The 2025 Fantasy Football Playoffs are now in Round 2. If you are still kicking, congratulations, but our eyes are on that grade prize. My mission statement as a content creator is to help you “Play 2 Win”. This has been the intention of this article series all year long.
Each week, I dive into all NFL matchups and identify who has a positive one that can translate to a big week for Fantasy Football. Some names may be obvious, but I always include some sleepers on top of that as well. Let’s get it!
More Week 16 Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Weekly Rankings | Dynasty Risers and Fallers
2025 Fantasy Football Playoffs: Weekly Winners – Week 16
Justin Herbert vs. DAL
Justin Herbert has scored under 15 Fantasy Points for five straight weeks, but is primed for a major bounce-back in Week 16. Before this major slump, in Weeks 1-9, Herbert finished six weeks with 18+ Fantasy Points, and four of those games were at 25+ Fantasy Points. Herbert’s upside is evident through three weeks of 300+ passing yards, three weeks with three passing touchdowns, and three weeks of 60+ rushing yards. The turnovers have been a major impact for Herbert this season, with 12 interceptions on the year, so more competency there will go a long way.
Herbert will face a Cowboys defense in Week 16 that allows the most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the most passing yards per game (254.8). Dallas’ offense pushes most games to go through the air, while their defense is friendly there, so volume and production are two great pairings here.
Jared Goff vs. PIT
Jared Goff is coming off of a 338 passing yards and three passing touchdown performance in Week 15 for 25.52 Fantasy Points. This was the second week in a row and the fourth time in total this season he finished with 300+ passing yards, and the fourth time he finished with three or more passing touchdowns. Goff has finished five weeks with 20+ Fantasy Points on the year.
Goff will face a Steelers defense in Week 16 that allows the eighth-most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the sixth-most passing yards per game (242.4) this season. The Lions are coming off of a loss and are on the bubble of a playoff spot, so I expect this offense to come out absolutely firing.
Tyler Shough vs. NYJ
Tyler Shough has scored 17+ Fantasy Points in four of his last five games played. Upside flashes include 282 passing yards in Week 10, two games with a pair of passing touchdowns, and 55 rushing yards with two rushing touchdowns in Week 14. Shough is coming off a game where he completed 75% of his passes as well. Positive signs for the rookie quarterback with plenty of evidence backing him as a quality Fantasy streamer when needed.
Shough will face a Jets defense in Week 16 that allows the 10th-most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks this season. There is uncertainty about who will be healthy in the Saints’ running back room, so Shough may need to put the team on his back even more in this positive matchup. Solid streamer if you need one.
JJ McCarthy vs. the NYG
JJ McCarthy has had two great Fantasy Football performances in a row, with scores of 20.42 then 23.5 Fantasy Points. In Week 14, JJM finished with 163 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Then in Week 15, McCarthy finished with 250 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, an interception, and a rushing touchdown. McCarthy has three rushing touchdowns through eight appearances this season, with 48 rushing yards in Week 10, which shows some dual-threat qualities. Five passing touchdowns in the last two weeks show upside through the air as well.
McCarthy will face a Giants defense in Week 16 that allows the fourth-most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the 10th-most passing yards per game this season (228.9). This is a solid matchup for JJM to stay hot for Fantasy Football and be a great streamer for Week 16.
Quinshon Judkins vs. BUF
Quinshon Judkins has scored under 10 Fantasy Points for two weeks in a row, but is primed for a bounce-back game in Week 16. Judkins finished with 91 rushing yards in Week 13, which was the third time on the year he rushed for 90+ yards. Judkins caught three balls in Week 15, and while that resulted in negative yards, it was the second time across his last three weeks that he caught three passes. Judkins has finished five weeks with 15+ Fantasy Points and two weeks with 21+ Fantasy Points, which has been solid for a guy on a struggling team.
Judkins will face a Bills defense that allows the fourth-most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the third-most rushing yards per game (143.1). This is a great matchup for Judkins to pick up his efficiency, as a back who has finished five weeks with 21+ rushing attempts. I expect more explosive runs in this matchup.
Omarion Hampton vs. DAL
Since returning from injury, Omarion Hampton has played just 31% then 36% of the snaps in a committee with Kimani Vidal. Week 16 could be the week we see the rookie take a substantial leap forward in time spent on the field, as he is further away from injury. Hampton has rushed for 56 and 61 yards on 13 and 15 rushing attempts the last two weeks. Hampton did score a receiving touchdown in Week 14, which helped is Fantasy production. Back in Weeks 3-4, Hampton scored 24.9 and 27.5 Fantasy Points, with a rushing touchdown in each of those games on top of 129 then 165 scrimmage yard totals.
Hampton will face a Cowboys defense in Week 16 that allows the eighth-most Fantasy PPG to running backs. There should be a lot of offense on both sides of this one, and this game feels like one where Hampton can be utilized plenty.
Bucky Irving vs. CAR
Since returning from injury, Bucky Irving has scored 16.1, 16.1, and then 8.1 Fantasy Points. During this stretch, he has rushed for 55-61 yards in all three games, scored a rushing touchdown, and scored a receiving touchdown. Bucky now has three receiving touchdowns through seven appearances this season and has rushed for 60+ yards in five of these games. Bucky has finished with 16+ Fantasy Points in four of his seven appearances as well, which is a quality percentage of impactful weeks.
Irving will face a Panthers defense in Week 16 that allows the ninth-most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. The Buccaneers are back to full strength, which could mean operating more effectively both through the air and on the ground in this matchup.
Kareem Hunt vs. TEN
Back in Week 12, Kareem Hunt rushed 30 times for 104 yards and a touchdown with three receptions for 26 yards for 20 Fantasy Points. In Week 8, Hunt rushed nine times for 40 yards and a touchdown with a receiving touchdown as well for 17.2 Fantasy Points. In Week 5, Hunt rushed seven times for 49 yards and two touchdowns, which was 18.7 Fantasy Points. Although Isiah Pacheco out-touched Hunt last week 11 to seven, Pacheco’s under two yards per carry efficiency was terrible, and Hunt has been the much better back this season.
Hunt will face a Titans defense in Week 16 that allows the 11th-most Fantasy PPG to running backs. With Gardner Minshew set to start in place of an injured Patrick Mahomes, and the Titans offense struggling all year to produce, there can be plenty of emphasis on the run game for the Chiefs in Week 16. Sleeper running back pick here.
Check out all of our Week 16 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings
DK Metcalf vs. DET
DK Metcalf caught all three targets in Week 15 for 55 yards and a touchdown for 14.5 Fantasy Points. The week before, DK caught seven of his 12 targets for 148 yards, which was 21.8 Fantasy Points. Metcalf has finished with 126+ yards now twice and has scored seven total touchdowns on the year. Metcalf has also finished four weeks with 16+ Fantasy Points and two of those were at 21+ Fantasy Points.
DK will face a Lions defense in Week 16 that allows the second-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the ninth-most passing yards per game. Inconsistent volume has been the concern for Metcalf this season, but the game script vs. a solid Lions offense should mean eight or more targets in this one. With the game script likely emphasizing passing, on top of a strong matchup, Metcalf is a strong play this week.
Jameson Williams vs. PIT
Jameson Williams has been on fire for Fantasy Football since his Week 12 goose-egg, with scores of 26.9, 17.3, and then 26.4 Fantasy Points. During this stretch of games, Jamo has earned 10, nine, and 10 targets, which turned into 144, 96, and 134 receiving yards with two touchdowns during this span. Williams has six weeks of 18+ Fantasy Points this season, and his three weeks of 23+ Fantasy Points have all come within the last six games played.
Jamo will face a Steelers defense in Week 16 that allows the 11th-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the sixth-most passing yards per game this season. Ride the hot hand with Jamo in a matchup where he can stay hot in making plays out wide. The focus Amon-Ra St. Brown draws truly is a major benefit to Williams, who has capitalized as being a team “WR2”.
Jayden Reed vs. CHI
Jayden Reed returned to football in Week 14 after missing almost all of the season prior. Reed caught all four targets for 31 yards and rushed twice for 22 yards in Week 14, playing 47% of the snaps. Then in Week 15, Reed caught five of his six targets for 55 yards, playing 65% of the snaps. Christian Watson is currently questionable due to a chest/shoulder injury, which could bump Reed’s importance up even more.
Reed will have a rematch with the Bears in Week 16, who allow the fourth-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Reed has a history of Fantasy Football impacts as a dynamic playmaker, and this is a matchup that he can take advantage of based on the data and the Packers’ personnel situation. The increase in snap percentage and usage is also encouraging in itself for Reed, who can continue trending up in Week 16.
Stefon Diggs vs. BAL
Stefon Diggs has had three down weeks in a row, but he can bounce back in this Week 16 matchup for Fantasy Football. New England has emphasized the run game and spreading the ball out more these past few weeks, but the right game script can boost Diggs. Diggs has three weeks of 100+ receiving yards, scored three touchdowns, has scored 15+ Fantasy Points three times, and 19+ Fantasy Points twice on the year.
Diggs will face a Ravens defense in Week 16 that allows the 12th-most Fantasy PPG and the seventh-most passing yards per game this season. The Ravens are coming off of a win and are on the bubble for a playoff spot, so they will come out firing in this one. This may mean Drake Maye emphasizing his WR1 more than he has in the previous few games, which can result in a positive Diggs Fantasy week.
Michael Wilson vs. ATL
Michael Wilson has been one of the hottest names in Fantasy Football for weeks now, and with how high his production is you cannot just tie it to the absences of Marvin Harrison Jr. at this point. Since Week 11, Wilson has been targeted 18, 15, seven, 16, and 11 times with double-digit catches in three of those games. Wilson has produced 185, 118, 36, 142, and 54 with three touchdowns across the last two weeks. This has meant scores of 33.5, 21.8, 6.6, 37.2, 16.4 Fantasy Points, which has been an unreal run.
Wilson will face a Falcons defense in Week 16 that allows the eighth-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers. Marvin Harrison Jr. could be back this week, and while Wilson’s down game was the one MHJ played in, he has been doing things MHJ has never done in the NFL. FLEX Wilson.
Colby Parkinson vs. SEA
Colby Parkinson caught five of his seven targets for 75 yards and two touchdowns in Week 15 for 24.5 Fantasy Points, which marked all season-highs. Parkinson has been a touchdown monster since Week 10, scoring six across those six games. Parkinson has produced 14+ Fantasy Points in three times during this mentioned stretch of games as well. The increase in use from Week 15 could certainly have aligned with Davante Adams being out, who likely will miss Week 16 as well.
Parkinson will face a Seahawks defense in Week 16 that allows the sixth-most Fantasy PPG to tight ends. With the increase in role on top of the consistent touchdown upside, Parkinson is a strong play for Fantasy Football in Week 16.
Dallas Goedert vs. WSH
Dallas Goedert caught six of his seven targets for 70 yards and two touchdowns in Week 15 for 25 Fantasy Points. The game prior, Goedert caught eight of his 10 targets for 78 yards, which was 15.8 Fantasy Points. Goedert has definitely capitalized on his 17 targets across the last two weeks with consistent production. Goedert has finished with 15+ Fantasy Points five times this season, with three of those games being at 19+ Fantasy Points and two of them at 25+ points.
Goedert will face a Commanders defense in Week 16 that allows the fourth-most Fantasy PPG to tight ends and the fourth-most passing yards per game this season. Roll with the hot hand when looking for upside at tight end this week for Fantasy Football.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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