Fantasy Football Week 16 Rankings: Projections and Matchups to Love

The fantasy fireworks started early in Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season.

The Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints combined for 52 points on Thursday night, meaning fantasy managers who had a piece of either passing game are in great shape, as Matthew Stafford and Derek Carr combined for five touchdown passes. Fantasy managers who roster Kyren Williams are sitting pretty, too, after his 104-yard, one-score performance.

If that game was a sign of things come, though, that means there is plenty of production still to be had. We'll steer you toward the top sources, as we're running through our top-10 rankings and highlighting one player with a juicy matchup at each of the four skill positions.

Quarterback

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills throws a pass during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills beat the Cowboys 31-10. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Josh Allen, BUF (at LAC)

2. Jalen Hurts, PHI (vs. NYG)

3. Dak Prescott, DAL (at MIA)

4. Lamar Jackson, BAL (at SF)

5. Patrick Mahomes, KC (vs. LV)

6. Justin Fields, CHI (vs. ARI)

7. Brock Purdy, SF (vs. BAL)

8. Trevor Lawrence, JAX (at TB)

9. Tua Tagovailoa, MIA (vs. DAL)

10. Baker Mayfield, TB (vs. JAX)

Matchup to love: Josh Allen at Los Angeles Chargers

Allen can be a bit hit or miss, since he's always liable to encounter issues with his accuracy and decision-making. His ceiling sits as high as any, though, as he can pile up points with arms, legs or often both.

This could be one of his monster games, as the Chargers have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the position, per Yahoo. The last time this defense took the field, it let Raiders' fourth-round rookie Aidan O'Connell throw for four touchdowns, matching his total from his seven previous outings.

Projected stats: 21-of-31 passing for 268 yards and two touchdowns, nine carries for 48 yards and one touchdown

Running Back

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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 17: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball during a game against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Texans defeated the Titans 19-16 in OT. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Christian McCaffrey, SF (vs. BAL)

2. James Cook, BUF (at LAC)

3. Rachaad White, TB (vs. JAX)

4. Saquon Barkley, NYG (at PHI)

5. Breece Hall, NYJ (vs. WAS)

6. Travis Etienne Jr., JAX (at TB)

7. Joe Mixon, CIN (at PIT)

8. Derrick Henry, TEN (vs. SEA)

9. Tony Pollard, DAL (at MIA)

10. Raheem Mostert, MIA (vs. DAL)

Matchup to love: Derrick Henry vs. Seattle Seahawks

Henry's efficiency is way down of late (10 yards on 21 touches last week), but he's still seeing a tremendous amount of volume. He has handled at least 18 touches in six of his last eight games and seen 20-plus touches in four of them.

When his workload gets paired with a favorable matchup, fantasy magic can happen. Between Weeks 12 and 13, he ripped the Colts and Panthers for 178 rushing yards, 18 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He'll have a chance to hit similar marks here against a Seahawks defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs.

Projected stats: 18 carries for 104 yards, two receptions for 21 yards, two touchdowns

Wide Receiver

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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 17: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after making a first down against the Dallas Cowboys at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Tyreek Hill, MIA (vs. DAL)

2. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (at MIA)

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (at MIN)

4. Justin Jefferson, MIN (vs. DET)

5. Deebo Samuel, SF (vs. BAL)

6. A.J. Brown, PHI (vs. NYG)

7. Davante Adams, LV (at KC)

8. Stefon Diggs, BUF (at LAC)

9. Rashee Rice, KC (vs. LV)

10. Michael Pittman Jr., IND (at ATL)

Matchup to love: Stefon Diggs at Los Angeles Chargers

It's been tough sledding for Diggs of late, as he's finished with fewer than 50 receiving yards in four of his last five contests. The one time he broke lose, though, was also the only time he drew a favorable matchup in this stretch: against the Eagles in Week 12. He pounced on that opportunity and tallied six catches on 11 targets for 74 yards and a score.

He's finally getting another great matchup, as the Eagles have surrendered the third-most fantasy points to the position. Just last week, Davante Adams parlayed a matchup with Los Angeles into his own breakout from a mini-slump, catching eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Projected stats: Seven receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown

Tight End

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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 03: Trey McBride #85 of the Arizona Cardinals is chased by Mykal Walker #38 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium on December 03, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Travis Kelce, KC (vs. LV)

2. T.J. Hockenson, MIN (vs. DET)

3. Sam LaPorta, DET (at MIN)

4. David Njoku, CLE (at HOU)

5. Trey McBride, ARI (at CHI)

6. George Kittle, SF (vs. BAL)

7. Evan Engram, JAX (at TB)

8. Darren Waller, NYG (at PHI)

9. Jake Ferguson, DAL (at MIA)

10. Isaiah Likely, BAL (at SF)

Matchup to love: Trey McBride at Chicago Bears

In this season's second half, McBride has seen some of the best volume of any player at this position. He'll enter this contest with nine-plus targets in each of his last three games, and he's averaged 9.1 targets over his last seven games.

With this level of involvement, he's a weekly threat to reach triple-digit yardage, find the end zone or maybe both. His stats could spike against a Bears defense that has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to the position and just let David Njoku tally 10 receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Projected stats: Nine receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown