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Heroes & Zeroes (Week 16)

December 22, 2025

Lucky (good) enough to make it to Week 16 in fantasy? These players could have very well extended or ended your season! We’ll look at some of the week’s best efforts and players who let you down after being so great all season. Also, what does this mean for each player heading into what is likely the championship matchup in Week 17?

Heroes

QB: Justin Herbert—Started: 47.3% ESPN, 57% Sleeper

Stafford, Lawrence and Burrow may have ended with higher scores depending on certain league settings, but it was Herbert who rewarded fantasy managers that stuck with him through some tough weeks. A 5:4 TD:INT ratio over his last five games and none over 220 yards passing was more than enough to warrant a benching. But a matchup with a porous Cowboys defense was just what Herbert needed to propel some teams into a championship battle. With three total TDs and 342 total yards, the Charger’s QB had his way in Dallas. It was by far his best game since a great stretch in weeks 7-9. A tough matchup against a Texans defense doesn’t bode well for a repeat in Week 17, however.

RB: Jaylen Warren—Started: 54.1% ESPN, 62% Sleeper

Warren set a career high with 143 rushing yards and did it with only 14 carries. He added two rushing touchdowns. That kind of performance from someone who was most likely in your FLEX, if you started him, is how championships are won. He’s never dominated the touches in Pittsburgh and Kenneth Gainwell had a great performance himself, mostly catching the ball, but Warren has done enough to keep him in lineups most weeks and that paid dividends in Week 16. A soft matchup in Cleveland next week looks enticing for another stout performance, especially if weather conditions are less than ideal and the Steelers can control the clock.

WR: Chris Olave—Started 69.2% ESPN, 85% Sleeper

Yes, Puka Nacua had the game of the week and probably flipped the script for some outcomes. But Nacua was started everywhere and a big game was expected, although admittedly not that big. Olave on the other hand, didn’t get the nod everywhere and some teams are kicking themselves over it. Sleeper managers did a better job of getting him into the lineup and I trust their percentages more than ESPN, but Olave should’ve been started more. And he was a star again for Week 16. A PPR darling with 10 catches is great to begin with. Add in a career high 148 yards and that’s elation. Top it off with two touchdowns and that’s why we love fantasy football so much. Olave has been solid all year but since Tyler Shough took over under center in the middle of Week 8, he’s looking like his dominant self again. Expect that to continue against a bad Titans defense in Week 17.

TE: Harold Fannin—Started 51.8% ESPN, 60% Sleeper

Finally, the top performer at his position gets the star this week. And Fannin earned it in a big way. Sure, it wasn’t as dominant as Pitts’ three touchdown game last week. However, the Cleveland TE hit pay dirt twice. He had just four catches for 34 yards against a Bills defense who is solid against TEs, but he was able to get into the end zone on one of those catches. A rushing score from the big 6’4” 241lb rookie sensation is what made the day, however. And that’s something the Browns have been looking to do a few times this season. That marked his seventh carry on the year and he was finally able to punch it in for a big Week 16 performance. Another good game could come from Hannin next week against the Steelers, as he had seven catches for 81 yards during their first matchup this season.

Def: New Orleans Saints—Started 53.4% ESPN, 50% Sleeper

Just six points allowed, an interception and fumble recovery, as well as a whopping eight sacks gave the Saints the best defensive performance this week. They did what you’d expect against a terrible Jets offense and they have the chance to repeat next week against the Titans.

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Zeroes

QB: Josh Allen—Started 95% ESPN, 98% Sleeper

No QB was started more than Allen this week, or probably any week he wasn’t on a bye, and no QB disappointed more than Allen. He’s struggled in a couple touch matchups this season, namely against Houston, but that was his only poor performance. Until this week. One you may have been counting on him most. The 29-year-old is usually able to find a score somehow, but that wasn’t the case. Allen was also held to 17 yards rushing, his lowest this season. He has another tough test next week against Philadelphia’s defense. Is it supposed to snow? Maybe he can come back with a vengeance.

RB: Javonte Williams—Started 77.3% ESPN, 86% Sleeper

This was one of Williams’ two worst games this season, ending with just 36 total yards. In Week 6 he had 34 yards but at least he added five catches to help in PPR formats then. Nine carries and two receptions are not going to cut it from someone fantasy managers were relying on as a solid RB2. Dallas didn’t look good as an offense and quite frankly, Williams looked like his underwhelming self from his Denver days. Week 17 brings an easier matchup but it’s safe to wonder if Dallas will ease his workload with nothing to play for these next two weeks.

WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown—Started 95.8% ESPN, 98% Sleeper

Seriously? Where did this come from? St. Brown has had some letdowns this year but this takes the cake. His Weeks 1 and 11 performances were worse, but the stakes involved here make it hard to stomach. Between him and Allen, this could’ve cost you your season. Four catches for 54 yards is about as pedestrian as it gets and not something you expect from what most rankings had as the #1 WR this week. St. Brown is usually matchup proof and though he gets a tough Vikings team next week, it’ll at least be indoors and he should produce something closer to the 9-97-0 line he had in their first matchup.

TE: Trey McBride—Started 98.4% ESPN, 99% Sleeper

What a terrible week for some of the top players. Allen, St. Brown. Kyren Williams and CeeDee Lamb were also letdowns. Now McBride, who many paid for like a WR during drafts. It’s hard to look back at a draft if you’ve made it to Week 16, but if you take a McBride or Bowers in the 2nd or 3rd round, you expect to have a distinct advantage. McBride gave you the opposite this week. The targets were there, eight, but he only hauled in four of those for 27 yards. And no touchdown made him a nightmare to watch this weekend. If you were lucky enough to advance despite his efforts, Week 17 looks like a better matchup against Cincinnati and let’s hope McBride gives you what you paid for.

Def: Seattle Seahawks—Started 70.2% ESPN, 66% Sleeper

Luckily, it looks like most managers removed the Seahawks before this let down; -20% start from last week on Sleeper. But they were a top 3 defense who played well enough against the Rams in their first meeting this season. That’s a tough matchup to trust but Seattle had done well no matter the opponent outside of a Week 5 game versus Tampa Bay. Give them another shot next week at Carolina.

Justin, Author

A Cowboy fan through all the tough times, Justin is a fantasy football enthusiast with a journalism background. His commitment to his sports teams and the patience he gains after each continually failed “this is our year” season are now brought to The Goal Line Grind and its readers! More realist than hot take creator, you can expect insightful professionalism but also fact-based opinions along the way.