The fantasy football semifinals are this week. As always, it is crucial to know what players are the preferable starts. Here are my Week 16 rankings for the wide receiver position.
Which WRs Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
1) Tyreek Hill | MIA (vs. DAL)
2) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (at MIA)
3) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (at MIN)
4) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. NO)
5) Justin Jefferson | MIN (vs. DET)
6) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. ARI)
7) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (vs. DAL)
8) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (at ATL)
9) A.J. Brown | PHI (vs. NYG)
10) Mike Evans | TB (vs. JAX)
11) Deebo Samuel | SF (vs. BAL)
12) DK Metcalf | SEA (at TEN)
13) Brandon Aiyuk | SF (vs. BAL)
14) Tee Higgins | CIN (at PIT)
15) Chris Olave | NO (at LAR)
16) Puka Nacua | LAR (vs. NO)
17) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (vs. WAS)
18) Rashee Rice | KC (vs. LV)
19) Davante Adams | LV (at KC)
20) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. NYG)
21) Nico Collins | HOU (vs. CLE)
22) Courtland Sutton | DEN (vs. NE)
23) Amari Cooper | CLE (at HOU)
24) Calvin Ridley | JAX (at TB)
25) DeAndre Hopkins | TEN (vs. SEA)
26) Jayden Reed | GB (at CAR)
27) Diontae Johnson | PIT (vs. CIN)
MORE: Katz’s Week 16 Rankings — QB | RB | TE | K | DST
28) Chris Godwin | TB (vs. JAX)
29) Stefon Diggs | BUF (at SF)
30) Zay Flowers | BAL (at LAC)
31) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at TEN)
32) Drake London | ATL (vs. IND)
33) Jakobi Meyers | LV (at KC)
34) Terry McLaurin | WAS (at NYJ)
35) Jordan Addison | MIN (vs. DET)
36) Brandin Cooks | DAL (at MIA)
37) Odell Beckham Jr. | BAL (at LAC)
38) Josh Downs | IND (at ATL)
39) Adam Thielen | CAR (vs. GB)
40) Noah Brown | HOU (vs. CLE)
41) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at TEN)
42) Demario Douglas | NE (at DEN)
43) Joshua Palmer | LAC (vs. BUF)
44) Curtis Samuel | WAS (at NYJ)
45) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at CAR)
46) Romeo Doubs | GB (at CAR)
47) Gabe Davis | BUF (at SF)
48) Marquise Brown | ARI (at CHI)
49) Jerry Jeudy | DEN (vs. NE)
50) Rashid Shaheed | NO (at LAR)
51) George Pickens | PIT (vs. CIN)
52) Wan’Dale Robinson | NYG (at PHI)
53) Jonathan Mingo | CAR (vs. GB)
54) Jameson Williams | DET (at MIN)
55) Quentin Johnston | LAC (vs. BUF)
56) Elijah Moore | CLE (at HOU)
57) Alec Pierce | IND (at ATL)
58) Michael Wilson | ARI (at CHI)
59) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs. NO)
60) Darius Slayton | NYG (at PHI)
61) Jalin Hyatt | NYG (at PHI)
62) Tyler Boyd | CIN (at PIT)
63) Rashod Bateman | BAL (at LAC)
64) Parker Washington | JAX (at TB)
65) Justin Watson | KC (vs. LV)
66) Robert Woods | HOU (vs. CLE)
67) Khalil Shakir | BUF (at SF)
68) Darnell Mooney | CHI (vs. ARI)
69) Rondale Moore | ARI (at CHI)
70) Jahan Dotson | WAS (at NYJ)
71) D.J. Montgomery | IND (at ATL)
72) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (vs. NE)
73) DJ Chark | CAR (vs. GB)
74) Trey Palmer | TB (vs. JAX)
75) Josh Reynolds | DET (at MIN)
76) A.T. Perry | NO (at LAR)
77) Michael Gallup | DAL (at MIA)
78) Trenton Irwin | CIN (at PIT)
79) Cedric Tillman | CLE (at HOU)
80) DeVante Parker | NE (at DEN)
81) K.J. Osborn | MIN (vs. DET)
82) Treylon Burks | TEN (vs. SEA)
83) Jamal Agnew | JAX (at TB)
84) John Metchie III | HOU (vs. CLE)
85) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | KC (vs. LV)
86) Kadarius Toney | KC (vs. LV)
87) Hunter Renfrow | LV (at KC)
88) Cedrick Wilson Jr. | MIA (vs. DAL)
89) Xavier Gipson | NYJ (vs. WAS)
90) Nelson Agholor | BAL (at LAC)
91) Allen Robinson II | PIT (vs. CIN)
92) Kalif Raymond | DET (at MIN)
93) Lynn Bowden Jr. | NO (at LAR)
94) Malik Heath | GB (at CAR)
95) Jalen Guyton | LAC (vs. BUF)
96) Xavier Hutchinson | HOU (vs. CLE)
97) Jauan Jennings | SF (vs. BAL)
98) Greg Dortch | ARI (at CHI)
99) Braxton Berrios | MIA (vs. DAL)
100) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (at MIA)
101) Tyquan Thornton | NE (at DEN)
102) Isaiah Hodgins | NYG (at PHI)
103) Chris Moore | TEN (vs. SEA)
104) Allen Lazard | NYJ (vs. WAS)
105) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. NO)
106) River Cracraft | MIA (vs. DAL)
107) Alex Erickson | FA ()
108) Brandon Powell | MIN (vs. DET)
Top WRs To Start in Week 16
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets (vs. WAS)
This is admittedly an ambitious choice, but I am choosing to favor talent and matchup over the quarterback situation. With the New York Jets losing last week, they are officially eliminated from postseason contention. As a result, whatever small chance existed that Aaron Rodgers would return is now gone as well.
Zach Wilson had been playing better but left last week’s game with a concussion. If he can’t play, Garrett Wilson will have to contend with Trevor Siemian at quarterback. That is obviously not ideal, but here’s to hoping it doesn’t matter against the worst pass defense in the NFL.
The Washington Commanders allow the second-most ppg to wide receivers. No team allows more ppg to outside receivers than the 20.0 allowed by Washington. Only the Philadelphia Eagles have allowed more touchdowns to wide receivers.
This is as good as it gets. Wilson is immensely talented, and I know this technically doesn’t mean anything, but Wilson has not posted back-to-back duds all season.
Wilson has five single-digit fantasy point outings this season. His lowest point total in games following those has been 15. Let’s get another Wilson rebound special this week.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (at TB)
Those of you following this column all season know that Calvin Ridley has never been on this side of things. He’s consistently been on the ‘sit’ side because he’s consistently been ranked way higher than his on-field performance warranted.
After last week’s disappointment, I think the consensus is finally coming around to the fact that Ridley just isn’t that good anymore. And now I’m telling you to start him?
This would obviously be much better if Trevor Lawrence could clear the concussion protocol. But even if he doesn’t, C.J. Beathard is capable of getting the ball to his No. 1 receiver. With both Christian Kirk and Zay Jones out, that man is now Ridley by default.
Backup quarterbacks often lock onto their primary read. With Travis Etienne Jr. being a total disaster on the ground, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ best path to success against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ pass-funnel defense is to scheme the ball to Ridley. That should mean a whole lot of volume against a defense allowing the eighth-most ppg to wide receivers.
For as bad as Ridley has been, volume hasn’t been a problem. He’s seen 25 targets over his past two games. Unfortunately, he’s only caught nine of them. That’s in part because Ridley can’t get open, but it’s also due to the lack of layup passes. I’m cautiously optimistic we get more of those this week, raising Ridley’s PPR floor. If he can score, he should post WR1 numbers.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!