Week 16 Fantasy Takeaways

Week 16 delivered everything fantasy managers fear and hope for at the same time: role changes, devastating injuries, unexpected heroes, and a few performances that single-handedly ended championship dreams. Here’s a full breakdown of what changed, what matters, and how to approach Week 17.

Bucky Irving: Volume Without the Ceiling

Bucky Irving continues to see strong rushing volume, averaging nearly 17 carries per game since returning. However, his fantasy ceiling has evaporated. His role in the passing game (1.7 catches per game) has disappeared, and he has completely lost goal-line work. Sean Tucker has taken over in scoring situations, finding the end zone in three straight games. Irving profiles more as a touchdown-dependent RB2 than a reliable RB1 heading into next week’s matchup against Miami.

Jalen McMillan Cuts Into Emeka Egbuka’s Role

Jalen McMillan’s return has materially impacted Emeka Egbuka’s playing time. In Week 15, McMillan ran routes on 50% of dropbacks, knocking Egbuka down from a 90% route rate to 63%. That trend worsened on Sunday, with Egbuka dropping all the way to a 50% route rate. Rather than the usual rookie late-season ascent, Egbuka has become a part-time player, making him impossible to trust in Week 17.

Quinshon Judkins Suffers a Devastating Injury

Judkins was diagnosed with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula, with a potential knee injury also in play. Even a standalone fibula fracture can derail running backs for months after returning, and the addition of an ankle dislocation makes the timeline even murkier. His availability for the start of the 2026 season is currently unknown, and there’s a real possibility this injury lingers deep into next year.

Dylan Sampson would immediately step in as an RB2, but he missed all practice last week with a hand injury. If Sampson can’t go, Raheim Sanders becomes the pickup after leading the Browns' backfield on Sunday.

Omarion Hampton Reclaims Control of the Backfield

Kimani Vidal exited late with a neck injury, but Hampton was already trending back into a true RB1 role before that. He finished with 17 touches for 95 yards and a touchdown and would flirt with must-start territory next week against Houston if Vidal is out. In that scenario, Hampton would likely run routes on a majority of Justin Herbert’s dropbacks, significantly raising his weekly floor. Before his injury, Hampton had 5+ receptions in three straight games in that role.

Chase Brown Delivers a Championship-Saving Hat Trick

Chase Brown continues to be one of the biggest difference-makers of the fantasy postseason. On just 16 touches, he scored three touchdowns—one rushing and two receiving—helping countless managers punch their ticket to the championship. Since Week 8, Brown ranks as the RB5 in fantasy points per game and gets a strong home matchup against Arizona in Week 17 to finish the job.

Taysom Hill Leads the Saints Backfield (For Better or Worse)

Despite having actual running backs available, the Saints leaned heavily on Taysom Hill, who led the team with 12 carries while averaging a modest 3.5 yards per attempt. Hill also caught four passes and threw a touchdown to Chris Olave, who exploded for 10 catches, 148 yards, and two scores on 16 targets. While Olave carried fantasy teams forward, the Saints backfield remains untrustworthy. If desperation strikes, Hill is the flex option—but expectations should remain modest.

Jaxson Dart Destroys Championship Hopes

Coming into Week 16 as the overall QB2 in fantasy points per game, Dart delivered one of the most brutal performances of the season: 33 passing yards and 7 rushing yards, total. He wasn’t injured. The Giants simply ran the ball 30 times and attempted just 13 passes in a close game. The result was nearly zero fantasy production, ending many seasons on the spot. Ironically, Dart draws the Raiders next week and could have been a championship-winning option. If you somehow survived, he should still be considered a starter.

JJ McCarthy and Jordan Mason Leave Injured

McCarthy exited with a hand injury and couldn’t return. With a short week ahead on Christmas, his status bears close monitoring. The silver lining was Justin Jefferson’s best fantasy outing since Week 9, hauling in 6 passes for 85 yards.

Jordan Mason also suffered an ankle injury. If he misses time, Aaron Jones becomes more appealing after logging 23 touches and 93 yards on Sunday.

Tony Pollard’s Late-Season Surge Continues

After averaging just 48 rushing yards across his first 12 games, Pollard has flipped the script. Over his last three contests, he’s averaging 122 rushing yards per game. While the receiving work hasn’t followed, he draws a Saints defense that entered Week 16 allowing the fifth-most rushing yards to running backs. Pollard firmly belongs in the Week 17 flex conversation.

Kyle Pitts Produces With Drake London Back

Drake London returned to eight targets but caught only three for 27 yards, clearly not looking like himself as he continues to battle a lingering PCL injury. Despite the inefficiency, London remains difficult to bench. Meanwhile, Kyle Pitts continued his strong stretch, catching seven passes for 57 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. He remains a trustworthy option next week against the Rams.

Side note: Three of Bijan Robinson’s top five fantasy weeks have come in the last four games.

Cardinals’ Offense Comes Apart at the Worst Time

Jacoby Brissett’s magic finally wore off against Atlanta. After throwing for at least 249 yards in all nine prior starts and multiple touchdowns in eight of them, he failed to reach either mark. Marvin Harrison Jr. returned to a part-time role, running routes on just 61% of dropbacks and finishing with one catch for 14 yards. Michael Wilson made a spectacular touchdown grab but caught just one other pass. Trey McBride managed only four catches for 27 yards, and the running back room split carries evenly with zero receptions. Atlanta’s defensive effort came at the expense of fantasy championships everywhere.

Trevor Lawrence’s Late-Season Ascension

Lawrence faced a real test in Denver after a stretch of favorable matchups—and passed easily. He threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score. Over his last four games, he’s averaging 270 passing yards and three passing touchdowns per game, with two rushing scores and zero interceptions. Liam Coen may have unlocked something, and Lawrence appears to be trending toward his long-anticipated ceiling.

Pat Bryant Carted Off, Status Uncertain

Bryant exited after a hard hit and was transported to the hospital for evaluation. Fortunately, early reports suggest he’s okay outside of concussion protocol. If he misses Week 17, Troy Franklin would step into a full-time role. Franklin posted a 6-catch, 85-yard, one-touchdown line without Bryant last week and would approach Top-24 status against Kansas City.

Steelers Running Backs Shatter Expectations

Detroit entered the week allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs. Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell ignored that entirely, combining for 52.9 fantasy points. This marked Gainwell’s fifth RB1 finish in his last six games. If either was in your lineup, there’s a strong chance you’re headed to the championship. Even with Cleveland looming next week, both backs—especially Gainwell in PPR—should be fired up again.

Ashton Jeanty Makes Believers (and Doubters) Pay

After weeks of inefficiency, Jeanty delivered when it mattered most. Despite averaging just 2.9 yards per carry since his Week 8 bye, he logged a season-high 24 carries for 128 yards and added a 60-yard receiving touchdown. With a juicy matchup against the Giants on deck, Jeanty could come through again in Week 17.

Jawhar Jordan Leads Texans Backfield

With Woody Marks sidelined, the Texans turned to Jawhar Jordan despite Nick Chubb being active. Jordan handled 20 touches but totaled just 70 yards. Signs point toward Marks returning next week, but if he doesn’t, Jordan would again offer volume—albeit in a difficult matchup against the Chargers.

Josh Jacobs Tries to Gut It Out

Jacobs attempted to play through injury but managed only a 39% snap rate and couldn’t be effective. After dominating the week prior despite injury, this performance swung the backfield toward Emanuel Wilson. There’s a legitimate scenario where Wilson becomes a viable Week 17 starter, making Jacobs’ practice status critical to monitor.

TreVeyon Henderson Suffers a Concussion

Henderson exited in the second quarter, and his availability for Week 17 is uncertain. If he can’t clear protocol, Rhamondre Stevenson would be in line for a significant workload in a strong matchup against the Jets.

Stefon Diggs Capitalizes on Expanded Role

Diggs had been running routes on just 57% of Drake Maye’s dropbacks over his previous three games. That number jumped to 80% on Sunday, resulting in a 24% target share and a 9-catch, 138-yard performance. His weekly role remains volatile, but if Kayshon Boutte misses time with a potential concussion, Diggs’ outlook would skew far more toward the boom side in Week 17.