Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is a must-start in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. In an otherwise awful year for the Jaguars offense, BTJ has been a lone bright spot. Last week against the New York Jets, he put up a whopping 10 catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns, making him one of the top fantasy receivers on the week, all with backup Mac Jones under center instead of starter Trevor Lawrence. The Raiders serve as an even easier option for fantasy receivers than the Jets, so it isn't crazy to think BTJ has the potential for a repeat performance. Even with more realistic expectations, BTJ has the upside and floor of a WR1 in Week 16 against the Raiders.

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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra will look to contribute against the Washington Commanders in Week 16. Despite starting in place of the injured Dallas Goedert (knee), Calcaterra caught just one pass for 22 yards in the Eagles' 27-13 win over the Steelers. His involvement has been limited, with only two red-zone targets and one touchdown in five starts this season. The Commanders' defense has allowed the fifth-most receiving touchdowns per game to tight ends but ranks seventh in fewest receiving yards allowed to the position. This makes Calcaterra a touchdown-or-bust fantasy option heading into the matchup. Managers should consider more reliable options unless chasing upside in deeper leagues.

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Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott will aim to stay reliable in Week 16 as the team travels to Washington to face the Washington Commanders. Last week, Elliott connected on two field goals and three extra points in the Eagles' 27-13 victory over the SteelersThis marked the eighth time this season that Elliott has made multiple field goals in a game. While Elliott has yet to convert a kick from beyond 50 yards in 2024, Philadelphia's efficient offense has consistently put him in scoring situations. Fantasy managers can trust him as a steady option heading into this divisional matchup.

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby is a flex option at best in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Bigsby was demoted to a backup role behind Travis Etienne Jr. in Week 15, making it hard to trust him in fantasy going forward. The Raiders do serve as a good matchup and potentially an unusually positive game script for the Jaguars, meaning both Bigsby and Etienne Jr. could get plenty of carries to succeed in fantasy. However, Mac Jones has been volatile at quarterback since replacing injured starter Trevor Lawrence, making it hard to trust the Jaguars offense as a whole. Given Bigsby can't be counted on for consistent volume, he is nothing more than a risky flex play despite a good matchup with the Raiders in Week 16.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts enters Week 16 against the Washington Commanders fresh off one of his best passing performances of the season. In the Eagles' 27-13 win over the Steelers, Hurts completed 25-of-32 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns while adding 45 rushing yards and another score. His 14 rushing touchdowns lead all quarterbacks this season, and his 290 passing yards marked his second-highest total of 2024. Washington's defense ranks fourth in passing yards allowed per game (189.6), but they've surrendered 23 passing touchdowns and struggle against mobile QBs. Hurts' dual-threat ability and consistent scoring upside keep him locked in as a high-end QB1. He'll look to add to his six-touchdown total over the past two games against the Commanders defense.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley aims to rebound in Week 16 against the Washington Commanders after being held to just 65 rushing yards in last week's 27-13 win over the Steelers. The game marked Barkley's second-lowest rushing total of the season, snapping his streak of four consecutive 100-yard performances. Barkley also missed part of the second quarter with an undisclosed injury but returned to and finished the game. Washington's run defense presents an opportunity for Barkley to get back on track. The Commanders rank 25th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (132.1) and have surrendered 13 rushing touchdowns this season. Barkley's ability to exploit favorable matchups makes him a strong RB1 candidate for fantasy managers looking ahead to this divisional showdown.

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith looks to keep his momentum rolling in Week 16 against the Washington Commanders. Smith has scored in back-to-back games, including an 11-catch, 109-yard performance in the Eagles' 27-13 win over the Steelers. It was his best game of the season, fueled by a season-high 12 targets, as Philadelphia's passing attack clicked. While Washington's defense is stingy, ranking fourth in passing yards allowed per game (189.6), they have struggled in the red zone, surrendering 23 passing touchdowns this season. Smith's ability to earn targets and convert them into scoring opportunities makes him a solid WR2/Flex with upside this week. Fantasy managers should feel confident starting Smith as Philadelphia's offense looks to stay hot.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings will face the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday. The former Tennessee Volunteer disappointed last Thursday despite a team-high nine targets. The opportunities only translated to two receptions for 31 yards. In fairness, an offensively sluggish, rain-soaked first half didn't help. Weather isn't expected to be a factor this week in Miami, but the Dolphins' pass defense offers its own challenge. Miami is ranked second-best in the NFL at limiting wide receiver fantasy half-PPR points. Still, Jennings is firmly entrenched as quarterback Brock Purdy's favorite option, as one would have to go back to Week 6 to find another 49er surpassing an active Jennings in targets. Despite the tough matchup, Jennings should rebound with a useful fantasy line as a solid WR2.

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is a top-five quarterback play when the Cardinals travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers. Murray hasn't lit up the box score in recent weeks, but his Week 15 performance against the Patriots was a step toward returning to his usual output. He kept the ball clean last week, ending his streak of three games with a turnover. The Panthers' defense ranks 27th in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks in fantasy. It will be a colder game in Carolina, which could be an adjustment for the Cardinals' offense, but Murray has played well in cold games throughout his career. The matchup with the Panthers' defense and Murray's rushing ability make him a desirable start in fantasy in Week 16.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was a full participant in practice on Friday. The 27-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, but was back to a full participant the following two sessions to close out the week. The 6-foot-4 wideout has dealt with back issues seemingly all season long, but it has cost him just one week of playing time. The former second-round draft pick has been Anthony Richardson's preferred target in the passing game over the last four weeks since being reinstated as the starting QB, averaging over five catches per contest, albeit for just 60 yards per game. The fifth-year pro hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6, which happened to be against his Week 16 opponent, the Tennessee Titans. Although he found paydirt in that first meeting, he did so on just three catches for 35 yards. With the Titans allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers and with Richardson completing less than 50% of his passes on the season, expectations for Sunday's divisional showdown should be tempered. While the Colts are 3.5-point favorites in this one, there is a low expected total of 42.5 and Pittman Jr. projects as a WR4 this week, so hopefully fantasy managers have other options.

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New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson could have an opportunity to demonstrate his pass-catching upside during Sunday's Week 16 game against the Buffalo Bills. New England faces Buffalo two times over the next three weeks, and this Sunday's contest could set the tone for Stevenson to win back some of the opportunities that he has ceded to Antonio Gibson lately. While Buffalo has been solid against the run, they're porous against pass-catching running backs. In fact, the Bills have allowed the most catches, most receiving yards, and second-most receiving touchdowns to opposing running backs in 2024. That bodes well for Stevenson, who has multiple catches in nine of his 13 games this season. He has caught an impressive 32 of 39 passes thrown his way this year, which is a higher total than Gibson, his backfield-mate. Touchdown opportunities have been limited for Stevenson this year, which means his fantasy managers need him to catch passes to produce points. There's no better matchup than the Bills for this to happen. As a result, he ranks as a high-end RB3 in most leagues as the fantasy playoffs carry on.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has been the best fantasy wideout all year. In the former LSU Tiger's 14 appearances this season, he has amassed 102 catches (138 targets) for 1,413 yards and 15 touchdowns. He found the end zone eight times in the four games heading into the Week 15 win over the Titans. While Chase didn't score versus Tennessee, he still had nine catches. With the Browns on tap for Week 16, nothing should change regarding Chase, meaning he should continue to get plenty of attention from Joe Burrow (wrist, knee). Keep him starting in all fantasy formats against Cleveland.

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Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki had three catches for 37 yards in the Week 15 win over the Titans. Unfortunately, that type of showing has been the norm for the 29-year-old nearly all season. Granted, he has had a few potent fantasy showings. However, with 45 catches for 497 yards during the 2024-25 campaign, Gesicki can't be trusted from a fantasy standpoint, although managers in need can plug him in and hope for the best against a Browns defense that has struggled against opposing tight ends all year.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney picked a terrible time to have his worst outing of the season, recording zero catches on one target against a depleted Raiders defense. The 27-year-old posted a one-catch performance back in Week 1, but averaged almost five catches per contest from Week 2-14. Now, with confidence shaken combined with a rookie quarterback making his first start, fantasy managers who survived Week 15's debacle must decide whether or not to use Mooney in Week 16. The lack of success last week should probably be attributed to Kirk Cousins more than Mooney, however. Still, even though the Falcons are nine-point favorites on Sunday versus the Giants, Atlanta is likely to deploy a heavy dose of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier against a defense that has yielded the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs on the season. If the Falcons do need to ask Michael Penix Jr. to throw, then the receivers should see some success, as New York allows the third-highest completion rate to QBs and has only intercepted a pass twice on the entire year. All that being said, Mooney looks like a shaky WR3 in the fantasy playoffs this Sunday.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown has had an excellent 2024-25 campaign. The 24-year-old has 832 yards off 191 carries and 47 catches for 318 yards. He's also combined for 11 touchdowns, finding the end zone at least once in seven of his previous nine appearances. With the Browns on tap for Week 16, Chase will need to stay involved for the Bengals, a team barely alive for the postseason. But since the 2023 No. 163 overall pick has been a go-to option for Joe Burrow (wrist, knee) all year, there's no reason to believe that will change versus a Cleveland defense that has allowed 25.4 points per game this season. As expected, Chase remains a must-start in all fantasy setups in Week 16.

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Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum received attention from fantasy managers heading into the season, mostly due to head coach Sean McVay indicating he would be involved. While the rookie has gotten some action, amassing 48 carries for 187 yards and six grabs for 46 yards, it hasn't been at the level most envisioned. Instead, Kyren Williams remains the undisputed No. 1 option out of the backfield, with the 24-year-old already seeing more carries in 2024-25 than in his first two seasons combined. With that in mind, the Rams meet the Jets in Week 16. Unfortunately, the ship has sailed on Corum, at least for this season, so fantasy managers should keep him out of the starting lineup.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is coming off a rough showing, failing to catch any of his three targets in the Week 15 win over the 49ers. However, outside of the hideous effort versus San Francisco, the wideout has played well during the 2024-25 campaign, catching 63 passes for 657 yards and six touchdowns. With the Jets on tap for Week 16, the Rams need a win to increase their chances of making the playoffs. The Jets defense has allowed only 10 touchdowns to opposing wideouts this season. Still, even with Puka Nacua commanding plenty of attention from Matthew Stafford from week-to-week, Kupp's upside keeps him a must-start in Week 16.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. is expected to draw his first career start filling in for the ruled-out rookie Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring) in Miami on Sunday. With Guerendo healthy enough to play, the undrafted 26-year-old Taylor Jr. received neither touch nor target in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The last time Taylor was involved was in Week 14 versus Chicago when he took seven carries for 25 yards, one touchdown, and one unfulfilled target. On the surface, Taylor Jr. may seem like a must-start since head coach Kyle Shanahan always rides his lead back heavily, but it's appropriate to temper expectations. If one includes Elijah Mitchell -- who was ruled out for the year in the preseason -- San Francisco is down to their fifth-string running back whose career YPC (3.9) is significantly below all four backs ahead of him. As a result, Shanahan may be compelled to use some combination of Taylor Jr., Israel Abanikanda, and Ke'Shawn Vaughn. Taylor Jr. is also less likely than his injured teammates to produce as a receiver. Miami's D is ranked 14th in running back half-PPR points against. The talent and usage questions place Taylor Jr. firmly in RB3/FLEX territory, even in a decent matchup.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will make his first career start in Week 16 against the New York Giants. The Falcons are heavy favorites in this one, but that is likely more a product of their one-two punch in the backfield of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier rather than a vote of confidence in the young signal-caller's arm. Not that Penix hasn't been on the big stage before or lacks upside; he led the Washington Huskies to the National Championship game this past January, ultimately losing to Michigan, with Atlanta subsequently taking him with the eighth overall selection in the 2024 Draft, so he's got the talent. But, while the Giants have allowed the third-highest completion percentage and have recorded a league-low two interceptions on the season, they've tallied the seventh-most sacks on the year, so Penix could be under pressure despite some things working in his favor. Hopefully the 24-year-old's receivers have quickly got accustomed to a left-hander throwing a football as well, which could make things a little more challenging than usual on Sunday. Whether it does or not, fantasy managers vying for championships who are also looking for a streaming option should look elsewhere as the former first-rounder projects as a risky, low-end QB2 in Week 16.

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has missed time this season due to injury. However, he's been a quality wideout when healthy, as expected, catching 61 passes for 805 yards and three touchdowns in nine appearances. Although a few more end zone trips from the 23-year-old would be nice, fantasy managers are happy as long as he stays on the field. With the Rams currently sitting atop the NFC West, the team needs a win against the Jets in Week 16 to enhance their chances of earning a postseason berth. While the Jets defense can be a problem at times, that shouldn't keep Nacua out of any fantasy lineup on Sunday. Keep him starting.

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