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Top 25 ranked fantasy players for Week 16
In need of some quick fantasy advice? Look no further! Below are the top 25 ranked fantasy players per our esteemed panel of experts. The higher the player, the safer the start according to our experts. Not many of these names will surprise you, but it's a great way to get a quick sense of how well our experts collectively think each player will perform each week. You can view the full rankings HERE to help get your starting lineup set in stone prior to the kickoff of this weekend's games.
![Johnson has scored a combined 71.2 fantasy points over the last three weeks, and might just be the fantasy postseason MVP.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/wo9zi53gw19o6hj3wh2i.jpg)
Johnson has scored a combined 71.2 fantasy points over the last three weeks, and might just be the fantasy postseason MVP.
![Is Antonio Brown the best wide receiver in the league? Yes. If you take the numbers from his 10 games with Ben Roethlisberger and extrapolate them over a full 16 games, he'd have posted 158 receptions, 2,161 yards and 14 touchdowns this year.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/a7drpju9jtgzvx2hy3oe.jpg)
Is Antonio Brown the best wide receiver in the league? Yes. If you take the numbers from his 10 games with Ben Roethlisberger and extrapolate them over a full 16 games, he'd have posted 158 receptions, 2,161 yards and 14 touchdowns this year.
![Bless Rob Gronkowski, because when he's healthy he's the easiest player in all of fantasy football to rank, making our job easier.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/ubrx1zdiepvbtubop9vi.jpg)
Bless Rob Gronkowski, because when he's healthy he's the easiest player in all of fantasy football to rank, making our job easier.
![Newton looks like a lock to win both the Fantasy Player of the Year award, and the league MVP award. In 2015, he's had three games with five passing touchdowns ... something Carson Palmer and Tom Brady have combined to do ZERO times.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/abr1io3wdilvl1ym3jbk.jpg)
Newton looks like a lock to win both the Fantasy Player of the Year award, and the league MVP award. In 2015, he's had three games with five passing touchdowns ... something Carson Palmer and Tom Brady have combined to do ZERO times.
![Big Ben is piloting the league's deepest and most explosive offense against one of the league's worst secondaries. If you have Ben, congrats on your fantasy championship!](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/ina9mvidyyiqkbhhbqra.jpg)
Big Ben is piloting the league's deepest and most explosive offense against one of the league's worst secondaries. If you have Ben, congrats on your fantasy championship!
![If you listened to us banging the table all season for Reed, you've been rewarded with back-to-back 18-plus fantasy point outings. He'll look to make it three in a row against an Eagles secondary falling apart at the seams.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/ckfjludl4opwrodbag0k.jpg)
If you listened to us banging the table all season for Reed, you've been rewarded with back-to-back 18-plus fantasy point outings. He'll look to make it three in a row against an Eagles secondary falling apart at the seams.
![With the Panthers still playing to clinch homefield advantage, there's no concern over Olsen getting extra rest before the playoffs. Fire him up with confidence.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/xz3p1boigjjbehsvwe4y.jpg)
With the Panthers still playing to clinch homefield advantage, there's no concern over Olsen getting extra rest before the playoffs. Fire him up with confidence.
![Robinson didn't see his usual target volume last week, so expect an over-correction against the Saints porous secondary.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/tbkovrd7xmysfqh6buxr.jpg)
Robinson didn't see his usual target volume last week, so expect an over-correction against the Saints porous secondary.
![Martin has suffered from pass-heavy game scripts in each of the last two weeks, but should be able to get going early and often against the Bears, who don't figure to get a big lead on the Bucs out of the gate.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/okwmmjwgmk2dg0gtjbo8.jpg)
Martin has suffered from pass-heavy game scripts in each of the last two weeks, but should be able to get going early and often against the Bears, who don't figure to get a big lead on the Bucs out of the gate.
![Williams is producing for fantasy owners even in tough matchups. You have no choice but to start him against the Ravens.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/kmmvxst7noxu752bjuxh.jpg)
Williams is producing for fantasy owners even in tough matchups. You have no choice but to start him against the Ravens.
![Peterson says he'll be good to go for his Sunday night matchup with the Giants, but his owners would be wise to target Jerick McKinnon on waivers this week as insurance.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/jnjt3sdbr2qi5lkz4jsf.jpg)
Peterson says he'll be good to go for his Sunday night matchup with the Giants, but his owners would be wise to target Jerick McKinnon on waivers this week as insurance.
![Palmer has a bad matchup on paper, but those haven't slowed him down yet this year. With his offense firing on all cylinders he's a must-start against the Packers this week.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/ghgm8g4xj7svkua1rfhh.jpg)
Palmer has a bad matchup on paper, but those haven't slowed him down yet this year. With his offense firing on all cylinders he's a must-start against the Packers this week.
![No player has been on a longer hot streak than Wilson recently. His 20 total touchdowns since Week 11 are more than any other quarterback ... including Cam Newton.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/wo2mmxdv2tnprg4bgn0y.jpg)
No player has been on a longer hot streak than Wilson recently. His 20 total touchdowns since Week 11 are more than any other quarterback ... including Cam Newton.
![Marshall has had at least 100 receiving yards or a touchdown in 12 of 14 games so far this season. He's quietly been one of the most consistent wide receivers in fantasy.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/fscywcrvzd96vcyg3egl.jpg)
Marshall has had at least 100 receiving yards or a touchdown in 12 of 14 games so far this season. He's quietly been one of the most consistent wide receivers in fantasy.
![Nuk has hauled in 10 touchdowns and 1,315 receiving yards from the likes of Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, T.J. Yates and Brandon Weeden. That's simply incredible.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/cp5y0fdby7hcohsuof52.jpg)
Nuk has hauled in 10 touchdowns and 1,315 receiving yards from the likes of Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, T.J. Yates and Brandon Weeden. That's simply incredible.
![Thomas has sneakily returned to the TE1 discussion over the last month, scoring 44.4 fantasy points in that span -- the third-most among tight ends.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/svtyoing9vofev3k8hu4.jpg)
Thomas has sneakily returned to the TE1 discussion over the last month, scoring 44.4 fantasy points in that span -- the third-most among tight ends.
![Many thought Bortles would improve in his sophomore season, but none expected him to throw 31 touchdown passes. He'll add several more to that total this week against the Saints.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/jj7qhtv60b5ekzhbiu1o.jpg)
Many thought Bortles would improve in his sophomore season, but none expected him to throw 31 touchdown passes. He'll add several more to that total this week against the Saints.
![Waiver-wire pickup of the year? If you've ridden Barnidge to a fantasy championship, vote for him here.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/x4xkgek7oip5bcxqyd3u.jpg)
Waiver-wire pickup of the year? If you've ridden Barnidge to a fantasy championship, vote for him here.
![Gurley faces a terrible matchup (Seahawks) on the road, but he's simply too special of a player to bench in fantasy. Dance with the one that brought you, as the expression goes.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/flvawoelquv94pb2whjz.jpg)
Gurley faces a terrible matchup (Seahawks) on the road, but he's simply too special of a player to bench in fantasy. Dance with the one that brought you, as the expression goes.
![Brady would be a little higher were it not for Newton, Roethlisberger and Palmer all having plus matchups. Brady likely will be without Danny Amendola this week, but he could move the Patriots offense throwing to this dog.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/xyhl06rng43ue1rgq3cx.jpg)
Brady would be a little higher were it not for Newton, Roethlisberger and Palmer all having plus matchups. Brady likely will be without Danny Amendola this week, but he could move the Patriots offense throwing to this dog.
![West's value will certainly take a hit if Spencer Ware sees more snaps again, but he's talented enough to produce against the Browns suspect run defense regardless.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/xl0ffqc93tpdcdmrrhob.jpg)
West's value will certainly take a hit if Spencer Ware sees more snaps again, but he's talented enough to produce against the Browns suspect run defense regardless.
![Round 1 of Julio Jones vs. Josh Norman went to Norman, but we'll see about Round 2. It'll be hard to sit a player of Julio's caliber in fantasy title matches.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/asiu5qlxzvzolb8byjif.jpg)
Round 1 of Julio Jones vs. Josh Norman went to Norman, but we'll see about Round 2. It'll be hard to sit a player of Julio's caliber in fantasy title matches.
![The Alien has been a bit quiet of late ... is now the time for him to swoop in and abduct a fantasy championship for his owners? I'll show myself out and delete my account, don't worry.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/iyuvzd9lfuv9b3rt9ans.jpg)
The Alien has been a bit quiet of late ... is now the time for him to swoop in and abduct a fantasy championship for his owners? I'll show myself out and delete my account, don't worry.
![Freeman has one of the safest touch volumes in the league, helping him keep a safe fantasy floor. Hopefully the game script doesn't get away from Atlanta as quickly as it did the last time the faced the Panthers.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/dzjmtbb6qwznpflrxjhm.jpg)
Freeman has one of the safest touch volumes in the league, helping him keep a safe fantasy floor. Hopefully the game script doesn't get away from Atlanta as quickly as it did the last time the faced the Panthers.
![Death, taxes, and Eric Decker touchdowns. There are some things one simply cannot escape.](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/of3nx5ostp8vx7pxoqr6.jpg)
Death, taxes, and Eric Decker touchdowns. There are some things one simply cannot escape.