Faux Football Preview - Week 16
Chew previews Week 16 in the NFL with some redraft and dynasty fantasy advice.
Week 15 is behind us, and we enter Week 16, in the thick of the fantasy playoffs or left licking our wounds and focused on 2026. There were surprise boom weeks from Kirk Cousins, Tyrone Tracy, D.J. Moore, and Kyle Pitts; however, there were duds from Joe Burrow, Kenneth Walker, Justin Jefferson (again), and Tyler Warren. Let’s look ahead to a healthy, fantasy-point-filled Week 16.
Check out last week’s preview here to see how things shook out. As a reminder, both redraft and dynasty are considered in this weekly roundup, so without further ado, let’s get to it.
DYNASTY BUY/SELL
Once the NFL season starts, the dynasty mindset can take a backseat to the redraft mindset. Each week, I will highlight two players to buy and two players to sell in dynasty, providing examples for each. As always, the trades are taken from the dynasty-daddy.com trade database.
Buy #1 - RICKY PEARSALL
In an injury-riddled sophomore season, Ricky Pearsall showed signs of fantasy life in Week 15. Brock Purdy was dealing and nearly eclipsed 100 yards for the first time since Week 3. Unfortunately for Pearsall’s 2025 season, he reaggravated a knee injury that leaves his fantasy playoff chances in doubt. But this is a dynasty buy, and with Purdy under contract and Pearsall healing up throughout the offseason, I am optimistic about Pearsall’s fantasy prospects in 2026. With doubt surrounding Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings’ place on the 49ers roster, Pearsall is poised to be a pivotal piece in this high-powered offense.
Trade #1: Ricky Pearsall ←→ Stefon Diggs + ‘26 3rd
Trade #2: Ricky Pearsall + Daniel Jones ←→ Tyler Shough
Sell #1 - KYLE PITTS
No Drake London and a seasoned Kirk Cousins is the setting for a career fantasy performance for Kyle Pitts in Week 15. Whether or not London returns, Pitts showed what can happen when he is healthy and uses his athleticism to churn yards with a meaningful target share. Oh, and be a red zone demon, scoring three touchdowns. Pitts’ 2025 season has been fairly ho-hum until this point, but Pitts is doing all he can to boost his value in a contract year. This booming Week 15 performance is certainly not sustainable, and who knows whether Pitts will remain in Atlanta in 2026? Regardless, Pitts’ athleticism will keep him fantasy-relevant for years to come, but I would take this opportunity to sell a dynasty manager on the enigma that is Kyle Pitts.
Trade #1: Kyle Pitts ←→ ‘26 1st + Alec Pierce
Trade #2: Kyle Pitts + Wan’Dale Robinson + Woody Marks + Mike Evans + ‘26 2nd ←→ Brenton Strange + Tucker Kraft + Cam Skattebo
Buy #2 - COLBY PARKINSON
Okay, so I was a year too soon on the Colby Parkinson fantasy relevance. When the Rams signed Parkinson to a solid deal in free agency ahead of the 2024 season, I expected him to be the heir-apparent to Matthew Stafford’s trusted target, Tyler Higbee. While that didn’t quite happen in 2024, it seems to have hit in 2025 despite the drafting of the uber-athletic Terrance Ferguson. Parkinson is a solid blocker and boasts a big frame to serve as a tantalising red zone option. I do expect Ferguson to be brought along as he was considered a more raw tight end prospect, but Parkinson has shown his value as an all-around tight end that warrants snaps.
Trade #1: Colby Parkinson + ‘26 2nd ←→ Kenneth Gainwell
Trade #2: Colby Parkinson ←→ ‘26 3rd
Sell #2 - TYRONE TRACY
I am forever a sucker for a converted receiver-turned-running back, and that includes Tyrone Tracy. Week 15 saw Tracy put up his best fantasy performance of 2025, with two touchdowns against the division-rival Commanders. As it pains me to say, Tracy’s value is limited to 2025, as a healthy Cam Skattebo would likely bump the former to a complementary option. Selling Tracy now is taking advantage of a big Week 15 performance and getting ahead of the dip in value come Week 1 of the 2026 season. Tracy could very well help a fellow dynasty manager for the rest of the 2025 fantasy playoffs, but now is the time to sell.
Trade #1: Tyrone Tracy + Jordan Whittington + ‘27 3rd ←→ J.K. Dobbins + ‘27 2nd
Trade #2: Tyrone Tracy ←→ ‘26 3rd + ‘27 4th
HANDCUFF HIERARCHY
The running back position can be one of frustration in fantasy as we scour the bench and waiver wire to fill in when injuries and bye weeks strike. But since we are just now getting started with the NFL season, here is a look at the various tiers for all 32 backup running backs. As the season progresses, we will see players rise and fall amongst the tiers, so stay tuned!
*This list only includes each team’s RB-2; thus, if the RB-1 is injured, then the RB-3 will take the place of the RB-2 on this list.
STANDALONE VALUE
These players have flex appeal even with the RB-1 being healthy in Week 16.
David Montgomery continues to play second-fiddle to Jahmyr Gibbs, but the former offers weekly touchdown upside.
Jordan Mason, Emari Demercado and Rhamondre Stevenson have seen their playtime fluctuate due to injury and game flow, but they remain threats to put up a double-digit fantasy performance. The likelihood, however, is minimal as their respective rushing attacks are nothing to write home about.
Kyle Monangai, Chuba Hubbard, and Kenneth Gainwell continue to get a near-even split of their team’s backfield snaps, with varied weekly results. Monangai and Hubbard do the bulk of their damage on the ground, while Gainwell does a bit of everything as a premier flex option.
Rachaad White, Tyler Allgeier, Kimani Vidal, and Blake Corum are working squarely behind their respective RB-1s, but each of the four backs has had their weeks to shine. Corum is particularly interesting as the Rams’ backfield alternates drives.
SPOT STARTER
The initial RB-1 is injured, and everyone moves up the depth chart, or the player has a specific role.
None of the above options gets enough touches or is not productive enough to confidently plug into starting fantasy lineups in the fantasy playoffs, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Zach Charbonnet has weekly touchdown upside in what is an underwhelming Seattle rushing attack.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt filled in well for the injured Chris Rodriguez; however, I am assuming C-Rod returns in Week 16. JCM’s value is limited to supplementing what Rodriguez does instead of eating into what Jeremy McNichols does as a compliment.
In recent weeks, Tony Pollard has flashed big production in losing efforts, which has eaten into Tyjae Spears’ touches.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
If you are in a DEEP league, these are the rest of the bunch that you’re forced to pick from for Week 16.
This group is completely overshadowed by a bellcow back or limited by a woeful offense.
TIGHT END STREAMERS
Of all the fantasy-relevant positions, it’s the tight end that is my favorite to stream. If you were not fortunate enough to get one of the top few tight ends, it can be a futile process to find fantasy points at the tight end position. Here are three tight ends ranked outside the top 12 who are stream-worthy in Week 16.
A Look Back At Week 14 (If Top-12 ✅)
Theo Johnson → 2.9 points ❌
Hunter Henry → 15.8 points ❌
Juwan Johnson → 12.2 points ❌
Week 15
ORONDE GADSDEN v. DAL
Since his trio of consecutive top-12 fantasy performances beginning in Week 7, Oronde Gadsden has primarily been outside of the top-20. Gadsden’s snap share has dipped over the past few weeks; however, Week 15 was somewhat of a resurgence, finishing as the TE-15. Week 16 offers a good opportunity for Gadsden to climb back into the top-12, which would likely require him pulling down his third touchdown on the season. Dalton Kincaid is a prime example of a player who can maximize fantasy production despite a near 50% snap share, but Gadsden is still searching for consistency in his rookie year.
JAKE FERGUSON v. LAC
Now we go to Gadsden’s opposing tight end in Week 16, Jake Ferguson. Since the Cowboys’ receiving corps has returned to full strength, Ferguson’s touchdowns have all but evaporated. Fortunately for Ferguson, he plays in a pass-heavy offense that normally gets him sixxxxxxx-to-sevennnnnnn targets, save for Week 15. The matchup against the Chargers is not necessarily a fantasy-friendly one for tight ends, but I am looking for a bounce-back performance for Ferguson as the Cowboys hang on to their incredibly slim playoff chances.
MARK ANDREWS v. NE
It is anyone’s guess when Mark Andrews is going to have a good week in fantasy, as this Ravens’ offense has not been as productive as in seasons past. Week 16 could be that good fantasy week for Andrews, as the Ravens host the Patriots, the latter of whom just gave up two touchdowns to Dawson Knox. Andrews is not the tight end to produce in fantasy because of target volume, so I am left to wishcast at least one touchdown in Week 16. As my hit rate has told me through the 2025 season, these types of decisions are essentially coin flips, so tails never fails!
So you made it this far, and hopefully you enjoyed it (that’s what she said). If you wouldn’t mind sharing this in your group message with your fellow fantasy football degenerates, I would greatly appreciate it!
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