Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 16 Matchups to Consider
Fantasy managers who have made it this way are just TWO wins away from claiming the ultimate prize for their leagues! Getting those lineups set to be their best has never been more important!
For the next-to-last time this season, let’s walk through a handful of matchups at each position that are worth considering before locking those final rosters in for Week 16!
Make sure to use all the great tools at Footclan HQ to make the most of your lineup this week!
Quarterbacks
Jacoby Brissett
QB - ARI
What started as a fun streaming option at QB has turned into a legitimate starter for a bulk of the season in Jacoby Brissett. Since taking over as the starter for the Cardinals in Week 6, Brissett has been one of the most consistent fantasy QBs in the league, finishing as a top-12 QB in every start he’s made this season. What’s more impressive is that Brissett defied the odds last week and logged the first top-12 QB finish against the Texans all season. Brissett has really been a product of massive passing volume from week-to-week as he is averaging 42 passing attempts per game and has only failed to throw multiple TDs just once in his nine starts.
If Brissett is going to continue being a solid QB option for fantasy managers, he will have a good matchup against the Falcons this week. Atlanta’s defense has been decent against the pass this season, allowing the 11th-fewest passing yards this season, mainly thanks to a great pass rush that has recorded the 2nd-most sacks in the league. For fantasy, though, the Falcons haven’t been a defense to avoid with QBs. Over their last five matchups, Atlanta has allowed three top-12 QB finishes and 39% of the passing TDs on the season. For fantasy managers who rode Brissett as their streaming QB to get to this point, now isn’t the time to mix things up.
C.J. Stroud
QB - HOU
Getting back to the consistent top-12 QB days from CJ Stroud’s rookie season may be something that fantasy managers have to continue dreaming of, along with the sugar plums they will see ahead of Christmas. Since finishing as the QB11 as a rookie, Stroud hasn’t been able to find consistent fantasy success. In fact, Stroud hasn’t recorded back-to-back top-12 QB finishes since Weeks 9 & 10 in 2023. Last week’s QB9 finish was just the second time this season Stroud threw 3+ TDs in a game and just the third time he’s scored more than 20 fantasy points in a game, so it is nice to know he’s still capable of putting together bigger fantasy performances as inconsistent as they may come.
Stroud may have a shot at stringing together another strong fantasy day for fantasy managers with a nice matchup against the Raiders this week. Las Vegas’ defense has not been as terrible as we might think one of the worst teams in the league would be, though they are allowing the second-highest completion percentage in the league to opposing passers. For fantasy, though, the Raiders haven’t been a gold mine for fantasy output. Over their last six games, the Raiders have allowed just two top-12 QB finishes, and in both of those games, they’ve allowed 3+ passing TDs. It might be enticing to chase Stroud’s big week, especially if he helped get you to the semifinals, but there should be better options at QB this week.
Running Backs
Ashton Jeanty
RB - LV
After all of the hype around Ashton Jeanty heading into the season, he’s really been a disappointment for fantasy managers who invested their first-round pick in him during draft season. Jeanty was really able to overcome the terrible surroundings of the Raiders offense for a good portion of the season, finishing as a top-24 RB in 7 of his first 11 games. Over the last three weeks, though, Jeanty hasn’t been helpful for fantasy lineups, averaging just 6.7 fantasy points per game. If there is anything to be encouraged about for Jeanty’s fantasy value, he has been pretty involved in the passing game for the Raiders, averaging six targets per game since Week 9. Overall, though, the stench of the Las Vegas offense has been hard to shake down the stretch of the season.
If fantasy managers with Jeanty on their roster somehow managed to make it to the semifinals, this week might be one to consider sitting the rookie RB with a tough matchup against the Texans ahead. Houston’s defense has been one of the best units in the league against the run, allowing the 4th-fewest rushing yards in the league and just 10 total rushing TDs on the season. For fantasy, though, the Texans haven’t been a hard stop for fantasy production when it comes to RBs. In their last seven games, Houston has allowed five top-24 RB finishes, and only three of those came with a rushing TD. The hope that Jeanty will be able to deliver when it matters most for fantasy managers is a tough call, but chances are he will be a FLEX option at best this weekend.
Omarion Hampton
RB - LAC
The long wait for Omarion Hampton’s return from injury has had mixed results so far for fantasy managers. Hampton seemed to have taken over the lead RB role in the Chargers’ offense with three-straight top-24 RB finishes prior to an injury that forced him to miss seven games. Since his return, Hampton has really been in a timeshare with Kimani Vidal in the Los Angeles backfield, with just one total opportunity separating the pair since the rookie got back on the field in Week 14. The timeshare that Hampton finds himself in again has really limited the ceiling for truly big fantasy output that fantasy managers were hoping would come down the stretch to fuel a playoff run.
There is a chance Hampton could be more than just a FLEX option this week with a decent matchup against the Cowboys awaiting him in Week 16. Dallas’ defense has been one to target with just about every position for fantasy this season. On the year the Cowboys have allowed the 2nd-most rushing TDs, although things have tightened up on the ground since the trade deadline. Since Week 11, Dallas has allowed five rushing TDs to RBs, and four of those came in the 74 combined point game with the Lions in Week 14. While there is a chance that Hampton can still be useful for a fantasy roster, expectations should be tempered against this improved Cowboys defensive line.
Aaron Jones Sr.
RB - MIN
It feels like Father Time may be finally catching up to Aaron Jones. Coming off his best season as a rusher, Jones has really struggled to follow up his RB16 season that made him such a value for fantasy managers last season. Jones has finished as a top-24 RB just three times this year, mainly due to the two total TDs he’s been able to score in the Vikings offense. The receiving game is where Jones has typically made ground from a lack of rushing production, but we’re seeing a drop off in production there too, with the veteran back on pace for one of his worst seasons in receptions of his career.
If Jones is going to offer any real fantasy value in the final two weeks of the fantasy season, a matchup against the Giants may be his best bet to do so this week. New York’s defense has been one of the worst in the league against the run, allowing the 2nd-most rushing yards and 5th-most rushing TDs this season. Over their last six games, the Giants have allowed a top-24 RB finish five times, including the overall RB1 on the week twice and five rushing TDs from those RBs. There may not be a ton of optimism around the Vikings offense as a whole, but Jones may be able to provide a decent FLEX option for fantasy managers based on a decent matchup.
Wide Receivers
DK Metcalf
WR - PIT
As inconsistent as he’s been this season, DK Metcalf is doing fantasy managers right down the stretch of the fantasy year. Metcalf’s move to Pittsburgh was questionable at best to start the year, finishing as a top-24 WR in just three of his first 10 games. Over the last month, though, things are looking up for the Steelers’ WR. In his last four games, Metcalf is averaging an additional target and another 10 receiving yards per game, all while finishing as a top-24 WR three times. What’s more impressive about Metcalf’s usable streak for fantasy is that he has only gotten into the end zone once during that stretch, so he’s really volumed his way into usable fantasy production behind a 25% target share since Week 12.
Metcalf has another prime opportunity to help fantasy managers advance in the playoffs with a strong matchup against the Lions this week. Detroit’s defense has been a unit to target in the passing game this year, allowing the 3rd-most passing TDs and 7th-most passing yards in the league. Over their last four games, the Lions have allowed five top-24 WR finishes, including three WR10 or better. With the highest expected point total of any game this week, Metcalf should have plenty of opportunity to aid fantasy managers in getting to the championship game next week.
DJ Moore
WR - CHI
The transition to the Ben Johnson era hasn’t been a smooth one for DJ Moore when it comes to fantasy output. Moore has struggled to be a real option for fantasy lineups this season, finishing as a top-24 WR just three times this year and scoring less than 10 fantasy points in nine games. What’s tough for fantasy managers is that Moore has either been a top-10 WR option or outside of the top-40 WRs in 85% of his games this season, so when he’s productive, it is likely he’s doing so on the bench. There have been signs of more consistent output from Moore over the last month, though, with two of his better performances this season coming in his last four games.
Moore has a chance to string together his first back-to-back top-24 WR finishes for the first time since Weeks 12 and 13 of 2024 this week against the Packers. Green Bay’s defense has been one of the better units against the pass this season, allowing the 7th-fewest passing yards and the 5th-fewest passing plays over 20 yards. What will be worth monitoring is how the loss of LB Micah Parsons affects what the Packers can do defensively. When the Bears and Packers squared off just two weeks ago, Parsons only had one tackle, but still had seven total pressures during that game. With rookie WR Luther Burden’s status up in the air this week, it’s likely Moore could see an uptick in usage and could be a decent FLEX play once again.
Tetairoa McMillan
WR - CAR
Despite having a back-and-forth start to his career in Carolina, Tetairoa McMillan has quietly put together a solid rookie season and currently sits as the WR17 on the year. McMillan has felt the drag of a Panthers offense that has struggled to find consistency with QB Bryce Young and has only been a top-24 WR five times this season. The safety net for T-Mac’s fantasy production this season, though, has come from being a consistent target in Carolina’s offense, averaging seven targets per game and already eclipsing the 100 target mark, nearly doubling the next highest player on his team.
Getting back on the right fantasy track, though, starts with a nice matchup against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay’s defense is getting very close to taking over the top spot in passing yards allowed, just 90 yards behind the Cowboys. What’s made the Bucs a less appealing play for receiving options than other porous secondaries has been the 24 TDs they’ve allowed through the air and the 12 interceptions they’ve forced this season. For fantasy, it’s been better for the Bucs over the last few weeks against WRs. In their last three games, Tampa hasn’t allowed a top-24 WR finish, but that’s coming off of allowing six top-24 WR finishes in the three games prior. If McMillan continues to see the volume that fantasy managers have come to expect, he could be a big player in getting teams through to the next round of the playoffs.
Tight Ends
Colby Parkinson
TE - LAR
Not the name at TE that we expected to see playing a role in the fantasy semifinals, but Colby Parkinson has really played his way into being in the conversation of a starting fantasy TE down the stretch of the season. Over the last six weeks, Parkinson has finished as a top-10 TE five times, even though he’s only had more than 50 receiving yards once during that stretch. The real value – and let’s be honest, at TE sometimes it’s all you need – is Parkinson’s TD rate since Week 10. Parkinson has caught six TDs over the last seven weeks, three of which came in the red zone, which is where the now-injured Davante Adams has done a ton of damage this season.
While it’s always nerve-wracking to have what feels like a streaming TE play on Thursday night, Parkinson’s matchup this week against the Seahawks feels like one that’s worth chasing. Seattle’s defense is solid against the pass, only allowing 17 passing TDs this season, but they will give up production to opposing TEs. Over their last six games, Seattle has allowed four top-12 TE finishes, including one to Parkinson back in Week 11, though it was mainly due to him getting into the end zone. The status of Davante Adams should play a role in how confident fantasy managers are in Parkinson this week, but it’s likely the TE will help fantasy managers get off to a nice start in their semifinal matchup.
Dallas Goedert
TE - PHI
As quietly as he can, Dallas Goedert is putting together one of his best fantasy seasons. Currently the TE4 on the year, Goedert has been the most consistent TD threat in the Eagles’ passing game, leading the team in TDs (9) and is only 10 receptions behind AJ Brown on the season. What should make fantasy managers nervous about Goedert’s fantasy production is his reliance on TDs to help their rosters. Only once this season has Goedert finished as a top-10 TE without getting into the end zone (Week 14 as the TE8). Still, Goedert is seeing five targets per game on an offense that’s struggled at times to get their running game going, so there should be a nice baseline of opportunity for the TE going forward.
If there’s a matchup to get an offense rolling again, getting the Commanders is a great way to do so. Washington’s defense is one of the worst in the league, allowing the 5th-most passing and rushing yards on the season, though they have allowed twice as many passing TDs as they have on the ground. Over their last three games, the Commanders have allowed a top-12 TE in each matchup, and just two of those TEs got into the end zone. Goedert should be as safe a TE as fantasy managers can find, but still offers high-end upside for such an important week.