Week 16 Fantasy WR Rankings: Must-starts, sleepers, potential busts at wide receiver

Matt Lutovsky

Week 16 Fantasy WR Rankings: Must-starts, sleepers, potential busts at wide receiver image

Fantasy football owners are used to surprise inactives toward the end of the season as teams fall out of playoff contention, so no one will be caught off guard if Julio Jones (hamstring) or Kenny Golladay (hip) remain out this week. However, Michael Thomas (ankle) landing on the IR late last week seemingly came out of nowhere, and he obviously won't be included in our Week 16 fantasy WR rankings. Chances are, he'll be joined by at least a few more notable wide receivers as we get closer to the weekend. 

As always, there are plenty of viable WR options this week, but some big names are facing tough matchups. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are facing the Rams, and after both were limited last time these teams faced each other (especially Metcalf), fantasy owners might be at least a little worried about both lineup staples. Calvin Ridley (@ Chiefs), D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Curtis Samuel (@ Washington), Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, and John Brown (@ Patriots), and A.J. Brown and Corey Davis (@ Packers) also have tough matchups on paper, but with the possible exception of some of the Panthers receivers and John Brown, all have been so consistent that they're still must-starts. It's also worth noting that with Stephon Gilmore (knee) likely out, the matchups for all Bills receivers become much more favorable.

WEEK 16 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Going a little deeper, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, and Diontae Johnson (vs. Colts), Marquise Brown (vs. Giants), Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton (@ Ravens), Jakobi Meyers (vs. Bills), and DJ Chark (vs. Bears) also have tough matchups. It will be tough to sit the Steelers' trio given the amount of targets they usually get, but they've all had consistency issues, so explore your options. 

WEEK 16 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

If you're looking for sleepers, Rashard Higgins (@ Jets), Marquez Callaway (vs. Vikings), Jalen Reagor (@ Cowboys), Sammy Watkins (vs. Falcons), and Darnell Mooney (@ Jaguars), stand out. Going a bit deeper, Donovan Peoples-Jones (@ Jets), Denzel Mims and Breshad Perriman, (vs. Browns), Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson (vs. Falcons), Josh Reynolds (@ Seahawks), Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (vs. Titans), and Chad Hansen (vs. Bengals) have boom-or-bust upside, but you probably don't want to take a chance with any of the latter group with your season on the line. (Update: Marvin Hall will be Cleveland's No. 1 receiver after the rest of the Browns' receiving corps was placed on the COVID list.)

WEEK 16 DFS CASH LINEUPS: DraftKingsFanDuel

Ultimately, more potential sleepers will emerge based on who's active and who isn't. If Julio Jones (hamstring) is out again, Russell Gage (@ Chiefs) will have value despite a tough matchup. If DeVante Parker (hamstring) is out again, Lynn Bowden (@ Raiders) will be a solid starter, especially in PPR leagues. If Keenan Allen (knee) or Mike Williams (back) miss time for the Chargers, Tyron Johnson (vs. Broncos) would be in play. There will be more situations like this as inactives are announced, so pay attention and be ready to pounce on the waiver wire. 

WEEK 16 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

Note: Check back all week leading up to kickoff, as we'll continue to update our WR rankings based on the latest news and injuries.

MORE WEEK 16 DFS: Best stacks | Best valuesLineup Builder

Week 16 Fantasy WR Rankings (Standard)

These rankings are for non-PPR leagues.

WEEK 16 FANTASY: Sleepers | BustsStart 'em, sit 'em

Rank Player
1 Tyreek Hill, KC vs. ATL
2 Davante Adams, GB vs. TEN
3 Allen Robinson, CHI @ JAX
4 DeAndre Hopkins, ARI vs. SF
5 Stefon Diggs, BUF @ NE
6 Mike Evans, TB @ DET
7 Chris Godwin, TB @ DET
8 Calvin Ridley, ATL @ KC
9 A.J. Brown, TEN @ GB
10 Brandon Aiyuk, SF @ ARI
11 Cooper Kupp, LAR @ SEA
12 Robert Woods, LAR @ SEA
13 Tee Higgins, CIN @ HOU
14 Amari Cooper, DAL vs. PHI
15 Adam Thielen, MIN @ NO
16 DK Metcalf, SEA vs. LAR
17 Justin Jefferson, MIN @ NO
18 Marvin Jones, DET vs. TB
19 Emmanuel Sanders, NO vs. MIN
20 Antonio Brown, TB @ DET
21 Brandin Cooks, HOU vs. CIN
22 Tyler Lockett, SEA vs. LAR
23 Keke Coutee HOU vs. CIN
24 Jamison Crowder, NYJ vs. CLE
25 T.Y. Hilton, IND @ PIT
26 JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT vs. IND
27 CeeDee Lamb, DAL vs. PHI
28 Corey Davis, TEN @ GB
29 D.J. Moore, CAR @ WAS
30 Robby Anderson, CAR @ WAS
31 Jalen Reagor, PHI @ DAL
32 Russell Gage, ATL @ KC
33 Nelson Agholor, LV vs. MIA
34 Mike Williams, LAC vs. DEN
35 Chase Claypool, PIT vs. IND
36 Diontae Johnson, PIT vs. IND
37 Sammy Watkins, KC vs. ATL
38 Tim Patrick, DEN @ LAC
39 Marquise Brown, BAL vs. NYG
40 Curtis Samuel, CAR @ WAS
41 Cole Beasley, BUF @ NE
42 Jakeem Grant, MIA @ LV
43 Marvin Hall, CLE @ NYJ
44 Darnell Mooney, CHI @ JAX
45 Tyron Johnson, LAC vs. DEN
46 Lynn Bowden, MIA @ LV
47 Marquez Callaway, NO vs. MIN
48 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB vs. TEN
49 DJ Chark, JAX vs. CHI
50 Sterling Shepard, NYG @ BAL
51 Allen Lazard, GB vs. TEN
52 Kendrick Bourne, SF @ ARI
53 Jerry Jeudy, DEN @ LAC
54 Jakobi Meyers, NE vs. BUF
55 John Brown, BUF @ NE
56 Josh Reynolds, LAR @ SEA
57 A.J. Green, CIN @ HOU
58 Cam Sims, WAS vs. CAR
59 Isaiah Wright, WAS vs. CAR
60 Breshad Perriman, NYJ vs. CLE
61 Michael Gallup, DAL vs. PHI
62 Greg Ward Jr., PHI @ DAL
63 Mack Hollins, MIA @ LV
64 Denzel Mims, NYJ vs. CLE
65 Mecole Hardman, KC vs. ATL
66 Chad Hansen, HOU vs. CIN
67 Jalen Guyton, LAC vs. DEN
68 Hunter Renfrow, LV vs. MIA
69 Michael Pittman Jr., IND @ PIT
70 Christian Kirk, ARI vs. SF
71 Danny Amendola, DET vs. TB
72 Darius Slayton, NYG @ BAL
73 Henry Ruggs III, LV vs. MIA
74 KJ Hamler, DEN @ LAC
75 Alex Erickson, CIN @ HOU
76 Anthony Miller, CHI @ JAX
77 Keelan Cole, JAX vs. CHI
78 Willie Snead, BAL vs. NYG
79 Van Jefferson, LAR @ SEA
80 Demarcus Robinson, KC vs. ATL
81 Mohamed Sanu, DET vs. TB
82 David Moore, SEA vs. LAR
83 Gabriel Davis, BUF @ NE
84 James Washington, PIT vs. IND
85 Laviska Shenault Jr., JAX vs. CHI
86 Zach Pascal, IND @ PIT
87 Damiere Byrd, NE vs. BUF
88 Larry Fitzgerald, ARI vs. SF
89 Brandon Powell, ATL @ KC
90 Scotty Miller, TB @ DET
91 N'Keal Harry, NE vs. BUF

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.