Fantasy Football WR PPR Rankings Week 16: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver

Nick Musial

Fantasy Football WR PPR Rankings Week 16: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver image

With little to no margin for error, our Week 16 fantasy WR PPR rankings are here to guide you through the next round of the playoffs. With several top-tier wide receivers on the shelf, an added layer of pressure comes with making the right lineup decisions to keep your championship aspirations afloat. 

Fortunately, at least one key QB, C.J. Stroud (concussion) is expected back this week, and we could be getting back a future Hall-of-Famer if the Jets decide it's worth the risk to play Aaron Rodgers (Achilles). That would help create a few more WR sleepers at a position that can never have enough.

With all that in mind, let's get after it and detail our Week 16 WR rankings for a must-win week.

Who are the best fantasy WRs in Week 16?

Tyreek Hill (vs. Cowboys in Week 16) looks like he'll return from his one-week absence, reclaiming our top spot, as well. A likely matchup against Stephon Gilmore could cap Hill's ceiling, but at this point, just about zero defensive backs can shut him down over four quarters. Similarly, CeeDee Lamb's (@ Dolphins) late fourth-quarter rushing touchdown inflated his Week 15 stat line, and although he didn't produce at an elite level, expect a more Lamb-like showing in an offensive-centric contest this week.

WEEK 16 PPR RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Amon-Ra St. Brown (@ Vikings) owners likely made it past the first round of the fantasy playoffs thanks to his 100-plus yard, one-TD showing in the Lions' statement win. Another favorable spot awaits this week against an exploitable Vikings pass defense. A.J. Brown (vs. Giants) owners also get another plus-matchup in the fantasy playoffs, putting Philadelphia's WR1 in position to stuff the stat sheet.

Cooper Kupp (vs. Saints) remains a top-five play after his 100-plus yard, one-TD effort, and despite a tougher matchup this time around, L.A.'s WR1 is officially back to his normal self. Look for Justin Jefferson (vs. Lions) to see a boatload of targets in a potentially negative game script, as he should finally come through for his owners this week.

WEEK 16 STANDARD RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Can Deebo Samuel (vs. Ravens) extend his two-plus TD streak to four games? It won't be easy against a well-rounded Ravens defense, but we're not one to doubt Samuel's abilities. Davante Adams (@ Chiefs) second-half rebound is coming at the absolute perfect time for fantasy owners.

Mike Evans (vs. Jaguars) continues to put up strong fantasy numbers on a weekly basis, and he'll look to help keep his owners' championship hopes alive against a reeling Jaguars coverage unit.

Who are the best fantasy WR sleepers, waiver pickups in Week 16?

Curtis Samuel (@ Jets), Josh Palmer (vs. Bills), Noah Brown (vs. Browns), Tyler Boyd (@ Steelers), and Dontayvion Wicks (@ Panthers) are some widely available WRs with plenty of appeal in PPR formats this week.

Samuel has seen 26 targets over his past three games, and we don't expect his usage to slow down as an integral piece within the Commanders' pass-heavy offense. Palmer is operating as the Chargers' WR1 with Keenan Allen (heel) sidelined, giving him flex appeal even with backup QB Easton Stick running Kellen Moore's offense.

Boyd has been a reliable safety blanket for Jake Browning, and his clutch 44-yard reception to keep the Bengals' playoff hopes afloat epitomizes his role as a trusted veteran. If Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) ends up missing time, Boyd's value will go up.

Wicks' Week 16 fantasy projections also figure to go up should both Christian Watson (hamstring) and Jayden Reed (toe) miss time, as Wicks won't have much competition for targets outside of Romeo Doubs and TE Tucker Kraft.

WEEK 16 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start-sit

Who are the biggest potential WR busts in Week 16?

With your season on the line, it's tough to trust Jerry Jeudy (vs. Patriots), George Pickens (vs. Bengals), Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. (@ 49ers), Quentin Johnston (vs. Bills), and Gabe Davis (@ Chargers).

Jeudy continues to struggle in Sean Payton's offense, and a matchup against a reliable Patriots pass defense does him no favors. Pickens has little to no PPR appeal with Mitch Trubisky under center, as we want no part of the Steelers' inept offense.

Flowers and Beckham Jr. didn't do much last week, and given how challenging it is to project the Ravens' receiving game on a week-to-week basis, you're better off leaving OBJ on the bench. Flowers has a little more upside, but he's risky, too.

Johnston did score his second career TD last week but saw just three targets in a negative game script, hurting his chances of totaling double-digit PPR points for a fourth straight week. Davis has essentially been running wind sprints for the Bills, failing to record a single receiving yard in back-to-back games.

WEEK 16 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks

What are the biggest WR injuries in Week 16?

Keenan Allen (heel), Chris Olave (ankle), Nico Collins (calf), Christian Watson (hamstring), Tyreek Hill (ankle), and Tutu Atwell (concussion) missed time last week due to nagging ailments, and we'll be monitoring their squad's injury reports to get a feel for their Week 16 status.

We saw Michael Pittman Jr. (head), Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder), Jayden Reed (toe), and Marquise Brown (heel) exit their respective games with injuries, potentially complicating their Week 16 playing status. Early reports on Pittman Jr. have been positive, but we've yet to hear about Reed and Brown. Chase has been ruled out for Saturday's road matchup against the Steelers/

We could also see Michael Thomas (knee) return to game action as he's eligible to come off injured reserve, a potential boost for a team that's dealt with several impact injuries to their receiving corps this season.

As usual, we'll update these WR PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.

Fantasy WR PPR Rankings Week 16: Who to start, sit at wide receiver

Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring formats

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
26    Chris Godwin, Buccaneers vs. Jaguars
27    Noah Brown, Texans vs. Browns
28    Drake London, Falcons vs. Colts
29    Tyler Boyd, Bengals @ Steelers
30    Courtland Sutton, Broncos vs. Patriots
31    Diontae Johnson, Steelers vs. Bengals
32    Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Commanders
33    Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Panthers
34    Calvin Ridley, Jaguars @ Buccaneers
35    Jordan Addison, Vikings vs. Lions
36    Tyler Lockett, Seahawks @ Titans
37    Josh Downs, Colts @ Falcons
38    Jakobi Meyers, Raiders @ Chiefs
39    Parker Washington, Jaguars @ Buccaneers
40    Curtis Samuel, Commanders @ Jets
41    Brandin Cooks, Cowboys @ Dolphins
42    Demario Douglas, Patriots @ Broncos
43    Joshua Palmer, Chargers vs. Bills
44    Jerry Jeudy, Broncos vs. Patriots
45    Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens @ 49ers
46    George Pickens, Steelers vs. Bengals
47    Robert Woods, Texans vs. Browns
48    Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks @ Titans
49    Dontayvion Wicks, Packers @ Panthers
50    Rashid Shaheed, Saints @ Rams
51    Alec Pierce, Colts @ Falcons
52    Jahan Dotson, Commanders @ Jets
53    Elijah Moore, Browns @ Texans
54    Justin Watson, Chiefs vs. Raiders
55    Quentin Johnston, Chargers vs. Bills
56    Josh Reynolds, Lions @ Vikings
57    Tutu Atwell, Rams vs. Saints
58    K.J. Osborn, Vikings vs. Lions
59    Demarcus Robinson, Rams vs. Saints
60    Jonathan Mingo, Panthers vs. Packers
61    Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants @ Eagles
62    DeVante Parker, Patriots @ Broncos
63    Rondale Moore, Cardinals @ Bears
64    Gabe Davis, Bills @ Chargers
65    Xavier Gipson, Jets vs. Commanders
66    Chris Moore, Titans vs. Seahawks
67    DJ Chark, Panthers vs. Packers
68    Khalil Shakir, Bills @ Chargers
69    Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs vs. Raiders
70    Tre Tucker, Raiders @ Chiefs
71    Treylon Burks, Titans vs. Seahawks
72    Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Broncos vs. Patriots
73    Jameson Williams, Lions @ Vikings
74    Greg Dortch, Cardinals @ Bears
75    Jalin Hyatt, Giants @ Eagles
76    Jalen Guyton, Chargers vs. Bills
77    Hunter Renfrow, Raiders @ Chiefs
78    Darius Slayton, Giants @ Eagles
79    Cedric Tillman, Browns @ Texans
80    Rashod Bateman, Ravens @ 49ers
81    Keith Kirkwood, Saints @ Rams
82    Malik Heath, Packers @ Panthers
83    Cedrick Wilson, Dolphins vs. Cowboys
84    Darnell Mooney, Bears vs. Cardinals
85    Michael Gallup, Cowboys @ Dolphins
86    Trey Palmer, Buccaneers vs. Jaguars

Nick Musial

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Nick Musial is a Content Producer at The Sporting News. He recently joined the team after studying sport management and journalism at the University of Kansas. Nick’s an avid sports bettor who’s always looking for value.