Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 16 Matchups to Consider
Fantasy leagues are down to their final four teams and just two weeks of matchups remaining which means every lineup decision could be the difference between finishing as second/third loser or punching your ticket to the championship game! For one of the final times this season I’m here to look through matchups for Week 16 at each position to help make those crucial lineup decisions for the semifinals!
As always, make use of the Start/Sit Tool on the website, ask for advice on Discord, or reach out to me via Twitter: @KurtKnowsBest.
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford (LAR) vs New Orleans
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| QB10 | QB13 | QB10 |
QB9 |
It’s been a hot month for Matthew Stafford for fantasy. After 11 weeks of finishing outside the top-12 QBs, Stafford has finished as a QB1 for four straight weeks. The biggest difference in Stafford’s fantasy finishes can be attributed to him getting passes into the end zone. In the last four games, Stafford has thrown three more TDs than he did in the first 11 games combined. More importantly, Stafford has only thrown one INT over the last month and has completed 60% or more of his passes in three of those games.
Making it five straight games will be tough for Stafford against a strong Saints passing defense. New Orleans has allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards on the season and hasn’t allowed more than 250 passing yards in their last four games. While the Saints have been strong against QBs recently, they haven’t faced great competition. If Stafford can continue to be efficient, he has a chance to be a good streaming option again this week.
Kurt would play Stafford over: QB10 – Lamar Jackson at San Francisco
Jared Goff (DET) at Minnesota
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| QB8 | QB7 | QB8 |
QB8 |
It’s been a hot and cold season for Jared Goff, but he’s still sitting as the QB9 on the year. Goff has finished inside the top-12 QBs on just 43% of games this season so predicting when he’s going to be useful for fantasy has been difficult. The most consistent trend in Goff’s fantasy-relevant weeks has been him throwing two or more TDs. In the six weeks that Goff has finished inside the top-12 QBs, he’s thrown at least two TDs, and only twice when he’s hit that mark has he not finished as a QB1.
Getting Goff into the right situation for a productive fantasy day has been tricky this season, and finds a tough test against Minnesota this week. The Vikings have been one of the more surprising defensive units in the league this season after being a defense to target especially in the passing game in 2022. Minnesota’s defense has only allowed opposing QBs to score more than 20 fantasy points three times this season and has only given up one top-12 QB finish in their last nine games. While it’s tough to move away from Goff this week after he finished as the QB1 in Week 15, there may be better options to help get you to championship week.
Kurt would prefer to play: QB7 – Justin Fields vs Arizona
Runnings Backs
Chuba Hubbard (CAR) vs Green Bay
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| RB24 | RB24 | RB21 |
RB24 |
All of the coaching changes in Carolina have directly benefited Chuba Hubbard down the stretch of the season. Hubbard has been a top-24 RB in each of his last four games, including two top-12 RB finishes. What’s most exciting for Hubbard’s recent hot streak is his uptick in opportunities. In his first 11 games, Hubbard averaged about 13 opportunities per game, but over the last month, he’s seen about 23 opportunities per week.
Continuing Hubbard’s run in the top 24 stands a good chance this week with a great matchup against the Packers. Green Bay’s defense has allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league and 4.6 yards per carry this season. Over their last six games, the Packers have given up at least 20 fantasy points to opposing teams’ RBs five times, resulting in six top-12 RB finishes. While the Carolina offense may still be limited, Hubbard is a great option to continue performing for fantasy managers as an RB2 with upside.
Kurt would play Hubbard over: RB22 – Ty Chandler vs Detroit
Roschon Johnson (CHI) vs Arizona
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| RB39 | RB41 | RB40 |
RB37 |
Over the last month, Roschon Johnson has found himself much more involved in the Chicago offense. Since Week 12, the Bears’ rookie has seen his two highest snap percentages in games which led to top-30 RB finishes. While the backfield in Chicago is still a little crowded, Johnson has carved out enough work in the passing game to create some fantasy relevance, seeing a combined 11 targets in Weeks 12 and 15. If Johnson can continue to be the passing down back and sprinkle in some rushing work, he could PPR his way to flex territory consistently.
Even with a shared backfield, playing the Arizona defense is too tasty of a matchup to ignore. The Cardinals have allowed the second-most rushing yards in the league and have given up 44 or more fantasy points to opposing teams’ RBs in two of their last three games. Just last week, Arizona allowed Christian McCaffrey to have 72 yards and two TDs in the passing game. While Johnson isn’t CMC by any means, it should be encouraging for fantasy managers to have a piece of this great matchup in such a crucial week.
Kurt would play Johnson over: RB33 – Tyjae Spears vs Seattle
Travis Etienne (JAX) at Tampa Bay
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| RB12 | RB12 | RB11 |
RB15 |
What we’re seeing with Travis Etienne this season is the best example of not just looking at end-of-season rankings for fantasy. Etienne started the season hotter than any RB not named Christian McCaffrey. Through his first eight games, Etienne had six top-10 RB finishes and just one week outside the top-24. However, in his last six games, Etienne has finished outside the top-24 three times and hasn’t seen the massive snap load north of 80% that he was seeing during his early stretch of the year. Luckily, Etienne has still been heavily involved in the passing game, which has helped save some of his mediocre weeks on the ground where he’s averaging just 42 yards per game since the Jaguars’ bye in Week 9.
Getting the RB3 for the season back on track may be an uphill battle against the Buccaneers’ defense in Week 15. While Tampa Bay’s defense is one of the best to target in the passing game, their run defense has continued to be a tough matchup for RBs, allowing the ninth-fewest rushing yards on the season. For fantasy though, the Buccaneers have allowed a top-24 RB in five straight games, including four top-12 RB finishes in a row from Weeks 11-14. If Etienne is involved in the passing game, he should get back to form for fantasy managers.
Kurt would play Etienne over: RB10 – Joe Mixon at Pittsburgh
Wide Receivers
Garrett Wilson (NYJ) vs Washington
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| WR22 | WR22 | WR25 |
WR22 |
For yet another season, the QB play has been U-G-L-Y for such a talented WR in Garrett Wilson. Despite the struggles at QB, Wilson has still managed to finish as a top-24 WR in six of his last eight games. Wilson has a shot at his first 100 reception season which would be extremely impressive given the massive struggles in the Jets’ passing game this year. What’s limiting Wilson’s fantasy upside is his lack of TDs, of which he has just one since Week 3.
If there’s a cure to WR woes, getting to take on the Commanders’ defense should be the best medicine. Washington’s defense is approaching historically bad levels, currently having given up 32 passing TDs on the season which puts them on pace to allow the fourth-most all-time in a single season. The Commanders have allowed a top-24 WR in all but three games this season and in five of their last seven games alone. Wilson may still be a scary player to set in lineups, but this matchup is too good to give up this week.
Kurt would play Wilson over: WR21 – Chris Olave at LA Rams
Chris Godwin (TB) vs Jacksonville
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| WR28 | WR27 | WR28 |
WR28 |
After what feels like forever, fantasy managers finally got a week worth having out of Chris Godwin. Godwin’s WR6 finish in Week 15 was his first finish higher than WR35 since Week 8 and his first game with double-digit receptions since Week 12 of 2022. This marked the second straight week that Godwin saw 11 or more targets and the fourth time this season. With any luck, the hot play of QB Baker Mayfield will continue and Godwin could play a large role in the fantasy playoffs.
Jacksonville’s defense feels like one of the sneakiest plays for opposing fantasy WRs. The Jaguars have allowed the fifth-most passing yards and seventh-most passing TDs on the season. For fantasy, Jacksonville has given up at least 25 points to opposing teams’ WRs in nine of their last 10 games. As long as the knee injury he’s nursing doesn’t keep him out, fantasy managers should still expect Godwin to see a large workload again this week and should be considered a flex play with upside.
Kurt would play Godwin over: WR27 – Zay Flowers at San Francisco
Noah Brown (HOU) vs Cleveland
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| WR33 | WR32 | WR36 |
WR32 |
What a return to the fantasy-relevant world for Noah Brown after disappearing for a month due to injury and lack of production. Brown notched his third top-15 WR finish of the season without CJ Stroud against the Titans behind a career-high eight receptions and a TD. The name of the game going forward for Brown will be opportunity with Tank Dell out for the season and Nico Collins still nursing a calf injury that kept him out last week. While Brown has his own injury to monitor, being the only target available should keep him in the mix for fantasy managers.
The only thing that could dampen another big week from Brown is a tough matchup against the Browns’ defense. Cleveland has allowed the fewest passing yards in the league and the second-lowest yards per attempt on the season. In their last seven games, the Browns have been great against opposing WRs, only allowing a top-24 WR in one week. Even if Brown is healthy, if CJ Stroud isn’t playing it may be a tough ask for him to give a repeat of last week against such a tough defense.
Kurt would prefer to play: WR34 – Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Tennessee
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry (NE) at Denver
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| TE13 | TE11 | TE13 |
TE13 |
After a blazing hot start and then cooling off, Hunter Henry has returned to the fire with back-to-back TE3 weeks. Henry has been an integral part of the Patriots’ offense since Bailey Zappe took over as the starter in New England, so much so that Jason named him as his Hungry for More candidate this week. While the fantasy production has been great, the way Henry has gotten then has been different, which should be encouraging for fantasy managers. In Week 14, his two TDs put him over the top, while last week his seven receptions made the difference in getting him more volume in the passing game.
To stay in the fire, TEs need a great matchup and Henry has just that against the Broncos’ defense this week. Denver’s defense ranks as the worst in the league against opposing TEs allowing 13.6 points per game for fantasy. The Broncos have given up 18 or more fantasy points to opposing teams’ TEs five different times this season, including the TE1 finish just last week to Sam LaPorta. While his current knee injury is worth monitoring, fitting Henry into a TE slot this week with a shot for another big game in the fantasy playoffs is the play to make if he’s active.
Kurt would play Henry over: TE11 – Isaiah Likely at San Francisco
Darren Waller (NYG) vs Philadelphia
| Ranking | Andy | Jason | Mike |
| TE14 | TE14 | TE14 |
TE14 |
As unfortunate as Darren Waller’s injury was this season, the Giants TE is returning at a great time for fantasy managers. Waller had a modest first game back last week, playing only 42% of snaps but still seeing the second-highest number of targets for New York’s offense. With one week under his belt, Waller should get to see more work this week and could be a featured receiving option in this offense that is desperate for more consistent passing options.
While the Giants’ offense has struggled, a matchup with the Eagles could be an opportunity to find fantasy relevance at a crucial point of the season. Philadelphia’s defense is allowing nearly 10 points per game to opposing teams’ TEs this season. Over their last seven games, the Eagles have allowed five top-10 TE finishes and have allowed teams to score at least 20 points in four straight games. If Waller is on the field more this week, fantasy managers could do much worse than to have him in their lineups as a high-upside TE option.
Kurt would play Waller over: TE15 – Dalton Schultz