Fantasy Football Positional Power Rankings Week 16

Sportz Nation Staff
Dec 18, 2025
4 min read

by Zak Drapeau, Matt Hylen, and Joseph McLaughlin

12/18/2025

Sportz Nation

Quarterbacks

(Zak Drapeau)

Photo by Chris Szagola/ Associated Press

Josh Allen at CLE
Jalen Hurts at WAS
Jacoby Brissett vs ATL
Joe Burrow at MIA
Justin Herbert at DAL
Drake Maye at BAL
Lamar Jackson vs NE
Dak Prescott at LAC
C.J. Stroud vs LV
Baker Mayfield at CAR
Jared Goff vs PIT
Bo Nix vs JAX
Jaxson Dart vs MIN
Matthew Stafford at SEA
Tyler Shough vs NYJ

Jalen Hurts was very close to making his debut atop the list, but in the end, it's hard to argue against Josh Allen.

Lamar Jackson continues to fall down the list ahead of a matchup with New England, much like Dak as he travels to meet the Chargers.

After a great weekend, C.J. Stroud enters the Top 10, and even more surprising is Jacoby Brissett's placement at #3 after two months of consistent scoring.

My final note is that it has been so good to see rookie Tyler Shough doing really well in New Orleans, and with a home game against the Jets up next, I'm excited to see how the rookie looks.

Running Backs

(Matt Hylen)

Johnathan Taylor vs SF
De'Von Achane vs CIN
Christian McCaffrey at IND
Bijan Robinson at ARI
Jahmyr Gibbs vs PIT
James Cook at CLE
Bucky Irving at CAR
Josh Jacobs at CHI
Saquon Barkley at WAS
Derrick Henry vs NE
Chase Brown at MIA
Tre'Veyon Henderson at BAL
Breece Hall at NO
Kyren Williams at SEA
Quinshon Judkins vs BUF

With week two of the fantasy football playoffs coming up, let's take a look at how the top RBs are shaping up. Starting off at the top, I have my first tier of RBs ranging from 1-4. Though Taylor comes out as the number one ranked RB for me this week, I still think Achane, McCaffrey, and Robinson can have explosive production with the favorable matchups they will get this week.

My tier two of players ranges from 5-7. A smaller tier, but I believe these three players possess more potential than the tiers below them, with matchups tougher than the tier above them. Gibbs, Cook, and Irving can all explode onto the scene and provide elite RB1 numbers, but their matchups make me a little wary of putting them into that top tier this week.

My third tier ranges from the 8-12 slots. From Jacobs to Henderson and those in between, I feel as though all of these RBs are in similar positions. TDs will be the name of the game for these players, otherwise we may just see moderate RB1 numbers.

My fourth and final tier is the remaining 13-15 slots. Hall, Williams, and Judkins can all still produce RB1 numbers this week, but Hall and Williams' matchups along with Judkins' offense lower their ceilings a bit. When it comes to the playoffs, tough decisions have to be made, so be on the lookout for players in this tier and those who just missed out on the rankings (i.e. R.J. Harvey, Ashton Jeanty, Javonte Williams, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Travis Etienne)

Wide Receivers

(Joseph McLaughlin)

Amon-Ra St. Brown vs PIT
Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs LAR
Puka Nacua at SEA
Ja'Marr Chase at MIA
Drake London Q at ARI
Rashee Rice Q at TEN
A.J. Brown at WSH
CeeDee Lamb Q vs LAC
Nico Collins vs LV
Jameson Williams vs PIT
Justin Jefferson at NYG
Chris Olave vs NYJ
Marvin Harrison Jr. Q vs ATL
George Pickens vs LAC
Tee Higgins Q at MIA

St. Brown takes the top spot this week over Nacua due to an easier matchup with the Steelers compared to the Seahawks. However, five names on this list are listed as questionable for Sunday.

London is expected to make his return this week after suffering a PCL sprain against the Panthers in Week 11. Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris is optimistic that London will be back to face the Cardinals.

Rice did not practice with the Chiefs on Wednesday due to a concussion, but is still expected to return this week. His production numbers are likely to fall for the remainder of the season after Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL against the Chargers last Sunday.

Lamb did not practice with the Cowboys due to an illness, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of alldallas.com. He has two more chances to practice with the Cowboys this week before the weekend, but he is expected to be good to go on Sunday.

Harrison Jr. looks to return from a heel injury this week. The injury kept the Cardinals' wide receiver off the field for the last two games. If he is not ready to go, look for Michael Wilson to lead the Arizona receivers in production.

Higgins remains in concussion protocol after sitting out of Sunday's loss to Baltimore. The Bengals' wide receiver was limited at practice on Wednesday, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. His status will be worth monitoring for the rest of the week as he looks to get cleared to play.

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Tight Ends

(Zak Drapeau)

Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck/ Imagn Images

Trey McBride vs ATL
Kyle Pitts at ARI
Darren Waller vs CIN
George Kittle at IND
Dallas Goedert at WAS
Brock Bowers at HOU
Travis Kelce at TEN
Dalton Schultz vs LV
Juwan Johnson vs NYJ
Tyler Warren vs SF
Theo Johnson vs MIN
Harold Fannin jr. vs BUF
Dalton Kincaid at CLE
Colby Parkinson at SEA
Hunter Henry at BAL

Plenty of people have moved around on this list this week, including Colby Parkinson, who makes his debut.

On the opposite end of the movements are Brock Bowers because of his matchup, and Tyler Warren and Travis Kelce because of their quarterbacks.

After stellar performances last week, Kyle Pitts moves all the way to #2 with his matchup against the Cardinals, and Darren Waller to #3 going against Cincinnati.

Most of the middle of this list is the same, with names like Dalton Schultz and Brock Bowers having the most potential to outperform their predictions.

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