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Quarterback
Start of the Week: Bo Nix (v JAX)
The upside of Nix was on full display last week with 29.08 fantasy points in the win over Green Bay, and there is no reason to expect he won’t stay hot with the Jaguars—who have the NFL’s best run defense (86.3 yards per game allowed) but rank in the bottom half versus the pass (222.2)—coming to town. Since the close win over Las Vegas last month, Denver has opened up the offense for Nix, and he’s come through by completing 69.5% of his passes for 282.5 yards per game. With many still ranking him as a QB2 option, we have Nix as a top-three play for Week 16.
Start: Jared Goff (v PIT)
Detroit fighting for a playoff spot has seemed to cause the season Goff is having to get overlooked, but he’s put up a 29:5 touchdown-interception ratio and has been even better since Dan Campbell took over as the play-caller—averaging 292.8 passing yards and 2.0 passing touchdowns per game. The Steelers are more formidable on the backend with Asante Samuel Jr. starting across from Joey Porter Jr., but not having T.J. Watt (lung) would decrease the concern about the offensive line struggling; I like Goff as a strong QB1 at home.
Start: Jacoby Brissett (v ATL)
Playing from behind has certainly helped, but Brissett has averaged 42.8 pass attempts per game in nine starts this season—and he’s reached 18.68+ fantasy points in all nine of those games. The latest performance saw him become the first passer to record 20.0+ fantasy points against the Texans this year (20.56), and the sample size is big enough now that “house of cards” concerns should be alleviated for Brissett as a legitimate QB1 option versus a Tampa Bay defense that has allowed the third-most passing yards per game (246.9).
Start: Aaron Rodgers (@ DET)
Rodgers has seemed to take more control of the offense in back-to-back wins, and that’s led to a clear turnaround from a cold stretch in November—with the four-time NFL MVP completing 75.4% of his passes for 254.0 yards per game and four total touchdowns in two games to begin December. I would assume the Steelers will need to put up points to have a chance versus Detroit on the road, so Rodgers should be viewed as a high-end QB2 with the Lions allowing the third-most touchdown passes in the league (28).
Sit of the Week: Jaxson Dart (v MIN)
Dart being more aggressive as a runner last week (nine carries for 63 yards) was encouraging for his fantasy outlook—but I wouldn’t count on similar production this week with the Vikings likely to be the aggressors as a hard-hitting, blitz-heavy defense. In general, Brian Flores can be very tough on rookie quarterbacks, and the playmakers for the Giants might not be able to win in single coverage to help Dart out. He’s still a QB2 option, but due to the low floor if things go bad, I would try to look elsewhere.
Sit: Trevor Lawrence (@ DEN)
A quarterback coming off a six-touchdown performance might be worth rolling with, and the Broncos have had games where they struggle to stop opponents despite having a top defense. However, I wouldn’t want to risk finding out if that will be the case this week, and Lawrence is a streaky player who could have a difficult time if the Jags can’t play from ahead like they have during their five-game winning streak. Based on the matchups for others in the QB2 ranks, Lawrence falls outside the top 20.
Sit: Marcus Mariota (v PHI)
Mariota once again proved he should be a starting quarterback somewhere with a steady game last week to beat the Giants, but the Eagles will be a major challenge on Saturday evening—as we just saw them limit the Raiders to 75 total yards in Week 15. The hope for Mariota would be producing as a runner (and the Commanders did put up 36 points in an upset home win versus the Eagles last December), but that’s not enough to view him as anything more than a low-end QB2 option.
Sit: Sam Darnold (v LAR)
I am leaning towards the Seahawks right now in the rematch versus Los Angeles, but it’d still be a leap of faith to roll with Darnold in fantasy lineups—as he had four interceptions in the first meeting this season and struggled last year in the postseason loss with two turnovers and nine sacks absorbed. The Rams have been thrown on at times this year (as we saw last week with the Lions), but the lack of success for Darnold in the matchup can’t be ignored when considering a quarterback option for this week.
Running Back
Start of the Week: Quinshon Judkins (v BUF)
Injuries to the Cleveland offensive line and Buffalo possibly selling out to stop the run are concerns for Judkins on Sunday—but knowing they need to slow down opposing ground games hasn’t always led to that being the case for Sean McDermott’s defense (5.4 yards per carry allowed in 2025). In addition to the efficiency allowed on the ground, the Bills have surrendered the most rushing touchdowns in the league (23), and Judkins has shown he can destroy pursuit angles with insane burst at his size. The combination of talent and matchup should make the rookie a top-12 play.
Start: Tyrone Tracy Jr. (v MIN)
As stated, the aggressive defense for Minnesota will be tough this week for the Giants, but Tracy has been outstanding in the lead role recently—totaling 139 yards, 130 yards, and 97 yards and two touchdowns across his last three healthy games. Last week, Devin Singletary being more of an afterthought (six touches for 14 yards) with Tracy finding the end zone on a 12-yard rush bodes well for the outlook of the second-year back to close out the year as an undervalued RB2 option.
Start: Aaron Jones Sr. (@ NYG)
On the other side of Vikings-Giants, the backfield for Minnesota should be in a great spot to put up numbers, as New York’s defense has allowed a whopping 5.6 yards per carry—which unsurprisingly ranks last in the NFL. Jones continues to split work with Jordan Mason, but the veteran has seen touch totals of 14 and 15 so far this month, and a similar workload this weekend should allow him to pay off as a low-end RB2/FLEX option for an offense that has found their groove with 31+ points in back-to-back games.
Start: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (v PHI)
A matchup versus the Eagles (if at their best) might be enough to cool off Croskey-Merritt after 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown last week, but the run defense for Philadelphia has tumbled to the bottom third of the league both in terms of yards per game (125.9) and yards per carry (4.5) allowed. Healthy playmakers in Washington and the threat Marcus Mariota provides as a runner should help JCM’s outlook, so I prefer him as a FLEX option over fill-in types like Michael Carter and Audric Estimé.
Sit of the Week: Ashton Jeanty (@ HOU)
Teams are better off trying to run on the Texans than they are throwing against them, but Las Vegas is in such a bad spot as a team that those still alive with Jeanty should consider benching him if strong enough at running back. Since the firing of scapegoated offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, Jeanty has rushed for yardage totals of 31, 30, and 35 with zero touchdowns over the past three games—and it would be a stunner if the league-worst offensive line suddenly created running lanes versus Houston.
Sit: Omarion Hampton (@ DAL)
On paper, the Cowboys would seem to be an excellent matchup for Hampton, as they have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing runners (22.6) and could be eliminated from playoff contention by Saturday night if the Eagles beat the Commanders. But since the trade for Quinnen Williams, Dallas has been much stouter against the run with 3.7 yards per carry allowed, and Detroit is really the only opponent to have success on the ground against them in recent weeks. Hampton is a low-end RB2 as he splits work with Kimani Vidal.
Sit: Kareem Hunt (@ TEN)
A lot has changed since Hunt was a very good RB2 option less than a month ago, as the Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention, Patrick Mahomes (knee) is done for the season, and Isiah Pacheco has returned. We’ll see if Kansas City tries leaning on the run more with Gardner Minshew under center, but I doubt we’ll see Hunt—who rushed six times for 12 yards last week—handle significant work as the team looks ahead to 2026, and the Titans have turned things around versus the run with 67.2 rushing yards per game surrendered to enemy backs over their past five games.
Sit: Steelers RBs (@ DET)
Involvement for Jaylen Warren and (especially) Kenneth Gainwell in the passing game could allow them to pay off as low-end RB2/FLEX options—but I believe both should land on the wrong side of that line with Detroit allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs (15.9). In particular, the Lions have been tougher to run on at home with three rushing touchdowns allowed there this season, and Aaron Rodgers won’t want to keep dialing up runs if they run into walls early.
Wide Receiver
Start of the Week: DK Metcalf (@ DET)
We were fortunate to have Metcalf come through on Monday night with a highlight touchdown on one of his three targets (he caught them all for 55 yards), but he’s “hit” as a recommended start in back-to-back games and is still being overlooked as a WR1 play. This week, things are lining up for a monster day with the Lions having a smaller cornerback group and Pittsburgh likely needing to put up points, and I’d expect Metcalf to be closer to the 12 targets he saw two weeks ago when he had a season-best 148 yards.
Start: Ladd McConkey (@ DAL)
McConkey was limited to two receptions for 20 yards last week after one reception for 12 yards against the Eagles two weeks ago—but I would think he’s bound to break the cold spell soon. Dallas still has plenty of question marks behind DaRon Bland at cornerback, so McConkey should be able to have a huge day with some work to do over the final three weeks to reach 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season to begin his career (not that it’s something the Chargers will be taking into account).
Start: Jauan Jennings (@ IND)
The chemistry between Brock Purdy and Jennings was again on display last week with a couple of touchdown connections, and the role in scoring territory has been extremely valuable for Jennings with six touchdowns over his past six games. With the Colts allowing the second-most passing yards per game in the league (247.6) and the 49ers potentially being without Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) on Monday night, Jennings should be boosted into the top 24 at wide receiver in all formats.
Start: Jayden Reed (@ CHI)
Christian Watson (chest) practicing on Wednesday is a positive for his chances of suiting up on Saturday night, but I actually think his presence could be a positive for Reed. In the first matchup, Watson found the end zone twice versus Chicago, so we can probably expect them to give more attention to the speedster in the rematch—which would open things up for Reed with 53+ total yards in both games since his return. Still available in nearly 50% of ESPN leagues, Reed can potentially be added and started as a low-end WR2/FLEX option.
Others: Quentin Johnston (@ DAL), Marvin Mims Jr. (v JAX)
Sit of the Week: Terry McLaurin (v PHI)
McLaurin has shown a tremendous connection with Marcus Mariota dating back to last year, and he’s gone for lines of 3/54/1, 7/96/1, and 3/69/1 in the last three games together. That said, the Eagles have tightened up in coverage with a combined 28.5 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers over the past three games—and McLaurin was limited to one reception in the first matchup against the Eagles in 2024. If the touchdown streak with Mariota ends, McLaurin will be more of a FLEX than WR2.
Sit: Brian Thomas Jr. (@ DEN)
It’s been encouraging to see Thomas have success in back-to-back games this month with lines of 3/87 and 4/66/1, but he is set to draw a ton of coverage from Pat Surtain II this weekend—and Liam Coen might not be dialing up too many passes that challenge the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Plus, the value for Thomas can be volatile if the downfield shots don’t hit (he’s caught a 39-yard pass in both games this month), and Surtain showed his downfield coverage last week with a highlight interception in the win over Green Bay. Thomas is more of a boom-or-bust FLEX.
Sit: Jerry Jeudy (v BUF)
After it seemed Shedeur Sanders and Jeudy were on the same page with a 3/76/1 line a couple of weeks ago, things took a step back last week—and Cleveland’s top wideout has been limited to yardage totals of 39, 26, and 22 in the three other starts for Sanders. The Bills being set to get Christian Benford (toe) back only further downgrades the matchup for Jeudy, so he tumbles way down the rankings and barely cracks the top 50 with Sanders showing better chemistry with other pass-catchers.
Sit: Davante Adams (@ SEA)
It’s starting to feel like there is a real chance Adams might be active on Thursday night with first place in the NFC West on the line, but the concern is him being a complete decoy—with usage only coming in scoring territory to open things up for everyone else. Now, Adams is the overall WR6 on the season and should only be benched if you have a strong alternative, but the risk is very high if he does suit up, and Seattle limited him to one reception for six yards (though it was a touchdown) in the first meeting this season.
Others: Colts WRs (v SF)
Tight End
Start: of the Week: Darren Waller (v CIN)
Seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers making his first career start this week might scare fantasy owners off from Waller, but he went for a season-best 7/66/1 line last week and now faces a Cincinnati defense that has allowed a league-high 19.1 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. For those unfamiliar with Ewers, he can layer the ball very nicely as we’ve seen a lot with throws to Waller this year, so I would still view the veteran as a top-seven option.
Start: Colby Parkinson (@ SEA)
Whether or not Davante Adams plays this week, Parkinson has seen a clear increase in usage over the past several weeks—and the win over Detroit was a high point with a 5/75/2 line. As a player we have liked since he was in Seattle, Parkinson should draw TE1 consideration after finding the end zone against his former team in the first meeting, and the Rams relying on the tight ends more boosts both the floor and ceiling.
Start: Colston Loveland (v GB)
Rome Odunze (foot) and Luther Burden III (ankle) are both highly questionable for Saturday night, so the Bears will be leaning more on Loveland to keep up his breakout play since the start of November (season-long pace of 68/928/10). A couple of weeks ago, Loveland caught four passes for 29 yards and a score versus Green Bay, and his skillset as more of a finesse, mismatch option at tight end helps alleviate concerns about the matchup with the Packers being a top-10 unit versus the position.
Sit of the Week: T.J. Hockenson (@ NYG)
The production for Hockenson has increased with point totals of 8.9, 8.2, and 8.6 over the past three weeks—but he’s still just the overall TE22 on the season, and defending tight ends is one of the few things New York has done well recently (7.2 fantasy points per game allowed since Week 9, including zero games with double-digit points allowed). Sunday feels like a game where Justin Jefferson could finally get going in a huge way, so Hockenson lands exactly where he ranks on the season as our TE22.
Sit: Oronde Gadsden II (@ DAL)
Gadsden bounced back last week with four receptions for 61 yards against the Chiefs, but if Quentin Johnston (groin) is back, I’d be hesitant about the rookie in lineups as the No. 5 option on offense behind Ladd McConkey, Omarion Hampton, Johnston, and Keenan Allen. Before last week, Gadsden had been limited to 22.0 yards per game in his previous four outings, and he hasn’t found the end zone since Week 8.
Sit: Theo Johnson (v MIN)
Again, the Vikings are a very aggressive defense, and I expect they will try to crank up the pressure to test Jaxson Dart this weekend. If so, the Giants might need to keep extra blockers in with all the pressure alignments from Brian Flores, so Johnson being less involved in the passing game is a possibility. Similar to Oronde Gadsden II, the recent lack of touchdowns (zero scores over the past five games) is another thing holding Johnson back despite the flashes shown in 2025.