The fantasy football semifinals got off to a fast start on Thursday, with Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr, Chris Olave, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams coming through for their fantasy owners while Alvin Kamara and Cooper Kupp disappointed. We followed that up with George Pickens, Tee Higgins, and Gabe Davis (!) going off while Stefon Diggs, Diontae Johnson, and Joe Mixon no-showed on Saturday, creating some big holes for fantasy owners to climb out during the Sunday and Monday portion of Week 16.
Fortunately, weather doesn't figure to be much of a factor this week, but injuries never go out of style. Key players like C.J. Stroud (concussion), Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring), Marquise Brown (heel), Michael Pittman Jr. (shoulder), Christian Watson (hamstring), and Hunter Henry (knee) have already been declared OUT, while several more potential important players (Trevor Lawrence, Kenneth Walker III, Alexander Mattison, AJ Dillon, Nico Collins, Tyreek Hill, Zay Flowers, Jayden Reed, and Cole Kmet) are "questionable."
Don't worry -- we'll be here to help all Sunday morning, reacting to injury news, monitoring the active/inactive lists for any surprises, watching the weather, and providing start 'em, sit 'em advice based on all the latest developments.
Fantasy football live news for NFL Week 16
Live updates will begin at 9 a.m. ET.
Injury updates for NFL Week 16
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday afternoon that Trevor Lawrence cleared concussion protocol and traveled with the team to Tampa, all but guaranteeing he'll start under center. Given the highly favorable matchup, Lawrence is a borderline must-start, and his presence only helps Calvin Ridley, Evan Engram, and deep sleeper Parker Washington.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday afternoon that Will Levis (ankle) is unlikely to play for Tennessee against Seattle, putting Ryan Tannehill in position to start. Tannehill is not worth the risk in single-QB leagues, but his presence doesn't really hurt DeAndre Hopkins.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Nico Collins (calf) is expected to play against Cleveland. Even in a tough matchup with Case Keenum at QB, Collins is a worthwhile WR3/flex given his usual target share.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that the Dolphins are "optimistic" that Tyreek Hill (ankle) can play against Dallas. A final decision won't be made until after he tests his ankle in pre-game warm-ups, but he's in good position to suit up. He's a must-start as usual if he does.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Kenneth Walker III (shoulder) is expected to play against Tennessee. This tracks with what coach Pete Carroll said earlier in the week, so fantasy owners can safely pencil in Walker as their RB2.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported late Saturday night that Alexander Mattison (ankle) is expected to play against Detroit. Coach Kevin O'Connell has already implied that Ty Chandler will remain the lead back even if Mattison is back, but the veteran's presence slightly lowers Chandler's ceiling. Mattison should be benched in all but the deepest leagues.
(UPDATE 9 a.m. ET): NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that Cole Kmet (quad) is expected to play against Arizona. It's not a great matchup on paper for Kmet, so he's best suited for deep leagues, but he's always capable of a short TD if he's on the field.
(UPDATE 9 a.m. ET): NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that D'Onta Foreman (personal) is not expected to play against Arizona. Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert will split carries against Arizona's league-worst RB defense, giving both low-end flex value.
OFFICIAL NOTABLE EARLY INACTIVES: Will Levis, Zack Moss, Jayden Reed, Michael Pittman Jr., Christian Watson, C.J. Stroud, Brian Robinson Jr., Zach Wilson
OFFICIAL NOTABLE EARLY ACTIVES: Kenneth Walker III, Alexander Mattison, AJ Dillon, Nico Collins
WEEK 16 INJURY UPDATES:
Lawrence | RBs | WRs/TEs | Jacobs
Weather updates for NFL Week 16
For a full breakdown of all of the Week 16 weather worries, click here.
Weather is always a potential factor this time of year, but all things considered, the Week 16 forecast is an early Christmas gift for fantasy football owners. There's some light rain and wind expected for Cardinals-Bears and possibly Cowboys-Dolphins, but nothing overly worrisome. Patriots-Broncos could see some snow flurries, but most of the white stuff will fall before the game, leaving only light winds to affect the game. Raiders-Chiefs will likely see some rain with 10-15-mph winds, but all the key passing-game components (Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, Davante Adams) remain must-starts.
(UPDATE 10 a.m. ET): The latest models for Raiders-Chiefs now show most, if not all, of the rain clearing before kickoff.
Who should I start in fantasy football today?
Advice based on 12-team, half-point PPR leagues
The recommendations below are from Vinnie Iyer's Week 16 start 'em, sit 'em column.
Must-starts
QB: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs. LV), Brock Purdy, 49ers (vs. BAL), Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at SF), Justin Fields, Bears (vs. ARI), Josh Allen, Bills (at LAC), Jalen Hurts, Eagles (vs. NYG), Dak Prescott, Cowboys (at MIA)
RB: Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (vs. BAL), James Cook, Bills (at LAC), Kyren Williams, Rams (vs. NO), Rachaad White, Buccaneers (vs. JAX), Alvin Kamara, Saints (at LAR), Raheem Mostert, Dolphins (vs. DAL), Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (at MIN), Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. IND), Breece Hall, Jets (vs. WAS), Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots (at DEN), Joe Mixon, Bengals (at PIT), Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. SEA), Aaron Jones, Packers (at CAR), Jonathan Taylor, Colts (at ATL), Tony Pollard, Cowboys (at MIA), Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (vs. LV), David Montgomery, Lions (at MIN), Travis Etienne, Jaguars (at TB), Saquon Barkley, Giants (at PHI), Josh Jacobs, Raiders (at KC)
WR: Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (vs. DAL), A.J. Brown, Eagles (vs. NYG), CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (at MIA), Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (at MIN), Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. DET), Cooper Kupp, Rams (vs. NO), Mike Evans, Buccaneers (vs. JAX), DJ Moore, Bears (vs. ARI), DK Metcalf, Seahawks (at TEN), Deebo Samuel, 49ers (vs. BAL), DeVonta Smith, Eagles (vs. NYG), Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (vs. BAL), Rashee Rice, Chiefs (vs. LV), Stefon Diggs, Bills (vs. LAC), Puka Nacua, Rams (vs. NO), Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (vs. DAL), Chris Olave, Saints (vs. LAR), Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. WAS), Davante Adams, Raiders (at KC), Tee Higgins, Bengals (at PIT), Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. NE), Amari Cooper, Browns (at HOU), DeAndre Hopkins, Titans (vs. SEA)
TE: T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (vs. DET), Trey McBride, Cardinals (at CHI), Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. LV), Sam LaPorta, Lions (at MIN), David Njoku, Browns (at HOU), Evan Engram, Jaguars (at TB), Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (at MIA), Isaiah Likely, Ravens (at JAX)
D/ST: Jets (vs. WAS), Bills (at LAC), Chiefs (vs. LV), Broncos (vs. NE), Eagles (vs. NYG), Packers (at CAR), Bears (vs. ARI)
Smart sits
QB: Kyler Murray (at CHI), Jordan Love (at CAR), Geno Smith (at TEN)
RB: Javonte Williams (vs. NE), Gus Edwards (at SF), Ty Chandler (vs. DET), Devin Singletary (vs. CLE), Antonio Gibson (at NYJ)
WR: Terry McLaurin (at NYJ), Zay Flower (at SF), Romeo Doubs (at CAR), Curtis Samuel (at NYJ), Brandin Cooks (at MIA)
TE: Dalton Schultz (vs. CLE), Kyle Pitts (vs. IND), Cole Kmet (vs. ARI)
D/ST: Ravens (at SF), 49ers (vs. BAL), Jaguars (at TB), Dolphins (vs. DAL), Cowboys (at MIA)
Read more coverage from Sporting News' team of fantasy football experts, including Week 16 rankings for PPR and standard formats, sleepers, busts, DFS picks, and other projections below.
WEEK 16 FANTASY ADVICE: Sleepers | Busts
WEEK 16 DFS: DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
WEEK 16 TOOLS: RotoBaller "Who To Start?" tool | Draft Sharks' Week 16 projections
Fantasy football rankings Week 16
Below are Sporting News' updated fantasy football rankings for Week 16. Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring.
Quarterback
Rank Player
1 Josh Allen, Bills @ Chargers
2 Dak Prescott, Cowboys @ Dolphins
3 Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs vs. Raiders
4 Jalen Hurts, Eagles vs. Giants
5 Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins vs. Cowboys
6 Jared Goff, Lions @ Vikings
7 Lamar Jackson, Ravens @ 49ers
8 Brock Purdy, 49ers vs. Ravens
9 Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars @ Buccaneers
10 Justin Fields, Bears vs. Cardinals
Running back
Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Ravens
2 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions @ Vikings
3 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Cowboys
4 Travis Etienne, Jaguars @ Buccaneers
5 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Rams
6 Bijan Robinson, Falcons vs. Colts
7 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Dolphins
8 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Bills
9 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Steelers
10 De'Von Achane, Dolphins vs. Cowboys
11 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Eagles
12 Breece Hall, Jets vs. Commanders
13 Kyren Williams, Rams vs. Saints
14 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Jaguars
15 David Montgomery, Lions @ Vikings
16 Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Seahawks
17 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Panthers
18 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Raiders
19 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Falcons
20 D'Andre Swift, Eagles vs. Giants
Wide receiver
Rank Player
1 Tyreek Hill, Dolphins vs. Cowboys
2 CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys @ Dolphins
3 Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions @ Vikings
4 A.J. Brown, Eagles vs. Giants
5 Cooper Kupp, Rams vs. Saints
6 Justin Jefferson, Vikings vs. Lions
7 Deebo Samuel, 49ers vs. Ravens
8 Davante Adams, Raiders @ Chiefs
9 Mike Evans, Buccaneers vs. Jaguars
10 DJ Moore, Bears vs. Cardinals
11 Stefon Diggs, Bills @ Chargers
12 Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers vs. Ravens
13 Puka Nacua, Rams vs. Saints
14 Rashee Rice, Chiefs vs. Raiders
15 DK Metcalf, Seahawks @ Titans
16 Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins vs. Cowboys
17 Chris Olave, Saints @ Rams
18 DeVonta Smith, Eagles vs. Giants
19 Tee Higgins, Bengals @ Steelers
20 Amari Cooper, Browns @ Texans
21 Terry McLaurin, Commanders @ Jets
22 Adam Thielen, Panthers vs. Packers
23 Nico Collins, Texans vs. Browns
24 Zay Flowers, Ravens @ 49ers
25 DeAndre Hopkins, Titans vs. Seahawks
Tight end
Rank Player
1 T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Lions
2 Trey McBride, Cardinals @ Bears
3 Travis Kelce, Chiefs vs. Raiders
4 David Njoku, Browns @ Texans
5 Sam LaPorta, Lions @ Vikings
6 Evan Engram, Jaguars @ Buccaneers
7 Jake Ferguson, Cowboys @ Dolphins
8 Darren Waller, Giants @ Eagles
9 Pat Freiermuth, Steelers vs. Bengals
10 Dalton Kincaid, Bills @ Chargers
Defense/Special teams
Rank Player
1 Buffalo Bills @ Chargers
2 New York Jets vs. Commanders
3 Denver Broncos vs. Patriots
4 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Giants
5 Cincinnati Bengals @ Steelers
6 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Bengals
7 New Orleans Saints @ Rams
8 Cleveland Browns @ Texans
9 Green Bay Packers @ Panthers
10 Kansas City Chiefs vs. Raiders
WEEK 16 STANDARD RANKINGS:
RBs | WRs | TEs | Kickers
