The Seattle Seahawks defense/special teams is heading into a clash with one of the league's hottest offenses when the Minnesota Vikings come to town in Week 16. The Vikings have become an extremely tough matchup for opposing D/STs because quarterback Sam Darnold is protecting the football. Darnold has only thrown one interception since Week 10. He has also been relatively accurate lately while simultaneously putting solid yardage totals on the box score. The team has won seven straight games as a result. The Seahawks defense has played better since their Week 10 bye. However, they were just exposed on Sunday Night Football by the Green Bay Packers in Week 15. The Seahawks completely fell apart and allowed 30 points. While the offense should perform better in this game to take pressure off the defense, the Seahawks D/ST seems likely to allow upwards of 30 points once again. It is difficult to imagine that this unit will be able to stop such a well-coached offense. Additionally, the presence of wide receiver Justin Jefferson on the Vikings makes this a scary matchup. The Seahawks D/ST may be a solid option in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears but they are not worth deploying in Week 16.

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Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (knee) has had a solid floor this season. However, there is not much ceiling with this player. That is unlikely to change in Week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings. Fant's one saving grace is that he receives decent target volume relative to the Seahawks' passing game volume. He received seven targets in Week 15 and four in the two games before that. Unfortunately, that volume does not translate to yards. Fant has only exceeded 26 yards on three occasions this season. With the Seahawks passing less and less this season and not throwing many touchdowns, Fant has fallen into fantasy-irrelevance. He is better left to the waiver wire while you pursue a win in the fantasy football playoffs this week.

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Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) appears to be well on his way to playing on Monday night in Week 16 against the visiting New Orleans Saints. Alexander practiced in full on both Thursday and Friday and could be completely removed from the injury report if he does the same for the third straight day in Saturday's practice. The 27-year-old defensive back has missed the last four games due to a PCL injury that he suffered against the Chicago Bears in Week 11. Alexander is on track to return this week, although we'd expect the Packers to limit his snap count after missing more than a month of action due to his knee injury. The two-time Pro Bowler isn't on the fantasy map in IDP leagues, but his return down the stretch would be a big boost to an underrated Packers defense heading into the playoffs in January.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett continues to be a disappointment for fantasy. That is unlikely to change in Week 16 despite an excellent matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Lockett has been completely phased out of the Seahawks' game plan. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has shifted most of the attention to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the running game. The Vikings are the worst defense at stopping opposing wide receivers in fantasy. However, that is unlikely to benefit Lockett given how little volume he is receiving. With the Seahawks scaling back their passing attempts over the second half of the season, there simply is not enough to go around for Lockett to be fantasy-relevant. Look elsewhere if you are still alive in the fantasy playoffs.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (shoulder) draws an excellent matchup against the Vikings in Week 16. However, Metcalf has been borderline unplayable in recent weeks. He has been bothered by a shoulder injury that has limited his practice reps but it has not stopped him from playing in any games. Metcalf has not caught more than four passes or exceeded 59 receiving yards since Week 11. He seems to have been overtaken as the No. 1 wide receiver by Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With Metcalf flailing recently, it isn't easy to consider playing him this week. In Metcalf's defense, he has faced solid to great defenses over the last several weeks. If there were ever a game for Metcalf to get back to normal, this would be the game. However, Metcalf should be treated as a flex option with upside. He has not delivered WR2 numbers since Week 11 so you will need to temper expectations if you deploy him in your lineup. He is always a candidate to catch a long touchdown, and he is due for a touchdown at this point. He has always been one of the better bets to find the end zone but he has not scored since Week 7.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in an excellent position to succeed in Week 16. The Seahawks are hosting the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have been one of the worst teams at stopping opposing passing games in fantasy this season. Part of that is due to the fact that the Vikings are so adept at stopping the run. However, their struggles in the passing game are very real. Smith-Njigba has slid into the No. 1 wide receiver role in Seattle's offense this season. He is six yards away from his first 1,000-yard season and he has scored five touchdowns. Smith-Njigba should see plenty of volume this week. The Seahawks are likely going to have to air it out to keep up with the Vikings and avoid their run defense. Smith-Njigba has WR1 upside as a result.

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Washington Commanders tight end John Bates could be in store for an increased role, with Zach Ertz (concussion) listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ertz suffered this concussion last weekend and could not practice all week, which suggests he will face an uphill battle to pass the league's protocol. When filling in for Ertz last weekend, Bates brought in his lone target for six yards. Earlier this season, Bates caught six of his nine targets for 64 yards and averaged a solid 10.7 yards per reception. However, given his lack of offensive production, even in a reserve role, makes him a high-risk TE2 facing the Eagles. Fantasy managers should look for an alternative option as Bates will have a tough task ahead of him in his first start as the Eagles have allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points to the position this season.

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Washington Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez (foot) should be viewed as a risky kicking option in fantasy this weekend while facing the Philadelphia Eagles. With Austin Seibert (groin) on Injured Reserve, Gonzalez has gone 3-for-5 on attempts and a perfect 10-for-10 on extra points in a relief role. In Week 15, Gonzalez could not play due to a foot injury, but he does not carry an injury designation into this weekend. Given that Philadelphia boasts one of the best defensive units in the league, the Commanders may need to rely on the kicker to do most of the damage, which could open the door for a solid showing. However, given his unstable 60.0% conversion rate this season, he is best left on the waiver wire in semifinal fantasy matchups.

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Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (ankle) put in another day with a limited practice on Friday. The Packers will face the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football in Week 16, so Green Bay will have one more day of practice on Saturday. Since having his 21-day practice window opened to return from Injured Reserve, the 24-year-old has practiced on a limited basis five times. Unless he upgrades to a full session on Saturday, it's possible the Packers keep Musgrave on IR for another week. Musgrave has looked good in practice this week, but Green Bay has no incentive to rush him back and risk him not being 100 percent for the playoffs in four weeks. Even when Musgrave returns, he'll play second fiddle to starting tight end Tucker Kraft and will be off the fantasy radar. In four games before going on IR, Musgrave caught five of his seven targets for 22 yards and a touchdown.

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Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers has a chance to make several kicks in Week 16. The Minnesota Vikings have an excellent defense, but Seattle should be able to move the ball on this team, particularly through the air. Myers has been one of the better kickers in fantasy lately. He has posted at least nine points in four of his last five games. Those are seriously difference-making numbers when considering your fantasy lineup. As long as the Seahawks' offense continues to be efficient enough to get into scoring position, Myers will continue his accurate kicking. Myers has made 22/25 field goals this season and 31/34 extra points. What is more, he has not missed a field goal since Week 5.

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Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. should be set for another workhorse opportunity to share this weekend, facing the Philadelphia Eagles with Austin Ekeler (concussion) on the injured reserve. Last weekend, Robinson had a modest showing, tallying only 65 rushing yards and 22 receiving yards against the Saints. However, during Week 14, Robinson tallied 103 yards and a score. Even though he will face a tough Philadelphia rushing defense that has allowed the third-fewest PPR points to the position this season, fantasy managers should feel confident viewing him as a solid RB2, given his projected opportunity share. The Alabama product has shown a nose for the end zone all season, tallying eight scores across 11 contests. The last time he faced the Eagles, Robinson tallied 63 yards and a score on the ground.

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Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols should not be started in any format this weekend facing the Philadelphia Eagles. With Austin Ekeler (concussion) sidelined, McNichols has taken the No.2 spot behind Brian Robinson Jr. While Chris Rodriguez Jr. has occasionally seen an increase in attempts, McNichols was deployed as the clear No.2 option last weekend as Rodriguez logged only three total offensive snaps. Since Week 12, McNichols has averaged a solid 5.3 yards per carry and has been operating as a change-of-pace option. However, in a game that will likely be very contested, Robinson may not leave the field quite often. Given his lack of stable opportunities, McNichols remains nothing more than a handcuff to Robinson with very little standalone value, especially when facing a Philadelphia defense allowing the third-fewest PPR points to the position this season.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin should be viewed as a top-12 option in Week 16 when he faces the Philadelphia Eagles in a pivotal NFC East clash. McLaurin is carrying a three-game touchdown streak into this matchup. In his past two games, he has found the end zone twice in each of them. Since Week 3, the Ohio State product has averaged a stellar 18.3 PPR points per game with 77.5 yards per game. McLaurin is on track to post his fifth-straight 1,000-yard campaign. However, he has a difficult task ahead of him this weekend, facing the Philadelphia Eagles, who have allowed the fewest PPR points to opposing wideouts this season. In their previous Week 11 matchup, the Eagles held McLaurin to just one reception. Despite his struggles last time, fantasy managers should feel confident starting him in all formats as a WR1, given his strong production all season. In addition, with Noah Brown (kidney) on the IR and Zach Ertz (concussion) questionable, McLaurin could even see a higher target share in this matchup.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown should not be started in any formats this weekend when he faces the Philadelphia Eagles. With Noah Brown (kidney) on the injured reserve, Dyami Brown was given an increase in playing time. Last weekend, Brown brought in three of his four targets for 40 yards in their victory over the New Orleans Saints. Over his past two games, Brown has seen at least four targets in each contest and averaged a solid 9.3 yards per reception. In both of these games, he was deployed as the clear No.2 option opposite of Terry McLaurin in relief of Brown. However, facing a tough Philadelphia defense that has shut down opposing wide receivers, fantasy managers should look for an alternative option this weekend.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus should be expected to continue to operate as the No.3 wideout in Week 16 but should not be started in any formats facing the Philadelphia Eagles. Last weekend, Zaccheaus brought in three of his four targets for 36 yards. He also found the end zone, but the play was eventually called back due to an offensive penalty. Zaccheaus has typically been deployed as a depth option in the passing attack but has seen an uptick in opportunities with Noah Brown (kidney) on the injured reserve. He has shown upside at times in his limited role, averaging an impressive 10.0 yards per catch this season. However, facing one of the top secondaries in the sport that has allowed the fewest PPR points to opposing wideouts makes Zaccheaus a desperation option in deep PPR formats that should be avoided.

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Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons (illness) did not practice on Friday due to an illness and is listed as questionable to play in Week 16 on Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee) has been ruled out, and linebacker Eric Kendricks (calf, personal), cornerback Jourdan Lewis (elbow), safety Juanyeh Thomas (knee) and linebacker Nick Vigil (foot) are questionable. Parsons is under the weather heading into the weekend, but we'd be surprised if he wasn't active for the Cowboys in Week 16. He has missed four games this year due to injury, but when healthy, the 25-year-old All-Pro pass-rusher remains a must-start in fantasy IDP leagues. Thanks to 21 tackles (10 solo), 8.5 sacks and a forced fumble in nine games played, Parsons has averaged 7.2 fantasy points per game, which ranks him eighth among all defensive linemen. Start him in Week 16.

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Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels should be viewed as a QB1 in Week 16 despite the tough matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Last weekend in their victory over the New Orleans Saints, Daniels went 25-for-31 for 226 yards and two passing scores. He added 66 yards on 11 rushing attempts. During Weeks 12 and 13, Daniels averaged an impressive 29.5 PPR points per game, scoring seven touchdowns over that span. Daniels has thrown at least two passing touchdowns in each of his past three games. Given his elite rushing upside, fantasy managers should always consider him a must-start option. This weekend, he will have a rematch against a tough Philadelphia defense that has allowed the second-fewest PPR points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Even though the last time he faced them he scored only 15.4 PPR points, he should always be locked into all lineups.

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) was benched in favor of Mason Rudolph for the Week 16 contest against the division-rival Indianapolis Colts, and now he's questionable to serve as the backup on Sunday after being limited in Friday's practice with a right-shoulder injury. It's unclear exactly how serious Levis' shoulder injury is, but if the Titans don't feel he's healthy enough to be Rudolph's backup, Trevor Siemian would be elevated from the practice squad to Tennessee's 53-man active roster for Sunday's contest. The 25-year-old improved his completion percentage from 58.4% of 63.7% in his sophomore year, but overall he was way too inconsistent and struggled with turnovers in his 11 starts, throwing for 1,916 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while also taking 40 sacks and fumbling seven times. Depending on what the team does at QB in the offseason, Levis could be a backup in 2025.

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Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins was given the week off to clear his head in a Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs as the team tabbed Riley Patterson as their kicker for the game. Hopkins will now return to the field after a one-week absence to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 16. The Bengals have been decent against opposing kickers this season, allowing the 14th-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. Hopkins has struggled with his accuracy this season, making just 16 of his 25 field goals. In addition, the Browns offense could find it hard to move the ball as they will start Dorian Thompson-Robinson in place of Jameis Winston against Cincy. Those two factors combine to make Hopkins tough to trust in fantasy heading into Week 16.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is in Miami for a Week 16 contest against the Dolphins. In Week 15's Thursday night game with San Francisco clinging to playoff hopes against the Rams, Purdy did not play well, completing 14-of-31 passes for 142 yards, no touchdowns, an interception, and three yards rushing. The weather in Miami is expected to be mild and dry, which is ideal for Purdy as he has struggled mightily in precipitation, but that's where the good news ends. Jalen Ramsey and the Dolphins' pass defense have allowed the NFL's fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (13.4). Purdy is the 12th-ranked fantasy quarterback in points per game this season, and projections this week are congruent with that number. Consider Purdy a suboptimal play on the QB1/QB2 fence for the fantasy playoffs.

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