Fantasy Football Week 16 Rankings: Latest Position-by-Position Rundown

Let's start this Week 16 fantasy football guide with a little bit of a reminder: get your lineups set early, because there are four teams in action on Saturday. Although, if you are stumbling upon this article after Saturday's contests, and happened to forget, fret not—there are still many viable plays available on Sunday and Monday.

Week 16 is generally considered fantasy football's championship week. While most of us are playing solely for pride at this point, a select few still have a shot at a league title and whatever hardware or bragging rights come along with it. Needless to say, this isn't a week to play guessing games with your lineup.

So, here's a bit of advice: Do some digging and be absolutely sure you're playing the smartest matchups. Consider it like playing poker—you want to make sure you get your chips in the pot when you're sure you have the best hand.

To aid you in finding your ultimate lineup for this pivotal week on the fantasy gridiron, here's a look at some useful rankings for each position.

Quarterback

Rank	Player	Opp.
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	TB
2	Drew Brees, NO	ATL
3	Tom Brady, NE	NYJ
4	Andrew Luck, IND	DAL
5	Matt Ryan, ATL	NO
6	Tony Romo, DAL	IND
7	Matthew Stafford, DET	CHI
8	Peyton Manning, DEN	CIN
9	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	KC
10	Cam Newton, CAR	CLE
11	Joe Flacco, BAL	HOU
12	Mark Sanchez, PHI	WAS
13	Russell Wilson, SEA	AZ
14	Andy Dalton, CIN	DEN
15	Robert Griffin, WAS	PHI
16	Kyle Orton, BUF	OAK
17	Alex Smith, KC	PIT
18	Philip Rivers, SD	SF
19	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	MIN
20	Eli Manning, NYG	STL

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez will lead your fantasy team to a championship. If that advice was given to you earlier this season, you'd probably have a conniption; however, it rings true now.

Of course, the signal-caller hasn't been good lately. In fact, he's been downright awful, gaining just nine and six fantasy points in his last two games, respectively. Although, playing the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys is a bit different than facing off against a Washington Redskins defense that's allowing an average of 20.1 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, the most in the league.

The quarterback is also well aware he must improve his play going forward, via Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com:

Washington has been getting torched through the air lately, giving up 10 passing touchdowns over his last three games, while collecting just five interceptions on the year—which is great news for fantasy owners of the turnover-happy Sanchez.

The last time Philadelphia faced Washington was in Week 3, and while Sanchez wasn't at the helm, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles racked up 26 fantasy points by throwing for 325 yards and three touchdowns. To put it simply, this offense had a field day against the Redskins before, and there is no reason to think they won't do it again.

For fantasy owners in a bit of a pickle this week in regards to the quarterback position, don't be afraid to get Sanchez in your lineup. However, the Eagles are one of those four teams to play on Saturday, so you're going to have to make that decision quickly.

Running Back

Rank	Player	Opp.
1	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	KC
2	Jamaal Charles, KC	PIT
3	Justin Forsett, BAL	HOU
4	Mark Ingram, NO	ATL
5	Eddie Lacy, GB	TB
6	DeMarco Murray, DAL	IND
7	C.J. Anderson, DEN	CIN
8	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	CLE
9	Arian Foster, HOU	BAL
10	Matt Forte, CHI	DET
11	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	AZ
12	Fred Jackson, BUF	OAK
13	Joique Bell, DET	CHI
14	LeSean McCoy, PHI	WAS
15	Steven Jackson, ATL	NO
16	Alfred Morris, WAS	PHI
17	Tre Mason, STL	NYG
18	Daniel Herron, IND	DAL
19	Doug Martin, TB	GB
20	Lamar Miller, MIA	TB
21	Jeremy Hill, CIN	DEN
22	Matt Asiata, MIN	MIA
23	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	CAR
24	Andre Williams, NYG	STL
25	Pierre Thomas, NO	ATL
26	Chris Ivory, NYJ	NE
27	Jonas Gray, NE	NYJ
28	Giovani Bernard, CIN	DEN
29	Darren Sproles, PHI	WAS
30	Chris Johnson, NYJ	NE

Did you know Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson has only scored double-digit fantasy points three times this season? Well, he's about to make it four on Sunday.

Jackson fully resumed his role as Buffalo's unquestioned lead back in Week 15, carrying a team-high 20 times against the Green Bay Packers. He should be expected to maintain that workload in Week 16 and put up some gaudy numbers against an Oakland Raiders defense that is allowing an average of 22.0 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, the second most in the league.

Oakland has been extremely terrible against the run of late, giving up more than 30 fantasy points to opposing backfields in two of its last three games. The Raiders are no strangers to allowing running backs into the end zone, either, giving up 19 total scores to ball-carries this year, which is the second most in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Bills are in the thick of a playoff run, and Jackson is very intent on getting to the postseason, according to a recent interview with BuffaloBills.com. Said the running back, "None of it matters if we don't win, and that's what we need to focus on."

Jackson will be running with a purpose against a weak defense on Sunday. Get him into your lineup.

Wide Receiver

Rank	Player	Opp.
1	Jordy Nelson, GB	TB
2	Dez Bryant, DAL	IND
3	Calvin Johnson, DET	CHI
4	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	WAS
5	Antonio Brown, PIT	KC
6	Julio Jones, ATL	NO
7	A.J. Green CIN	DEN
8	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	CIN
9	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	DET
10	Kenny Stills, NO	ATL
11	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	STL
12	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	BAL
13	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	CIN
14	DeSean Jackson, WAS	PHI
15	Steve Smith, BAL	HOU
16	Randall Cobb, GB	TB
17	Mike Evans, TB	GB
18	T.Y. Hilton, IND	DAL
19	Golden Tate, DET	CHI
20	Sammy Watkins, BUF	OAK
21	Roddy White, ATL	NO
22	Marques Colston, NO	ATL
23	Josh Gordon, CLE	CAR
24	Eric Decker, NYJ	NE
25	Anquan Boldin, SF	SD
26	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	CLE
27	Torrey Smith, BAL	HOU
28	Brandon LaFell, NE	NYJ
29	Mohamed Sanu, CIN	DEN
30	Kenny Britt, STL	NYG

Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate's numbers may have dropped off a bit since the return of Calvin Johnson from injury, but he's still manged to record at least seven receptions in two of his last three games. He just hasn't been able to turn them into big yards.

Well, that will change this week against the Chicago Bears.

Chicago has been dreadful against the pass of late. It has given up six touchdowns to opposing wide receivers in its last four games, allowing a total of at least 20 fantasy points to the position in each contest. For the season, the Bears are allowing an average of 23.4 fantasy points to wide receivers, accounting for the 10th most in the league.

The Bears may adjust their defensive scheme to contain Johnson, according to quarterback Matthew Stafford during an interview with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, "We'll see (what adjustments they make). They've tried some different things to different guys, if you look at the tape, whether it be a Dez Bryant, a Calvin, a Jimmy Graham, we'll see. The Bears are confident in their scheme and play it well."

Even Johnson is talking about what he expects from the Bears, via Detroit's official Twitter account:

That's great news for Tate's fantasy owners, as it should lead to more targets and, ultimately, more fantasy points.

Tight End

Rank	Player	Opp.
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	NYJ
2	Jimmy Graham, NO	ATL
3	Greg Olsen, CAR	CLE
4	Travis Kelce, KC	PIT
5	Antonio Gates, SD	SF
6	Dwayne Allen, IND	DAL
7	Jason Witten, DAL	IND
8	Jared Cook, STL	NYG
9	Martellus Bennett, CHI	DET
10	Julius Thomas, DEN	CIN
11	Scott Chandler, BUF	OAK
12	Zach Ertz, PHI	WAS
13	Owen Daniels, BAL	HOU
14	Heath Miller, PIT	KC
15	Larry Donnell, NYG	STL

This may be a nice week to welcome Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen back into your starting lineup.

Allen missed three contests with an ankle injury, and fantasy owners quickly forgot about his seven touchdown during the first nine games of the season, tossing him to the waiver wire like yesterday's news. Well, he made an appearance in the end zone once again in Week 15, making a solid case for a Week 16 start.

Kevin Bowen of Colts.com tweeted an update on Allen's touchdown percentages this season:

If that score wasn't enough to convince you, he's also playing against a Dallas Cowboys defense that hasn't been fantastic at containing tight ends this season, allowing an average of 9.4 fantasy points per game to the position, tied for the second most in the league. Dallas has also allowed 10 touchdowns to tight ends this season, putting Allen in great position to reach paydirt once again.

With wide receiver T.Y. Hilton questionable this week with a hamstring injury, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com, quarterback Andrew Luck may find himself looking in Allen's direction more often to help move the chains.

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Team	Opp.
1	Buffalo Bills	OAK
2	Detroit Lions	CHI
3	Baltimore Ravens	HOU
4	Green Bay Packers	TB
5	Philadelphia Eagles	WAS
6	New England Patriots	NYJ
7	Seattle Seahawks	AZ
8	San Francisco 49ers	SD
9	St. Louis Rams	NYG
10	Miami Dolphins	MIN
11	Denver Broncos	CIN
12	San Diego Chargers	SF

Kicker

Rank	Player	Opp.
1	Cody Parkey, PHI	WAS
2	Matt Bryant, ATL	NO
3	Shaun Suisham, PIT	KC
4	Dan Bailey, DAL	IND
5	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	NYJ
6	Adam Vinatieri, IND	DAL
7	Connor Barth, DEN	CIN
8	Nick Novak, SD	SF
9	Steven Hauschka, SEA	AZ
10	Mason Crosby, GB	TB
11	Dan Carpenter, BUF	OAK
12	Phil Dawson, SF	SD

All fantasy statistics and rankings courtesy of ESPN.com standard scoring leagues and current as of December 19.