If you’re reading this, congratulations on advancing to the second round of the 2025 fantasy football playoffs.
At quarterback, Trevor Lawrence posted a new career-high in fantasy points, besting his previous record by 11 points. J.J. McCarthy continued to smack the piñata that is the Cowboys defense, posting a career-best fantasy outing. Jacoby Brissett became the first passer to reach 20 fantasy points against the Texans. And Philip Rivers became just the second grandfather since Brett Favre to play in the NFL.
It wasn’t just quarterbacks that had all the fun. Texans running back Jawhar Jordan made his NFL debut and dropped 12.8 half-PPR points after Woody Marks left with an injury for (roughly) the 23rd time this season. Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown tied his career high with 34.9 half-PPR points. And at tight end, Kyle Pitts’ 40.1 points were nearly double his previous career best, and Trey McBride dominated the league’s best defense to the tune of a career-high 31.4 half-PPR points.
Here’s a look at Week 16 fantasy football rankings. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception) and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format. Scroll to the bottom to view the complete rankings.
Our team at USA TODAY Sports has you covered with plenty of content to help with your Week 14 waiver wire and roster decisions. Looking for up-to-date player news? We’ve got it. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our content:
Waiver wire: Eight players to add in Week 16
Please note: These rankings will change significantly as the week goes on. Check back on Sunday morning for final updates.
(The risers and sleepers sections will focus on players available in at least 60% of Yahoo leagues. All snap and target data from PFF.)
Week 16 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Risers and sleepers
- Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy (35%) – McCarthy has now started eight games, and he’s totaled at least 16.7 fantasy points in five of them. The 22-year-old has racked up 20.4 and 24.5 fantasy points in his last two contests, respectively, and he gets another mouthwatering matchup in Week 16. The Vikings will be taking on the Giants, who have ceded more than 18 fantasy points to the position in seven of their last nine. New York has allowed every passer they’ve faced to exceed 13 points.
- Saints QB Tyler Shough (9%) – Shough has quietly topped 18 fantasy points in four of his last five games, and now he faced a Jets defense that was just eaten alive by Trevor Lawrence. Since Week 5, the Jets have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
- Panthers QB Bryce Young (18%) – Young has surpassed 15 fantasy points in three of his last four contests, including performances of 31.8 against the Falcons and 22.5 versus the Rams. The 24-year-old will be in a prime spot this week against a Bucs defense that’s given up the most fantasy points to opposing signal-callers since their Week 10 bye.
- Other QB streaming options – Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (27%), Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (18%)
Week 16 fantasy football running back rankings: Risers and sleepers
- Rams RB Blake Corum (40%) – Corum’s excellent play has resulted in him getting a larger part of the pie in the Los Angeles backfield. In Week 15, Corum saw a 46% snap share and 37% route share, finishing just six snaps and two routes behind Kyren Williams. The result was 71 yards and a touchdown against a Lions team that came in allowing the fewest fantasy points to the position. Corum has now shouldered at least 11 touches in five of his last eight games and is an intriguing streaming option against Seattle.
- Cardinals RB Michael Carter (5%) – Bam Knight left Arizona’s Week 15 contest with an injury after just his first carry, which led to Carter dominating the backfield for the remainder of the game. The 26-year-old had an 82% snap share, 72% route share, and he led the team with 18 touches. Carter could very well be the lead back against a Falcons defense that’s allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs since Week 7.
- Saints RB Audric Estime (0%) – Rookie Devin Neal left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury and didn’t return, which resulted in Estime and Evan Hull splitting the backfield touches. Estime was far more effective, turning his six touches into 50 yards. Hull, meanwhile, has just 37 yards on 11 touches in 2025. Estime was also the team’s primary passing-down back. The 22-year-old is in line to be a solid streamer against a Jets front that’s allowing the second-most fantasy points to runners this season.
- Other RB streaming options – Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell (3%), Texans RB Jawhar Jordan (1% – only if Woody Marks is out), Cowboys RB Malik Davis (1% – only if Javonte Williams is out)
Week 16 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Risers and sleepers
- Jets WR Adonai Mitchell (16%) – Mitchell has emerged as New York’s clear-cut WR1. In Week 15, the 23-year-old led the team in snaps, routes, targets, receptions, and receiving yards. Mitchell has now recorded 20.2 and 14.4 half-PPR points in two of his last three games, and he’ll look to post another solid fantasy line against a Saints team that has surrendered 14+ fantasy points to 11 different receivers this season.
- Panthers WR Jalen Coker (5%) – Coker has now led the Panthers in receiving in three of his last four games after racking up 60 yards and a tuddy against the Saints on Sunday. He’ll be in a great position to remain hot against a Bucs secondary that’s allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to receivers since Week 5.
- Packers WR Matthew Golden (32%) – After Christian Watson went down with a chest injury against the Broncos, it was Golden and Jayden Reed who were Jordan Love’s favorite targets. The rookie garnered four targets and also drew a PI on another deep shot. He would be a top-40 play against a Bears team that’s allowing the third-most fantasy points to receivers.
- Other WR streaming options – Bears WR Luther Burden III (17% – if healthy), Chargers WR Tre’ Harris (2%), Patriots WR Mack Hollins (3%), Vikings WR Jalen Nailor (2%), Buccaneers WR Jalen McMillan (3%)
Week 16 fantasy football tight end rankings: Risers and sleepers
- Dolphins TE Darren Waller (36%) – Despite Baltimore’s tight ends dropping a dud in Week 15, the Bengals are still allowing 6.3 more half-PPR points to the position than the next closest team. Next up is Waller and the Dolphins. The veteran recorded 16.2 and 16.3 points in his first two games this season and will be in the TE1 conversation for this smash spot.
- Rams TE Colby Parkinson (4%) – Since Week 10, Parkinson’s 15 red zone targets are four more than the next closest player at the position. The 26-year-old has hit paydirt in five of his last six games, including twice on Sunday. He’s on the streaming radar against a Seahawks defense that’s surrendered the sixth-most points to the tight end position in 2025.
- Other TE streaming options – Bears TE Colston Loveland (40%), Bengals TE Mike Gesicki (5%), Titans TE Gunnar Helm (0%)