Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings, Top Players, Sleepers and Positional Guide

Kristopher KnoxDec 15, 2025

Week 16 is set to begin with a playoff-caliber matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night. Fantasy football managers are likely facing playoff matchups of their own, as the postseason has already begun in most season-long leagues.

While managers no longer need to deal with bye weeks, choosing the right matchups and best situations will still be a challenge.

Here, you'll find early point-per-reception rankings for each position, along with some top matchups and sleepers for skill players in Week 16.

Quarterback

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AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Bills QB Josh Allen

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

2. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

5. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

6. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

7. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

8. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

9. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

10. Justin Herbert

11. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

12. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

The Buffalo Bills will face a competitive Cleveland Browns defense in Week 16. While Myles Garrett and the Browns defense can challenge Buffalo, that's no reason to sit a QB who has averaged more than 24 fantasy points per week.

Last week, Cleveland allowed Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to tally 19 fantasy points. Josh Allen's running ability should allow him to be even more productive.

The easiest matchup of the week will belong to Justin Herbert. He and the Los Angeles Chargers will visit the Dallas Cowboys, who have surrendered more fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks than any other team.

Managers in need of a streamer should consider Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. He's a strong sleeper to consider against a suspect Las Vegas Raiders defense, and he's rostered in only 48 percent of Yahoo leagues and 52 percent of ESPN leagues.

Running Back

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AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson

1. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

2. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

4. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

5. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

6. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

7. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

8. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

9. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

10. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

11. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

12. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

13. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

14. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

15. Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson hasn't looked like the best player in football every single week, but he's coming off a terrific performance and has an enviable matchup.

Robinson tallied an impressive 29.5 fantasy points in Week 15 and could have similar production this week against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs.

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane will have an even better matchup in Week 16. Miami will host the Cincinnati Bengals, who have surrendered more fantasy points to opposing RBs than any other team.

Managers won't find many running-back options on the waiver wire this week but may find some reasonable value in Michael Carter. With Bam Knight suffering an ankle injury on Sunday, Carter is likely to be the Cardinals' lead back against the Falcons.

Carter is available in over 90 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Wide Receiver

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AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson

1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

4. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

5. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

6. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

7. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

8. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

9. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

10. Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

11. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

12. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

13. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers

14. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys

15. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

16. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

17. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

18. Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

19. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

20. Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers

Rams receiver Puka Nacua will have a tough matchup against a terrific Seahawks defense in Seattle on Thursday night. However, he'll still have a legitimate chance to have one of the top outings of the week.

Los Angeles' passing game is likely to flow almost exclusively through Nacua. Teammate Davante Adams suffered a hamstring injury in Week 15 and isn't expected to suit up against Seattle.

The good news, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, is that Adams aggravated the hamstring injury he was already battling and didn't suffer a new one. Managers can hold out hope that he'll return before the end of the fantasy playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson will have one of the top matchups of the week. He'll face a New York Giants defense that has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.

Carolina Panthers wideout Jalen Coker is an emerging sleeper who has tallied double-digit fantasy points in back-to-back games and in two of his last three. He'll face a slumping Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense and is available in over 90 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

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Tight End

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AP Photo

1. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

3. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

4. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

5. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

6. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills

7. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

8. Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers

9. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

10. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

11. Theo Johnson, New York Giants

12. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

13. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

14. Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

15. Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals

Will Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts replicate the production he had in Week 15? Probably not, but he may still lead all tight ends in scoring this week.

With Drake London sidelined, Pitts filled the No. 1 receiver role against the Buccaneers. He filled that role well, finishing with 11 catches, 166 yards, three touchdowns, and a whopping 45.6 fantasy points.

The Cardinals have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.

No team has surrendered more fantasy points to opposing tight ends than the Bengals. This gives Darren Waller some reasonable sleeper value, even if he isn't regularly featured in the Dolphins' offense.

Waller is rostered in 36 percent of Yahoo leagues and 19 percent of ESPN leagues.