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Week 16 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Preview

Top Fantasy WRs for Week 16

If you are debating who to start and sit in your fantasy lineup, this should help for WRs

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these WRs in Week 16

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs – 1 p.m. ET Saturday

Nico Collins, Texans

The Chiefs supply a tough matchup for Collins, sitting second-toughest in adjusted fantasy points allowed to outside WRs. Still, his role makes him a no-doubt fantasy starter. In four games since returning from injury, the 25-year-old is averaging nearly 17 fantasy points per outing.

Tank Dell, Texans

Our own Shane Hallam wrote an in-depth piece on Dell’s 2024 struggles. For Week 16, he remains a shaky fantasy option having hit 10 PPR points only once in his past five matchups.

Xavier Worthy, Chiefs

Since Week 11, Worthy's PPR finishes have gone: WR19, WR35, WR36, WR32, WR28. He remains stuck on one WR1 finish this season (Week 1). Worthy remains a WR3 – especially with Patrick Mahomes playing through a high-ankle sprain.

DeAndre Hopkins, Chiefs

Hopkins has snagged at least four passes in six of his past seven games. The Chiefs are expected to get Marquise Brown back for Saturday's matchup with Houston, but Hopkins' role should remain unchanged. While CB Derek Stingley should match up with Hopkins some, we don’t expect a shadow situation.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens – 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday

Zay Flowers, Ravens

Flowers had an okay day catching six of seven targets for 53 yards last week. He hasn’t been a WR2 in PPR for the last five games now. He was held to only two catches in the last match-up, but things should improve for this week. He is a high-end WR3.

Rashod Bateman, Ravens

Bateman scored two TDs last week for the first time in his career. He has become the clear deep threat for the Ravens, but is very hit or miss. If you want to swing for the fences, he can be plugged in as a WR5 that could goose egg or could put up multiple TDs again.

Calvin Austin III, Steelers

With George Pickens likely out again, Austin becomes the de facto WR1 in the worst WR room on paper. If the Ravens get up early, there could be some targets there with Austin running a route on almost all of the teams passes last week. But, don’t rely on that with Russell Wilson spreading the ball around. WR5 at best.

New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons

Malik Nabers, Giants 

Nabers will probably regress this week vs. his 10-82-1 receiving line against the Ravens. That included his first TD and largest fantasy total since Week 3. But Nabers has garnered 9+ targets in seven straight contests, caught 6+ balls in six of those, and reached 50 receiving yards in 11 of 12 games this season. The wretched QB situation certainly hasn’t helped him. But the rookie sits 10th among WRs in total PPR points for the season anyway – despite losing two weeks to a concussion.

Drake London, Falcons 

London has alternately seen his average target depth decrease and then his efficiency sag with Kirk Cousins this year. He tallied more consistent receiving numbers early in the year but on shorter routes. Then his catch rate slipped more recently as the target depth increased. The Falcons also morphed into the league’s most run-heavy offense over the past month. The switch to Michael Penix Jr. should help across the board. His big arm should work especially nicely with London’s downfield ability. The two big questions for this week, though: 

1. How much do the Falcons throw in the rookie QB’s first start and a game that finds them favored by 8.5?
2. How well does Penix perform in his first real NFL exposure?

That’s enough to keep London in mid-to-low WR2 territory. But he should start in most lineups and carries attractive upside if his QB plays well.

Darnell Mooney, Falcons 

Mooney’s downfield nature should prove to be a nice fit with new QB Michael Penix Jr., who posted a 10.4-yard average depth of target across his college career, according to Pro Football Focus. Kirk Cousins, by comparison, has an 8.4-yard career aDOT in the NFL – 8.0 this year; 7.7 and 7.9 the previous two seasons. What we don’t yet know, though, is how much Atlanta will pass and just how Penix will respond to his first real NFL exposure. The Falcons devolved into the league’s most run-heavy team vs. expectation over the past month. They might be slow to move off that with a rookie QB, especially this week in a game that finds them favored by 8.5.

Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants 

Robinson has gotten the target volume the past two weeks – 11 and 9 – but caught just eight of those 20 looks (40%). His short-range game requires strong target volume and at least good catch efficiency. None of the Giants’ QB options look promising on those fronts.

Ray-Ray McCloud, Falcons 

McCloud might be the only guy sad to see Kirk Cousins leave the lineup. He benefited with receiving lines of 8-98, 4-95, and 6-46 among the past four games. But if Penix’s bigger arm proves good for Atlanta’s downfield weapons, then it’s bound to come at the expense of the slot man with a 6.3-yard aDOT (according to Pro Football Reference). That possibility plus Atlanta’s run-leaning ways over the past month make McCloud a shaky bet at best for Week 16.

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

Adam Thielen, Panthers

Thielen posted an underwhelming 5-51-0 receiving line last week but saw seven targets on a 25% share. That gives him 28 targets on a 26% share over the last three weeks. Sunday brings a matchup with a Cardinals defense that's been weaker against slot receivers than outside receivers all season. Thielen has run 75% of his routes from the slot this season.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals

Harrison has finished outside the top-40 WRs in PPR points in three of his last four outings. He's averaging 8.0 targets per game on a 21% share over that span, which can keep him in fantasy lineups. But consider Harrison just a WR3 against the Panthers' 16th-ranked WR defense.

Jalen Coker, Panthers

Coker will be back in a full-time role this weekend with WR Xavier Legette out. Coker has had a promising rookie campaign, leading Panthers WRs in yards per target (11.7) and yards per route (2.06). There's some WR4 and DFS appeal here, although Coker gets a tough matchup against a Cardinals defense that's been fourth toughest against outside WRs this season. Coker figures to play primarily outside this weekend, with WR Adam Thielen in the slot.

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions

St. Brown told reporters that he faced the Bills with food poisoning – and still tallied 14-193-1 on a massive 18 targets. He posted a 5-73 line just a few weeks ago vs. Chicago.

Jameson Williams, Lions

Williams was limited to only 28 yards on 5 catches back in a Thanksgiving matchup with Chicago. But note: He drew a 23% target share in that one – his second-highest total of the season. Williams remains an upside WR3.

DJ Moore, Bears

Moore's delivered 6+ catches in five straight contests. That includes an 8-97-1 line at Detroit on Thanksgiving.

Keenan Allen, Bears

Allen’s recent PPR finishes include WR6 (Week 12), WR4 (Week 13) and WR14 (Week 15). Chicago will likely have to tilt pass as 6.5-point home underdogs.

Rome Odunze, Bears

Odunze continues to operate as Chicago’s WR3; he’s finished as a top-24 fantasy WR only once over his past six games. However, the rookie draws a banged up Lions defense that’s allowed the third-most yards to enemy WRs.

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals

Chase caught nine of 11 targets for 94 yards, a solid game. He is crushing it as the WR1 overall and this is a potential smash spot where Chase could find the end zone once or twice. He is a must start, no matter what.

Tee Higgins, Bengals

Higgins actually outscored Ja’Marr Chase in PPR last week catching five of eight targets for 88 yards and a score. Joe Burrow has been targeting Higgins at a hefty clip this season, and this is a potential smash spot for the Bengals to put up points. Higgins is a low-end WR1 this week.

Jerry Jeudy, Browns

Jeudy was going off with Jameis Winston at QB and did it again last week catching 11 of his 14 targets for 108 yards. He should keep getting the targets with DTR who targeted him six times after entering the game, but the inaccuracy is an issue. It’s a good match-up, but hard to trust Jeudy as more than a WR4 this week.

Cedric Tillman, Browns

Tillman is expected to return after missing three games wth a concussion. A high school teammate of Dorian Thompson-Robinsons, Tillman could see some deep targets. It is hard to trust a DTR run  offense though, and Tillman may have some rust to shake, so he is a low-end WR4.

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts

Calvin Ridley, Titans

QB Mason Rudolph started three midseason games after Will Levis injured a shoulder. Ridley racked up 32 targets over that span, including 8+ in each contest. He has averaged 7.5 per game since. This week’s QB switch likely isn’t bad news and could boost Ridley’s ceiling. We’ll go out on a limb and predict that the WR at least fares better in his second meeting with Indy than he did in the first. Ridley went catchless on eight targets in that Week 6 contest. Don’t credit the Colts too much, though. They rank just 17th in pass-defense DVOA.

Michael Pittman Jr., Colts

Pittman has caught 5-6 passes in four straight games since QB Anthony Richardson returned to the lineup. But can he uphold a 71% catch rate with a QB who has completed just 50% of his throws over that span? Those factors – plus a mere 2 TDs all season, both from Joe Flacco – combine to make Pittman a decent-but-not-safe option in the WR3-4 fringe.

Josh Downs, Colts

Downs has averaged 7.3 catches and 66.75 yards across the four games he’s played with no Anthony Richardson this year. His other seven games? 3.9 catches and 51.3 yards. Downs tallied a nice 5-84-1 receiving line in Richardson’s Week 11 return against the Jets. But he has caught just six of 15 targets for 59 total yards in two appearances since.

Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets

Puka Nacua, Rams

Nacua gets a tough Week 16 matchup against Jets CBs Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed. But we're not betting against this guy in any matchup. Nacua has averaged 10.4 targets, 8.0 catches, and 111 yards over his last five games.

Davante Adams, Jets

Adams' huge Week 15 was a long time coming. He's been seeing elite usage for a while now, averaging 11.0 targets and ranking second among WRs in expected PPR points per game over his last six. Adams has a good chance to keep rolling against the Rams' 24th-ranked WR defense this weekend.

Garrett Wilson, Jets

Davante Adams had the big Week 15, but Wilson posted a 3-56-1 line of his own. He's scored 14+ PPR points in two straight games and four of his last seven. Most importantly, he's averaged 8.3 targets per game over that span. Wilson is a rock-solid WR2 in Sunday's game vs. the Rams' 24th-ranked WR defense.

Cooper Kupp, Rams

Kupp goose-egged last week against a 49ers defense that ranks first in adjusted fantasy points allowed to slot receivers. This Sunday brings a prime bounce-back spot against the Jets, who rank 22nd vs. slots on the season and 30th over the last five weeks. Slot CB Michael Carter has struggled for most of the season and might miss this one with a back injury. Backup Isaiah Oliver isn't any better.

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders

A.J. Brown, Eagles

Quick, let’s all start talking again about how the Eagles are struggling to effectively pass so we can get another week like they had against the Steelers.

Terry McLaurin, Commanders

McLaurin had easily his worst game of the season in the first meeting with Philly. But the biggest issue was that he only got 2 targets. McLaurin has racked up 20 catches, 5 TDs, and three straight games of 73+ yards since. Let’s fire him up in spite of a challenging matchup.

DeVonta Smith, Eagles

Smith set season highs in targets (12), receptions (11), and receiving yards (109) last week against Pittsburgh. You can bet on him falling short of those numbers this week. But he has seen a decent 6+ targets in five of his past six outings. As long as Washington can keep it close enough and/or limit the rushing enough to push some Philly passing volume, Smith should be just fine at the WR3 level.

Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks

Justin Jefferson, Vikings

Jefferson's snagged exactly seven passes in three straight. And after a scoring drought, he's totaled three scores over his past two matchups.

Jordan Addison, Vikings

Since Week 11, Addison ranks a stunning fifth in WR PPR points. That’s a lofty expectation vs. Seattle – but the second-year player remains a solid fantasy starter.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks

JSN enters the weekend with 5+ catches in six of his past seven. With Geno Smith (knee) set to play, the second-year breakout can be safely deployed in fantasy lineups. Seattle ranks mid-pack in adjusted fantasy points allowed to slot WRs.

D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks

It looks like Geno Smith (knee) will be ready to go against the Vikings. It looks like a bounce-back spot for Metcalf, as the Vikings sit 31st in adjusted fantasy allowed to outside WRs over the past five weeks. Metcalf lines up on the outside on 86% of his passing snaps.

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

Khalil Shakir, Bills

Shakir has scored a TD in each of the last two games and at least seven targets in each of his last eight games. The Patriots are middle of the pack against slot WRs, so Shakir should soak up targets again this week. He is a solid WR3 in PPR this week. 

Demario Douglas, Patriots

Drake Maye has been spreading the ball around making it difficult to start any Patriots WR. Douglas is the only one worth a flyer, though he only has more than six targets in two of his last six games. If the Patriots get behind, more passing volume may help, but he is no more than a WR5.

Amari Cooper, Bills

The Bills has leaned into running 12 personnel, so Cooper only ran 15 routes and had a goose egg last week. He is boom or bust and likely needs a TD to even be a WR4 this week.

Keon Coleman, Bills

Coleman only ran 20 routes last week but did catch a long pass on a great Josh Allen throw. He is a boom-or-bust player who is unlikely to come through without a long TD.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders

Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars

Thomas is red hot, racking up 36 targets, 22 catches, 267 yards, and three TDs over his last three games. Next up is a slumping Raiders pass defense that ranks 22nd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs over the last five weeks.

Jakobi Meyers, Raiders

Meyers caught five of nine targets for 59 yards last week in a dud from QB Desmond Ridder. QB Aidan O'Connell is back this week, which is good news for the passing game. Meyers' 45 targets over the last four weeks rank third league-wide. And he gets a great matchup vs. Jacksonville's 30th-ranked TE defense.

San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins

Jauan Jennings, 49ers

Jennings hasn’t dipped below a 27% target share in any of his past six games. He’s the WR13 in PPR points over that stretch. He retains a favorable outlook against a Miami squad that’s 27th in PFF’s coverage grades.

Deebo Samuel, 49ers

There’s a chance the 49ers lean more into Deebo as a rusher – especially with Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) likely to miss Week 15. Still, the WR hasn’t given you any reason to believe in him. Deebo hasn’t hit 7 PPR points since Week 10.

Tyreek Hill, Dolphins

Hill should see a volume boost with Jaylen Waddle sidelined. Current projections have the former Chief for nearly 10 targets in a negative matchup vs. San Francisco.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys – Sunday night

CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys

White continues drawing tons of targets catching nine of 13 for 116 yards and a TD. With Cooper Rush having more success, Lamb has been back to a consistent WR1 presence. He is averaging double digit targets with Rush and that volume makes Lamb a must start every week.

Mike Evans, Buccaneers

Evans is on a quest for a 1,000 yard season once again, catching nine of 11 targets for 159 yards and two TDs last week. The team seems to be trying to get him there and Evans is getting open early and often in games. The Cowboys are bottom ten in the league against opposing WR1s and have lost CB Trevon Diggs. It lines up for another WR1 week for Evans.

Jalen McMillan, Buccaneers

McMillan has become the clear second WR on the Bucs catching five of six targets for 75 yards and a TD. He is on the field for 85% of Bucs passes over the last three weeks. With the Cowboys likely focusing on Evans, McMillan becomes a sneaky sleeper who could put up WR3 numbers this week. If the Bucs get up early though, it could be a down week. He is a WR4 with upside.

New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers – Monday night

Jayden Reed, Packers

Reed’s had such a rough stretch that 5 catches on 6 targets last week seemed like a bounce back. Reed did also get a season-high 3 carries in that game and tie his season-high for touches. His talent plus Green Bay’s offensive efficiency and upside matchup make Reed OK to play as a low WR3. His crowded offense and the Packers’ low recent passing volume – 23 attempts per game over the past five – keep him from making sense any higher.

Romeo Doubs, Packers

Doubs looks intriguing after last week’s 2-TD outing. But that still came among just 3 receptions for 40 yards. He hasn’t seen more than 6 targets in a game since Oct. 20 and hadn’t found the end zone since the week before that. Doubs is OK in WR4 range, but keep in mind that Green Bay has averaged just 23 pass attempts per game over the past five contests.

Christian Watson, Packers

Watson’s 13 targets over the past two games led Packers WRs. But each game found at least three Green Bay players drawing 5+ looks. Combine that still-crowded target picture with an offense that has attempted just 23 passes per game over the past five weeks, and you get a modest upside play for WR4 range of the Week 16 rankings.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Saints

MVS has seen 7 targets in two straight games, getting a look on 22.6% of New Orleans’ pass attempts over that span. He caught just six of those 14 targets, though. And this week brings rookie QB Spencer Rattler, who has completed just 57.5% of his throws at 5.9 yards per attempt so far.

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format including redraft, dynasty, devy, IDP, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance.