Congratulations to the fantasy football managers who survived an injury-riddled first round of the fantasy playoffs in 2025. The hard work will now continue into Week 16, especially for those with Patrick Mahomes on their roster.
It won’t be easy to navigate injuries to Mahomes and other key contributors. Fantasy managers are all in do-or-die mode at this point in the season, so every start ’em, sit ’em decision is of the utmost importance.
And some bold calls – like benching some high-volume running backs in tough matchups for streamers in good ones – might be necessary to earn a coveted spot in the fantasy championship game.
Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 16 of the NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines eight players to start and eight to sit.
Fantasy football players to start in Week 16
Quarterbacks
- Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (at Dallas Cowboys)
Herbert has averaged just one passing touchdown per game over his last five starts, but he gets a great matchup in Week 16 against a Cowboys team that has allowed the most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks this season. Dallas just let J.J. McCarthy throw for 250 yards with three total touchdowns and Herbert could post similar numbers.
- C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)
Stroud has averaged 246.3 passing yards per game in three starts since returning from a concussion he suffered against the Broncos. He also just had his second, three-touchdown game of the season against the Cardinals and could be poised for similar output against a Raiders team that has allowed 28.6 points per game over its last five outings.
Running backs
- Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
The Cardinals lost starting running back Bam Knight to an ankle injury against the Texans. Carter was able to log 14 carries for 56 yards and add four catches for 38 yards against a tough Houston defense. The veteran could be asked to handle a similar workload if Knight can’t play against the Falcons, which would immediately make the 26-year-old a volume-based fantasy flex.
- Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints (vs. New York Jets)
Neal suffered a hamstring injury in the Saints’ Week 15 win over the Panthers, but if he can play in Week 16, he could end up being a matchup-winner. The Jets have allowed the second-most FPPG to running backs this season and have allowed a league-high eight receiving touchdowns to the position. Neal is a good receiver – he has 17 catches on 19 targets across 268 snaps this season – and has logged a touchdown in back-to-back games.
Wide receivers
- Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (at Chicago Bears)
Reed just had his best game of the season, racking up five catches for 55 yards on six targets against a tough Broncos defense. Now, he faces a Bears unit that has allowed 18 receiving touchdowns to wide-outs this season, good for third-most in the NFL. Reed should be a high-floor WR3 and could have WR2 upside if Christian Watson (shoulder) isn’t able to play in Week 16.
- Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The Buccaneers have allowed at least 263 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in five of their last six games. Their secondary has been leaky, and that could allow Coker to have solid game. The second-year receiver has averaged four catches for 67 yards over his last two games and scored a touchdown in each. He has good chemistry with Bryce Young and should be a fine flex play for fantasy managers to grab off the waiver wire.
Tight end
- Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
Waller has played in seven games this season but has managed to score six touchdowns. That included two against the Steelers in Week 15, a game during which he recorded a season-high seven receptions and logged 66 receiving yards. The Bengals have allowed the most catches (99), receiving yards (1,276) and receiving touchdowns (15) to tight ends this season, so Waller could have another big-time outing in Week 16.
Defense/special teams
- New Orleans Saints (vs. New York Jets)
The Saints have only once allowed more than 21 points in their last five games. They have averaged two sacks per game over that span and have generated six turnovers. New Orleans is a getting an easy matchup against a Brady Cook-led Jets offense in Week 16 and will be playing at the Superdome. Feel free to back them in a favorable streaming spot.
Fantasy football players to sit in Week 16
Quarterbacks
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
If you were lucky enough to survive Prescott’s zero-TD performance against the Vikings, you may want to sit him against the Chargers. Los Angeles has allowed a league-low 12 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season, so Prescott has a lower ceiling than usual in what could be more of a run-heavy game plan for Dallas.
- Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
Dart put together a strong performance against the Commanders in Week 15 but will face a much stiffer test against the Vikings in Week 16. Minnesota ranks No. 1 in the league in pressure rate, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, and Dart has a passer rating of 69 when pressured this season, per Pro Football Focus. That will gives Dart a low passing floor, which could drop him out of the starter-worthy quarterbacks in fantasy for this week.
Running backs
- RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
Harvey has averaged 18 touches per game since J.K. Dobbins went down with what is expected to be a season-ending foot injury. However, Harvey has only averaged 3.4 yards per carry over that span and is facing a Jaguars team in Week 16 that has allowed the fewest rushing yards to running backs this season (933). Harvey is also battling a rib injury, so it’s probably best to steer clear of him.
- Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Detroit Lions)
Warren has a solid floor thanks to his volume, but Kenneth Gainwell has been more effective than him of late. Gainwell had 80 yards on 13 carries against the Dolphins in Week 15 while Warren had just 33 yards on 12 carries. If the Steelers lean more heavily on Gainwell, that could leave Warren with a tough path to posting production against a Lions team that has allowed the fifth-fewest FPPG to running backs this season.
Wide receivers
- Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
Samuel is averaging just 38 receiving yards per game since Week 6 and has scored just twice over that eight-game span. The Eagles have allowed just six receiving touchdowns to receivers this season, tied for the second-fewest in the league, which could limit Samuel. So too could the absence of Jayden Daniels and the presence of Terry McLaurin, who has seen 24 targets to Samuel’s 18 in three games since returning to Washington’s lineup.
- Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
Philip Rivers performed better than expected for the Colts against the Seahawks, but there are still clear limitations to the 44-year-old’s game. Notably, he averaged just 4.4 yards per attempt against Seattle and had an average depth of target (ADOT) of just 5.46 yards, per Sumer Sports. Rivers’ inability to consistently go deep will limit Pierce, who leads the NFL with an average of 20.1 yards per reception, and drop him out of flex consideration for most fantasy managers.
Tight end
- Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
Ferguson hasn’t scored a touchdown in any of his last four games, which has made him more of a fringe TE1 than a clear-cut starter. As mentioned earlier, the Chargers are weaker against the run than the pass, so Dallas may not have as much passing volume as usual in this game. That could hurt Ferguson’s bottom-line.
Defense/special teams
- Green Bay Packers (at Chicago Bears)
The Packers just lost Micah Parsons for the season to a reported torn ACL. It isn’t clear how well Green Bay will play without him, and there will at least be an adjustment period as the Packers look to replace their top defensive player. The Bears could take advantage of that, just like the Broncos did in their 34-point Week 15 outburst.
All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.