Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season delivered many standout fantasy performances, but also some major disappointments and concerning injuries. As fantasy football managers look to secure a championship, let’s analyze the biggest winners, losers, injuries, and assign grades to key players from the Week 16 slate.
Week 16 Fantasy Winners
1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor absolutely erupted against the Titans, racking up a season-high 39.8 PPR points. The dynamic back found the end zone three times while gashing the Tennessee defense for 218 rushing yards on 29 carries. Taylor’s rare combination of heavy volume and home run hitting ability was on full display, solidifying his status as an elite RB1 heading into a juicy Week 17 matchup vs. the Giants.
2. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
The rookie signal-caller orchestrated a furious fourth quarter comeback, tossing three touchdowns to erase a 13-point deficit. Daniels’ 34.42 fantasy points were a career-best and 12th most all-time by a rookie QB. With juicy matchups against the Falcons and Cowboys to close out the season, Daniels is poised to finish strong and build on his already impressive inaugural campaign.
3. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley continued his quest to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record, powering the Eagles’ offense with 27.0 PPR points. The workhorse back now has 336.4 fantasy points on the season, 45.8 more than the next closest RB. Chasing history and favorable upcoming matchups against the Cowboys and Giants should keep Barkley heavily involved, even if Philly locks up playoff seeding early.
Other Notable Performers
- Jared Goff, QB & Jameson Williams, WR, Lions: Goff tossed 3 TDs while the rookie speedster went off for 143 yards and an 82-yard score.
- Keenan Allen, WR, Bears: Hauled in 9 catches for 141 yards and a TD on a team-high 13 targets.
- James Conner, RB, Cardinals: Dominated with 26.6 PPR points before exiting early with an injury.
- Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions: The dual-threat back exploded for 25.4 points as the clear lead option.
Week 16 Fantasy Losers
1. Matthew Stafford, QB & Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
The frigid temperatures in New York completely derailed the typically productive Stafford to Kupp connection. The veteran QB mustered only 6.0 fantasy points on 19 pass attempts while Kupp turned 3 targets into a paltry 5.4 PPR points. With Stafford averaging just 27.2 attempts over the past six weeks, it’s getting tougher to trust this passing attack, even in a plus Week 17 draw against Arizona.
2. Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
After seeing 15 touches in a loss to Kansas City, Mixon could only muster 8.1 PPR points. The lack of passing game involvement (1 catch, 14 yards) and failure to find the end zone capped the veteran back’s upside. With just 86 rushing yards total over his past two outings, Mixon gets a downgrade to low-end RB2 territory heading into a tough Week 17 battle with Baltimore.
3. Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders
Robinson coughed up two costly turnovers in the first 17 minutes and saw his touches drastically reduced afterwards. Game script and recent fumbling woes could put the rookie’s lead back role in jeopardy moving forward. His season-worst 2.1 PPR points should have managers looking at him as more of a low-end RB2/flex option vs. Atlanta in Week 17.
4. Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
McBride had posted four straight games with double-digit targets heading into a plus matchup against Carolina. However, the rookie TE came crashing back to earth, catching just 3 of 4 targets for 20 yards (5.0 PPR points). While McBride will aim to bounce back next week vs. the Rams, this disappointing outing likely dashed the title hopes of managers who started him.
Key Injuries to Monitor
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Conner twisted his ankle in the 3rd quarter of a dominant performance vs. Carolina. With the Cardinals already thin at RB, Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas would be next in line if Conner misses time. Stay tuned for updates throughout the week.
Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
The rookie wideout re-aggravated a knee injury and then exited early in the 4th with a hamstring issue. London’s status will be important to track as he has a pair of favorable matchups to end the season (at Commanders, vs Panthers).
Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts suffered a concussion in the 1st quarter against Washington and did not return. Kenny Pickett took over and would be in line to start next week vs Dallas if Hurts can’t clear protocols. A.J. Brown would still have WR1 appeal based on anticipated volume in this scenario.
Week 16 Player Grades
A-Graded Performers
- Kenny Moore II, CB, Colts: Recorded 2 INTs, including a game-sealer, while allowing only 3 catches for 21 yards.
- Falcons Pass Rush: Arnold Ebiketie and Ruke Orhorhoro posted strong win rates while Matthew Judon added a sack and pick-6.
F-Graded Performers
- Marshon Lattimore, CB, Commanders: Allowed 5 catches for 68 yards to A.J. Brown, including a TD, and got flagged for 3 DPIs in one quarter.
- Drew Lock, QB, Giants: Tossed 2 pick-sixes and lost a fumble in an abysmal outing vs. Atlanta.
Week 16 provided no shortage of noteworthy fantasy storylines to digest. As managers process the fallout and look ahead to their championship matchups, keeping tabs on injuries and underperformers will be crucial. Nonetheless, the emergence of difference-makers like Jonathan Taylor and Jayden Daniels offers reason for optimism as this unpredictable fantasy season reaches its apex. Rely on the data and expert insights to make informed decisions with the ultimate prize on the line!
