Weekly Positional Rankings: Week 16

In this series, I’ll give you my top 30 quarterbacks, 60 running backs, 60 wide receivers, and 30 tight ends each week to help you with your start/sit decisions in your leagues. To generate this list each and every week, I examine team trends, Vegas over/unders, implied points, pace of play, among various other factors to build a projection for each player and subsequently adjust rankings for upside and more detailed matchup specifics.

Among the rankings, there will surely be some that surprise you or that you may disagree with. At the end of each position section, I’ll give you my thoughts on some players who perhaps are ranked higher/lower than you might expect and insights as to why they are a good/bad play this week. Ultimately, these rankings should help your start/sit dilemmas and ensure you have the requisite resources to make an informed decision. Whether it be the championship game, a third-place showdown, or a toilet bowl matchup, this is the most important week in fantasy football for those still in the mix.

Without further ado, let’s dive into week 16’s positional rankings!

Quarterbacks

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 16 Rank
QB	Lamar Jackson	@CLE	1
QB	Deshaun Watson	@TB	2
QB	Russell Wilson	ARI	3
QB	Jameis Winston	HOU	4
QB	Patrick Mahomes	@CHI	5
QB	Dak Prescott	@PHI	6
QB	Kyler Murray	@SEA	7
QB	Ryan Tannehill	NO	8
QB	Drew Brees	@TEN	9
QB	Ryan Fitzpatrick	CIN	10
QB	Carson Wentz	DAL	11
QB	Philip Rivers	OAK	12
QB	Aaron Rodgers	@MIN	13
QB	Andy Dalton	@MIA	14
QB	Kirk Cousins	GB	15
QB	Jimmy Garoppolo	LAR	16
QB	Josh Allen	@NE	17
QB	Jacoby Brissett	CAR	18
QB	Matt Ryan	JAC	19
QB	Mitchell Trubisky	KC	20
QB	Jared Goff	@SF	21
QB	Drew Lock	DET	22
QB	Baker Mayfield	BAL	23
QB	Derek Carr	@LAC	24
QB	Daniel Jones	@WAS	25
QB	Tom Brady	BUF	26
QB	Gardner Minshew	@ATL	27
QB	Sam Darnold	PIT	28
QB	Dwayne Haskins	NYG	29
QB	Will Grier	@IND	30
QB	David Blough	@DEN	31
QB	Devlin Hodges	@NYJ	32

 

Start ‘em: Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB MIA

Need a little magic for your championship game? Look no further than “Fitzmagic”. This might seem crazy to bank of Fitzpatrick in the most important game of the season, but things set up well this week for the Harvard graduate. Fitzpatrick is the QB7 in points per game over the last four weeks, ahead of Carson Wentz, Patrick Mahomes, and Dak Prescott to name a few. Over this stretch, he’s had under 20 fantasy points just once. Going up against the Bengals at home in week 16, the Dolphins have 24 implied points. They should move the ball well against one of the worst overall defenses in the NFL. With DeVante Parker emerging as a true fantasy alpha late in the season, Fitzpatrick has a lot of upside and a relatively safe floor for the last week of fantasy football. Start him as a low-end QB1.

Sit ‘em: Josh Allen, QB BUF

Allen’s performance this season has likely helped you get to this point in the playoffs. As the QB6 on the season, Allen has solidified himself as a legitimate fantasy options for dynasty owners and vaulted up many rankings this season. While Allen surely did his part this season, it’s best to look for other options in your last fantasy football game of the season. The Bills travel to New England in week 16 and have the lowest implied team total of the week with just 15.25 points. Back in week four, Allen struggled mightily against the Patriots, scoring less than nine fantasy points in his worst game of the year. He’s too risky of an option at the quarterback position in week 16 with minimal upside. Ranked as a mid-QB2 this week, Allen can stay on your bench in 1QB formats and benched for higher upside options if needed in Superflex leagues.

If you’re desperate: Philip Rivers, QB LAC

Rivers provides a challenging proposition to fantasy players this week. On one hand, the veteran quarterback has scored fewer than 13 fantasy points in five of his last seven games, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns over this stretch. On the other hand, he’s the overall QB15 on the season and has one of the best matchups of the week against the Oakland Raiders. On the season, the Raiders have allowed 32 passing touchdowns to just nine interceptions. This bodes well for Rivers and the Chargers, who have a 26.5 implied team total on the week. If Rivers performs as an average quarterback against this Raiders defense, he’ll be projected for at least two passing touchdowns with room for more. Rivers’ inconsistency leaves him as a fringe QB1 on the week, and if you’re desperate, he should have a solid floor-upside combination.

Running Backs

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 16 Rank
RB	Christian McCaffrey	@IND	1
RB	Joe Mixon	@MIA	2
RB	Saquon Barkley	@WAS	3
RB	Ezekiel Elliott	@PHI	4
RB	Leonard Fournette	@ATL	5
RB	Chris Carson	ARI	6
RB	Alvin Kamara	@TEN	7
RB	Austin Ekeler	OAK	8
RB	Mark Ingram	@CLE	9
RB	Derrick Henry	NO	10
RB	James Conner	@NYJ	11
RB	Melvin Gordon	OAK	12
RB	Devonta Freeman	JAC	13
RB	Miles Sanders	DAL	14
RB	Le’Veon Bell	PIT	15
RB	Kenyan Drake	@SEA	16
RB	Nick Chubb	BAL	17
RB	Marlon Mack	CAR	18
RB	Aaron Jones	@MIN	19
RB	Phillip Lindsay	DET	20
RB	Mike Boone	GB	21
RB	Todd Gurley	@SF	22
RB	Raheem Mostert	LAR	23
RB	Devin Singletary	@NE	24
RB	Kareem Hunt	BAL	25
RB	David Montgomery	KC	26
RB	Adrian Peterson	NYG	27
RB	James White	BUF	28
RB	Jamaal Williams	@MIN	29
RB	Ronald Jones	HOU	30
RB	Deandre Washington	@LAC	31
RB	Latavius Murray	@TEN	32
RB	Tarik Cohen	KC	33
RB	Patrick Laird	CIN	34
RB	Carlos Hyde	@TB	35
RB	Sony Michel	BUF	36
RB	Duke Johnson	@TB	37
RB	Peyton Barber	HOU	38
RB	Royce Freeman	DET	39
RB	Boston Scott	DAL	40
RB	Chris Thompson	NYG	41
RB	Lesean McCoy	@CHI	42
RB	Jalen Richard	@LAC	43
RB	Nyheim Hines	CAR	44
RB	Matt Breida	LAR	45
RB	Bo Scarborough	@DEN	46
RB	Tevin Coleman	LAR	47
RB	Myles Gaskin	CIN	48
RB	Darwin Thompson	@CHI	49
RB	David Johnson	@SEA	50
RB	Giovani Bernard	@MIA	51
RB	Jaylen Samuels	@NYJ	52
RB	Dion Lewis	NO	53
RB	Ameer Abdullah	GB	54
RB	Frank Gore	@NE	55
RB	Dare Ogunbowale	HOU	56
RB	JD McKissic	@DEN	57
RB	Brian Hill	JAC	58
RB	Malcolm Brown	@SF	59
RB	Tony Pollard	@PHI	60

 

Start ‘em: Devonta Freeman, RB ATL

Despite great volume all season, Freeman has been lackluster for fantasy players this year. Averaging just 3.6 yards per carry and having scored only one rushing touchdown this season, Freeman has consistently been a low-end RB2. However, Freeman’s performances have been largely predictable as of late. Against two of the best rushing defenses in the NFL – New Orleans and San Francisco – Freeman finished as merely an RB3 option. In week 14 against Carolina, the worst rushing defense in the league, Freeman scored 19.4 PPR points in route to an RB1 finish on the day. This week, the Falcons take on the Jacksonville Jaguars who have been the second-worst defense against opposing running backs this season behind only the aforementioned Panthers. Freeman’s volume and projected efficiency in a great matchup should provide teams with a high-floor, high-ceiling combo in week 16. Start him as a high-end RB2.

Sit ‘em: Carlos Hyde, RB HOU

Hyde has been incredibly consistent for the Houston Texans and was a great addition when Lamar Miller went down for the year. The veteran running back eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards on the season last week. However, Hyde has been hit or miss for fantasy players this year despite getting consistent volume mostly due to a lack of receiving game work. Hyde has just nine catches on the year for 32 yards. While Hyde has met or exceeded 58 yards rushing in 11 of 14 games this year – an impressive feat – his lack of passing game usage caps his upside and lowers his floor each week. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, who have allowed by far the fewest rushing yards in the league, bench Hyde for better options.

If you’re desperate: Tarik Cohen, RB CHI

Compared to last season, Cohen’s 2019 usage has actually been pretty similar. Through 14 games, Cohen has just one fewer target and four fewer receptions than he did in all of 2018. The main difference in his fantasy performance has been efficiency in both yards per touch and his lack of finding the endzone. Despite this, Cohen has managed double-digit fantasy points in four of his last six games with a floor during that stretch of 7.5 fantasy points. This week, Cohen and the Bears face the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have allowed 115 targets to opposing running backs this season, which is the most in the NFL. Additionally, running backs have gained nearly ten yards per reception against this defense. Cohen’s recent usage gives him a high floor in championship week, and his matchup could provide players with a solid RB2 performance on the week. He’s a desperation RB3 that should fare well in a good matchup.

Wide Receivers

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 16 Rank
WR	Michael Thomas	@TEN	1
WR	DeAndre Hopkins	@TB	2
WR	Julio Jones	JAC	3
WR	Amari Cooper	@PHI	4
WR	Tyreek Hill	@CHI	5
WR	Keenan Allen	OAK	6
WR	Davante Adams	@MIN	7
WR	Tyler Lockett	ARI	8
WR	Stefon Diggs	GB	9
WR	DJ Moore	@IND	10
WR	Kenny Golladay	@DEN	11
WR	Devante Parker	CIN	12
WR	Tyler Boyd	@MIA	13
WR	Julian Edelman	BUF	14
WR	Allen Robinson	KC	15
WR	Courtland Sutton	DET	16
WR	AJ Brown	NO	17
WR	Mike Williams	OAK	18
WR	Jarvis Landry	BAL	19
WR	Terry McLaurin	NYG	20
WR	Breshad Perriman	HOU	21
WR	Michael Gallup	@PHI	22
WR	Christian Kirk	@SEA	23
WR	Adam Thielen	GB	24
WR	Robert Woods	@SF	25
WR	DK Metcalf	ARI	26
WR	Will Fuller	@TB	27
WR	Darius Slayton	@WAS	28
WR	John Brown	@NE	29
WR	Emmanuel Sanders	LAR	30
WR	Deebo Samuel	LAR	31
WR	Marquise Brown	@CLE	32
WR	Jamison Crowder	PIT	33
WR	Sterling Shepard	@WAS	34
WR	Dede Westbrook	@ATL	35
WR	TY Hilton	CAR	36
WR	Anthony Miller	KC	37
WR	Odell Beckham Jr	BAL	38
WR	Cooper Kupp	@SF	39
WR	Curtis Samuel	@IND	40
WR	Golden Tate	@WAS	41
WR	Tyrell Williams	@LAC	42
WR	Kenny Stills	@TB	43
WR	Randall Cobb	@PHI	44
WR	Juju Smith-Schuster	@NYJ	45
WR	Robby Anderson	PIT	46
WR	Danny Amendola	@DEN	47
WR	Dionte Johnson	@NYJ	48
WR	Cole Beasley	@NE	49
WR	Larry Fitzgerald	@SEA	50
WR	Zach Pascal	CAR	51
WR	Sammy Watkins	@CHI	52
WR	Brandin Cooks	@SF	53
WR	Chris Conley	@ATL	54
WR	Allen Hurns	CIN	55
WR	James Washington	@NYJ	56
WR	Keelan Cole	@ATL	57
WR	Justin Watson	HOU	58
WR	Russell Gage	JAC	59
WR	Greg Ward	DAL	60

 

Start ‘em: Mike Williams, WR LAC

After not scoring a touchdown through the first 12 games of 2019, Mike Williams has scored in two consecutive contests. Over his last three games, Williams has consistently scored between 14 and 18 fantasy points, good for WR18 over that stretch. In week 16, Williams has a soft matchup against the Oakland Raiders. While opposing wide receivers have not seen much volume against this defense – 249 targets on the year ranks eight-fewest – the volume they do get in right in Mike Williams’ wheelhouse. The Raiders have seen wide receivers have a 9.2 average depth of target (aDoT) against them, which ranks third-highest in the NFL. Mike Williams’s 18.0 aDoT is the highest in the NFL of receivers with at least 30 targets on the year. Williams is a high-upside WR2 play in week 16.

Sit ‘em: Danny Amendola, WR DET

Amendola actually appeared last week in this article as the desperation play of the week and performed admirably with eight receptions for over 100 yards. This week, however, things look a lot worse for the veteran as the Lions face the Denver Broncos instead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Broncos have allowed just the eight-fewest points to opposing wide receivers on the season. With David Blough under center, the Lions are big underdogs at Denver this week and have just a 16 point implied team total. Teammate Kenny Golladay is the only Detroit Lion to place any trust in for your championship week. Amendola has a decent floor with his volume but very little upside, making him a low-end WR4 on the week. Bench him where possible.

If you’re desperate: DK Metcalf, WR SEA

We’ve come a long way since Metcalf debates raged throughout the summer as people tried to pinpoint exactly what to expect from Metcalf in his career. In his rookie year, Metcalf has been great. He’s on pace for 936 receiving yards and seven touchdowns en route to a top 30 overall performance at the wide receiver position. This week, Metcalf and the Seahawks face the Arizona Cardinals, whose defense has allowed opposing receivers to score the seventh-most fantasy points on the season. Metcalf has scored fewer than 11 fantasy points just once over his last seven games, teeing him up for a high-floor, high-ceiling game against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. He’s a high-end WR3 on the week with upside

Tight Ends

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 16 Rank
TE	Travis Kelce	@CHI	1
TE	Zach Ertz	DAL	2
TE	George Kittle	LAR	3
TE	Austin Hooper	JAC	4
TE	Mark Andrews	@CLE	5
TE	Hunter Henry	OAK	6
TE	Tyler Higbee	@SF	7
TE	Darren Waller	@LAC	8
TE	Jacob Hollister	ARI	9
TE	OJ Howard	HOU	10
TE	Jack Doyle	CAR	11
TE	Jared Cook	@TEN	12
TE	Noah Fant	DET	13
TE	Kyle Rudolph	GB	14
TE	Dallas Goedert	DAL	15
TE	Mike Gesicki	CIN	16
TE	Jason Witten	@PHI	17
TE	Greg Olsen	@IND	18
TE	Kaden Smith	@WAS	19
TE	Cameron Brate	HOU	20
TE	Jimmy Graham	@MIN	21
TE	Darren Fells	@TB	22
TE	Tyler Eifert	@MIA	23
TE	David Njoku	BAL	24
TE	Jonnu Smith	NO	25
TE	Irv Smith	GB	26
TE	Vance McDonald	@NYJ	27
TE	Blake Jarwin	@PHI	28
TE	Ricky Seals-Jones	BAL	29
TE	Ian Thomas	@IND	30

 

Start ‘em: Jacob Hollister, TE SEA

We’ve known this for weeks: start tight ends against the Arizona Cardinals. It’s been one of the major themes of 2019, and championship week is not the time to go against the “flow chart”. Last week, even Ricky Seals-Jones managed to score twice against this defense. Jacob Hollister enters this matchup as one of the most consistently utilized tight ends over the last two months. Since week seven, Hollister has seen six or more targets in five games. Moreover, he has played at least 69% of snaps in every game since week nine. Hollister is the Seahawks’ clear primary tight end and should see six to eight targets against Arizona’s terrible tight end defense. If you don’t have one of the elite tight ends on your roster, start Hollister with confidence.

Sit ‘em: Greg Olsen, TE CAR

Coming back from his two-week absence this week against Indianapolis, Olsen is one of the riskiest plays during championship week. With quarterback Will Grier at the helm making his first career start, the Panthers have just a 19.75 implied team total on the week. This offense is more than likely going to be even more Christian McCaffery-centric against a Colts defense that has allowed the fourth-most running back receptions in the NFL. While Olsen has performed admirably during what could possibly be his last NFL season, the veteran carries too much risk in both returning from injury and with Will Grier starting to warrant a start in the most important fantasy week of the year. He’s a mid-range TE2 on the week, and you likely have safer options if you’ve made it this far.

If you’re desperate: OJ Howard, TE TB

In our most desperate time, can we turn to he who has disappointed most in 2019? As one of the biggest busts of the 2019 season, OJ Howard can change that tune with a big performance in the championship week for fantasy players. Over the last three weeks, Howard has been really consistent, having scored between 8.6 and 11.3 points each week. He has seen at least five targets in every game and is the overall TE9 over this stretch. The Buccaneers will be without both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in week 16, teeing up Howard for another solid day. With an overall game total of 50 points, the Texans vs Buccaneers game has all the making of a shootout. If you’re desperate at the tight end position, roll Howard out as one of the best upside plays of the week.

That concludes this week’s – and this year’s – rankings article! If you’re wondering about a player I didn’t dive into detail about, feel free to reach out to me @FFzinger on Twitter. I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed these rankings throughout the year and that they were helpful in guiding your toughest decisions each week. Best of luck in your final matchup of the 2019 season!