playoff teams. Outside of Week 13, Hubbard has not posted double-digit rushing attempts since Week 8. He should only be rostered as a handcuff to
Rico Dowdle.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
New Orleans Saints tight end
Juwan Johnson hauled in all four of his targets for 30 yards in Week 15's victory over the Panthers. It marked Johnson's second straight game with exactly four receptions and his fourth consecutive contest without finding the end zone. He ranks second on the team in receptions, targets, and receiving yards behind
Chris Olave. With injuries piling up and the Saints set to be without
Devaughn Vele (shoulder),
Alvin Kamara (knee), and
Devin Neal (hamstring), Johnson's already steady role in the passing game could grow. The Jets allow the 13th-fewest PPR points to tight ends, placing Johnson in the TE1/TE2 mix this week.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
Trevor Lawrence had a breakout game last week, but fantasy managers shouldn't overreact for a tough Week 16 matchup with the Denver Broncos. He put up six total touchdowns last week against the New York Jets, but the Broncos are on the opposite end of the AFC standings for a reason. Denver's defense leads the NFL in sacks, ranks fourth in total yards allowed, and third in points allowed. The Jaguars' offense may be clicking at the moment, but it should have a much harder time thriving against the stout Broncos defense. Just like the rest of the offense, fantasy managers should think twice about automatically inserting Lawrence into lineups despite last week's performance.
--Seth Quinn - RotoBallerSource: Trevor Lawrence RotoBaller
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
Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Dak Prescott is coming off back-to-back fantasy finishes outside the top 12 at the position, and in Week 16, he faces a Chargers defense that has been the third-toughest matchup for opposing quarterbacks. While the deck may seem stacked against him, Prescott remains a strong play for the fantasy semifinals. Both
CeeDee Lamb (illness) and
Javonte Williams (neck) were able to log full participation at Friday's practice after beginning the week limited, giving Prescott his full complement of offensive weapons for a game with the second-highest over/under of the week. Notwithstanding his recent mini-slump, in which he's thrown only one touchdown over the past two weeks, Prescott is still averaging 336 passing yards per game across his last four outings, despite facing three of the league's five best passing defenses in that span. He is RotoBaller's QB4 for the week.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
Rico Dowdle had 16 carries for 49 yards and one touchdown in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints. The Carolina RB added five receiving yards on one reception to total 12.4 PPR points. Since Week 9, Dowdle has averaged 15.4 PPR points and finished with double-digit PPR points in five games. Carolina will face their NFC South rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Week 16. Tampa Bay ranks 23rd in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs this season. They have also surrendered the most receiving yards to RBs in the league this year (783). With solid volume and a decent matchup, Dowdle is worth starting as an RB2 for the fantasy football playoffs, even with his workload being split with
Chuba Hubbard. Dowdle has logged 16+ carries in five of his last six starts. He will see important work in the major NFC South showdown against the Buccaneers.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Mason Tipton is questionable for Week 16 against the Jets due to an illness. He caught one pass for five yards on two targets in last week's win over the Panthers and now has seven receptions for 47 yards across three games this season. With
Devaughn Vele (shoulder) on IR and injuries thinning out the Saints' offense, Tipton has a path to a larger role as the WR2 in an air attack that has averaged over 33 pass attempts per game across its last four contests. If Tipton is unable to play, Kevin Austin and
Dante Pettis would be next in line. If he does suit up, Tipton profiles as a WR4/WR5 option.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: New Orleans Saints
December 20, 2025
New York Giants tight end
Theo Johnson has established a consistent floor for production as the team's TE1. Johnson has recorded at least three receptions in 11 of 14 games this season and has served as one of the Giants' most explosive playmakers. The 24-year-old leads all tight ends with three games of at least three receptions and a yards per reception of 20 yards or more. His three highest yardage totals have come in the past five games, but he hasn't found the end zone since Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers. Johnson profiles as a TE2 for Sunday's matchup against a tough Minnesota Vikings defense that hasn't allowed a touchdown through the air in five straight weeks.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Chris Olave reeled in six of his nine targets for 85 yards and a touchdown in Week 15's victory over the Panthers. After a slow first half, Olave came to life in the second half, and his touchdown grab came on 3rd-and-6 with 2:29 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game. He then added a 15-yard reception on the following drive to help set up the game-winning field goal. With
Devaughn Vele (shoulder) on IR,
Mason Tipton (illness) questionable, and both
Alvin Kamara (knee) and
Devin Neal (hamstring) sidelined, Olave is likely to carry a massive workload against the Jets' secondary. A season-high in targets would not be surprising, placing him firmly in the WR1 ranks this week.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
December 20, 2025
Bryce Young has not produced ideal fantasy numbers this season, but he has a great matchup in Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 15 against the Saints, Young completed 15-of-24 attempts for 163 yards and a touchdown. He also had a season-high 49 rushing yards on seven carries, totaling 15.4 fantasy points. The Carolina QB has registered more than 15.0 fantasy points in three of his last four starts. He has averaged 14.2 Fantasy Points Per Game in 13 games played this season. He has a good shot of playing above his usual 14 to 15 point range this week, though. Tampa Bay ranks 30th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to QBs this season. Last week, Atlanta QB
Kirk Cousins finished as the fantasy QB3 overall. He totaled 26.9 fantasy points against the Buccaneers. Week 15 was the fifth straight week where Tampa Bay allowed a top-10 fantasy QB finish. Despite Young's mediocre and inconsistent production this year, the matchup against Tampa Bay makes him a quality QB2 starter for fantasy football playoff teams in superflex formats. The NFC South lead is on the line, and Young may have to throw often to keep pace with
Baker Mayfield.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 20, 2025
New Orleans Saints running back
Evan Hull handled four carries for 12 yards in Week 15's victory against the Panthers. The 25-year-old saw additional work after
Devin Neal exited in the second quarter with an injury. With
Alvin Kamara (knee) and Neal (hamstring, IR) ruled out for Week 16, Hull is expected to share the backfield with
Audric Estime. Hull's NFL opportunities have been limited, though he averaged 4.1 yards per carry and caught 55 passes at 9.9 yards per reception in his final season at Northwestern in 2022. The Jets present a favorable matchup in Week 16, ranking third in PPR points allowed to running backs and fourth in total rushing yards. Hull's usage should be monitored, and he is ranked RB48 on Rotoballer this week.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: Rotoballer
December 20, 2025
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (groin) is expected to play in Saturday night's divisional matchup with the Packers after limited practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. Green Bay has been one of the most difficult defenses to run against for most of the season, but it remains to be seen how the unit will adjust to losing Micah Parsons (knee) for the year after the All-Pro face of their defense tore his ACL in a Week 15 loss to the Broncos. Swift is coming off a 98-yard, two-touchdown performance against a similarly staunch Cleveland front, and he is 65 yards away from his second career 1,000-yard season. He should be viewed as an RB2 with a potentially high ceiling if the Packers are unable to rally without their injured star.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jeremy Fowler
December 20, 2025
New York Giants wide receiver
Darius Slayton saw his most targets of the season in Week 15's loss to the Washington Commanders, catching four of 10 targets for 53 yards. Slayton will have a tougher time seeing that kind of volume against a stingy Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 16. The Vikings have allowed the fifth fewest passing yards per game and the third fewest receptions per game to wide receivers. The 28-year-old wideout is a volatile option who is reliant on big plays to return fantasy value. Slayton has only scored one touchdown this season, with one game posting more than 70 receiving yards, making him a boom-or-bust flex option at best in Week 16.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
December 20, 2025
Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Kirk Cousins had his best game of the season by far last week in a 29-28 win over the Buccaneers, completing 30 of 44 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. The 37-year-old focused his attention on his top pass catchers, and should get another weapon back in Week 16, with
Drake London (knee) expected to suit up on Sunday. The veteran should have a full complement on offense for Sunday's road matchup against the Cardinals, a defense that is middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, but that has yielded 35 points per game over their last three games, which is nearly the worst in the league over that stretch behind only the Cowboys and Jets (35.3). Even so, with a strong run game to lean on in the form of
Bijan Robinson and
Tyler Allgeier, Cousins projects as a low-end QB2 for this week's contest.
--Jarod RuppSource: ESPN
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