Every fantasy football matchup is won in the margins, making the right start/sit decisions, capitalizing on favorable matchups, and trusting the right players when it matters most. Our weekly fantasy football rankings are designed to give you that edge. Each position is broken down with tiers, projections, and matchup context to help you maximize your lineup’s ceiling while minimizing risk. Whether you’re streaming a quarterback, deciding between flex options, or setting your DFS lineups, these rankings are built to guide you through every tough call. Lock in your best lineup, stay ahead of your competition, and chase the win this week.
Week 16 Rankings
Thursday Night Fantasy Football Start and Sit Advice Week 16
The Thursday Night Football showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks has major playoff implications. The Rams won the last matchup, but with both teams tied for the division lead at 11-3, this matchup will likely decide the division and determine who will be the NFC’s 1 seed. Below, I’ll explain who you can trust in your lineups, who should stay on the bench, and which players fall into that tricky gray area for Thursday night.
Lock Them into Your Lineup
- Puka Nacua WR (LAR)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR (SEA)
Strong Starts
Kyren Williams RB (LAR)
Kyren Williams continues to be one of the most consistent running backs in fantasy football, finishing as RB8 in PPR formats in Week 15 against Detroit. He logged 15 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns, marking his third straight game with a score and his sixth touchdown in his last seven outings. Williams has now recorded at least 13 carries, 70 rushing yards, and a touchdown in each of the last three games, showcasing a strong weekly floor. Even with Blake Corum earning a larger role, Williams has maintained over 50 percent of the snaps and remains the primary red-zone option. His second multi-touchdown performance of the season reinforces his value in high-leverage situations. Williams’ efficiency and scoring consistency continue to outweigh concerns about the growing timeshare.
The Week 16 matchup against Seattle is challenging, but Williams has already proven he can succeed in this spot. The Seahawks allow the third-fewest rushing yards per game and rank top eight in fewest fantasy football points allowed to running backs, yet Williams posted 91 yards and a touchdown against them in Week 11. With Davante Adams sidelined, the Rams are likely to lean more heavily on the run game near the goal line. That benefits Williams, who profiles as the offense’s most trusted scoring option. While Thursday night games can be volatile, Williams’ role and red-zone usage make him a strong start in fantasy football. Managers would need an elite alternative to justify a sit.
Colby Parkinson TE (LAR)
Colby Parkinson has emerged as one of the hottest tight ends in fantasy football, scoring six touchdowns over his last six games. In Week 15, he delivered the best performance of his career with five receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns on a nearly 19 percent target share. Parkinson has benefited from the Rams’ heavy use of 13 personnel, playing all 46 snaps in those formations last week. With Tyler Higbee on injured reserve, Parkinson has fully taken control of the tight end room. His role near the goal line has become extremely stable, giving him weekly touchdown equity. Few tight ends available on waivers are producing at this level.
Looking ahead to Week 16, Parkinson’s outlook remains strong against a Seahawks defense that has struggled against tight ends. Seattle ranks inside the top eight in fantasy football points allowed to the position and has consistently given up red-zone scores to tight ends. The potential absence of Davante Adams further boosts Parkinson’s usage and scoring upside. While his yardage floor may fluctuate, his involvement near the end zone makes him a reliable start, where he ranks top 10 in the NFL in red zone targets. In a tight end landscape full of uncertainty, Parkinson offers plug-and-play value. He should not be sitting on fantasy football benches this week.
Players to Sit
Kenneth Walker RB (SEA)
Kenneth Walker III’s disappointing fantasy football season hit a new low in Week 15 against Indianapolis. He recorded just nine carries for 19 yards and one reception for two yards, resulting in his lowest fantasy output of the year. Walker has now failed to reach 10 fantasy points in four of his last seven games and has scored fewer than five points in back-to-back weeks. Seattle’s continued use of Zach Charbonnet, particularly in scoring situations, has capped Walker’s ceiling. Despite holding the starting role, Walker has averaged just 10.1 fantasy points per game this season. The lack of consistency makes him difficult to trust at a critical point in the fantasy calendar. His declining efficiency and reduced scoring opportunities have pushed him out of reliable RB2 territory.
Walker faces a brutal Week 16 matchup against a Rams defense that ranks near the top of the league against running backs. Los Angeles allows the eighth-fewest rushing yards per game and the third-fewest fantasy football points to the position. The Rams have surrendered only three rushing touchdowns to running backs all season, severely limiting Walker’s scoring upside. Although he had his best game of the year against the Rams in Week 11, he has not scored a touchdown since then. Given his recent usage trends and the defensive matchup, Walker is a clear sit in fantasy football. At best, he’s a low-upside flex option. That makes it difficult to justify starting during the fantasy football semifinals.
Blake Corum RB (LAR)
Blake Corum has shown flashes of fantasy relevance over the past few weeks, posting his third straight game with a touchdown in Week 15 against Detroit. He carried the ball 11 times for 71 yards and a score, marking his second consecutive game with double-digit carries. Corum has now scored four touchdowns over his last three games and is nearing a 50 percent snap share. His involvement has steadily increased, and he continues to siphon touches away from Kyren Williams. While the production looks appealing on the surface, his fantasy value remains highly touchdown-dependent. Corum still averages fewer than nine touches per game overall. Without a receiving role, his margin for error remains extremely thin.
The Week 16 matchup against Seattle significantly lowers Corum’s outlook. The Seahawks allow the third-fewest rushing yards per game and have not given up a touchdown to an opposing RB1 in four straight contests. They also rank among the league’s best in yards allowed before contact, which hurts Corum’s downhill running style. In the first meeting, Corum was largely ineffective while Williams dominated. Williams remains a must start due to his guaranteed volume role within this offense, and Corum remains a sit because his touches are still not high enough to justify playing him in this matchup. He should only be considered in deep leagues desperate for a flex option. In standard formats, the risk outweighs the potential reward.
Zach Charbonnet RB (SEA)
Zach Charbonnet’s role in the Seahawks’ backfield has diminished significantly late in the season. After seeing double-digit carries in five of his first six games, he has totaled just 15 carries over the past two weeks. In Week 15, Charbonnet managed only 31 rushing yards on eight carries against Indianapolis. His fantasy production has cratered, averaging just seven fantasy points over his last three games. Charbonnet has relied heavily on touchdowns for value, scoring eight times this season while ranking top 10 among running backs in red zone touches. Without consistent volume, his weekly floor is extremely low. The reduced workload makes it difficult for him to overcome negative game scripts.
The matchup against the Rams further complicates Charbonnet’s fantasy outlook in Week 16. Los Angeles ranks ninth in fewest rushing yards allowed per game and leads the NFL in fewest rushing touchdowns surrendered. The Rams have also held opposing RB1s under 50 rushing yards in two of their last three games. With Seattle struggling to generate rushing lanes, Charbonnet’s scoring-dependent profile is a major concern. This is a clear sit in fantasy for Thursday Night Football. Managers should seek safer volume elsewhere. Even in deeper leagues, his ceiling does not justify the risk.
Sam Darnold QB (SEA)
Sam Darnold’s Week 15 stat line looks respectable on paper, but his fantasy football output told a different story. He completed 22 of 36 passes for 271 yards without a touchdown or interception, marking his third game without a passing score in the last four weeks. Over that stretch, Darnold has ranked as QB17, offering little upside. He has scored more than 11 fantasy points only twice in his last six games. Darnold’s inconsistency has made him unreliable during the fantasy playoffs. Even in wins, his production has often been empty. The lack of rushing upside further limits his fantasy ceiling.
Darnold’s history against the Rams makes him an easy sit in Week 16. In Week 11, he threw four interceptions and finished with just 4.3 fantasy points against Los Angeles. He also struggled mightily against them in last year’s playoffs, taking heavy pressure and producing limited fantasy value. While the Rams have allowed passing yardage recently, they remain effective at disguising coverages and forcing mistakes. In a high-pressure divisional game, Darnold carries significant downside. He should only be started in deep Superflex formats, and even then, the risk is substantial. Fantasy managers should prioritize quarterbacks with clearer paths to production in a must-win week.
AJ Barner TE (SEA)
AJ Barner has seen increased opportunity due to injuries, but has failed to convert volume into fantasy football production. Over the last four weeks, he has averaged just over four fantasy points per game. While he has been targeted 19 times in that span, he has yet to score a touchdown. Barner has struggled to separate consistently, limiting his efficiency despite having the 2nd most targets on the team this year. His early-season touchdown streak feels like a distant memory and has fallen out of favor for many fantasy managers. Even as Seattle’s primary tight end, his role remains modest.
The Week 16 matchup against the Rams does not improve Barner’s fantasy football outlook. Los Angeles has defended tight ends well enough to limit ceiling games, especially in the red zone. It is unlikely that his targets will start to turn into significant production with his 37th-ranked average target distance. With low route participation and minimal scoring upside as of late, Barner’s production seems limited this week. There are higher-upside streaming options available, including Colby Parkinson and Darren Waller. Fantasy football managers should sit Barner for Thursday night and pivot to a different receiver.
Rashid Shaheed WR (SEA)
Rashid Shaheed has started to carve out a meaningful role in Seattle’s offense, averaging 70.5 receiving yards over his last two games. He posted season highs in targets, receptions, and yards last week, showing increased trust from the coaching staff. His deep-threat ability gives him splash-play potential in any matchup. Advanced metrics show strong efficiency, including high yards per route run and air-yard share despite the limited target share since coming over via trade. Shaheed appears to have overtaken the WR2 role behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, with Cooper Kupp not having a game over 46 yards in his last 5 games. His recent usage trend is encouraging, but it is not enough to trust him in lineups.
Despite the increased role, Shaheed remains a risky fantasy play in Week 16. The Rams rank near the top of the league in pass defense efficiency and limit explosive plays. Their zone-heavy coverage scheme has historically neutralized Shaheed’s skill set, limiting the deep plays. In the first matchup between these teams, passing production was scarce. Overall, this season, the Rams defense this year ranks 3rd in pass defense DVOA and 2nd in points against. Shaheed’s fantasy value relies heavily on long touchdowns, which are unlikely in this spot. He should be viewed as a sit in most fantasy football formats.
Other Players to Sit
- Cooper Kupp WR (SEA)
- Tutu Atwell WR (LAR)
- Konata Mumpfield WR (LAR)
- Jordan Whittington WR (LAR)
- Terrance Ferguson TE (LAR)
On the Fence
Matthew Stafford QB (LAR)
Matthew Stafford has been outstanding this season, topping 21 fantasy points in six of his last eight games and firmly placing himself in the MVP discussion. He has thrown for over 3,700 yards and 37 touchdowns with minimal interceptions. Stafford has been especially lethal in the red zone, leading the league in inside-the-five passing attempts. Even last week, he posted 368 yards and two touchdowns against Detroit. His arm talent and command of the offense remain elite. The production has been steady and impressive while the team continues to find new ways to win on the offensive side of the ball.
However, the Week 16 matchup against Seattle presents real fantasy football concerns. The Seahawks allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and held Stafford to just 130 passing yards in Week 11. This Seattle pass defense is legit, with ranks of second in both EPA per dropback, pass defense DVOA, to go along with allowing an NFL-low 6.0 yards per attempt. The absence of Davante Adams further reduces Stafford’s red-zone efficiency, which is central to his fantasy success without much of a rushing upside. The Rams offense has been having more success with 13 personnel and should exploit the one weakness in the Seattle defense, which is struggling to maintain TEs. Stafford has been elite this season, so I can’t blame you for starting him, but some serious concerns put him outside of my top 12 this week.
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