Fantasy football Week 16 sleepers: 11 streamers to target Joe Bond, Special for USA TODAY December 20, 2025 at 7:06 AM 0 Congrats on making it this far into your fantasy football season. Week 16 means the playoff semifinals, and only four teams in your league can say they got this far. The work is not done, though, and as usual, there are hurdles that make lineup decisions anything but easy. When setting your lineups, don't overlook players on waivers as potential leaguewinners.
- - Fantasy football Week 16 sleepers: 11 streamers to target
Joe Bond, Special for USA TODAY December 20, 2025 at 7:06 AM
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Congrats on making it this far into your fantasy football season.
Week 16 means the playoff semifinals, and only four teams in your league can say they got this far. The work is not done, though, and as usual, there are hurdles that make lineup decisions anything but easy.
When setting your lineups, don't overlook players on waivers as potential league-winners. Just last year, Ameer Abdullah caught fire at the end of the season and finished as RB10 over the final three weeks of the fantasy season (Weeks 15 through 17). In 2023, Joe Flacco was QB2 over that same stretch. This list goes on and on.
The point is, if you have a hole in your lineup, don't panic. There is likely someone available on waivers at this time of year who can be plugged in as a streamer and be the perfect sleeper to help you win.
These 10 players and defenses are the sleepers who can give you the edge you need:
QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: 334.5 fantasy points
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QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: 334.5 fantasy points
">QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: 334.5 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/63qayPJ class=caas-img>QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs: 285.7 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/yHcJ6w5 class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs: 285.7 fantasy points
">QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs: 285.7 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/yHcJ6w5 class=caas-img>QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots: 280.1 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/VJHmdcS class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots: 280.1 fantasy points
">QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots: 280.1 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/VJHmdcS class=caas-img>QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: 280.1 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/kbqlnVQ class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: 280.1 fantasy points
">QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: 280.1 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/kbqlnVQ class=caas-img>QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: 271.2 fantasy points
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QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: 271.2 fantasy points
">QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: 271.2 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/YfV8eKW class=caas-img>RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers: 344.2 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/UXzuAep class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers: 344.2 fantasy points
">RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers: 344.2 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/UXzuAep class=caas-img>RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: 322.1 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/GXMpR9g class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: 322.1 fantasy points
">RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: 322.1 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/GXMpR9g class=caas-img>RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions: 317.4 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/sL4C25c class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions: 317.4 fantasy points
">RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions: 317.4 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/sL4C25c class=caas-img>RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons: 293.8 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/JbK3EQM class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons: 293.8 fantasy points
">RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons: 293.8 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/JbK3EQM class=caas-img>RB De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins: 290.6 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/MFAUg29 class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
RB De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins: 290.6 fantasy points
">RB De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins: 290.6 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/MFAUg29 class=caas-img>WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks: 305.7 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/RJXVqwQ class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks: 305.7 fantasy points
">WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks: 305.7 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/RJXVqwQ class=caas-img>WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams: 286.8 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/C62qDSN class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams: 286.8 fantasy points
">WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams: 286.8 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/C62qDSN class=caas-img>WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: 274.9 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/hBlTJvr class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: 274.9 fantasy points
">WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: 274.9 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/hBlTJvr class=caas-img>WR George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys: 252.2 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/IjHgnRP class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
WR George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys: 252.2 fantasy points
">WR George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys: 252.2 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/IjHgnRP class=caas-img>WR Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals: 245.1 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/jptQgdy class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
WR Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals: 245.1 fantasy points
">WR Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals: 245.1 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/jptQgdy class=caas-img>TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals: 272.1 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/7yhpaSR class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals: 272.1 fantasy points
">TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals: 272.1 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/7yhpaSR class=caas-img>TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: 178.8 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/mnhywlz class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: 178.8 fantasy points
">TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: 178.8 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/mnhywlz class=caas-img>TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys: 170.5 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/K2q9wuH class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys: 170.5 fantasy points
">TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys: 170.5 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/K2q9wuH class=caas-img>TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: 176.7 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/f67cYat class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: 176.7 fantasy points
">TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: 176.7 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/f67cYat class=caas-img>TE Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts: 165.6 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/YuPmTMI class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
TE Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts: 165.6 fantasy points
">TE Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts: 165.6 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/YuPmTMI class=caas-img>K Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks: 171 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/LNu8Wxb class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
K Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks: 171 fantasy points
">K Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks: 171 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/LNu8Wxb class=caas-img>K Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys: 151.6 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/YQRpnFb class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
K Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys: 151.6 fantasy points
">K Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys: 151.6 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/YQRpnFb class=caas-img>K Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers: 141 fantasy points
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K Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers: 141 fantasy points
">K Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers: 141 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/VhGM8TB class=caas-img>K Ka'imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans: 133 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/c9m1hEk class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
K Ka'imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans: 133 fantasy points
">K Ka'imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans: 133 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/c9m1hEk class=caas-img>K Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 125 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/YxKVg2r class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
K Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 125 fantasy points
">K Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 125 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/YxKVg2r class=caas-img>Seattle Seahawks D/ST: 149 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/LR6pHgs class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
Seattle Seahawks D/ST: 149 fantasy points
">Seattle Seahawks D/ST: 149 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/LR6pHgs class=caas-img>Houston Texans D/ST: 127 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/kaOSzVD class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
Houston Texans D/ST: 127 fantasy points
">Houston Texans D/ST: 127 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/kaOSzVD class=caas-img>Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST: 118 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/z1ekOoi class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST: 118 fantasy points
">Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST: 118 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/z1ekOoi class=caas-img>Los Angeles Rams D/ST: 110 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/QDdEeso class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
Los Angeles Rams D/ST: 110 fantasy points
">Los Angeles Rams D/ST: 110 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/QDdEeso class=caas-img>Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST: 110 fantasy points
" data-src=https://ift.tt/NSw1XHT class=caas-img data-headline="The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats" data-caption="
Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST: 110 fantasy points
">Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST: 110 fantasy points
" src=https://ift.tt/NSw1XHT class=caas-img>
1 / 30The top 5 fantasy football scorers at each position in PPR formats
QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: 334.5 fantasy points
Fantasy football Week 16 quarterbacks to stream
*Streamers are players who are rostered in 50% or fewer of Yahoo! leagues.
Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Shough gets to face the New York Jets, the same team that just allowed Trevor Lawrence to have one of the greatest quarterback performances of all time.
Shough has been the QB12 since Week 10 by average points per game. His only dud game was in Week 12 against the Atlanta Falcons. Outside of that, he has put up 18.1 fantasy points or more.
Don't expect a Lawrence-type day, but Shough can be right in the mix to be a top-12 QB this week.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
It is hard to trust McCarthy following the abysmal few weeks he had after returning from injury. However, you can't ignore how well he has been for fantasy leagues the last two weeks, taking advantage of subpar defenses in the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders.
This week, he gets the New York Giants, who, on a fantasy points allowed per game basis, are fifth-worst this season.
Fantasy football Week 16 running backs to streamMichael Carter, Arizona Cardinals
Bam Knight is out for the rest of the season, so the Cardinals backfield is down to two, Michael Carter and Emari Demercado.
Last week, Knight left the game after just one carry, and Carter wound up playing 79% of the snaps and handling 70% of the carries. Demercado, on the other hand, played 11% of the snaps and handled 5% of the carries.
It will likely be a bit more of a shared backfield than that, but Carter appears to have jumped Demercado on the depth chart and is the one to trust.
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter (22) evades the tackle of Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross (20) during a game on Oct. 12, 2025.Audric Estime, New Orleans Saints
Keep an eye on Alvin Kamara's availability, as he is potentially returning this week (although he has not practiced as of Thursday). If he is not able to go, then Estime is the likely lead back for the Saints now that Devin Neal has been ruled out.
Evan Hull will be involved as well, so this is not a sure thing. However, a reminder that the Saints play the Jets, so even if it is a 60-40 split in favor of Estime over Hull, he can still do damage.
Emmanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers
Josh Jacobs has not practiced all week, and with the Packers playing on Saturday, that gives him a little less time to get ready. If Jacobs misses this game, Wilson would immediately jump to a high-end RB2 in rankings.
In case you forgot, the last game Jacobs did not play, Wilson ran 28 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
Fantasy football Week 16 wide receivers to streamJayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
Reed is tough to project each week because he is not on the field as often, due to playing primarily in the slot and only in three wide receiver sets. That said, Christian Watson is banged up, and even though it is looking like Watson will suit up, questions about how effective he will be still loom.
As mentioned earlier, Jacobs is also dealing with an injury, so the Packers could lean on Reed and Romeo Doubs more in the passing game to help keep the offense going in a very important divisional game.
Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets
Quarterback Brady Cook looked terrible last week, but at the very least, he looked Mitchell's way often.
This led to Mitchell seeing nine total targets. He caught six for just 58 yards but did score a touchdown. Expect a similar game script where the Jets get down and are forced to pass quite a bit, with Mitchell seeing most of those targets.
Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers
Coker did it again last week, out-targeting and out-producing Tetairoa McMillan. It seems as though teams are focusing on stopping McMillan, which is giving Coker a lot more space to operate.
Coker does not have the ceiling that the other streamer options have, but if you need a safer play, this is the way to go.
Fantasy football Week 16 tight ends to streamOronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers
Gadsden appears to be bouncing back after a few down weeks. Last week, he had his best game in five weeks, catching four of five targets for 61 yards. This came against the Kansas City Chiefs, who are one of the best defenses against tight ends.
This week, he gets to face the Dallas Cowboys, who are more middle-of-the-road against tight ends in terms of fantasy points allowed. However, they rank 25th in DVOA against the position and have been one of the worst overall defenses in the NFL.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills
Knox is an interesting case. On the depth chart, he is the backup to Dalton Kincaid. However, over the last two weeks, Knox has been on the field almost twice as much.
He is running fewer routes but is actually seeing more targets. He has more receptions and yards. On top of that, he has scored twice, both coming last game, compared to Kincaid's one score.
That type of production makes him an intriguing streamer on its own. Add in the fact that Kincaid may not play due to a knee injury, and if that happens, Knox jumps into the TE1 conversation for the week.
Fantasy football Week 16 defenses to streamNew Orleans Saints
By now, you know the Saints are playing the Jets, who are starting third-string quarterback Brady Cook.
In the two games Cook has played this season, he has thrown five interceptions, taken nine sacks, and thrown just one touchdown. One of those games came against the Miami Dolphins defense, which has been largely ineffective this season.
If the Dolphins defense, which ranks among the worst in DVOA, can have that kind of game against the Jets, the Saints should be able to as well.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football top Week 16 sleepers, rankings at every position
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: December 20, 2025 at 01:27AM on Source: ANDY MAG
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