Home » Fantasy Football Week 16 Wide Receiver Rankings

Fantasy Football Week 16 Wide Receiver Rankings

Publish Date: December 23, 2021

The 2021-22 NFL season has only three weeks left. Bye weeks are over which means the fantasy playoffs have begun in most standard leagues. This time of year COVID-19 is running rampant which makes it important to have backup options on your fantasy roster. On top of that injuries are continuing to mount up. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the Fantasy Football Week 16 wide receiver rankings.

*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*

(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)

Key:

Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting WR1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High WR2- a player who may isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 category.

Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low WR2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and causes a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deeper League Flex- a player who has starting value in deeper leagues. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Upside Player- a player who is boom or bust. This player can exceed expectations in a given week or could flop and be the reason why someone lost their fantasy matchup.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Category Name Opponent Ranking
Must Start Cooper Kupp vs Minnesota Vikings WR1
Must Start Davante Adams vs Cleveland Browns WR2
Must Start Justin Jefferson vs Los Angeles Rams WR3
Must Start Deebo Samuel vs Tennessee Titans WR4
Starting WR1 Keenan Allen vs Houston Texans WR5
Starting WR1 Tyreek Hill* vs Pittsburgh Steelers WR6
Starting WR1 Diontae Johnson vs Kansas City Chiefs WR7
Starting WR1 CeeDee Lamb vs Washington Football Team WR8
Starting WR1 Ja’Marr Chase vs Baltimore Ravens WR9
High WR2 Jaylen Waddle vs New Orleans Saints WR10
High WR2 D.J. Moore* vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR11
High WR2 Stefon Diggs vs New England Patriots WR12
High WR2 Mike Evans* vs Carolina Panthers WR13
Starting WR2 Marquise “Hollywood” Brown vs Cincinnati Bengals WR14
Starting WR2 A.J. Brown* vs San Francisco 49ers WR15
Starting WR2 Adam Thielen* vs Los Angeles Rams WR16
Starting WR2 Antonio Brown* vs Carolina Panthers WR17
Starting WR2 Tyler Lockett* vs Chicago Bears WR18
Low WR2 Michael Pittman Jr. vs Arizona Cardinals WR19
Low WR2 Brandin Cooks* vs Los Angeles Chargers WR20
Low WR2 Tee Higgins vs Baltimore Ravens WR21
Low WR2 Odell Beckham Jr. vs Minnesota Vikings WR22
Low WR2 Christian Kirk vs Indianapolis Colts WR23
Low WR2 Amon-Ra St. Brown vs Atlanta Falcons WR24
Low WR2 Hunter Renfrow vs Denver Broncos WR25
Low WR2 Russell Gage vs Detroit Lions WR26
Flex Mike Williams vs Houston Texans WR27
Flex Brandon Aiyuk vs Tennessee Titans WR28
Flex Darnell Mooney vs Seattle Seahawks WR29
Flex Michael Gallup vs Washington Football Team WR30
Flex Van Jefferson vs Minnesota Vikings WR31
Flex D.K. Metcalf vs Chicago Bears WR32
Flex Amari Cooper vs Washington Football Team WR33
Flex A.J. Green vs Indianapolis Colts WR34
Flex DeVante Parker vs New Orleans Saints WR35
Flex Gabriel Davis vs New England Patriots WR36
Flex Jarvis Landry* vs Green Bay Packers WR37
Flex Terry McLaurin vs Dallas Cowboys WR38
Deep Leauge Flex Jakobi Meyers vs Buffalo Bills WR39
Deep Leauge Flex Tyler Boyd vs Baltimore Ravens WR40
Deep League Flex Kadarius Toney* vs Philadelphia Eagles WR41
Deep League Flex Marquez Valdes-Scantling* vs Cleveland Browns WR42
Deep League Flex Laquon Treadwell vs New York Jets WR43
Deep League Flex Jerry Jeudy vs Las Vegas Raiders WR44
Deep League Flex Chase Claypool vs Kansas City Chiefs WR45
Upside Play Devonta Smith vs Washington Football Team WR46
Upside Play Josh Reynolds* vs Atlanta Falcons WR47
Upside Play Braxton Berrios vs Jacksonville Jaguars WR48
Upside Play Robby Anderson vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR49
Upside Play Donovan Peoples-Jones vs Green Bay Packers WR50
Upside Play Jamison Crowder* vs Jacksonville Jaguars WR51
Upside Play Marvin Jones Jr. vs New York Jets WR52
Upside Play Marquez Callaway vs Miami Dolphins WR53
Upside Play Rashod Bateman vs Cincinnati Bengals WR54
Upside Play Julio Jones vs San Francisco 49ers WR55
Upside Play Cole Beasley* vs New England Patriots WR56
Upside Play Allen Robinson* Seattle Seahawks WR57
Upside Play Rondale Moore*  vs Indianapolis Colts WR58
Upside Play Keelan Cole vs Jacksonville Jaguars WR59
Upside Play Emmanuel Sanders vs New England Patriots WR60
Upside Play Tim Patrick vs Las Vegas Raiders WR61
Upside Play Laviska Shenault Jr.* vs New York Jets WR62
Upside Play Kendrick Bourne vs Buffalo Bills WR63
Upside Play Zay Jones* vs Denver Broncos WR64
Upside Play T.Y. Hilton vs Arizona Cardinals WR65
Leave on the Bench Kenny Golladay vs Philadelphia Eagles WR66
Leave on the Bench Tre’Quan Smith vs Miami Dolphins WR67
Leave on the Bench Courtland Sutton* vs Las Vegas Raiders WR68
Leave on the Bench Tyler Johnson vs Carolina Panthers WR69
Leave on the Bench Jalen Guyton* vs Houston Texans WR70
Leave on the Bench Nick Westbrook-Ihkine vs San Francisco 49ers WR71
Leave on the Bench Scotty Miller vs Carolina Panthers WR72
Leave on the Bench Allen Lazard vs Cleveland Browns WR73
Leave on the Bench K.J. Osborn vs Los Angeles Rams WR74
Leave on the Bench DeAndre Carter vs Dallas Cowboys WR75
Leave on the Bench Kalif Raymond* vs Atlanta Falcons WR76
Leave on the Bench Nico Collins vs Los Angeles Chargers WR77
Leave on the Bench Curtis Samuel vs Dallas Cowboys WR78
Leave on the Bench Bryan Edwards vs Denver Broncos WR79
Leave on the Bench Nelson Agholor* vs Buffalo Bills WR80

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

WR6 Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

Tyreek Hill was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If Hill does not play this weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers then Mecole Hardman will join the list at WR26 between Russell Gage and Mike Williams. Byron Pringle becomes the WR41 between Tyler Boyd and Kadarius Toney.

WR11 D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers

D.J. Moore has missed the past two days of practice with a hamstring injury. If he was to miss this week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers then Robby Anderson would move up to WR32 between D.K. Metcalf and Amari Cooper. Terrace Marshall Jr. would become a bold DFS play this week if Moore was to miss this game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR13 Mike Evans, & WR17 Antonio Brown

Mike Evans is considered week to week with a hamstring injury. Antonio Brown is expected to return from his injury and suspension this week. However, Brown was limited in practice Wednesday. If both don’t play this weekend against the Carolina Panthers then Scotty Miller moves up to WR37 between Terry McLaurin and Jakobi Meyers. Tyler Johnson would become the WR52 between Marvin Jones Jr. and Marquez Callaway.

If Evans plays and Brown does not then Scotty Miller becomes the WR48 between Braxton Berrios and Robby Anderson. Tyler Johnson stays at WR69.

If Evans does not play and Brown does then Antonio Brown would move up to WR14 between Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and A.J. Brown. Scotty Miller becomes the WR48 between Braxton Berrios and Robby Anderson. Tyler Johnson stays at WR69.

WR15 A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans

A.J. Brown is expected to be activated from Injured Reserve this week and play in the Tennessee Titans’ game against the San Francisco 49ers. However, if Brown is cannot return from his chest injury then Julio Jones moves up to WR50 between Robby Anderson and Donovan Peoples-Jones. Nick Westbrook-Ihkine would then move up to WR66 between T.Y. Hilton and Kenny Golladay.

WR16 Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings

Adam Thielen missed the past two games with a high-ankle sprain. He could come back this week against the Los Angeles Rams. If Thielen was to miss this week’s game then K.J. Osborn would move up to WR46 between Devonta Smith and Josh Reynolds.

WR18 Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Lockett was added to the Reserve/COVID-19 list last Thursday. If Lockett was to miss this game then Metcalf would retain his WR32 slot. Dwayne Eskridge and Freddie Swaim would become interesting DFS plays this week against the Chicago Bears.

WR20 Brandin Cook, Houston Texans

Brandin Cooks was added to the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If he misses this week against the Houston Texans Nico Collins would move up to WR60 between Keelan Cole and Emmanuel Sanders. After Collins, Chris Conley and Phillip Dorsett would be the next receivers on the depth charts to receive more targets.

WR37 Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns

Jarvis Landry is one of the eleven starters for the Cleveland Browns to land on the Reserve/COVID-19 list last week. If Landry is to miss his second straight game against the Green Bay Packers then Donovan Peoples-Jones would move up to WR46 between Devonta Smith and Josh Reynolds. After Peoples-Jones Rashad Higgins and Anthony Schwartz would be Cleveland’s next receivers on the depth chart.

WR41 Kadarius Toney, New York Giants

Kadarius Toney was activated off the Reserve/COVID-19 list but is still dealing with a quad injury. If he cannot play this week against the Philadelphia Eagles Kenny Golladay would stay at WR66 and Darius Slayton would join the list at WR69 between Courtland Sutton and Tyler Johnson.

WR42 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers

Marquez Valdes-Scantling was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If he misses this week’s game against the Cleveland Browns then Allen Lazard moves up to WR52 between Jamison Crowder and Marvin Jones Jr.

Detroit Lions Wide Receivers: WR47 Josh Reynolds & WR76 Kalif Raymond

Josh Reynolds was limited in practice Wednesday with a thigh injury. Kalif Raymond was also limited in practice with a shoulder injury. If neither play this week then either Tom Kennedy or Khadarel Hodge would get the start this week opposite Amon-Ra St. Brown.

If Reynolds play and Raymond doesn’t then that doesn’t change much in the fantasy landscape. While if Raymond plays and Reynolds does not then Raymond would move up to WR48 between Braxton Berrios and Robby Anderson.

WR51 Jamison Crowder, New York Jets

Jamison Crowder missed practice Wednesday with a calf injury. If Crowder was to miss this week’s game against Jacksonville it would solidify Braxton Berrios’ status at WR48. Keelan Cole would move up to Crowders’ WR51.

WR56 Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills

Cole Beasley was added the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If he does not play this week against the New England Patriots then Emmanuel Sanders could lineup as the team’s slot receiver and jump into Beasley’s WR56 slot.

WR57 Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears

It is unclear whether Allen Robinson will be activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list before this week’s game before the Seattle Seahawks. If Robinson does not return this week then Damiere Byrd would become the WR55 between Rashod Bateman and Julio Jones.

WR58 Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals

Rondale Moore is considered a game time decision with an ankle injury. If Moore does not play then Antoine Wesley would join the list at WR62 between Laviska Shenault Jr. and Kendrick Bourne.

WR62 Laviska Shenault Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Lavisha Shenault Jr. missed practice Wednesday with a shoulder and foot injury. If he was to miss this week’s game against the New York Jets Laquon Treadwell and Marvin Jones Jr. would be locked into their WR43 and WR52 slots.

WR64 Zay Jones, Las Vegas Raiders

Zay Jones missed practice Wednesday with a toe injury. If Jones misses this week’s game against the Denver Broncos then Hunter Renfrow retains his WR25 slot. Bryan Edwards would move up to WR73 slot between Allen Lazard and K.J. Osborn.

WR68 Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Courtland Sutton was limited in practice Wednesday with a wrist injury. If he was to miss this week’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders it could mean a slight uptick in targets for Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick.

WR70 Jalen Guyton, Los Angeles Chargers

Jalen Guyton was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If he misses this week’s game against the Houston Texans Joshua Palmer would jump into Guyton’s WR70 slot.

WR80 Nelson Agholor, New England Patriots

Nelson Agholor is dealing with a concussion. If he misses this week’s game against he Buffalo Bills N’Keal Harry would jump into Agholor’s WR80 slot.

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