Merry Christmas, everyone!

What are your favorite Christmas traditions? For us, my family has always had two significant Christmas traditions that I’m positive will be continued for years and years to come. The first is that we will all sit down and watch the movie White Christmas on Christmas Eve. I’m not sure what it is about this movie, but it doesn’t fully feel like Christmas until I’ve watched Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby dress up like Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney and sing, “Sisters”. Just me? Okay.

The second main tradition for my family is to do a Christmas PJ hunt on Christmas Eve. As to when/why exactly this tradition started, I’m not entirely sure. However, my mom would buy us all a new set of Christmas pajamas every single year and hide them around the house for us to find. Even now that the kids are grown, we still keep this tradition up every single year.

My hope for you and your family this year is that you’ll be able to enjoy your time together and keep the traditions going. They might not be able to look the same as what they have in years past, but do everything that you can to continue these rituals this Christmas season.

As I mentioned in last week’s article, I’m so thankful for every single person who has taken time out of their day, week, or year to read my work. This is the last fantasy projections article of the 2020-2021 NFL season and it has certainly grown and developed as the season has gone on. I’m planning on taking some time this offseason to think and contemplate the feedback I’ve received on how I can make this article even better for the 2021-2022 NFL season. I hope that you’ll return next year.

Best of luck in your fantasy football championships this week! Please hit me up on Twitter if you manage to bring home the trophy in your league!

MIN at NO | TB at DET | SF at ARI | MIA at LVR | NYG at BAL | ATL at KC | CAR at WAS | CLE at NYJ | CHI at JAC | CIN at HOU | IND at PIT | DEN at LAC | PHI at DAL | LAR at SEA | TEN at GB | BUF at NE

For the last time this season, let’s dive in.

Minnesota Vikings vs New Orleans Saints

Date/Time: December 25, 4:30pm ET
Spread: Saints -7
Over/Under: 51.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Saints 29.25, Vikings 22.25

Minnesota Vikings

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New Orleans Saints

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Quarterback

Minnesota: Cousins was able to provide a safe floor in a tough matchup last week, but it wasn’t enough to help propel fantasy rosters into the championship. Cousins has another tough matchup this week against the Saints and he can be viewed as a mid-range QB2 again this week with little upside.

New Orleans: Brees was able to throw three passing touchdowns last week, but he didn’t exactly look great out there. While it’s a reason to be concerned for this week, this is too good of a matchup to sit Brees in. The Vikings are allowing 7.3 yards per pass attempt this season and Brees should be able to do enough to be viewed as a mid-range QB2 in Week 16.

Running Backs

Minnesota: It’s impossible to rank Cook outside of the top-5 any given week due to his guaranteed volume. Cook can be started as a top-5 option again this week even in a tough matchup against the Saints.

New Orleans: Kamara owners were panicking for a little bit last week with Drew Brees back at QB, but Kamara ended up seeing six targets when it was all said and done and he found the end zone. The Vikings just got shredded by David Montgomery and Kamara should have plenty of room to run. He’s a rock solid RB1 start again in Week 16.

Wide Receivers

Minnesota: Thielen only saw three targets last week, but he was able to find the end zone. In a tough matchup, Thielen can be viewed as a mid-range WR2 that will need to find the end zone to finish much higher than that. Jefferson continues to get the job done, no matter the matchup. He can be viewed as a high-end WR2 this week that should see plenty of volume yet again.

New Orleans: With Michael Thomas out, Emmanuel Sanders stepped in and led this team in receiving. Against the Vikings, Sanders can be viewed as a low-end WR3. Otherwise, none of the other Saints receiving options should be started.

Tight Ends

Minnesota: At the time of writing, it seems unlikely that Kyle Rudolph will play on Christmas Day. Smith is certainly in the streaming conversation due to his opportunity in this offense and the projected game-script, but this is a very tough matchup for opposing TEs. Smith is a mid-range TE2 this week.

New Orleans: Cook saw five targets last week, which was tied for second-most on this team, but he was only able to go 2-29-0 with his opportunity. Against the Vikings, he’s a touchdown-dependent TE2.

FantasyProjection Buster: Murray found the end zone last week, which inflated his numbers, but otherwise he would’ve been a major disappointment. I’m projecting that the offense returns to a more balanced approach this week, but if it doesn’t, Murray won’t see nearly enough work to reach his projected point total.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Detroit Lions

Date/Time: December 26, 1:00pm ET
Spread: Bucs -9.5
Over/Under: 53.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Bucs 31.5, Lions 22

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Detroit Lions

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Quarterback

Tampa Bay: The Buccaneers fell behind the Falcons early last week and had to throw the ball quite a bit to come back. On the back of 45 pass attempts, Brady was able to put together a dominant performance. While this is another great matchup for opposing QBs, it’s unlikely that Brady throws for 40+ times again in Week 16. He can be viewed as a low-end QB1 that is still a very solid option, but might not come with the same amount of upside.

Detroit: Stafford somehow gutted through and was able to play last week. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to do much for fantasy football and it’s hard to trust him this week against the Buccaneers. While the Bucs were just shredded by Matt Ryan, it’s not worth rolling the dice on Stafford in Week 16. He can be viewed as a low-end QB2.

Running Backs

Tampa Bay: With the news that Ronald Jones is unlikely to play this week, Fournette is now in a smash spot. The Lions are the easiest matchup for opposing RBs in all of fantasy football and the Lions have a 31.5 implied point total this week. Start Fournette as a top-15 option.

Detroit: This is a tough matchup for opposing RBs, but Swift is going to see much too work for that to matter much. He carries ridiculous upside every single week due to his talent, but the matchup is going to prevent him from being moved up into the top-12. He can be viewed as a high-end RB2 though that belongs in your starting lineup.

Wide Receivers

Tampa Bay: Evans continues to dominate and he should be set to have another big game here against Detroit and their secondary. Fire up Evans as a mid-range WR2 with upside this week. Godwin took a backseat to Evans and AB from a targets perspective last week, but he was able to cash in and find the end zone. Against Detroit’s secondary, there’s no reason to fade Godwin heading into this matchup and he can be played as a mid-range WR2 with upside. AB was able to cash in on a huge downfield play last week and deliver a big performance for fantasy managers that plugged him in hoping it would pay off. Against Detroit’s secondary, Brown should be viewed as a high-end WR3 again with upside.

Detroit: Jones came through with a huge performance in Week 15 and he’s worth plugging back into your lineup this week as a mid-range WR3. Even in a tougher matchup on paper, Jones is too involved in this offense and Stafford should continue to lean on him.

Tight Ends

Tampa Bay: Gronk saw seven targets last week, but he wasn’t able to get much done with the opportunity. He can be viewed as a low-end TE1 in a great matchup that has an excellent chance of finding the end zone.

Detroit: Hockenson wasn’t able to come through for fantasy managers in Week 15, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t turn right back around and start him again. Hockenson’s been one of the most consistent TEs for fantasy this season and he’s a solid mid-range TE1 start again this week.

FantasyProjection Buster: Stafford’s reportedly going to play, but is he going to be at full strength? If he isn’t, this entire Lions offense might underperform.

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San Francisco 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals

Date/Time: December 26, 4:30pm ET
Spread: Cardinals -5
Over/Under: 48.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Cardinals 26.75, 49ers 21.75

San Francisco 49ers

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Arizona Cardinals

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Quarterback

San Francisco: Cj Beathard‘s going to get the start this week for San Francisco. Unfortunately, he’s nowhere near the redraft radar.

Arizona: Good news, fantasy managers! It looks like Kyler Murray‘s back to his old self! Murray put on a show in Week 15 and helped carry several fantasy rosters to the championship on the back of a big performance. While San Francisco is a bit of a tougher matchup than the Eagles minus Darius Slay, Murray belongs in your lineup as a mid-range QB1.

Running Backs

San Francisco: With Raheem Mostert landing on IR, Wilson’s going to step in and see the majority of the work for the 49ers. He can be viewed as a mid-range RB2 this week.

Arizona: Drake disappointed fantasy managers last week and he actually saw Chase Edmonds finish with more carries on the ground. Drake’s now a very risky low-end RB2 play this week if you managed to advance to the championship, but he becomes a rock-solid high-end RB2 if Edmonds misses this game. You’ll need him to find the end zone to come through for your starting lineup otherwise. Edmonds saw 14 total touches last week, but it’s going to be hard to trust that he’ll receive that type of workload again in Week 16. He’s a risky RB3 play in the championship, assuming that he suits up after two straight DNP’s this week.

Wide Receivers

San Francisco: Aiyuk does nothing but produce. Even in a tougher matchup than the one he had last week against Dallas, he’s still a fantastic mid-range WR2 start with upside.

Arizona: With Slay out of the lineup last week, Nuk put up a dominant performance and came through for fantasy managers in a big way. There’s no reason to downgrade Hopkins outside of the top-5 heading into Week 16.

Tight Ends

San Francisco: It looks like we might get George Kittle back for Week 16! If he’s back, he’s healthy enough to be effective and he belongs in your starting lineup. I’m only sitting Kittle if I have one of the top-3 TEs on my roster as well. Kittle lands at TE4 in my weekly rankings. If Kittle sits, Reed becomes a low-end streaming option in a tougher matchup.

Arizona: Arnold’s certainly involved in this offense and he has an excellent chance of finding the end zone any given week, but he’s nothing more than a low-end TE2 for Week 16. I recommend looking elsewhere.

FantasyProjection Buster: This entire 49ers offense is very difficult to project with Beathard at QB. He’s been sufficient when he’s started in the past, but that was a while ago now. Will this entire offense struggle to move the ball?

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Miami Dolphins vs Las Vegas Raiders

Date/Time: December 26, 8:15pm ET
Spread: Dolphins -3
Over/Under: 47.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Dolphins 25.25, Raiders 22.25

Miami Dolphins

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Las Vegas Raiders

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Quarterback

Miami: Tua was able to succeed last week despite having several of his top options unavailable. Against the Raiders, Tua can be viewed as a mid-range QB2 with some upside in this matchup.

Las Vegas: Apparently Carr is trending towards playing this week? While that’s good news for the receiving weapons, it doesn’t put Carr on the redraft radar against Miami. There’s simply too much risk associated with him to feel comfortable starting him in Week 16.

Running Backs

Miami: Myles Gaskin has returned to practice, which means it’s likely he plays in Week 16. With both Gaskin and Ahmed healthy, there’s no clarity as to what this backfield will look like against Las Vegas. The Raiders are a fantastic matchup for opposing RBs, so both players could have some value, but they cannibalize each other’s fantasy outlook. Unless we hear something different from this coaching staff as we move throughout the week, both Gaskin and Ahmed should be treated as mid-range RB3s. They should both see plenty of work in this game.

Las Vegas: Jacobs wasn’t effective last week against the Chargers, but that doesn’t really matter as much when you see 26 carries on the ground and you find the end zone. Jacobs should see plenty of work again this week and Mariota’s rushing ability may even open up some more rushing lanes. He can be viewed as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 due to his guaranteed opportunity.

Wide Receivers

Miami: Parker’s the only Dolphins WR that’s worth playing this week, but we don’t have any clarity at the time of writing on whether or not he’s going to be active for this game. If he does play, we have to be concerned about his injury status. Even in a great matchup for opposing WRs, Parker shouldn’t be viewed any higher than a high-end FLEX play.

Las Vegas: Agholor continued to see a hefty target share in Week 15, but he only went 4-49-0 on his eight targets. He has upside every single week, but if he doesn’t find the end zone, he might end up hurting your lineup. He’s a high-end FLEX option for Week 16. Ruggs could easily become a key part of this offense again after missing last week’s game, but there are too many variables to comfortably predict that in your fantasy football championship. He’s a low-end FLEX option this week, assuming that he plays.

Tight Ends

Miami: At the time of writing, we don’t have any clarity on Gesicki’s status for this game. He’s gotten in limited practices, but he did that last week too. Even if he plays, it’s risky to roll him into your starting lineup. I’d recommend looking elsewhere for Week 16.

Las Vegas: Waller’s last three games are absolutely absurd. He’s single-handedly helping carry fantasy managers to the championship and there’s no reason to move him outside of your top-2 for this matchup.

FantasyProjection Buster: This entire game is so difficult to project at this point of the week. One player on either side of the ball missing this game sends the projections out of sorts.

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New York Giants vs Baltimore Ravens

Date/Time: December 27th, 1:00pm ET
Spread: Ravens -11
Over/Under: 45 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Ravens 28, Giants 17

New York Giants

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Baltimore Ravens

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Quarterback

New York: It appears that Jones is going to start this week for New York, but that doesn’t mean we should be looking to play him against Baltimore. Jones is a low-end QB2 this week.

Baltimore: Jackson’s back to performing at an elite level and he took care of business last week against the Jaguars. While the Giants are certainly a tougher matchup than Jacksonville, Jackson’s playing too well recently to downgrade outside of the top-5 this week. Fire him up with confidence.

Running Backs

New York: Gallman’s going to get the start here again, but his usage has been trending down recently and he’s now at the point where we can’t trust him as anything more than a high-end RB3. You can play him if you absolutely are in a pinch, but the upside isn’t here in this matchup.

Baltimore: Dobbins took advantage of Mark Ingram‘s absence last week and put together another solid performance for fantasy. While it certainly wasn’t as explosive as it could have been, he’s coming through for fantasy managers now in the playoffs. The Giants are only allowing 101.8 rushing yards per game, which is top-7 in the NFL right now, but this rushing attack should be able to easily surpass that. Plug in Dobbins with confidence as a high-end RB2 this week. Edwards was hyper efficient last week, but he wasn’t able to find the end zone, which is what he needs to push him into the top-24 conversation. Edwards can be viewed as a mid-range RB3 again in Week 16.

Wide Receivers

New York: Against Baltimore, none of the Giants WRs should be considered anything more than low-end FLEX options.

Baltimore: Brown capitalized on his matchup last week and put up his highest receiving yardage total since Week 1. He has a tougher matchup here against James Bradberry, which downgrades Brown slightly. He’s still a high-end FLEX play due to his talent and the way he’s been playing lately, but he can’t be viewed as highly as he was in Week 15.

Tight Ends

New York: Engram might be the only receiving option on New York that you want to go anywhere near this week. With that being said, that doesn’t mean as a top-5 option. The Ravens are allowing just 7.4 fantasy points per game to opposing TEs this season. Engram can be viewed as a high-end TE2 with not much upside.

Baltimore: Andrews has now finished with 60+ receiving yards in each of his last four games. He’s bringing a safe floor each week and he does come with upside due to his involvement around the end zone. Andrews can be plugged right back into your lineup this week as a top-5 option.

FantasyProjection Buster: Brown has been playing well recently for Baltimore, but he has a tough matchup with James Bradberry. We might see him be completely shut down…or break away one big play for a long touchdown.

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Atlanta Falcons vs Kansas City Chiefs

Date/Time: December 27, 1:00pm ET
Spread: Chiefs -10.5
Over/Under: 54 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Chiefs 32.25, Falcons 21.75

Atlanta Falcons

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Kansas City Chiefs

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Quarterback

Atlanta: After finishing as the QB26, the QB17, the QB26, and the QB28 the previous four games, Ryan exploded in Week 15 and put up over 350 passing yards and three scores. For fantasy managers that took the shot on him, it certainly paid off, but that doesn’t mean that we’re out of the woods just yet. Kansas City is one of the toughest matchups for opposing QBs and Ryan’s going to have to put up a ridiculous performance again to finish in the top-12. In a better matchup, it might be a bit easier to trust Ryan, but against the Chiefs he should only be viewed as a mid-range QB2.

Kansas City: Mahomes is a locked-in top-3 option every single week, but he should be viewed as the consensus QB1 this week against Atlanta. Mahomes could easily put up 4 passing touchdowns in this game.

Running Backs

Atlanta: None of the Falcons RBs should be considered for fantasy football.

Kansas City: Bell looks like he’s going to get the start in this game, but that doesn’t exactly mean we should be rushing out to play him as a top-12 option. The Chiefs seem intent on barely utilizing their RBs and the Falcons are allowing the 5th fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs this season. Bell’s going to have to find the end zone to be a valuable fantasy asset this week and that’s not enough to push him into the top-20 in my rankings. Bell’s a low-end RB2 that could easily come up short due to the potential that the passing game absolutely dominates this week.

Wide Receivers

Atlanta: Ridley’s truly been one of the breakout stars of 2020 and he continues to put up ridiculous numbers. Even though Kansas City’s a tougher matchup, Ridley belongs in your starting lineup as a mid-range WR1 with upside. Gage has now scored in three straight games and he’s bringing an extremely safe floor. Against the Chiefs, Gage belongs in your lineup again as a safe mid-range WR3 with upside.

Kansas City: Hill’s now scored 12 touchdowns in his last 8 games. That’s absurd. He’s practically unstoppable and he’s a big reason why so many fantasy managers are in the championship in their league. Fire up Hill as a top-3 option yet again. Watkins is a risky play any given week due to his injury history and the fact that he could easily take a back seat to Hill and Travis Kelce, but he’s providing a safe floor when he’s on the field. Against Atlanta, he’s worth looking at as a low-end FLEX option that could easily find the end zone. Hardman was able to reel in an amazing catch in the back of the end zone last week, but otherwise he wasn’t particularly involved in this offense. He can be plugged into your lineup as a deep dart throw in this matchup, but it’s certainly a risky play.

Tight Ends

Atlanta: Hurst had done next to nothing for multiple consecutive weeks before Week 15, but he was able to reel in a touchdown and come through for fantasy managers that were still taking the shot on him. He still didn’t get a ton done otherwise, but he has as good a chance to find the end zone as any of the other guys in the mid-range TE2 conversation. That’s where he should be valued in Week 16.

Kansas City: It’s not that complicated. Start Kelce as the consensus TE1 every single week.

FantasyProjection Buster: Bell has the possibility of exploding in this matchup, but he also has the possibility of not being utilized. The Chiefs throw the ball in every situation and this isn’t going to lead to a ton of opportunity for Bell and the running game.

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Carolina Panthers vs Washington Football Team

Date/Time: December 27, 4:05pm ET
Spread: Washington -2.5
Over/Under: 44.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Washington 23.5, Panthers 21

Carolina Panthers

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Washington Football Team

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Quarterback

Carolina: Bridgewater’s now thrown only three touchdowns in his last three games. Against Washington’s defense, Bridgewater should be viewed as a low-end QB2.

Washington: It sounds like Smith is planning to play this week. That’s good news for the pass-catchers in Washington, but it doesn’t put Smith on the redraft radar.

Running Backs

Carolina: Davis is going to get the start here in a tough matchup. Davis seems to have worn down as the season has gone on and his efficiency has taken a dip recently. He can be viewed as a mid-range RB2 this week.

Washington: There’s a possibility that we see Antonio Gibson active for this matchup. If he’s active, he deserves to be played as a mid-range RB2 against Carolina. If he sits, McKissic moves into high-end RB3 territory that should still see plenty of work in the receiving game. If Gibson sits, McKissic becomes an intriguing low-end RB2 play that should see plenty of work in a plus matchup.

Wide Receivers

Carolina: Unfortunately, we’re now at the point where we can no longer view Anderson as a rock solid start every single week. The Washington secondary is a tough matchup for opposing WRs and Anderson doesn’t carry much upside because of it. He can be viewed as a low-end WR2/high-end WR3. Moore burst back onto the scene last week after a bit of an absence and was able to put together a 6-131-0 line on 8 targets. He might not be able to get as much done against Washington’s corners, but he’s absolutely someone who belongs in your starting lineup as a high-end WR3. Samuel led the team in targets last week, but he was only able to put up a modest 4-42-0 line with his opportunity. With a tough matchup here against Washington, Samuel should be viewed as a mid-range WR3 that will need to find the end zone to crack the top-30.

Washington: McLaurin’s proven time and time again that he can succeed no matter who is throwing him the ball. Against Carolina, he can be viewed as a mid-range WR2 with upside.

Tight Ends

Carolina: None of the Panthers TEs should be considered for fantasy football.

Washington: After the past two performances from Thomas, there’s no way you can sit him heading into your fantasy football championship. He can be viewed as a mid-range TE1 against Carolina.

FantasyProjection Buster: The entire Washington offense could shift with the QB situation. If Dwayne Haskins starts, this offense could look much different from a projections standpoint.

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Cleveland Browns vs New York Jets

Date/Time: December 27, 1:00pm ET
Spread: Browns -9.5
Over/Under: 47 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Browns 28.25, Jets 18.75

Cleveland Browns

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New York Jets

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Quarterback

Cleveland: Whatever previous perception you had about Baker, you need to erase it from your mind. He’s playing great football. Against the Jets, Baker absolutely belongs in the top-12 conversation and he might push the top-10 when it’s all said and done. He belongs in your starting lineup this week.

New York: Darnold and the Jets are coming off a fantastic performance against the Los Angeles Rams, but that still doesn’t put Darnold on the redraft radar.

Running Backs

Cleveland: The Jets are a tougher run defense than people give them credit for, but they’re going to have their hands full with Nick Chubb this week. Chubb’s essentially matchup proof and he can be started as a mid-range RB1 again in Week 16. Hunt disappointed fantasy managers in Week 15 after his monstrous Week 14 performance. Heading into this game against the Jets, it’s hard to trust him, but the game-script could be in his favor where he could see a ton of work on the ground. He can be viewed as a low-end RB2 in this one.

New York: If you’re in a pinch and you absolutely need a fill-in RB option, Gore can be viewed as a mid-range RB3 with very little upside. Otherwise, it’s just best to leave him on your bench.

Wide Receivers

Cleveland: Landry has been one of fantasy football’s most consistent contributors this season outside of the poor weather games that Cleveland played in. He’s seeing plenty of targets each week and he now has a fantastic matchup against the Jets secondary. Fire him up with confidence as a mid-range WR2 this week. Higgins has now emerged as a fantastic receiving option in this offense. His last three games, he’s finished as the WR8, the WR15, and the WR38. Against the Jets, Higgins can be viewed as a low-end WR3 option that comes with upside.

New York: Crowder was able to put together a fine performance against the vaunted Rams pass defense, so he can be plugged into your lineup in this favorable matchup as a high-end FLEX option. The Browns are allowing the 12th most fantasy points to opposing WRs this season, but Crowder certainly comes with risk due to the offense that he plays in. Otherwise, Denzel Mims and Breshad Perriman are nothing more than dart throws for your fantasy football championship.

Tight Ends

Cleveland: Hooper’s heavily involved in this offense again and he now has a matchup against the best opponent for opposing TEs in all of fantasy football. The Jets are allowing 12.1 fantasy points per game to the TE position and Hooper has an excellent chance of finding the end zone this week. He belongs in your lineup as a top-10 option.

New York: None of the Jets TEs should be considered for fantasy football.

FantasyProjection Buster: Hooper has a fantastic matchup in front of him and he could easily find the end zone. However, the overall passing volume might not give him the opportunity. If he doesn’t score, he could fall well short of my projection totals.

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Chicago Bears vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Date/Time: December 27, 1:00pm ET
Spread: Bears -7.5
Over/Under: 47.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Bears 27.5, Jaguars 20

Chicago Bears

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Jacksonville Jaguars

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Quarterback

Chicago: Trubisky fell flat as a streaming option in Week 15 due to the fact that the Bears leaned heavily on their run game. Trubisky only threw the ball 21 times against Minnesota, which is a significant drop-off compared to what they’ve been doing up to this point of the season. There’s always the risk that that happens again here against Jacksonville, but this is too good of a matchup to sit Trubisky in. The Jags are allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season and the Bears offense is putting up some major points here recently. Trubisky can be viewed as a high-end streaming option for Week 16.

Jacksonville: On the surface, Minshew’s numbers from Week 15 actually don’t look that bad. However, this offense failed to move the ball routinely against a solid defense and we should expect more of the same here against the Bears. Minshew’s a low-end QB2 at best this week.

Running Backs

Chicago: Holy crap, Montgomery! After being left for dead in the middle part of the season, Montgomery is now single-handedly carrying teams to a fantasy football championship. Against the Jaguars, who are allowing 146.5 rushing yards and 1.3 rushing touchdowns per game, Montgomery needs to be in your lineup as a top-5 option.

Jacksonville: As of right now, it seems unlikely that we’re going to see James Robinson on the field for Week 16. We’re most likely going to see a split backfield with Devine Ozigbo and Dare Ogunbowale this week in Jacksonville. Up against the Bears defense that’s only allowing 17 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs, there’s virtually no upside here for either player. If you start Ozigbo, you’re completely stuck hoping that he falls into the end zone. In this offense, that’s unlikely to happen. He can be viewed as a mid-range RB3 while Ogunbowale’s off the redraft radar.

Wide Receivers

Chicago: Robinson hasn’t produced the way that many fantasy managers would like in these plus matchups recently, but that doesn’t mean that you sit him this week. The Jaguars are allowing the 8th most fantasy points to opposing WRs and Robinson has an excellent chance of finding the end zone this week. Start him as a low-end WR1. Mooney has clearly surpassed Anthony Miller on this depth chart and he should be able to see enough work to return high-end FLEX value in Week 16. The Jaguars are a fantastic matchup and Mooney’s becoming a key part of this offense. You can start him as a solid FLEX option this week.

Jacksonville: As of right now, Chark’s the only Jaguars receiver that you should consider this week and that’s not saying much. Even with Minshew back at QB, Chark’s not putting up the type of numbers fantasy managers need him to this season. He can be viewed as a FLEX option for Week 16.

Tight Ends

Chicago: Kmet fell flat in Week 15, but that’s to be expected when Trubisky only throws the ball 21 times. While there’s the risk that that happens again here, the matchup’s too good to pass up. The Jaguars are allowing the 3rd most fantasy points to opposing TEs, which automatically puts Kmet on the streaming radar. He can be viewed as a mid-range TE2 this week.

Jacksonville: The Bears are actually allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing TEs this season. If you’re in an absolute pinch, you can look Eifert’s way, but you most likely have better options available.

FantasyProjection Buster: Trubisky’s projections are a bit more conservative here than they were last week due to the fact that the Bears could turn to their run game yet again. Trubisky’s projections are going to come down to where the touchdowns go in this offense. The Bears are going to score, but it’s just a matter of where the touchdowns go.

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Cincinnati Bengals vs Houston Texans

Date/Time: December 27, 1:00pm ET
Spread: Texans -8.5
Over/Under: 45.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Texans 27, Bengals 18.5

Cincinnati Bengals

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Houston Texans

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Quarterback

Cincinnati: Finley somehow succeeded last week against the Steelers, but that doesn’t put him on the redraft radar.

Houston: Watson’s had a few tough matchups in a row recently, but he’s still provided a safe floor each week. While the Bengals have actually been playing pretty well this season, this isn’t a matchup that you need to run away from if you’re the Watson manager. He can be plugged in as a low-end QB1 again with upside.

Running Backs

Cincinnati: Bernard somehow came through for fantasy managers that closed their eyes and plugged him into their starting lineups last week. Even with a solid matchup this week against the Texans though, it’s going to be hard to trust Bernard in your fantasy football playoff matchup. He can be viewed as a mid-range RB3 that could pop off for a couple of scores again or he could give you a dismal performance like he has at several other points this year.

Houston: Duke Johnson seems likely to miss this next game, which means that David Johnson will command the majority of touches again here. Last week, the Texans barely ran the ball, but I expect that to change with them being heavy favorites in this game. Johnson should see plenty of work this week to return high-end RB2 value.

Wide Receivers

Cincinnati: Higgins can be viewed as a safe FLEX option that should see plenty of targets in this fine matchup, but he comes with very limited upside due to the QB play.

Houston: Cooks didn’t deliver a big performance last week, but we weren’t exactly expecting one against the Colts. He still operated as the No. 1 WR and he brought a safe floor for fantasy managers. Cooks will have to deal with William Jackson this week in coverage, but he should still see enough volume to be a safe low-end WR2. Hansen has been extremely consistent for your fantasy football lineup since he came onto the active roster. He’s now finished as the WR33, the WR39, and the WR26 in his three starts. Against the Bengals, Hansen deserves to be in the high-end FLEX conversation that comes with upside. Coutee has been extremely consistent since he took on a larger role in the offense a few weeks back and he’s worth rolling out as a low-end WR3 again in Week 16. He’ll face Mackensie Alexander out of the slot, which is a tougher matchup, but he should see plenty of volume.

Tight Ends

Cincinnati: None of the Bengals TEs should be considered for fantasy football this week.

Houston: Akins has taken on a larger role in this offense and he’s certainly in the low-end streaming conversation this week against the Bengals. They’re allowing the 8th most fantasy points to opposing TEs and Akins is bringing a safe target floor each week.

FantasyProjection Buster: Akins is seeing more work in this offense, but he’s struggled with drops this season. He could see the target totals I’ve projected for him, but they might not end up as catches on the stat sheet.

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Indianapolis Colts vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Date/Time: December 27, 1:00pm ET
Spread: Colts -2
Over/Under: 44.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Colts 23.25, Steelers 21.25

Indianapolis Colts

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Pittsburgh Steelers

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Quarterback

Indianapolis: Rivers has been performing fairly well down the stretch here, but those have been up against much easier matchups. Pittsburgh’s going to be coming off of their last performance motivated and Rivers is going to have a tough time evading the Steelers’ pass rush. He should be forced to throw the ball more than he has been recently, but he’s going to have to take care of the football. It’s certainly a risk to play him and there are much better streaming matchups out there to exploit.

Pittsburgh: At this point, Ben’s arm seems shot. The Steelers have been so pass-happy up to this point of the season, you have to wonder if Ben’s arm simply can’t handle throwing the ball 30+ times a game anymore. Against Indianapolis, it’s probably best to look at the streaming QB options before rolling Ben into your starting lineup. He can be viewed as a mid-range/low-end QB2 this week.

Running Backs

Indianapolis: Taylor’s been excellent recently and has really helped carry several fantasy rosters to the championship. From Weeks 11-15, he’s the RB5 in all of fantasy football. However, he now gets a much more difficult matchup than the ones he’s faced over the past several weeks and Pittsburgh’s going to be extremely motivated coming off their embarrassing loss to Cincinnati. The Steelers are the toughest matchup for opposing RBs in all of fantasy football and Taylor might not have a ton of room to run in this one. He should still see 15+ touches this week, which certainly keeps him in the RB2 conversation, but he doesn’t possess much upside. Start Taylor as a mid-range RB2 this week.

Pittsburgh: Conner seems on track to return to the lineup this week, but he’s going to be hard to trust in your Week 16 matchup. The Colts are a tough defense and Conner’s been very inefficient this season. He can be viewed as a high-end RB3.

Wide Receivers

Indianapolis: Hilton put up 4-71-0 last week, which is a bit of a disappointment compared to what he’d been doing recently. Against Pittsburgh, Hilton’s still a solid start, but he certainly doesn’t come with the same upside in a much more favorable matchup. He can be viewed as a low-end WR2 this week. Pittman’s still been fine, but he hasn’t been needed much lately as he’s taken a back seat to TY Hilton. Rivers should be forced to throw the ball more this week, which makes Pittman a sneaky FLEX play, but it certainly comes with its risks. Pascal had a big performance in Week 15, but he’s done next to nothing before that. He can remain on your bench or your league’s waiver wire in Week 16.

Pittsburgh: Right now, as sad as it is, Johnson is probably the only Steelers receiver that you should be considering playing. This is a far drop-off from where we were just a few weeks ago, but Johnson’s target share is the only thing that fantasy managers can fall back on right now. He does come with the risk that he might be benched if he has another egregious drop, but he’s worth plugging into your starting lineup due to the opportunity in front of him. Johnson can be viewed as a mid-range WR2 this week.

Tight Ends

Indianapolis: None of the Colts TEs should be considered for fantasy football this week.

Pittsburgh: Ebron sounds like last week’s exit was merely just due to a stinger and he’ll be back for this matchup against the Colts. Unfortunately, the Colts are one of the toughest matchups for opposing TEs and Ebron doesn’t come with a ton of upside because of it. He’ll have to somehow find the end zone to crack the top-12 and that’s a risky play for Week 16. He can be viewed as a high-end TE2.

FantasyProjection Buster: Conner’s a huge question mark for this game. Will he come back fully healthy or will he fall flat in championship week?

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Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Chargers

Date/Time: December 27, 4:05pm ET
Spread: Chargers -3.5
Over/Under: 48.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Chargers 26, Broncos 22.5

Denver Broncos

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Los Angeles Chargers

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Quarterback

Denver: Lock’s not on the redraft radar.

Los Angeles: Herbert bounced back last week against the Raiders and finished as the QB6 on the week. The Broncos are allowing the 10th most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season, so there’s no reason to sit Herbert in this matchup. He can be started as a mid-range QB1.

Running Backs

Denver: Gordon came through last week in a plus matchup, despite the fact that Denver was playing from behind the majority of the game. He’s still splitting work with Lindsay, even though he’s incredibly more efficient, but he does have the work at the goal line and in the receiving game to fall back on. The Chargers are allowing 123.8 rushing yards per game to opposing RBs and Gordon should provide a safe floor this week with upside if he can find the end zone. Gordon can be viewed as a mid-range RB2.

Los Angeles: Ekeler still saw 17 touches last week, but he didn’t put up the ridiculous yardage that fantasy managers needed from him. However, after a full week and a half off, Ekeler should be recharged and ready to go against this Broncos defense that’s allowing 18.4 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs. Fire him up as a mid-range/low-end RB1.

Wide Receivers

Denver: While I’d love to be able to say that you can start any of these talented WRs, there’s no way you can trust them with Drew Lock playing as poorly as he is right now. I’d recommend sitting all Broncos WRs if you can.

Los Angeles: Unfortunately, it’s not looking likely that Keenan Allen is going to play in this game after a couple of DNP’s this week so far. If he plays, it’s going to be hard to trust him after what he did in Week 15. He’s a risky FLEX play, in my opinion. Williams is off the redraft radar even if Allen misses this game. Johnson’s produced the past couple of weeks and he becomes an intriguing WR3 play if Allen misses this contest. Guyton’s only intriguing if Allen misses this game, but he can be played as a dart throw FLEX option in that instance.

Tight Ends

Denver: Fant got right back on track last week and put up solid receiving statistics. Against the Chargers, who are allowing the 7th most fantasy points to opposing TEs this season, Fant belongs in your lineup as a mid-range TE1.

Los Angeles: Henry’s now seen 15 targets in his last two games. He’s a solid bet to return mid-range TE1 value every single week.

FantasyProjection Buster: The Chargers WR corps is absolutely impossible to predict right now. We’re going to need some more clarity as we go throughout the rest of this week and there’s no telling who Herbert will feature if Allen is out of the lineup.

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Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys

Date/Time: December 27, 4:25pm ET
Spread: Eagles -2
Over/Under: 49.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Eagles 25.75, Cowboys 23.75

Philadelphia Eagles

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Dallas Cowboys

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Quarterback

Philadelphia: Hurts’ ascension the past couple of weeks has been insane to witness. He looks completely comfortable and he’s played a couple of pretty talented defenses. Up against the Cowboys defense, Hurts has top-5 upside yet again. He can be viewed as a mid-range/low-end QB1.

Dallas: Dalton put up a fine performance against San Francisco in Week 15, but it wasn’t enough to be fantasy relevant. He can remain on your waiver wire.

Running Backs

Philadelphia: Did you know that Sanders received every single carry in this backfield last week? This is exactly what fantasy managers have been wanting for a long time and Sanders now has an incredible matchup in front of him. The Cowboys are allowing the most rushing yards per game with 161.8, which puts Sanders squarely in the low-end RB1 conversation. If he receives 15+ touches again this week, he could even crack the top-5 in this matchup.

Dallas: It’s looking likely that Zeke is going to be suiting up for this game, which makes this situation much less attractive. Tony Pollard has been playing well enough recently to demand more touches, which could force an even split here with the two Dallas running backs. Both Zeke and Pollard can be viewed as high-end RB3s and it will all come down to which one is able to find the end zone.

Wide Receivers

Philadelphia: If you’re absolutely in a pinch, you can consider these Eagles WRs due to the matchup. Reagor’s the most comfortable bet due to his target volume, but he hasn’t exactly put together a performance this season that we can look back on and hang our hat on for such a crucial week. The Cowboys are allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing WRs this season, so Reagor has an excellent chance of returning low-end WR3 value, but it does come with its risks. He can be viewed as a high-end FLEX play this week.

Dallas: Cooper fell short of expectations last week, but that doesn’t mean that we should remove him from our starting lineups. Up until last week, he had been extremely consistent and there’s no reason to fade him too much heading into this game. He can be viewed as a low-end WR2 in Week 16. Lamb’s bringing a steady and safe floor each week, but he carries virtually no upside in this offense. With that being said, this is a great CB matchup for him against Nickell Robey-Coleman and Dalton could look his way repeatedly. He’s a safe mid-range WR3, but he’ll need to find the end zone to crack the top-24. Gallup found the end zone last week, but he’s been too inconsistent this season to trust as anything more than a boom-or-bust FLEX play for championship week.

Tight Ends

Philadelphia: Both Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert combined for 15 targets in Week 15, but it only resulted in 6 receptions for 108 yards and no score between the two of them. Goedert’s still the TE in this offense that’s worth playing, but it’s hard to see the upside right now. He can be viewed as a low-end TE1.

Dallas: Schultz only saw two targets last week, but he made them count by finding the end zone. Schultz is certainly still in the streaming conversation, but he’s going to have to score for you to be happy that you played him.

FantasyProjection Buster: There’s a possibility that we see an even split with Zeke/Pollard, but there’s also the possibility that Dallas comes out and gives Zeke the majority of the touches to validate the contract they gave him.

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Los Angeles Rams vs Seattle Seahawks

Date/Time: December 27, 4:25pm ET
Spread: Seahawks -1
Over/Under: 47.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Seahawks 24, Rams 23

Los Angeles Rams

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Seattle Seahawks

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Quarterback

Los Angeles: Goff would normally be an intriguing low-end QB1 option in this matchup, but there are a couple of factors that push him further down my weekly rankings. The first factor is that Goff is coming off a poor performance against the Jets, which was a matchup that he was supposed to smash in. Additionally, the Seahawks defense has tightened things up recently in the passing game. They’re still allowing the most passing yards per game in the NFL, but over their past three games, they’ve only allowed 161.7 passing yards per game. The recent matchups certainly play a part in that, but it’s still concerning for Goff’s fantasy outlook this week. In Week 16, you need to be sure that you’re playing someone with immense upside. Goff could easily let you down if he puts up a performance like he did last week against New York. He’s a mid-range QB2 this week.

Seattle: Are we at the point where we’re confidently benching Wilson? Against Washington last week, Wilson finished as the QB28. While Washington is a stout defense in their own right, the Rams unit is on a whole other level. The Rams are going to be motivated coming off of their embarrassing loss to the Jets and we could see them completely shut down Wilson and this passing attack. Wilson’s a mid-range QB2 this week and you almost certainly can find a better option.

Running Backs

Los Angeles: With Cam Akers out, Henderson will step back in as the main option in this backfield. We’ve seen Henderson produce some big numbers when he’s been given the full workload and he’s a solid play for Week 16. The Seahawks are allowing the 13th most fantasy points to opposing RBs and Henderson should easily see 15+ touches this week. Fire him up with confidence as a mid-range RB2. Brown should see a few touches here or there, but this should be the Darrell Henderson show this week. Brown’s a dart throw play that you’re hoping just falls into the end zone.

Seattle: Carson’s the clear lead back in this backfield and, despite the tough matchup, he belongs in your lineup as a high-end RB2. He should easily see 18+ touches and that’s volume that very few backs in the NFL can provide.

Wide Receivers

Los Angeles: Woods came through for fantasy managers last week with a solid performance against the Jets secondary. Even though Seattle has tightened things up recently, Woods is still a fantastic play in this matchup. He can be viewed as a high-end WR2 with upside. Did you know that Kupp has not finished inside the top-25 WRs since Week 11? While he has the talent to be a top-15 WR every single week, he’s taken a back seat to Woods in this offense. Kupp can be viewed as a low-end WR2 this week that will have to score to finish higher in the rankings.

Seattle: Metcalf is essentially unstoppable with his size/speed combination and every single corner in the league simply can’t cover him because of it. Well, almost every corner in the league…the last time that Metcalf faced off against Jalen Ramsey, he finished with 2-28-0. Ramsey’s size/speed combination is a perfect match for Metcalf and he can erase him from the game single-handedly. Metcalf’s a mid-range WR2 this week that could easily disappoint. If Lockett didn’t have that huge performance against Arizona in Week 7 would we still be rostering him? He’s been a massive disappointment over the back half of this season and fantasy managers would probably be better off going with another option. Lockett should be viewed as a low-end WR3 this week. He can certainly reel in a touchdown, but the matchup and his recent performances bring that likelihood percentage way down.

Tight Ends

Los Angeles: Higbee came through for fantasy managers that took the shot on him last week, but that was purely due to the matchup. This week, this goes back to being an entirely confusing TE room to figure out for fantasy football and both Higbee and Gerald Everett should be viewed as low-end TE2s.

Seattle: Hollister reeled in the score last week from Wilson, but he can’t be viewed as anything more than a low-end TE2.

FantasyProjection Buster: Wilson’s too talented to fade too much, but it hasn’t looked great recently. He could always find it again and blow my projections away, but it doesn’t seem likely in this matchup.

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Tennessee Titans vs Green Bay Packers

Date/Time: December 27, 8:20pm ET
Spread: Packers -3.5
Over/Under: 56 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Packers 29.75, Titans 26.25

Tennessee Titans

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Green Bay Packers

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Quarterback

Tennessee: Tannehill has finished inside the top-10 four out of the past five weeks. Additionally, that one week was against Jacksonville where Derrick Henry rumbled for over 200 yards and multiple scores. Tannehill has actually been very effective in the games that Tennessee has had some tougher matchups and there’s no reason to fade him heading into this matchup against Green Bay. He can be viewed as a mid-range QB1 this week.

Green Bay: The Titans, who are allowing the 6th most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season, have no chance against Rodgers. Start him as a top-3 option again in Week 16.

Running Backs

Tennessee: The Packers are allowing 4.5 yards per rush attempt this season and the 5th most fantasy points to the RB position. This isn’t going to end well for Green Bay and Henry should be in your lineup as the consensus RB1 this week.

Green Bay: With Williams leaving last week’s game against Carolina, Jones stepped into a large workload and absolutely delivered. With the skepticism that Williams might not play this week, Jones should be viewed as a top-5 lock against the Titans. Even if Williams does play this week, Jones is still a fantastic start as a mid-range/low-end RB1.

Wide Receivers

Tennessee: Brown might not be 100%, but it’s not stopping him from absolutely dominating on the football field. Brown’s a locked-in mid-range WR1 every single week. Davis exploded for a huge performance in Week 15. He doesn’t have as great of a matchup this week against Green Bay as he did against Detroit, but Davis has still been producing at a high level this season. He can be viewed as a mid-range WR2 this week with upside.

Green Bay: The Titans are allowing 26.3 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs this season and Adams might hit that on his own. Fire up Adams as the consensus WR1 this week. One of Allen Lazard or Marquez Valdes-Scantling is going to have a decent performance this week. Unfortunately, there’s just no way of predicting which one it will be. Lazard would be the best option out of the two though, in my opinion, and he can be played as a solid FLEX option with upside.

Tight Ends

Tennessee: Smith bounced back last week and was able to reel in all 5 of his targets for 52 receiving yards. It’s hard to trust Smith due to Tennessee’s usage of him, but the Titans should need him a little bit more this game than they have in weeks past and he has an excellent chance of finding the end zone any given week. Smith’s in the streaming TE conversation and he can be viewed as a mid-range TE2 for Week 16.

Green Bay: Tonyan has now scored a touchdown in five straight games. Start him with confidence here as a mid-range TE1.

FantasyProjection Buster: Smith seemed to get back to being involved in the offense this past week, but there’s always the possibility that he fades right back into the background and sees two targets.

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Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots

Date/Time: December 28, 8:15pm ET
Spread: Bills -7
Over/Under: 46 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Bills 26.5, Patriots 19.5

Buffalo Bills

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New England Patriots

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Quarterback

Buffalo: Allen certainly helped several rosters to the fantasy championship this past week with his performance against Denver. While this is a little bit of a tougher matchup, the Patriots will be without Stephon Gilmore, which makes a huge difference. Fire up Allen as a mid-range QB1 with upside this week.

New England: With the way Newton has been playing recently, there’s no way you can trust him in your lineup this week. He’s a low-end QB2.

Running Backs

Buffalo: Moss was extremely efficient with his opportunity last week, but he still only finished just inside the top-36 RBs. Without a touchdown, Moss is going to disappoint fantasy managers that take the shot on him. He can be viewed as a mid-range RB3 this week. Singletary got the touchdown last week, but he still only saw 11 total touches. He’s a touchdown-or-bust low-end RB3 this week against New England.

New England: Harris might be back for this game, which would at least put him on the mid-range RB3 radar. He comes with no upside though and Sony Michel‘s played well enough to command a few more touches. This is just a situation I’d like to avoid entirely if I can.

Wide Receivers

Buffalo: Diggs sounds like he’s going to suit up this week, but he might not be at 100%. It’ll be important to monitor the practice reports throughout the remainder of this week to see exactly what Diggs’ status is going to be. If he gets in even limited practices later on this week, he’s worth starting as a high-end WR2. If he’s back to full strength, he becomes a borderline top-5 play with Gilmore out of the lineup now. Brown should be back for this matchup and he could easily have a big game if he’s fully healthy, but he’s too risky to play as anything more than a FLEX option. This matchup’s looking a lot better right now with Gilmore out of the lineup, but the health status of Brown and it being his first game back in a while make him a risky play in your fantasy championship. Even if Brown plays, Beasley’s still worth plugging into your lineup as a low-end WR3. If Brown misses this game, Beasley becomes a must play option as a high-end WR3. He’ll provide a safe floor and he does come with some upside as we’ve seen recently.

New England: Meyers popped off a big performance in Week 15, but if you start him this week, you’re betting on the arm of Cam Newton more than anything. That’s simply not a place I’m comfortable being in Week 16. Meyers is nothing more than a low-end FLEX option that could have another big game or he could finish with two catches.

Tight Ends

Buffalo: Knox is definitely starting to come onto the redraft radar, but he’s nothing more than a low-end TE2 option for Week 16.

New England: None of the Patriots TEs should be considered for fantasy football this week.

FantasyProjection Buster: Meyers is coming off a big game and he seems to be the clear target leader, but this offense is too unpredictable. Meyers could easily see only two targets this week and completely bust.

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Kyle Yates is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Kyle, check out his archive and follow him @KyleYNFL.