We have arrived in Week 16 in fantasy football, which means that Super Bowl berths are on the line, and the playoff field is down to four teams in most leagues. As you get closer to a potential championship, the tendency to obsess over lineup moves increases. Avoid the temptation to overthink lineup moves and second-guess yourself, which can lead to making more questionable decisions.
Go with the reliable players who have taken your team this far, and trust the processes that led to a successful season to this point. Don't take a top player out of the lineup just based on a matchup, when the very best performers can still fare well against any opponent. When making it to the final four, trust the approaches that you established to survive and advance.
Our Week 16 rundown highlights players who should be started when faced with tough lineup calls. Analysis is based on PPR formats and players are listed in order of preference for lineup usage.
NFL Week 16: Running Back Starters
START Jerome Ford
The Browns have made a quarterback change that raises Ford's importance in the offense. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a young and mobile guy, and Ford can help ease some pressure on him while also benefiting from working with a running quarterback. The Cleveland RB is versatile, and the threat of an RPO approach keeps the defense off balance. Cincinnati has allowed the most Fantasy Points Per Game to RBs over the last four weeks. Start Ford as a fantasy RB2.
START Tony Pollard or Tyjae Spears
Pollard is dealing with an ankle injury, so check on his status to make this call. Either RB who starts gets a good fantasy draw for the position against the Colts. Indianapolis ranks 27th in FFPG allowed to RBs. Pollard rushed for 100 yards twice in the last four games and Spears notched two TDs from scrimmage last week. If one RB is deemed the clear starter, that guy will be a locked-in fantasy RB2. If both RBs share time, Spears has definite upside as a flex option.
START Rachaad White
Bucky Irving and White have been splitting reps, and both are very good fantasy options for Week 16. While Irving should be locked in as a surefire fantasy RB2, White can also be started for his TD potential. He is up to nine scrimmage TDs on the season, with three in the last two games. Dallas allows 27.1 points per game, which ranks 30th in the NFL.
START Kendre Miller
Last week, we listed the top fantasy “insurance” RBs. Those are the players at the position that you must roster during the fantasy playoffs in case of injuries. Alvin Kamara is dealing with a groin issue and Miller is now the projected Week 16 starter against Green Bay. He is an insurance RB who is needed to step forward for the Saints and fantasy teams who smartly kept him reserved.
Miller is averaging 4.6 yards per carry in limited action this season and now will get an extended look to display his talents. He is a power runner who should get enough quality work to merit consideration as a flex option. Don't start Miller over a usually reliable option, yet he can certainly plug a lineup hole.
NFL Week 16: Wide Receiver Starters
START Cooper Kupp
Last week, Kupp did not catch any passes, but the Rams still won, and Sean McVay noted the weather affected the passing game. For fantasy football purposes, it is often recommended to not overreact to a previous week.
Before the last game, Kupp registered 20-plus PPR points in three of four outings. When a player of his caliber logs a quieter statistical week, he can easily rebound in the following game. That should be the case for Kupp against the Jets, who rank 27th in FFPG allowed to WRs over the past four weeks.
START DK Metcalf
This should be a week for Metcalf to deliver an impactful fantasy performance. The Seahawks will be looking to get the offense rolling in a bounce-back game and can attack the Vikings through the air in a very important matchup. Metcalf may be a key playmaker against a Minnesota defense that has allowed the most FFPG to WRs this season. Getting the ball to him will be a priority against a vulnerable pass defense.
START Jalen McMillan
McMillan is coming on stronger late in his rookie season and is a highly recommended WR3 starter for Week 16. He scored 18-plus fantasy points in each of the last two games, totaling three TDs in those outings. Dallas ranks 29th in FFPG allowed to WRs over the past four weeks. Tampa Bay's offense has scored 26-plus points in each of the past four weeks and the team is a good resource for fantasy production right now.
START Zay Flowers
Some fantasy players may see the matchup with the Steelers defense and look to possibly fade Flowers. But Pittsburgh's defense might spend a lot of time on the field because of some offensive issues. The Steelers are tougher against the run than the passing game, and rank 26th in FFPG allowed to WRs over the past four weeks. Don't bench Flowers for a lesser fantasy option based on overall and initial matchup perception.
NFL Week 16: Quarterback Starters
START Kyler Murray
The Arizona QB has performed as a higher-end fantasy QB2 this season. This week, you can slot him in as a No. 1 starter in a good matchup. Carolina ranks 27th in FFPG allowed to RBs, and Murray will always carry some upside because of his rushing promise. I do rank him ahead of other notable options such as Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Patrick Mahomes for Week 16.
START Brock Purdy
The 49ers passer was bogged down by the weather last week, but those who roster him should put that performance behind them when making fantasy lineup decisions. The advance forecast in Miami does not appear to be much of an issue, and Purdy finished as a fantasy QB1 in five of the last eight weeks, per FantasyPros. With the 49ers dealing with continued RB injuries, Purdy and his receivers will have to carry the offense.
NFL Week 16: Tight End Starters
START Brenton Strange
Throughout the season, Strange has stepped up when called on, and he did so in impressive fashion last week, finishing with a career-high 11 receptions for 73 yards. Las Vegas has allowed the fourth-most receptions to TEs this season. Unless you roster a set-it-and-forget it or top 8 fantasy TE option such as T.J. Hockenson or Mark Andrews, Strange should be in the fantasy lineup for Week 16.
START Chigoziem Okonkwo
The Titans TE is a bold sleeper-type option in a good fantasy matchup vs. the Colts. Last week, Okonkwo caught eight of 10 targets, and with Mason Rudolph starting against Indianapolis, a respectable stat line is possible. The Colts allow the third-most FFPG to TEs.
Week 16 Defenses To Stream: Cincinnati (vs. Cleveland), Indianapolis (vs. Tennessee), Tampa Bay (vs. Dallas), Atlanta (vs. New York Giants)
Check out the Seahawks 53-man roster for the 2024 season.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaelon Darden (1).
This is a 2024 photo of Rayshawn Jenkins of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2).
This is a 2023 photo of Michael Dickson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4)
This is a 2023 photo of Jason Myers of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5)
This is a 2024 photo of Sam Howell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6)
This is a 2023 photo of Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7)
This is a 2024 photo of Coby Bryant of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback/safety Coby Bryant (8)
This is a 2024 photo of Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)
This is a 2023 photo of Uchenna Nwosu of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10).
This is a 2024 photo of Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11)
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13).
This is a 2024 photo of DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14)
Seahawks quarterback Jarren Hall (15).
This is a 2024 photo of Tyler Lockett of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16)
Seahawks wide receiver John Rhys Plumlee (17) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
Seahawks linebacker Josh Ross (18).
This is a 2024 photo of Jake Bobo of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks rookie receiver Jake Bobo makes his first touchdown catch on a pass from Geno Smith in the fourth quarter.
This is a 2024 photo of Julian Love of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20)
This is a 2023 photo of Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21)
This is a 2024 photo of Tre Brown of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22)
This is a 2024 photo of Kenny McIntosh of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25)
This is a 2024 photo of Zach Charbonnet of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26)
This is a 2024 photo of Riq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27)
This is a 2024 photo of Nehemiah Pritchett of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28)
This is a 2024 photo of Josh Jobe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of September 5, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety AJ Finley (30).
This is a 2024 photo of Chris Stoll of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks long snapper Chris Stoll (41)
This is a 2024 photo of Drake Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42)
This is a 2024 photo of Tyrice Knight of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48)
This is a 2024 photo of Olu Oluwatini of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51)
This is a 2023 photo of Patrick O'Connell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52).
This is a 2024 photo of Boye Mafe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53)
This is a 2023 photo of Dre'Mont Jones of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55)
This is a 2024 photo of Derick Hall of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58)
This is a 2024 photo of Jalen Sundell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of September 5, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks offensive lineman Jalen Sundell (61)
This is a 2024 photo of Sataoa Laumea of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Sataoa Laumea (63)
This is a 2024 photo of Christian Haynes of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64)
This is a 2024 photo of Michael Jerrell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65)
This is a 2024 photo of Charles Cross of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
This is a 2024 photo of Laken Tomlinson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Laken Tomlinson (70)
This is a 2023 photo of Abraham Lucas of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72).
This is a 2024 photo of Stone Forsythe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle Stone Forsythe (78).
This is a 2024 photo of Cody White of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82).
This is a 2024 photo of Dareke Young of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83)
This is a 2024 photo of Pharaoh Brown of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (86)
This is a 2022 photo of Noah Fant of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 6, 2022 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87)
This is a 2024 photo of AJ Barner of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88)
This is a 2024 photo of Jarran Reed of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90)
This is a 2024 photo of Byron Murphy II of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91)
This is a 2024 photo of Mike Morris of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Mike Morris (94)
This is a 2024 photo of Johnathan Hankins of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (97)
Seahawks defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris (98).
This is a 2024 photo of Leonard Williams of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99)
