Hollywood Brown Fantasy Hub: Week 16 Injury Update, Start/Sit Advice, Projections, and More

The Kansas City Chiefs will face the Houston Texans in Week 16. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding WR Hollywood Brown.

Is Hollywood Brown Playing in Week 16?

Just like his quarterback, Brown also got in a third straight full practice on Wednesday. On Friday, the Chiefs activated Brown from IR, setting the stage for his season debut on Saturday.

We’ll continue to monitor the Chiefs’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.

Should You Start or Sit Hollywood Brown in Week 16?

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported over the weekend that Hollywood Brown would be “likely to return during the regular season” from his SC joint injury that has delayed his debut with the team up to this point.

That’s interesting but unlikely to be impactful for our purposes. That’s not to say that he can’t be of service during Kansas City’s pursuit of a third straight championship, but asking the team to overextend him in short order is far too optimistic for my liking.

As a player, Brown carries an obvious upside. I mean, would they let him change his name to “Hollywood” if he didn’t? He caught at least six touchdown passes in all three of his seasons with the Ravens, and while his time with the Cardinals wasn’t fantasy-friendly, he did clear 16 PPR points in three of his first five games.

All of that said, I don’t think we can assume that he fits this offense like a glove before we get a proof of concept. Brown’s production relative to expectation has declined each season of his career; my feeling here is that any usage over the next three weeks will be more of a tune-up than a full reveal.

Brown’s production relative to PPR expectation by season:

• 2019 (Ravens): +19%
• 2020 (Ravens): +6.2%
• 2021 (Ravens): -9.2%
• 2022 (Cardinals): -12.2%
• 2023 (Cardinals): -21.9%

Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 16 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.

Hollywood Brown’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 16

As of Saturday morning, Brown is projected to score 7.7 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 3.1 receptions for 34.1 yards and 0.2 touchdowns.

Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.

PFN Insight on the Steelers' Defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers posted their third-lowest Defense+ grade of the season in the Week 16 loss to the Ravens (72.1, C-). Baltimore averaged 6.7 yards per play, the highest by any offense against Pittsburgh's defense all season.

The Steelers' pass defense had one of its worst games of the season, perhaps not surprising given the injuries to the secondary. They also had their second-lowest pass defense success rate (44%) and third-lowest EPA per dropback average (-0.25) this year. That’s despite the Ravens completing just one pass gaining 20+ yards in Week 16.

On the bright side, the pass rush looked like its vintage self, generating a season-best 50% non-blitz pressure rate. Pittsburgh ranks 11th in that category, right around the same spot they were last season (12th). The difference is that they still rank 17th in sack rate, which would be their lowest rank since 2014.

For more insight on all other team defenses, head to our PFN Defense+ Metric Analysis. 

Hollywood Brown’s Fantasy Ranking

Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 3:45 AM ET on Wednesday, December 25. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.

Week 17 WR PPR Rankings

1) Ja'Marr Chase | CIN (vs. DEN)
2) Puka Nacua | LAR (vs. ARI)
3) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (at SF)
4) Justin Jefferson | MIN (vs. GB)
5) Mike Evans | TB (vs. CAR)
6) Nico Collins | HOU (vs. BAL)
7) A.J. Brown | PHI (vs. DAL)
8) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (at PHI)
9) Terry McLaurin | WAS (vs. ATL)
10) Davante Adams | NYJ (at BUF)
11) Tyreek Hill | MIA (at CLE)
12) Tee Higgins | CIN (vs. DEN)
13) Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX (vs. TEN)
14) Courtland Sutton | DEN (at CIN)
15) Ladd McConkey | LAC (at NE)
16) Drake London | ATL (at WAS)
17) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at CHI)
18) Malik Nabers | NYG (vs. IND)
19) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. ARI)
20) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (at BUF)
21) Jauan Jennings | SF (vs. DET)
22) Zay Flowers | BAL (at HOU)
23) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. SEA)
24) Jakobi Meyers | LV (at NO)
25) Keenan Allen | CHI (vs. SEA)
26) Jordan Addison | MIN (vs. GB)
27) DK Metcalf | SEA (at CHI)
28) George Pickens | PIT (vs. KC)
29) Calvin Ridley | TEN (at JAX)
30) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. DAL)
31) Khalil Shakir | BUF (vs. NYJ)
32) Adam Thielen | CAR (at TB)
33) Jameson Williams | DET (at SF)
34) Deebo Samuel Sr. | SF (vs. DET)
35) Jayden Reed | GB (at MIN)
36) DeAndre Hopkins | KC (at PIT)
37) Xavier Worthy | KC (at PIT)
38) Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI (at LAR)
39) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (at CLE)
40) Darnell Mooney | ATL (at WAS)
41) Jerry Jeudy | CLE (vs. MIA)
42) Josh Downs | IND (at NYG)
43) Jalen McMillan | TB (vs. CAR)
44) Hollywood Brown | KC (at PIT)
45) Rome Odunze | CHI (vs. SEA)
46) Romeo Doubs | GB (at MIN)
47) Amari Cooper | BUF (vs. NYJ)
48) Michael Pittman Jr. | IND (at NYG)
49) Rashod Bateman | BAL (at HOU)
50) Quentin Johnston | LAC (at NE)
51) Jalen Coker | CAR (at TB)
52) DeMario Douglas | NE (vs. LAC)
53) Wan'Dale Robinson | NYG (vs. IND)
54) Christian Watson | GB (at MIN)
55) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | TEN (at JAX)
56) Elijah Moore | CLE (vs. MIA)
57) Marquez Valdes-Scantling | BUF (vs. NYJ)
58) Calvin Austin III | PIT (vs. KC)
59) Joshua Palmer | LAC (at NE)
60) Robert Woods | HOU (vs. BAL)
61) Parker Washington | JAX (vs. TEN)
62) Tim Patrick | DET (at SF)
63) Ray-Ray McCloud III | ATL (at WAS)
64) John Metchie III | HOU (vs. BAL)
65) Keon Coleman | BUF (vs. NYJ)
66) David Moore | CAR (at TB)
67) Devaughn Vele | DEN (at CIN)
68) Michael Wilson | ARI (at LAR)
69) Tre Tucker | LV (at NO)
70) Kendrick Bourne | NE (vs. LAC)
71) Mike Williams | PIT (vs. KC)
72) Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN (at CIN)
73) Andrei Iosivas | CIN (vs. DEN)
74) Kayshon Boutte | NE (vs. LAC)
75) Malik Washington | MIA (at CLE)
76) Olamide Zaccheaus | WAS (vs. ATL)
77) Brandin Cooks | DAL (at PHI)
78) Sterling Shepard | TB (vs. CAR)
79) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at CHI)
80) Demarcus Robinson | LAR (vs. ARI)
81) Adonai Mitchell | IND (at NYG)
82) Dyami Brown | WAS (vs. ATL)
83) Dontayvion Wicks | GB (at MIN)
84) Alec Pierce | IND (at NYG)
85) Allen Lazard | NYJ (at BUF)
86) Van Jefferson | PIT (vs. KC)
87) Darius Slayton | NYG (vs. IND)
88) Ricky Pearsall | SF (vs. DET)
89) Jalen Tolbert | DAL (at PHI)
90) Jamison Crowder | WAS (vs. ATL)
91) Tyler Boyd | TEN (at JAX)
92) Troy Franklin | DEN (at CIN)
93) Kevin Austin Jr. | NO (vs. LV)
94) Mack Hollins | BUF (vs. NYJ)
95) Tutu Atwell | LAR (vs. ARI)
96) Jalen Nailor | MIN (vs. GB)
97) KaVontae Turpin | DAL (at PHI)
98) JuJu Smith-Schuster | KC (at PIT)
99) Michael Woods II | CLE (vs. MIA)
100) Justin Watson | KC (at PIT)

Chiefs at Steelers Trends and Insights

Kansas City Chiefs

Team: The Chiefs are one of 32 teams in the NFL (3.1%) – they have accounted for 13.3% of the 5+ game win streaks since the start of 2022.

QB: Patrick Mahomes recorded the longest touchdown run of his career on Saturday (15 yards) and now has a 10+ yard carry in three straight games for the first time in the regular season since Weeks 1-4 last year.

Offense: Saturday was the third time this season in which they averaged 3+ points per drive (they had three such games last regular season as well).

Defense: Kansas City has allowed under 20 points in four straight games, their third-longest streak since 2016.

Fantasy: It’s been a struggle for Isiah Pacheco of late, but it hasn’t been all his fault – 0.44 yards per carry before contact over his past three games.

Betting: Since 2022, unders are 8-1 when the Chiefs play on short rest.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Team: From Week 9 of 2022 through Week 2 of this season, the Steelers had one losing streak – they’ve had two since.

QB: George Pickens missed three straight games, and in those contests, Russell Wilson was 10-of-26 with one touchdown and one interception when pressured (two games prior: 14-of-24 with three scores and zero picks).

Offense: Pittsburgh has turned the ball over on 7.2% of their drives at home this season (road: 9.1%).

Defense: The Steelers have allowed 7.7 yards per pass since Week 12 (Weeks 1-11: 6.9). They are 8-0 this season, when allowing under 29 yards per drive (2-5 otherwise).

Fantasy: Najee Harris has yet to reach 45 rushing yards in a loss this season and has just seven receiving yards over his past three games (two targets earned).

Betting: Since 2005, the Steelers are 8-1 ATS on a short week in Week 15 or later (9-0 outright with a +130 point differential).