Welcome to Week 16, the finals of the fantasy football playoffs in most leagues. Rankings are a mess this time of the year, especially with the rash of injuries lately, so this is a fluid situation. Feel free to message me on Twitter with any specific questions leading up to kickoff. Good luck in the playoffs!
I’ll be updating these rankings throughout the week, so check back often. There is no Thursday game this week, and three Saturday games. Updated Friday, 11AM EST, notes added.
Week 16 QB Rankings
Rank | Name | Team | Opp | Kickoff |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lamar Jackson | BAL | @ CLE | Sun 1:00pm ET |
2 | Deshaun Watson | HOU | @ TB | Sat 1:00pm ET |
3 | Russell Wilson | SEA | vs ARI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
4 | Patrick Mahomes | KC | @ CHI | Sun 8:20pm ET |
5 | Jameis Winston | TB | vs HOU | Sat 1:00pm ET |
6 | Drew Brees | NO | @ TEN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
7 | Matt Ryan | ATL | vs JAC | Sun 1:00pm ET |
8 | Dak Prescott | DAL | @ PHI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
9 | Aaron Rodgers | GB | @ MIN | Mon 8:15pm ET |
10 | Kyler Murray | ARI | @ SEA | Sun 4:25pm ET |
11 | Ryan Tannehill | TEN | vs NO | Sun 1:00pm ET |
12 | Kirk Cousins | MIN | vs GB | Mon 8:15pm ET |
13 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | MIA | vs CIN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
14 | Jimmy Garoppolo | SF | vs LAR | Sat 8:15pm ET |
15 | Carson Wentz | PHI | vs DAL | Sun 4:25pm ET |
16 | Philip Rivers | LAC | vs OAK | Sun 4:05pm ET |
17 | Mitch Trubisky | CHI | vs KC | Sun 8:20pm ET |
18 | Josh Allen | BUF | @ NE | Sat 4:30pm ET |
19 | Jared Goff | LAR | @ SF | Sat 8:15pm ET |
20 | Jacoby Brissett | IND | vs CAR | Sun 1:00pm ET |
21 | Gardner Minshew | JAC | @ ATL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
22 | Drew Lock | DEN | vs DET | Sun 4:05pm ET |
23 | Daniel Jones | NYG | @ WAS | Sun 1:00pm ET |
24 | Tom Brady | NE | vs BUF | Sat 4:30pm ET |
25 | Andy Dalton | CIN | @ MIA | Sun 1:00pm ET |
26 | Derek Carr | OAK | @ LAC | Sun 4:05pm ET |
27 | Baker Mayfield | CLE | vs BAL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
28 | Will Grier | CAR | @ IND | Sun 1:00pm ET |
29 | Sam Darnold | NYJ | vs PIT | Sun 1:00pm ET |
30 | Dwayne Haskins | WAS | vs NYG | Sun 1:00pm ET |
31 | Devlin Hodges | PIT | @ NYJ | Sun 1:00pm ET |
32 | David Blough | DET | @ DEN | Sun 4:05pm ET |
- Despite a tough matchup, Patrick Mahomes remains in my elite tier of quarterbacks in Week 16. Mahomes was the QB5 last week in snowy conditions against a Denver defense giving up the 24th fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. While the Bears are an even better defense, it would take one of the elite quarterback options for me to bench Mahomes in prime time with a fantasy championship on the line.
- You could make the case that I have Jameis Winston too high at QB5 this week. Without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans at wide receiver, Winston is missing the league’s most explosive set of receivers, and this should have a big impact on his outlook. This is a matchup to attack, however, as the Texans allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. The quarterbacks behind Winston in the rankings also have some issues, and Winston has shown some chemistry with Brashad Perriman, so he remains a top-end fantasy option as he should be throwing the ball early and often.
- Aaron Rodgers hasn’t been a great fantasy quarterback, coming in at QB14 on the year on a point per game basis. In a tough matchup against a Minnesota Vikings defense allowing the tenth fewest points to the quarterback position, this isn’t a great matchup either. But in what amounts to a playoff game, I expect the Packers to need a throwback performance from Rodgers, and I think he can deliver. Add in the fact that this game will be played in a dome and I like Rodgers as the QB9 this week, making him a solid if unspectacular option.
Week 16 RB Rankings
Rank | Name | Team | Opp | Kickoff |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Christian McCaffrey | CAR | @ IND | Sun 1:00pm ET |
2 | Chris Carson | SEA | vs ARI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
3 | Ezekiel Elliott | DAL | @ PHI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
4 | Saquon Barkley | NYG | @ WAS | Sun 1:00pm ET |
5 | Derrick Henry | TEN | vs NO | Sun 1:00pm ET |
6 | Alvin Kamara | NO | @ TEN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
7 | Joe Mixon | CIN | @ MIA | Sun 1:00pm ET |
8 | Nick Chubb | CLE | vs BAL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
9 | Mark Ingram | BAL | @ CLE | Sun 1:00pm ET |
10 | Leonard Fournette | JAC | @ ATL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
11 | Melvin Gordon | LAC | vs OAK | Sun 4:05pm ET |
12 | Aaron Jones | GB | @ MIN | Mon 8:15pm ET |
13 | Miles Sanders | PHI | vs DAL | Sun 4:25pm ET |
14 | Austin Ekeler | LAC | vs OAK | Sun 4:05pm ET |
15 | Kenyan Drake | ARI | @ SEA | Sun 4:25pm ET |
16 | Raheem Mostert | SF | vs LAR | Sat 8:15pm ET |
17 | Marlon Mack | IND | vs CAR | Sun 1:00pm ET |
18 | Devonta Freeman | ATL | vs JAC | Sun 1:00pm ET |
19 | Todd Gurley | LAR | @ SF | Sat 8:15pm ET |
20 | James Conner | PIT | @ NYJ | Sun 1:00pm ET |
21 | Devin Singletary | BUF | @ NE | Sat 4:30pm ET |
22 | Le’Veon Bell | NYJ | vs PIT | Sun 1:00pm ET |
23 | DeAndre Washington | OAK | @ LAC | Sun 4:05pm ET |
24 | James White | NE | vs BUF | Sat 4:30pm ET |
25 | Mike Boone | MIN | vs GB | Mon 8:15pm ET |
26 | Adrian Peterson | WAS | vs NYG | Sun 1:00pm ET |
27 | Phillip Lindsay | DEN | vs DET | Sun 4:05pm ET |
28 | Kareem Hunt | CLE | vs BAL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
29 | David Montgomery | CHI | vs KC | Sun 8:20pm ET |
30 | Tarik Cohen | CHI | vs KC | Sun 8:20pm ET |
31 | Royce Freeman | DEN | vs DET | Sun 4:05pm ET |
32 | Patrick Laird | MIA | vs CIN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
33 | Ronald Jones II | TB | vs HOU | Sat 1:00pm ET |
34 | Sony Michel | NE | vs BUF | Sat 4:30pm ET |
35 | Jamaal Williams | GB | @ MIN | Mon 8:15pm ET |
36 | Carlos Hyde | HOU | @ TB | Sat 1:00pm ET |
37 | Boston Scott | PHI | vs DAL | Sun 4:25pm ET |
38 | Damien Williams | KC | @ CHI | Sun 8:20pm ET |
39 | LeSean McCoy | KC | @ CHI | Sun 8:20pm ET |
40 | Duke Johnson | HOU | @ TB | Sat 1:00pm ET |
41 | Latavius Murray | NO | @ TEN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
42 | Chris Thompson | WAS | vs NYG | Sun 1:00pm ET |
43 | Matt Breida | SF | vs LAR | Sat 8:15pm ET |
44 | Rex Burkhead | NE | vs BUF | Sat 4:30pm ET |
45 | Nyheim Hines | IND | vs CAR | Sun 1:00pm ET |
46 | Peyton Barber | TB | vs HOU | Sat 1:00pm ET |
47 | Darwin Thompson | KC | @ CHI | Sun 8:20pm ET |
48 | Kerryon Johnson | DET | @ DEN | Sun 4:05pm ET |
- Miles Sanders has entered the back-end of the elite tier of fantasy running backs for me, as the Eagles are simply forced to feed him the ball. Without Jordan Howard in the backfield and down several key receiving options, Sanders is driving this Eagles offense. He should be immune to gamescript issues, as he can come through on the ground and through the air. His safe PPR floor should have you starting him with confidense this week.
- DeAndre Washington is a tough one to rank. The best way to attack the Chargers is on the ground, and Washington proved to be a capable fantasy fill-in for Josh Jacobs a few weeks ago. But with the Raiders’ season over, I worry that they fall behind on the road and are forced to abandon the run. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Washington have an RB2 type week, but I also wouldn’t be surprised to see him disappoint in a game where the Raiders struggle to score.
- Another tough one to rank is Mike Boone. I’m assuming that Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison won’t play, making Boone the primary option on a run-heavy Vikings’ team. The Packers’ run defense is susceptible to the running game, so I wouldn’t be shocked at a big performance from Boone. But in a huge game against the Packers, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the Vikings lean on Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, and Stefon Diggs with the division title on the line.
Week 16 WR Rankings
Rank | Name | Team | Opp | Kickoff |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DeAndre Hopkins | HOU | @ TB | Sat 1:00pm ET |
2 | Michael Thomas | NO | @ TEN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
3 | Julio Jones | ATL | vs JAC | Sun 1:00pm ET |
4 | Davante Adams | GB | @ MIN | Mon 8:15pm ET |
5 | Tyreek Hill | KC | @ CHI | Sun 8:20pm ET |
6 | Allen Robinson | CHI | vs KC | Sun 8:20pm ET |
7 | Devante Parker | MIA | vs CIN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
8 | Keenan Allen | LAC | vs OAK | Sun 4:05pm ET |
9 | A.J. Brown | TEN | vs NO | Sun 1:00pm ET |
10 | Amari Cooper | DAL | @ PHI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
11 | D.J. Moore | CAR | @ IND | Sun 1:00pm ET |
12 | Julian Edelman | NE | vs BUF | Sat 4:30pm ET |
13 | Robert Woods | LAR | @ SF | Sat 8:15pm ET |
14 | Courtland Sutton | DEN | vs DET | Sun 4:05pm ET |
15 | Tyler Lockett | SEA | vs ARI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
16 | Cooper Kupp | LAR | @ SF | Sat 8:15pm ET |
17 | Jarvis Landry | CLE | vs BAL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
18 | Stefon Diggs | MIN | vs GB | Mon 8:15pm ET |
19 | Mike Williams | LAC | vs OAK | Sun 4:05pm ET |
20 | Emmanuel Sanders | SF | vs LAR | Sat 8:15pm ET |
21 | Tyler Boyd | CIN | @ MIA | Sun 1:00pm ET |
22 | Michael Gallup | DAL | @ PHI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
23 | Kenny Golladay | DET | @ DEN | Sun 4:05pm ET |
24 | Terry McLaurin | WAS | vs NYG | Sun 1:00pm ET |
25 | Breshad Perriman | TB | vs HOU | Sat 1:00pm ET |
26 | Adam Thielen | MIN | vs GB | Mon 8:15pm ET |
27 | D.J. Chark | JAC | @ ATL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
28 | Christian Kirk | ARI | @ SEA | Sun 4:25pm ET |
29 | Anthony Miller | CHI | vs KC | Sun 8:20pm ET |
30 | Sterling Shepard | NYG | @ WAS | Sun 1:00pm ET |
31 | D.K. Metcalf | SEA | vs ARI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
32 | Darius Slayton | NYG | @ WAS | Sun 1:00pm ET |
33 | Odell Beckham Jr. | CLE | vs BAL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
34 | Deebo Samuel | SF | vs LAR | Sat 8:15pm ET |
35 | John Brown | BUF | @ NE | Sat 4:30pm ET |
36 | Will Fuller | HOU | @ TB | Sat 1:00pm ET |
37 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | PIT | @ NYJ | Sun 1:00pm ET |
38 | T.Y. Hilton | IND | vs CAR | Sun 1:00pm ET |
39 | Marquise Brown | BAL | @ CLE | Sun 1:00pm ET |
40 | Jamison Crowder | NYJ | vs PIT | Sun 1:00pm ET |
41 | Robby Anderson | NYJ | vs PIT | Sun 1:00pm ET |
42 | Curtis Samuel | CAR | @ IND | Sun 1:00pm ET |
43 | Golden Tate | NYG | @ WAS | Sun 1:00pm ET |
44 | Danny Amendola | DET | @ DEN | Sun 4:05pm ET |
45 | Justin Watson | TB | vs HOU | Sat 1:00pm ET |
46 | Greg Ward | PHI | vs DAL | Sun 4:25pm ET |
47 | Zach Pascal | IND | vs CAR | Sun 1:00pm ET |
48 | James Washington | PIT | @ NYJ | Sun 1:00pm ET |
49 | Dede Westbrook | JAC | @ ATL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
50 | Chris Conley | JAC | @ ATL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
51 | Cole Beasley | BUF | @ NE | Sat 4:30pm ET |
52 | Russell Gage | ATL | vs JAC | Sun 1:00pm ET |
53 | Sammy Watkins | KC | @ CHI | Sun 8:20pm ET |
54 | Kenny Stills | HOU | @ TB | Sat 1:00pm ET |
55 | Diontae Johnson | PIT | @ NYJ | Sun 1:00pm ET |
56 | Larry Fitzgerald | ARI | @ SEA | Sun 4:25pm ET |
57 | Tyrell Williams | OAK | @ LAC | Sun 4:05pm ET |
58 | Randall Cobb | DAL | @ PHI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
59 | Brandin Cooks | LAR | @ SF | Sat 8:15pm ET |
60 | John Ross | CIN | @ MIA | Sun 1:00pm ET |
- It’s Week 16 and I have Breshad Perriman ranked as the WR25, which should tell you all you need to know about the receiver position right now. Perriman has produced three straight weeks, however, and has big-time upside as Winston’s presumed number one option. My only hesitation is how he will handle additional defensive coverage as a number one receiver. But his upside is too great to leave on your bench unless you are stacked at the position.
- Keep starting A.J. Brown, as the Saints have been giving up plenty of fantasy points to wide receivers, even with Marshon Lattimore shadowing number one receivers. This matchup sets up similarly to last week, where the Titans may have to air it out to play keep up, giving Brown WR1 upside.
Week 16 TE Rankings
Rank | Name | Team | Opp | Kickoff |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Travis Kelce | KC | @ CHI | Sun 8:20pm ET |
2 | George Kittle | SF | vs LAR | Sat 8:15pm ET |
3 | Zach Ertz | PHI | vs DAL | Sun 4:25pm ET |
4 | Mark Andrews | BAL | @ CLE | Sun 1:00pm ET |
5 | Darren Waller | OAK | @ LAC | Sun 4:05pm ET |
6 | Tyler Higbee | LAR | @ SF | Sat 8:15pm ET |
7 | Austin Hooper | ATL | vs JAC | Sun 1:00pm ET |
8 | Jacob Hollister | SEA | vs ARI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
9 | Hunter Henry | LAC | vs OAK | Sun 4:05pm ET |
10 | Jared Cook | NO | @ TEN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
11 | Noah Fant | DEN | vs DET | Sun 4:05pm ET |
12 | Jack Doyle | IND | vs CAR | Sun 1:00pm ET |
13 | Dallas Goedert | PHI | vs DAL | Sun 4:25pm ET |
14 | Mike Gesicki | MIA | vs CIN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
15 | O.J. Howard | TB | vs HOU | Sat 1:00pm ET |
16 | Jonnu Smith | TEN | vs NO | Sun 1:00pm ET |
17 | Greg Olsen | CAR | @ IND | Sun 1:00pm ET |
18 | Kyle Rudolph | MIN | vs GB | Mon 8:15pm ET |
- I would feel relatively confident playing any of my top ten tight ends this week. After that, it gets a bit dicey. You could make a case for O.J. Howard to be ranked number 11 and he may have the most upside of the bunch with the Buccaneers lacking wide receiving options this week. I ultimately don’t trust him from week to week, and I’d rather go with safer options for championship week. But he does have some real upside this week if Cameron Brate doesn’t take too many of his targets.
Week 16 D Rankings
Rank | Name | Team | Opp | Kickoff |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Baltimore Ravens | BAL | @ CLE | Sun 1:00pm ET |
2 | New England Patriots | NE | vs BUF | Sat 4:30pm ET |
3 | San Francisco 49ers | SF | vs LAR | Sat 8:15pm ET |
4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | PIT | @ NYJ | Sun 1:00pm ET |
5 | Denver Broncos | DEN | vs DET | Sun 4:05pm ET |
6 | Kansas City Chiefs | KC | @ CHI | Sun 8:20pm ET |
7 | Seattle Seahawks | SEA | vs ARI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
8 | Buffalo Bills | BUF | @ NE | Sat 4:30pm ET |
9 | Los Angeles Chargers | LAC | vs OAK | Sun 4:05pm ET |
10 | Indianapolis Colts | IND | vs CAR | Sun 1:00pm ET |
11 | New York Giants | NYG | @ WAS | Sun 1:00pm ET |
12 | New Orleans Saints | NO | @ TEN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
13 | Washington Redskins | WAS | vs NYG | Sun 1:00pm ET |
14 | Houston Texans | HOU | @ TB | Sat 1:00pm ET |
15 | New York Jets | NYJ | vs PIT | Sun 1:00pm ET |
16 | Atlanta Falcons | ATL | vs JAC | Sun 1:00pm ET |
17 | Minnesota Vikings | MIN | vs GB | Mon 8:15pm ET |
18 | Philadelphia Eagles | PHI | vs DAL | Sun 4:25pm ET |
Week 16 K Rankings
Rank | Name | Team | Opp | Kickoff |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Justin Tucker | BAL | @ CLE | Sun 1:00pm ET |
2 | Wil Lutz | NO | @ TEN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
3 | Harrison Butker | KC | @ CHI | Sun 8:20pm ET |
4 | Robbie Gould | SF | vs LAR | Sat 8:15pm ET |
5 | Dan Bailey | MIN | vs GB | Mon 8:15pm ET |
6 | Matt Gay | TB | vs HOU | Sat 1:00pm ET |
7 | Younghoe Koo | ATL | vs JAC | Sun 1:00pm ET |
8 | Michael Badgley | LAC | vs OAK | Sun 4:05pm ET |
9 | Jason Myers | SEA | vs ARI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
10 | Ka’imi Fairbairn | HOU | @ TB | Sat 1:00pm ET |
11 | Nick Folk | NE | vs BUF | Sat 4:30pm ET |
12 | Jason Sanders | MIA | vs CIN | Sun 1:00pm ET |
13 | Mason Crosby | GB | @ MIN | Mon 8:15pm ET |
14 | Jake Elliott | PHI | vs DAL | Sun 4:25pm ET |
15 | Kai Forbath | DAL | @ PHI | Sun 4:25pm ET |
16 | Chris Boswell | PIT | @ NYJ | Sun 1:00pm ET |
17 | Josh Lambo | JAC | @ ATL | Sun 1:00pm ET |
18 | Zane Gonzalez | ARI | @ SEA | Sun 4:25pm ET |
- Greg Zuerlein is questionable with a quad injury, taking him out of my top 18 kicker rankings. At this time of the year, I wouldn’t want to risk a zero from the kicker position, so I would look for safer options than Zuerlein. The risk of reinjury and a tough matchup makes him a non-start for me.
Message me on Twitter for any questions, and make sure to check us out Thursday morning for QB List’s Sit/start article.
(Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire)