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Week 16 Championship Rankings & Matchups Analysis (Standard & PPR)

What's up RotoBallers. Week 15 is complete and we hope you managed to secure a win and make it into the championships. To celebrate, today we are bringing you our Week 16 fantasy football playoff championship rankings to help prepare you for your Week 16 playoff matchups.

Below you will find both PPR rankings and standard league rankings for Week 16, brought to you by Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades) and Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik). Lead fantasy football columnist Edward Gorelik also highlights some rankings analysis for the Week 16 playoffs, broken out by position, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 16.

You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.

Editor's Note: Stay on top of your draft prep with RotoBaller’s fantasy football rankings, featuring expert analysis, ADPs, and draft insights for both PPR and non-PPR leagues.

Rankings are subject to change leading up to the games, but the analysis written might not.

 

Week 16 Fantasy Football Championship Rankings



powered by FantasyPros

 
 

Week 16 Quarterback (QB) Rankings Analysis

By Edward Gorelik (@Edward Gorelik)

Blake Bortles is set to face everyone's favorite defense this week, the New Orleans Saints. Regardless of whether the Saints sit at home or on the road, their defense has been completely unreliable this year - it's given up at least eight top 12 performances. The worst of these all came at home (vs NYG, TEN, and CAR). Bortles and his receivers should be able to feast.

Kirk Cousins is heading on the road to face the Eagles, another one of the season's worst QB defenses. With the Redskins still sitting in the front seat of playoff contention, they'll be trying to put the Eagles down and keep the Eagles down in what's likely to be a very competitive divisional game.

Ryan Fitzpatrick didn't have a lot of success on the road against the Cowboys, but against the Patriots at home he should be able to pull out a much better fantasy day. Fighting for a playoff spot, expect the Jets to put up a big fight against the Patriots.

An Odell Beckham-less Eli Manning is going to fall heavily in the rankings. There's just no way around it. Despite facing what may end up being a depleted Vikings defense, it's nearly impossible for the Giants to expect the same kind of offensive production without Beckham in the lineup. If his appeal goes through, Eli will climb back up in the rankings.

 

Week 16 Running Back (RB) Playoff Rankings Analysis

By Edward Gorelik (@Edward Gorelik)

Todd Gurley against the Seahawks is a tough buy. Although he's still expected to be startable just because of the volume, Gurley has yet to become matchup proof because the Rams are just not a very good team.

Gurley is likely to see another night like he did against Tampa Bay, racking up ~80 yards and hopefully a touchdown to go along with it. However with the way the Seahawks have been scoring, there's a chance he might have another low carry night if the Rams see the game fall through their hands early on.

The return of Spencer Ware is expected this week, meaning Charcandrick West will be seeing a huge downgrade. Ware operated as the goal line back when the two were active earlier this year, and likely will remain the goal line back this week removing much of West's upside. However, they're playing a horrible Cleveland defense which leaves room for both to still be startable.

Lamar Miller's ranking should fluctuate leading up to Sunday, as news of his potential injury and everything else related to Jay Ajayi comes out. With the way the Dolphins have been using Miller, it wouldn't be surprising if they decided to just play Ajayi over him at this point and look to the future. Miller is a risky, high upside play at home against the Colts.

Denard Robinson's ranking is also one that's subject to change as news comes out. Against the Saints, he should be an easy plug-and-play RB1 - but dealing with injury, and a potential the return of T.J. Yeldon, might change that.

Danny Woodhead might be able to carry his momentum from last week over to this week when he faces the Raiders on Sunday. With few other targets to throw to on this offense, and the Raiders giving up the 12th most receiving yards to running backs, Woodhead seems poised to be another strong RB2 in PPR and standard scoring leagues.

 

Week 16 Wide Receiver (WR) Playoff Rankings Analysis

By Edward Gorelik (@Edward Gorelik)

Bill Belichick is generally very good at removing the opposing team's top receiving threats from games. We've seen it happen plenty of times this year, where the only thing that saves those top options are big plays or random touchdowns. Brandon Marshall was held to his worst game by Belichick earlier this year, and he'll be trying to replicate it this week.

Even though Odell Beckham proved that anybody can be beat last week, as he scored a touchdown over Josh Norman (and almost another, that he dropped), Julio Jones has already seen his stats take a huge fall when facing Norman earlier this year.

Julio will still be startable this weekend, since the Falcons have no one else to throw to. The Falcons also try their hardest to make sure Julio stays away from Norman by placing him in the slot, where Norman doesn't follow. Julio moves down to a low end WR1 like Marshall.

Whoever Brandin Cooks was in the early season is not who he is now. Cooks now averages 14 standard points per game when playing at home, and has seen great games even against some very tough matchups (against corners like Josh Norman and Darius Slay).

All the hype that Cooks had going into the season has finally started to materialize just when it matters most. He should be expected to keep up his fantasy relevance against the Jaguars, who allow an average of 80 yards per game to opposing WR1s and have allowed a 100 yard game to opposing WR1s in each of the last three weeks.

DeSean Jackson will be returning to play the Eagles this week in his second revenge game against them in their stadium. With Kirk Cousins playing his best ball right now, and the Eagles defense playing it's worst, a WR1 week is not out of the question for DeSean.

Amari Cooper had a great game against the backup corner for the Packers, but now he'll be facing Jason Verett this week who is amongst the leagues top corners (believe it or not). Verett has held opposing WR1s to below-league-average yardage all season, with only 67 yards allowed on average per game. Cooper, playing Thursday night, is looking like a risky FLEX play.

 

Week 16 Tight End (TE) Playoff Rankings Analysis

By Edward Gorelik (@Edward Gorelik)

New Orleans has allowed the most points to tight ends on the season. Julius Thomas, who's really come on in the last five weeks, should be seeing a high-end TE1 type of week against one of the league's worst defenses.

Antonio Gates should also continue to bounce back as he ends the championship week facing the Raiders, a team that's been shredded all year by tight ends. Gates, one of Rivers' only healthy targets, should be in line for at least eight targets.

Both Zach Miller and Will Tye enter this week as potential TE1s due to offensive necessity. With Alshon Jeffery and OBJ both potentially sitting out for their games, each of them will have to take on a bigger role - both are likely to see many more throws in their direction than normal, against what should be some light coverage.

 

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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

George Kittle

Remains Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Malik Willis

Carrying Questionable Tag for Week 17 Tilt
Jordan Love

Questionable for Saturday's Contest
Lamar Jackson

Listed as Doubtful for Week 17
Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
Seth Curry

to Remain Sidelined on Christmas Day
Jae'Sean Tate

Questionable Thursday
Dwight Powell

Likely to Return on Christmas
Jaylin Williams

Misses Fifth Straight Game
Ousmane Dieng

Unavailable on Christmas Day
Guerschon Yabusele

Questionable for Christmas Action
Miles McBride

Remains Out on Christmas
Cameron Johnson

to Miss Time With Bone Bruise in Right Knee
Jaxson Hayes

Considered Questionable for Christmas Matchup
Rui Hachimura

Likely to Return Thursday
Dorian Finney-Smith

Could Make Season Debut on Christmas Day
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Uncertain for Christmas Day
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Listed as Questionable for Christmas Game
Al Horford

on Track to Return Thursday
Jaden McDaniels

Iffy for Christmas Day
Brandon Williams

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
P.J. Washington

at Risk of Missing Second Straight Game
Klay Thompson

Likely to Play on Christmas Day
Max Christie

Probable for Christmas Day
Ajay Mitchell

Out on Christmas Day
Chet Holmgren

Available on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade

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