Fantasy Football Week 16 WR Guide: Add, Start, Sit, DFS Tips & More

The Challenge of Starting Chargers' Wide Receivers in Week 16

The wide receiver position has been one of the most unpredictable and difficult to manage in the 2025 season. This trend seems to be continuing into Week 16, especially with championship implications on the line. One of the biggest struggles for teams this season has been managing their wide receivers, and the Chargers are no exception.

Going into last week, I had made the decision to sit all of the Chargers' wide receivers. However, with their upcoming matchup against the Cowboys, the situation is not as straightforward as it once was. Dallas has allowed the highest amount of PPR FPPG to opposing wide receivers this season, at 38.22 points per game. Last week, they gave up 19.7 points to Jalen Nailor, and in the previous week, the Lions had three receivers score in double digits. In Week 13, Rashee Rice nearly scored 30 points against them, and in Week 12, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for 39.9 points. These numbers clearly show that the Cowboys have been a tough matchup for wide receivers.

Since Week 9, every pass catcher on the Chargers has averaged single digits in PPR FPPG. Ladd McConkey is the highest ranked among them at WR46. This performance has been dismal, partly due to Justin Herbert's 6.7 Y/A without Joe Alt and the team's increased run tendency over the past month. Since Week 11, the Chargers have the fourth-highest run rate in the league, at 51.4%. Even when they do throw the ball, it often turns into a run play. Over the same stretch, Justin Herbert's 25% scramble rate is tied with Lamar Jackson, just behind Josh Allen.

Given these factors, the Chargers face an elite matchup in favorable conditions, but there is little evidence from their recent performance to suggest starting any of their wide receivers. This lack of consistency has led to little consensus on how to rank them. My current rankings place Keenan Allen at WR25 and Ladd McConkey at WR26, while other analysts like Dave and Jamey have McConkey inside their top 24 and Allen outside their top 40. It might be best to view them as WR3s, considering the Cowboys have given up many big days to WR3s this season. If Quentin Johnston returns, the situation could become even more complicated.

Week 16 WR Preview

Numbers to Know

• 190.4: Wan'Dale Robinson has scored 190.4 PPR Fantasy points this season, ranking ninth among receivers.
• 18.8%: Troy Franklin's target share rebounded to 18.8% last week. If Pat Bryant is out again, Franklin is a WR3.
• 14.3: Jauan Jennings is averaging 14.3 PPR FPPG since Brock Purdy came back.
• 25: Justin Jefferson has three straight games below 25 yards receiving, the longest stretch of his career.
• 40.7%: Only 40.7% of Philip Rivers' passes went to a wide receiver. Only Aaron Rodgers and Shedeur Sanders have a lower rate this year.
• 37.5%: Mike Evans had a 37.5% target share in his first game back. He's back in must-start territory.

Waiver Wire Targets

DFS Plays

Projections

Heath's Projections

My full set of Week 16 Fantasy football projections for every position are now available on SportsLine. You'll find them here. Discover which of my favorite plays are projected to score higher than consensus rankings and which don't live up to their draft hype, at least in Week 16. Projected stats for all starting wide receivers are available, so be sure to check out the full set of projections at SportsLine.