Week 16 of the 2024 fantasy football season featured big surprises. Who were the big winners and losers? Which players received A and F grades?
Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis, and Seth Walder provides his grades.
Jump to a topic:
Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Who got an A | Who got an F
Biggest injuries and what's next
Ranking fantasy winners of Week 16
1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor dropped a season-high 39.8 points on the Titans' defense, displaying his home run ability. Taylor, who logged three touchdowns, had two scoring runs of 65 or more yards, slashing through second- and third-level pursuit angles. He's absolutely rolling in the open field. Taylor's final line -- 29 carries, 218 yards rushing -- points to his rare ability to handle volume, while creating explosive plays. Taylor and the Colts get a Giants defense in Week 17 that looks checked out, so keep him locked-in as a top-five play. -- Bowen
2. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson posted his best numbers of the season in the Week 17 win over Seattle, catching 10 of 13 targets for 144 yards with two touchdowns (36.4 points). The route running was on point (again), and Jefferson got loose down the field for his second score on a deep ball from quarterback San Darnold. Jefferson has scored over 32 points in two of his past three games, reminding managers of his breakout ability. The Vikings now head into two critical NFC North matchups to close out the season (GB, @DET). -- Bowen
3. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
He orchestrated one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season, tossing a trio of fourth-quarter passing touchdowns after his Commanders began the quarter trailing by 13 points, concluding with a 9-yard winning touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder with six seconds left. That gave Daniels a career-best 34.42 fantasy points, 12th best all time by a rookie quarterback, and it pushed him past the 300-point threshold for the season. Daniels' 319.82 fantasy points are already third best in history by a rookie quarterback, and he has extremely favorable Weeks 17-18 matchups (ATL, @DAL) in which to potentially move up on the list. -- Cockcroft
4. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
His 21-yard winning touchdown in overtime not only earned the Panthers their fourth win of 2024, it gave him a career-best 32.5 PPR fantasy points. That erased the memory of his disappointing Week 15, in a game in which his team fell behind early, and it marked the third time in his past six contests that Hubbard had 25-plus rushing attempts. As his Panthers should be competitive in games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons the next two weeks, he should again see a hefty workload and deliver his fantasy managers high-end fantasy RB2 numbers. -- Cockcroft
5. De'Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
For the first time all season, Achane rushed for more than 100 yards, his 120 fueling a 31.0 PPR fantasy point total that was his second-best output of 2024. Though he has shared carries with Raheem Mostert for most of 2024, Achane's progression as a pass catcher has fueled a breakthrough second season. Achane has hauled in five or more passes in seven of his past nine games, during which time he has been the second-highest-scoring running back. He should be locked into all fantasy lineups for championship week against the Cleveland Browns. -- Cockcroft
6. James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
After a second straight game with at least 26 points, Cook has a shot to be one of the MVPs from the fantasy playoffs. In Sunday's win over the Patriots, Cook posted 27.6 points, totaling 126 yards -- and two touchdowns -- on 14 touches. Cook flashed his open-field speed on a 46-yard touchdown run, and he also scored on a low red zone reception. With the Jets' defense on tap on in Week 17, Cook will be in my RB1 ranks. -- Bowen
7. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
His quest to set the single-season record for rushing yards continued with another big day, his 27.0 PPR fantasy points marking the seventh time this season he has exceeded 25. With that, Barkley extended his positional lead in fantasy points, his 336.4 for the season 45.8 more than the next-closest running back (Jahmyr Gibbs). He also has 1,838 rushing yards, putting him on pace for 2,083, or 22 shy of Eric Dickerson's 40-year-old record (yes, Barkley does get one more game than Dickerson did in 1984). It's that quest for history that might suit fantasy managers best, as Barkley's Eagles could be locked into the NFC's No. 2 seed in advance of Week 18, but that chance to eclipse Dickerson could still mean a large role in that game. Barkley's remaining matchups (DAL, NYG) are outstanding, assuming he plays out the latter one. -- Cockcroft
8. Jared Goff, QB; Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Playing outdoors (and in the cold), Goff was dialed-in during a win over the Bears, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns (25.34 points). Goff has now posted at least 22 points -- and three touchdown passes -- in three straight games. This Lions offense is the best in the game right now, and we also saw the big-play juice of Williams on Sunday. Williams caught seven passes for 143 yards, which included an 82-yard touchdown reception on a deep ball throw. He dusted the top of the Bears secondary on that one. With a Week 17 matchup at San Francisco, Goff will remain a lower-tier QB1 option, while Williams, who has caught a touchdown in back-to-back games, can be played as an upside WR3. -- Bowen
9. Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears
Allen scored a season-high 29.1 points in a loss to the Lions, catching nine of a team-high 13 targets for 141 yards and a score. Allen has now posted back-to-back games with 13 targets and a touchdown grab, plus he has posted 20 or more points in four of his past five. The volume is up for Allen, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is looking for his veteran target and this Bears football team must go pass heavy to try to stay in games. You can play Allen as a solid flex for the Week 17 Thursday night game against the Seahawks. -- Bowen
10. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
He carved up the Carolina Panthers' defense for 26.6 PPR fantasy points, his second-best total of the season, on only 19 touches before exiting early because of a knee injury (see below). Conner has averaged in excess of six yards per carry in each of the past two weeks, and he had three explosive runs (10-plus yards gained) and one of 40 yards in the contest. The Cardinals' backfield has been ravaged by injuries, so here's hoping he can heal in time to continue to dominate carries for them in time for Week 17. -- Cockcroft
11. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
With David Montgomery out (knee), the Lions made it clear this is Gibbs' backfield moving forward. Gibbs had 20 touches in the first half, and while his usage declined over the second half in a blowout win over the Bears, he finished with 25.4 points on 27 touches. Gibbs had 23 carries for 149 yards and a red zone rushing score, plus he added 45 yards receiving on four grabs. With his dual-threat traits, and a bump in volume, Gibbs will remain an RB1 for his final two games of the season (@SF, MIN). -- Bowen
Ranking fantasy losers of Week 16
1. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
After two straight games with a ridiculous level of production, recording at least 41 points in each, Allen scored only 11.1 points in Sunday's win over the Patriots -- his lowest total since Week 4. So, what happened? For starters, the Patriots' defense took away explosive plays in the pass game, as Allen finished with only 154 yards through the air, averaging 5.3 YPA. And though Allen did have 30 yards rushing, he failed to run for a score for the first time since Week 9. This was a matchup, against a Patriots team playing out the schedule, that Allen should have exposed. No other way to say it. Allen will look to rebound next week against a Jets defense he scored 24.4 points on during Week 6. -- Bowen
2. Matthew Stafford, QB, and Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Frigid temperatures altered the Rams' game plan on the road against the New York Jets, in a matchup that would otherwise have been an excellent one for quarterbacks and wide receivers. Instead, Stafford attempted only 19 passes -- four of which traveled 10 or more yards downfield, per Next Gen Stats -- and totaled 6.0 fantasy points, while Kupp turned only three targets into 5.4 PPR fantasy points. Puka Nacua, meanwhile, saw nine targets and scored 13.6 points. It's the second straight week Stafford has gone silent statistically, and he has now averaged just 27.2 passing attempts over the past six weeks. He and Kupp will be tough to trust in Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals. -- Cockcroft
3. Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
Mixon had 15 touches in a Week 17 loss to the Chiefs, but without the touchdown production, and limited usage in the pass game (one reception, 14 yards), Mixon had just 8.1 points. Mixon did post a 22-yard carry in this one, but he finished with only 57 yards rushing on 14 attempts. Mixon has now rushed for a total of just 86 yards in his past two games, and the Ravens' run defense looms for the Week 17 matchup on Christmas Day. Mixon will slide down to the RB2 range in my ranks for that one. -- Bowen
4. Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders
He committed two of the Commanders' five turnovers, both within the game's first 17 minutes, and had only four rushing attempts and one target the rest of the day. As the Commanders attempted their comeback, they gave Chris Rodriguez Jr. three rushing attempts and Jeremy McNichols two after that point, which is a concern after Robinson had fumbling issues in 2023. Robinson's 2.1 PPR fantasy points were a season worst, and he'll be a low-end RB2 or flex for Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons. -- Cockcroft
5. Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
In a prime matchup against the Panthers' defense, McBride didn't factor much into the Cardinals pass game. And that's really tough to explain. McBride, who had posted four straight games with double-digit targets, caught only three of four (for 20 yards) in an overtime loss. That was good for only 5.0 points, McBride's lowest total since back in Week 3. Brutal numbers for managers in the fantasy playoffs. McBride will look to rebound in the Week 17 game against the Rams' defense. -- Bowen
Injury impact
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
What we know: He twisted his ankle on a rushing attempt during the third quarter of what was an outstanding day until then, and was unable to return.
What's next: Conner's absence left the Cardinals precariously thin at running back, as Trey Benson (ankle) and Emari Demercado (back) were also sidelined for the game. Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas are the next two running backs on the depth chart, should neither Conner nor Benson be able to recover in time for Week 17. -- Cockcroft
Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
What we know: After entering the day nursing a knee injury, London exited Sunday's game early in the fourth quarter because of a hamstring issue, finishing with 10.9 PPR fantasy points on eight targets.
What's next: Falcons coach Raheem Morris said after the game that London could've returned had the team not been leading by a substantial amount, so it's possible London will enter Week 17 again with an injury report listing but ultimately play. He has good matchups the next two weeks (@WSH, CAR), so hope that he can play rather than sit and force the team to lean more heavily upon Ray-Ray McCloud III and Chris Blair in the passing game. -- Cockcroft
Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles:
What we know: During the first quarter against Washington, Hurts took a hard hit on a rushing attempt. After leaving the game, and being evaluated in the locker room, Hurts was eventually ruled out because of a concussion. Before exiting, Hurts completed one pass for 11 yards, while rushing for 41 yards on three carries.
What's next: Kenny Pickett, who relieved Hurts, threw for 143 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He also added 13 yards rushing on three carries. If Hurts is out for the Week 17 matchup against Dallas, I would expect a run-heavy script here, in addition to the quick game concepts that mesh with Pickett's traits as a thrower. The anticipated volume for A.J. Brown against the Cowboys' secondary would keep him in the WR1 mix, with DeVonta Smith fitting as a midtier flex play. -- Bowen
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
What we know: After scoring 13.9 PPR fantasy points in his return from a calf injury, Walker left Sunday's game late in the fourth quarter because of an ankle issue.
What's next: Should Walker sit out additional time -- and that seems possible considering his recent injury issues -- Zach Charbonnet would again take over as the Seahawks' lead back. -- Cockcroft
Who earned an A this weekend?
Kenny Moore II, CB, Indianapolis Colts
The headline is why Moore lands on this list: He recorded two interceptions, including the game-sealer on the final play of the game, in the Colts' 38-30 win over the Titans. Earlier in the game, he undercut a pass to Tyler Boyd and picked off Mason Rudolph. Moore gave up three receptions for 21 yards on six targets over 34 coverage snaps, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
Atlanta Falcons pass rush
OK, we're grading on a curve here because for a long time it seemed as if the Falcons couldn't get any pass rush. But against the Giants on Sunday, Arnold Ebiketie and Ruke Orhorhoro each recorded 29% pass rush win rates and (Ebiketie had a sack, too) and Matthew Judon had both a sack and an interception returned for a touchdown after Zach Harrison batted a pass into the air.
Who earned an F this weekend?
Marshon Lattimore, CB, Washington Commanders
Lattimore landed on the A list in this spot a week ago, and I was curious to see how he would fare against A.J. Brown. It didn't go well. Lattimore gave up five receptions for 68 yards as the nearest defender in Sunday's win over the Eagles, including a touchdown to Brown on a slant near the end zone. But that wasn't all; Lattimore was flagged three times for defensive pass interference in the third quarter. He's only the second player in the past 25 years to be called for DPI three times in a quarter.
Drew Lock, QB, New York Giants
Lock's return as nothing short of a disaster, as the Falcons' defense intercepted him twice for pick-6s. The Giants backup (or third-stringer, depending on how you count) completed 22 of 39 passes for 210 yards, two pick-sixes and a lost fumble in the Giants' blowout loss to Atlanta.