Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Date/Time: Sunday December 26, 4:25pm ET
BettingPros Consensus Spread: Raiders -1
BettingPros Consensus Over/Under: 41.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Raiders 21.25, Broncos 20.25

Quarterbacks

Drew Lock: Teddy Bridgewater was carted off the field with a scary-looking concussion last Sunday in a loss to the Bengals, so Lock will start at quarterback when the Broncos visit Las Vegas this weekend. Lock completed 6 of 12 passes for 88 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in relief of Bridgewater. He had a nice 25-yard TD pass to Tim Patrick for Denver’s only touchdown of the game, but he also committed an egregious fumble deep in Bengals territory in a close game. The error-prone Lock isn’t someone you want in your lineup for a fantasy playoff game, even in a favorable matchup vs. the Raiders.

Derek Carr: TE Darren Waller has missed three games with an iliotibial band injury, and in those three games Carr has averaged 249.3 yards and thrown only two TD passes. Before the Waller injury, Carr was averaging 310.4 passing yards a game and had thrown 17 TD passes in 11 games. Waller’s status for Week 16 isn’t clear yet. If he’s able to play, Carr will be a decent option against a good Denver pass defense. Carr threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns when he played the Broncos in Week 6. If Waller can’t go this week, you might want to find another option at quarterback.

Running Backs

Javonte Williams: Williams out-snapped Melvin Gordon 44-31 in the Broncos’ 15-10 loss to the Bengals last week, but both Denver backs had 15 carries. Williams had a fantastic game against the Chiefs in Week 13 when Gordon was sidelined with injuries, rushing for 102 yards and adding 76 receiving yards and a TD catch. But Williams has been productive with Gordon around, too. In the last three games that Williams has played with Gordon, Williams has rolled up 199 rushing yards, 76 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. He’s a mid-range RB2 this week against a Raiders defense that’s given up the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs.

Melvin Gordon: In his last three games, Gordon has gotten carry totals befitting a workhorse rather than a committee back, but his usage in the passing game has dried up. During that three-game stretch, Gordon has produced 56-247-2 rushing, but he’s seen only three targets and has caught two passes for 13 yards. It’s not that Gordon had been a prolific pass catcher earlier in the season, but he had at least two catches in eight of his first 10 games. The overall outlook here is still positive, as Gordon is getting ample carries and has scored seven touchdowns over his last seven games. Like his tag-team partner Javonte Williams, Gordon profiles as a mid-range RB2 in a favorable matchup against the Raiders.

Josh Jacobs: We’ve mentioned in recent editions of The Primer that Jacobs has seen a big jump in his passing-game usage, which has raised his weekly floor. That trend continues. Over his last three games, Jacobs has nearly as many receiving yards (126) as rushing yards (128). The problem is that Jacobs has only exceeded 52 rushing yards in one of his last six games. He’s scored only two touchdowns in his last seven games, and Jacobs will be facing a Denver defense that’s only allowed seven TD runs all season. Jacobs is a mid-range RB2 this week.

Wide Receivers

Jerry Jeudy: Jeudy has played eight games this season and still hasn’t found the end zone. He’s coming off his worst game of the season – a zero-catch skunking against the Bengals last Sunday. In Week 16, Jeudy will be working with backup quarterback Drew Lock. Jeudy is a talented receiver, but this has turned into a lost season. He’s only the WR44 this week and not a recommended fantasy play.

Courtland Sutton: Sutton’s seven targets against the Bengals in Week 15 were the most he’d seen in a game since Week 6. Alas, he caught just two of those targets for 12 yards. Over his last six games, Sutton has averaged 15.2 receiving yards. He’s unplayable for fantasy.

Tim Patrick: Patrick hauled in a 25-yard TD pass from Drew Lock last week, but we probably shouldn’t interpret that as a sign of special chemistry between Lock and Patrick. There are a lot of capable pass catchers on the Broncos, and Lock isn’t the sort of quarterback who can make multiple pass catchers fantasy-relevant. Patrick is a low-end WR5 this week.

Hunter Renfrow: After turning in three straight 100-yard games, Renfrow fell back down to Earth with a 3-32-0 game against the Browns on Monday. Renfrow draws a tricky individual matchup against Broncos slot corner Bryce Callahan in Week 16, but Derek Carr‘s bread-and-butter receiver is still a must-start in your fantasy playoff matchups. He’s a mid-range WR2 this week.

Tight Ends

Noah Fant: Fant has consistently been getting 3-5 catches a game, but he hasn’t scored a touchdown or topped 59 yards in a game since mid-October. It seems unlikely we’ll get a spike game from him this week with Drew Lock at quarterback from the Broncos, and it’s possible Lock will favor his former college teammate at Missouri, TE Albert Okwuegbunam. It’s worth noting, however, that Lock targeted his tight ends on 5 of 12 pass attempts after he came in for the injured Teddy Bridgewater last Sunday. Fant checks in at TE13.

Albert Okwuegbunam: Broncos QB Drew Lock, who’ll be starting in place of the injured Teddy Bridgewater this week, played with Okwuegbunam at the University of Missouri. Last week against the Bengals, Lock’s first pass of the second half was a 24-yard completion to Okwuegbunam. Lock isn’t likely to make Albert O. a Week 16 hero, but Okwuegbunam is an intriguing mid-range TE2 this week against a Las Vegas defense that’s giving up a league-high 12.5 fantasy points per game to tight ends.

Darren Waller: It’s not clear whether Waller will be able to return from an iliotibial band injury that’s kept him out of action for three games. If he’s able to go, he’ll be a mid-range TE1 against a Denver defense that’s been tough on tight ends.

Foster Moreau: In his first two games starting in place of the injured Waller, Moreau had 4-47-0 receiving. Against the Browns on Monday, Moreau saw nine targets and finished with 7-65-0 against the Browns. This latest performance rekindled hope that Moreau might be a viable streaming option at tight end if Waller continues to miss time. If Waller is out again, Moreau will be a mid-range TE2 in a tough matchup against the Broncos.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Date/Time: Sunday December 26, 4:25pm ET
BettingPros Consensus Spread: Chiefs -7.5
BettingPros Consensus Over/Under: 44 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Chiefs 25.75, Steelers 18.25

Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger: Entering Week 15, Roethlisberger had attempted 40 or more passes on seven different occasions this season, and he was facing a pass-funnel Titans defense. It seemed like a great spot for Big Ben, but the Steelers only ran 45 offensive plays against the Titans in a 19-13 Pittsburgh win, and Roethlisberger threw only 25 passes. He finished with a season-low 148 passing yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions. Roethlisberger gets a tough matchup this week against a Chiefs defense that’s gotten stronger over the course of the season, but the elevated shootout prospects make Big Ben a mid-range QB2.

Patrick Mahomes: We don’t know whether Mahomes and the Chiefs will have TE Travis Kelce for this week, but WR Tyreek Hill came off the COVID-19 list on Saturday, which helps Mahomes’ outlook immensely. Mahomes has had an erratic year, but he was magnificent down the stretch last week in the Chiefs’ 34-28 overtime victory over the Chargers. He threw for 410 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, with all three TD passes coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. Mahomes is a top-five QB option against the Steelers.

Running Backs

Najee Harris: Harris had his least productive game of the season at an inopportune time, with 12-18-0 rushing and 2-8-0 receiving against the Titans in Week 15. It was a performance that no doubt cost a lot of Harris stakeholders their playoff games. Blame it on a Pittsburgh offensive line that simply couldn’t move the Titans’ defensive front off the ball. Tennessee has one of the better run defenses in the league, and the Steelers’ offensive line ranks 31st in adjusted line yards, the run-blocking metric created by Football Outsiders. Harris has been quite dependable for most of his rookie season, ranking RB6 in fantasy scoring. Even after last week’s hiccup, he’s the RB7 this week vs. the Chiefs.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire: After CEH ran for a pair of touchdowns against the Raiders in Week 14, there was optimism about his prospects against a bad Chargers run defense in Week 15. But Edwards-Helaire let his investors down with 9-32-0 rushing and 2-18-0 in what had looked like a smash matchup. CEH gets another great matchup this week against a porous Pittsburgh run defense that gave up 108 rushing yards to the Titans’ D’Onta Foreman last week and 205 rushing yards and two TDs to the Vikings’ Dalvin Cook the week before. Edwards-Helaire hasn’t earned our complete faith, but with a great matchup and a lot of ambiguity at the RB position this week, Edwards-Helaire lands at RB11 in the rankings.

Darrel Williams: Williams has gotten five or fewer carries in each of his last four games, but the Chiefs have a terrific running-game matchup against the Steelers this week, and Williams has provided value as a pass-catcher this season, with 38-373-2 receiving. He’s a low-end RB3.

Wide Receivers

Diontae Johnson: Consistent target volume is Johnson’s calling card, but he saw only five targets against the Titans last week and finished with 5-38-0 in a 19-13 Steelers victory. Consider it a bump in the road for an alpha receiver who’s averaged 10.4 targets, 6.6 catches, and 79.1 receiving yards a game in 2021. Johnson is a low-end WR1 this week vs. the Chiefs.

Chase Claypool: Claypool has incurred the wrath of the Steelers’ coaching staff in recent weeks, and it’s cost him playing time. In Week 14, his taunting of a Minnesota defender drew a flag, and he later wasted time celebrating a first down in the final minute of regulation while the Steelers were running the hurry-up offense to try to tie the game. Last week, he reportedly got into an argument with an assistant coach during Pittsburgh’s 19-13 win over Tennessee, which might have been why Claypool played fewer snaps than Steelers WR Ray-Ray McCloud. Claypool’s snap shares over the Steelers’ last three games: 63%, 59%, and 63%. The second-year receiver is immensely talented, but his already-risky production profile is even riskier now that his playing time is in jeopardy. Claypool is a dicey low-end WR3 this week against the Chiefs.

Tyreek Hill: Hill landed on the COVID-19 list this week but was cleared on Saturday. Hill is coming off a sublime 12-140-1 performance against the Chargers and is a top-five fantasy receiver this week against the Steelers.

Tight Ends

Pat Freiermuth: In Week 15, Freiermuth sustained his second concussion in a month, making him doubtful for Week 16. If he were able to clear the concussion protocol, he’d be a low-end TE1. If Freiermuth is out for Week 16, Zach Gentry would be Pittsburgh’s top tight end since Eric Ebron is still recovering from a torn meniscus. With 11 career catches, Gentry wouldn’t be a viable fantasy option.

Travis Kelce: Kelce won a lot of fantasy playoff games for a lot of people last week, turning in a season-best 10-191-2 performance against the Chargers. Kelce got off to a slow start in that game but caught fire after Chargers safety Derwin James left with a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, Kelce is currently on the COVID-19 list, and it’s unknown whether he’ll come off in time for the Chiefs’ Week 16 game against the Steelers. If he does, you’re playing him. If he doesn’t, you’re scrambling.

Washington Football Team vs. Dallas Cowboys

Date/Time: Sunday December 26, 8:20pm ET
BettingPros Consensus Spread: Cowboys -10.5
BettingPros Consensus Over/Under: 47.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Cowboys 29, Washington 18.5

Quarterbacks

Taylor Heinicke: Heinicke spent Week 15 on the COVID-19 list but should come off in time for Washington’s second game against Dallas in two weeks. In his Week 14 meeting with the Cowboys, Heinicke completed 11 of 25 passes for 122 yards. He threw one TD pass, had one interception, and was sacked four times. The Dallas defense has been terrific, and Heinicke hasn’t had a good game since Week 11. Heinicke lands outside the top 25 quarterbacks this week and should be avoided.

Dak Prescott: Over the last five weeks, Prescott is the QB17 despite averaging 41.2 pass attempts per game. He’s thrown five TD passes and five interceptions in his last five games, averaging just 6.1 yards per pass attempt over that span. As noted by Dallas Cowboys insider Bobby Belt on Twitter, Dak has had 17 career games in which he’s averaged under 6.0 yards per attempt, and five of those games have occurred since the start of November. So what’s going on? Well, the Dallas offense has been seeing more of the two-high safety looks that vexed the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and some other QBs earlier in the season. Dak’s ball placement had been off, too – he’s simply missing receivers. Dak is too good to stay down for long, but even a seemingly favorable matchup against Washington isn’t that encouraging, because Dak just faced the Football Team in Week 14 and threw for 211 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, averaging 5.4 yards per attempt. He’s the QB11 this week and a riskier play than usual.

Running Backs

Antonio Gibson: The Gibson news in the wake of Week 15 is a mixed bag. The bad news is that he sustained a toe injury that had him in and out of Washington’s 27-17 loss to Philadelphia, and that he could only muster 26 rushing yards on 15 carries. The good news is that Gibson was getting workhorse treatment, with 15 carries and six catches on 43 snaps, and that he scored a goal-line touchdown. The toe injury is certainly a concern, especially when Gibson has already been dealing with a stress fracture in his shin for most of the season. But J.D. McKissic has been placed on IR, so as long as Gibson can answer the bell, he should get plenty of work. This week he gets a rematch against a Dallas defense that held him to 10-36-0 rushing and 2-5-0 receiving in Week 14. But with the prospect of a heavy workload, Gibson is the RB12 this week.

Ezekiel Elliott: Since Halloween, Zeke hasn’t had more than 52 rushing yards in any game, and he’s averaged 3.4 yards per carry over that eight-game stretch. Elliott has averaged 20.0 receiving yards a game over that span, and the receiving production helps raise his weekly floor, but if he doesn’t get into the end zone in a given week, you’re probably going to be disappointed with the overall results. Tony Pollard returned from a plantar fascia injury last week, and with Pollard around to steal snaps, Zeke’s ceiling is lowered even more. Consider Elliott a high-end RB2 this week against a Washington defense that held him to 12-45-0 rushing in Week 14.

Tony Pollard: Pollard missed Week 14 with a torn plantar fascia but was back in Week 15, playing 29 snaps and collecting 12-74-0 rushing and 3-13-0 receiving in the Cowboys’ 21-6 win over the Giants. With Pollard looking unaffected by the injury, we have to assume that he maintains his usual value as a high-end backup. He’s the RB35 this week against Washington.

Wide Receivers

Terry McLaurin: Another week, another frustrating result for McLaurin investors. With a COVID-19 outbreak among the Washington quarterbacks forcing the Football Team to start third-stringer Garrett Gilbert against the Eagles in Week 15, McLaurin had 2-51-0 on four targets. McLaurin has produced 60 or fewer receiving yards in six of his last seven games, and he’s scored just one touchdown over that stretch. McLaurin’s immense talent keeps tempting us to use him even when the numbers say we should probably stay away. McLaurin is a low-end WR2 this week in a matchup against the Cowboys and CB Trevon Diggs.

CeeDee Lamb: Lamb is consistently getting target and reception volume, but the touchdowns gave dried up lately, and it’s been a while since we’ve gotten a 100-yard game out of him. He’s averaging 8.4 targets a game, and he’s had six or more catches in four of his last five outings. But Lamb has gone four games without a touchdown, and his last 100-yard day was on Halloween. This week, Lamb gets a rematch against Washington, which held him to 7-61-0 in Week 14. Lamb checks in at WR8 in this week’s rankings.

Amari Cooper: Cooper is coming off his worst game of the season, a 2-8-0 performance against the Giants. While the Cowboys’ passing game has fallen into a funk, Cooper finds himself mired in a slump. Over his last five games, he’s averaging 4.6 targets, 3.0 catches, and 37.6 yards per game, with one touchdown over that span. Cooper’s talent demands that he at least be kept in consideration for a lineup spot in your Week 16 fantasy matchup, but at WR32 this week, he’ll be a tough start/sit call for a lot of fantasy managers.

Michael Gallup: In the six games he’s played since his return from a calf injury, Gallup has averaged 8.5 fantasy points, with 26-320-1 receiving. He drew only five targets last week against the Giants and finished with 3-32-0, but he had drawn at least eight targets in each of his four previous games. Consider Gallup a back-end WR3 this week.

Tight Ends

Ricky Seals-Jones: Seals-Jones saw seven targets in Washington’s Week 15 loss to Philadelphia and finished with 4-29-0. He has 28-267-2 in 11 games this season, and his target outlook is enhanced with Logan Thomas on IR. Still, RSJ is merely a low-end TE2.

Dalton Schultz: Schultz faces Washington this week, and when he went up against the Football Team in Week 14, he was held to just one catch for four yards. Schultz bounced back in Week 15, catching all eight of his targets for 67 yards and a touchdown. It was his highest yardage total since Week 6. With the Cowboys’ top three receivers all healthy, his ceiling games won’t be as frequent as they were earlier in the year when Michael Gallup was out with a calf injury, but Schultz is still a mid-range TE1.

Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints

Date/Time: Monday December 27, 8:15pm ET
BettingPros Consensus Spread: Titans -3
BettingPros Consensus Over/Under: 38.5 points
Implied Vegas point totals: Titans 20.75, Steelers 17.75

Quarterbacks

Tua Tagovailoa: Tua didn’t have a very good game against the Jets last week, throwing two interceptions and misfiring on some other throws. He threw for 196 and two touchdowns, however, and the Jets came away with a 31-24 win. It wasn’t exactly the sort of game that inspires confidence in Tua’s stakeholders, and this week he’ll face a Saints defense that terrorized the Buccaneers’ Tom Brady last week, sacking him four times and harassing him throughout the game. But if the Miami offensive line can keep the New Orleans pass rush at bay, Tua might be able to do some damage. The Saints are giving up 19.9 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, the second-highest total in the league. And Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle is expected to come off the COVID-19 list after missing Week 15. Tua lands at QB16 in this week’s rankings.

Taysom Hill: Hill has been placed on the COVID-19 list and will not play against the Dolphins on Monday.

Ian Book: With Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian both on the COVID-19 list, Book is expected to make the start against the Dolphins on Monday night. A marginal NFL prospect from Notre Dame whom the Saints drafted in the fourth round, Book is vaguely similar to Hill in that he’s not an NFL-caliber passer but is an aggressive runner. With Book’s lack of experience, his first NFL start probably isn’t going to look pretty, but his running ability could conceivably give him low-end QB2 value or better.

Running Backs

Duke Johnson: The Dolphins threw a changeup at us in Week 15 by giving Duke Johnson the start at running back and having him operate as their lead back throughout the game. Perhaps motivated by playing in Miami, where he’d played his college ball for the University of Miami Hurricanes, Johnson rolled up 22-107-2 rushing against the Jets and caught one pass for 20 yards. But there are a couple of reasons to approach Johnson with caution in Week 16. First, it’s hard to tell whether Johnson will continue to play a leading role or fall into a time-share with Myles Gaskin, who had been the starter until last week. Gaskin had just come off the COVID-19 list two days before Johnson’s big day, and maybe that had something to do with Gaskin’s lesser role. Second, Johnson shredded a bad Jets defense. This week, he’ll face a Saints run defense that ranks first in DVOA and is giving up a league-low 14.4 fantasy points per game to running backs. Caution is advised here. We have Johnson ranked as a low-end RB3.

Myles Gaskin: Gaskin unexpectedly played behind Duke Johnson last week, and Johnson had a big day. Gaskin chimed in with 10-54-0 rushing, although he wasn’t targeted in the passing game. Will Johnson continue to play a lead role, or will he split work more evenly with Gaskin this week? With an ambiguous role and a tough Week 16 matchup against the Saints, Gaskin is merely a mid-range RB4.

Alvin Kamara: When Kamara returned from a knee injury in Week 14, he trampled the Jets for 27-120-1 rushing and 4-25-0 receiving. Things weren’t as sunny in Week 15, with Kamara totaling 11-18-0 rushing and 2-13-0 receiving in a much tougher matchup against the Buccaneers. It’s hardly optimal for Kamara investors that Ian Book will be starting at quarterback for the Saints on Monday night, but then again, Taysom Hill at quarterback wasn’t an optimal setup either. You’re using Kamara regardless. He’s the RB5 this week vs. a middling Miami run defense.

Wide Receivers

Jaylen Waddle: Waddle spent Week 15 on the COVID-19 list but is expected to return for a Week 16 matchup against a Saints defense that’s had trouble covering slot receivers. Saints slot corner C.J. Gardner-Johnson has yielded a 69% catch rate and is giving up 1.4 yards per route into his coverage. Over his last three games, Waddle has 26-292-1 on 30 targets. Regard him as a mid-range WR2.

DeVante Parker: Jaylen Waddle‘s Week 15 absence didn’t lead to a target bonanza for Parker, but he still paid off for his fantasy investors, producing 4-68-1 on eight targets in Miami’s 31-24 win over the Jets. Waddle is expected to come off the COVID-19 list, and he’ll get the easier individual matchup, while Parker will probably see a lot of the Saints’ best cornerback, Marshon Lattimore. Parker checks in at WR28 this week.

Marquez Callaway: Callaway was the main man in the New Orleans passing game last week, with 6-112-0 on nine targets. Taysom Hill attempted only 27 passes in the Saints’ 9-0 win over the Buccaneers, so Callaway had a commanding 33.3% target share. Before his Week 15 eruption, Callaway had produced 37 or fewer receiving yards in eight straight games. With Ian Book getting the start at quarterback for the Saints this week, production is destined to be spotty for the Saints’ receivers. Don’t chase last week’s points. Callaway is just a low-end WR4 this week.

Tre’Quan Smith: Over the last three weeks, Smith has 7-65-0 receiving on 13 targets. Now, the Saints are forced to start Ian Book at qyarterback. Smith isn’t a playable fantasy option.

Tight Ends

Mike Gesicki: Gesicki is in something of a slump. He’s gone seven straight games without a touchdown, and he hasn’t topped 54 receiving yards over that stretch. Still, Gesicki has produced at least 43 yards in five of those seven games. With 64-685-2 on the season, he’s still no worse than a lower-end TE2.

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San Francisco 49ers vs. Tennessee Titans

Date/Time: Thursday December 23, 8:20pm ET
BettingPros Consensus Spread: 49ers -3
BettingPros Consensus Over/Under: 44 points
Implied Vegas point totals: 49ers 23.5, Titans 20.5

Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo: Garoppolo was efficient in Week 15 against the Falcons, as he completed 18 of his 23 pass attempts, but it didn’t lead to much fantasy production. He put up just 14 fantasy points, but due to the chaos of Week 15, that most likely didn’t crush your fantasy lineup. Regardless, Garoppolo has another favorable matchup this week against the Titans secondary that’s struggling to contain opposing passing games. With the fact that Tennessee is shutting down opposing RBs, we could see the 49ers lean more on their passing game and Garoppolo could put up solid numbers as a result. He can be viewed as a mid-range QB2 for Week 16.

Ryan Tannehill: While a large portion of it is due to the fact that Tannehill doesn’t have his main receiving weapons in the lineup, he’s been a massive disappointment for fantasy managers recently. Over the course of his past four games, Tannehill has finished with more than 15 fantasy points just once. Reinforcements appear to be coming this week with AJ Brown set to return to the lineup, but that still doesn’t put Tannehill on the streaming radar. There’s very little upside with the veteran QB at this point and there are better options you can turn to on your waiver wire for Week 16 if you were still rolling him out there. He can be viewed as a low-end QB2 this week.

Running Backs

Elijah Mitchell: Mitchell has been ruled out for Week 16.

Jeff Wilson: Wilson has been given the opportunity to start a few times already this season, but he’s struggled to come through for fantasy purposes. However, last week Wilson finally broke through with a dominant performance and he rewarded fantasy managers that stuck with him. With Mitchell out, Wilson can be viewed as a high-end RB3 in a tough matchup.

D’Onta Foreman: There weren’t many bright spots in Week 15, but Foreman was certainly one of them. Against the Steelers, Foreman carried the ball 22 times for 108 yards and he added 27 receiving yards as well for good measure. The Titans are struggling to move the ball at all on offense, but Foreman’s been able to get the job done despite everything else going on around him. This is a bit of a tougher matchup for Foreman though in Week 16 against the 49ers defense that’s allowing just 79.3 rushing yards per game to the position, so we shouldn’t be expecting over 100 rushing yards again. He can be viewed as a low-end RB2/high-end RB3.

Dontrell Hilliard: Hilliard totaled 15 total opportunities in Week 15, but it didn’t amount to anything notable from a fantasy perspective. With Jeremy McNichols also active in this backfield, there’s always a cap on Hilliard’s output and he can be left on benches for the second round of the fantasy playoffs.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Aiyuk: Aiyuk appeared to be in a smash spot this past week against the Falcons. Atlanta had been shredded up to this point of the season by opposing WRs and Aiyuk had started to emerge as the WR1 for this offense. Unfortunately, Aiyuk only saw two total targets despite playing 98% of the offensive snaps for the 49ers and he crushed fantasy lineups as a result. The opportunity is still there for this plus matchup against Tennessee in Week 16 due to the snap count, but fantasy managers have to be concerned that he simply won’t be targeted again. Due to the wide range of outcomes now, Aiyuk can be viewed as a mid-range WR3.

Deebo Samuel: Over his previous three games leading up to Week 15, Samuel had reeled in three total receptions. While he was seeing increased usage as an RB, it was concerning how little work Samuel was getting in the receiving game. That changed in Week 15 though as Samuel saw five targets and he reeled in four receptions for 60 yards. On top of his six carries – one of which went for a touchdown – Samuel’s back in the top-5 territory in the WR rankings. Against the Titans, Samuel can be locked into your starting lineup.

AJ Brown: Brown has been activated from IR and is expected to be back in the lineup against the 49ers Thursday night. Brown really hasn’t done much this season to warrant consideration as a locked-in starter for Week 16, although the upside is certainly tantalizing. There were two games in the middle of the season where he put up 133 and 155 receiving yards back-to-back, but he followed those up with three dud performances before getting injured. The Tennessee offense isn’t as high-powered as it once was, and Brown producing top-15 numbers at the WR position can’t be viewed as a guarantee. He’s a low-end WR2 this week.

Julio Jones: Jones apparently has no injury designation for Week 16, but there is absolutely no way fantasy managers can look his way at this point of the season. The risk of re-injury for Julio is too high for the limited payoff. He can remain on your bench for this matchup.

Tight Ends

George Kittle: Over his past three games, Kittle now has 425 receiving yards and three touchdowns. For context, those yardage totals are more than Pat Freiermuth has on the entire season in 14 games played (422 yards)! He’s truly a dominant receiving threat and he’s the most consistent receiving weapon in this 49ers’ passing attack currently. Against the Titans, Kittle can be locked into starting lineups as a top-3 option.

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