Week 16 is yet another opportunity for some teams to jockey for playoff seeding, also opening the door for others to tank for draft positioning. With so many intriguing team-on-team matchups, certain position groups and players also manage to stand out.
The Sunday cheat sheet is your ultimate resource for NFL Week 16 predictions and top player picks for PrizePicks NFL, including matchups to target and game insights for the slate.
Ready to lock in your NFL Week 16 predictions? Just go to the PrizePicks NFL board, pick your players, and predict if they’ll have More or Less than their projected stats to earn cash if you're right in NFL Week 16.
Let's get into this week's predictions.
NFL Week 16 Predictions & Cheat Sheet for PrizePicks, NFL DFS
Find the top Week 16 predictions, picks, matchups to consider, and players to target in Sunday's games below in the PrizePicks Cheat Sheet, including analysis on QBs, RBs, WR vs. CB matchups, and OL vs. DL mismatches.
Best QB Predictions for NFL Week 16
Here are two of the top QB vs. defense matchups for fantasy football and PrizePicks NFL this week to help you make your NFL Week 16 predictions.
Panthers QB Bryce Young vs. Buccaneers Defense
Since Week 11, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been one of the most vulnerable pass defenses in the league, ranking 30th in dropback EPA allowed and 27th in EPA per play overall, per rbsdm. Their secondary has been consistently exposed, particularly rookie CB Benjamin Morrison, who has allowed a brutal 128.5 passer rating and 17.7 yards per reception.
Panthers QB Bryce Young is quietly positioned to take advantage. He ranks top 10 in red-zone pass rate, an important edge against a Buccaneers defense that sits dead last in red-zone TD percentage allowed.
On the season, Young has produced 19 passing TDs and just over 2,500 passing yards. Against a Tampa Bay defense that struggles to get stops when the field shortens, this matchup sets up well for Young to potentially convert drives into scores.
Saints QB Tyler Shough vs. Jets Defense
Since Week 11, the New York Jets have been the worst pass defense in football by the numbers, ranking 32nd in dropback EPA allowed. That situation worsens this week with both starting safeties, Tony Adams and Andre Cisco, ruled out.
Their absences force the Jets to rely on inexperienced depth, including undrafted rookie Dean Clark, who has already allowed a 120 passer rating and 13 yards per reception. Slot defender Jordan Clark, who has surrendered a 100+ passer rating in limited coverage snaps, may also be in the mix.
Saints QB Tyler Shough has taken over late in the season and been serviceable despite his circumstances. He owns 1,484 passing yards, six passing TDs, and an average depth of target of 8.7 (inside the top 20). The Jets’ pass defense is 25th in TDs allowed and 30th in sacks.
Should his protection hold up, Shough may have ample opportunityies to exploit a depleted secondary.
Week 16 Prediction for PrizePicks: Tyler Shough – 207.5 Passing Yards
Best RB Predictions for NFL Week 16
Here are two of the top RB vs. defense matchups to target for fantasy football and PrizePicks NFL this week to help you make your NFL Week 16 predictions.
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Cardinals Defense
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson has been on a tear over the last three games, piling up 321 rushing yards and reasserting himself as one of the most dominant backs in the league.
On the season, Robinson ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,174) and seventh in yards per carry at 5.0 while also averaging an elite 3.65 yards after contact per attempt.
Since Week 11, the Arizona Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game (143.2) and the sixth-most yards per carry (4.81). They’ve also surrendered six rushing TDs in that span, placing them among the league’s most vulnerable run defenses. Robinson may enjoy another high-volume, high-efficiency outing.
Week 16 Prediction for PrizePicks: Bijan Robinson– 90.5 Rushing Yards
Vikings RB Aaron Jones vs. Giants Defense
Dating back to Week 11, the New York Giants have been completely gashed on the ground. They are allowing the most yards per carry in the NFL (5.77) and the most rushing yards per game (157.3) while also yielding the fifth-most yards before contact (2.71).
Vikings RB Aaron Jones appears to be rounding into form after returning from injury. Over his last two games, he’s logged 14 and 12 rushing attempts, both well above his season average of roughly nine. Despite limited usage earlier in the year, Jones has accumulated 410 rushing yards while averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 2.83 yards after contact per attempt.
Against a Giants defense struggling at every level, Jones seems positioned for one of his best opportunities of the season.
Best WR vs. CB Matchups to Target: Week 16
Here are two of the top WR vs. CB matchups to target for fantasy football and PrizePicks NFL this week to help you make your NFL Week 16 predictions.
Cowboys CB Shavon Revel vs. Chargers WR Quentin Johnston
Dallas Cowboys rookie CB Shavon Revel has struggled mightily in coverage this season. The third-round pick out of East Carolina ranks 112th out of 112 qualifying CBs in coverage (via PFF) and when thrown at, he's allowed a 106.5 passer rating and 12.1 yards per reception.
That sets up a nice matchup for Chargers WR Quentin Johnston, who is listed as questionable but is trending toward playing. Johnston has taken a major step forward in 2025, ranking sixth in the NFL in receiving TDs with 7 while providing his QB with an elite 113.2 passer rating when targeted.
Johnston averages 12.7 yards per reception and has already hauled in 42 passes on the year, possibly putting him in position to capitalize against one of the league’s weakest coverage defenders.
Steelers WR DK Metcalf vs. Lions CB Amik Robertson
Steelers WR DK Metcalf and QB Aaron Rodgers have begun to click in the second half of the season, even as Rodgers has battled through minor injuries.
Metcalf continues to produce at a high level, ranking 11th in the NFL in receiving TDs with 6, 20th in receiving yards with 808, and 30th in receptions with 55. When targeted, he delivers nearly a 100 passer rating and averages 14.7 yards per catch, placing him firmly among the league’s most dangerous downfield threats.
Detroit Lions CB Amik Robertson presents a clear vulnerability. He's 108th out of 112 CBs in coverage (PFF) and yields a 109.9 passer rating with 13.3 yards per reception. He has also surrendered 57 receptions, the most of any CB in the NFL.
At just 5'8", Robertson faces a significant physical mismatch against the 6'3" Metcalf as well.
Week 16 Prediction for PrizePicks: DK Metcalf – 4.5 Receptions
Best OL vs. DL Matchups to Target for NFL Week 16
Here are two of the top OL vs. DL matchups to target for fantasy football and PrizePicks NFL this week to help you make your NFL Week 16 predictions.
Raiders OL vs. Texans DL
The Las Vegas Raiders' offensive line has been overwhelmed, particularly on the edges. LT Stone Forsythe has allowed 34 pressures, 10 sacks, and 4 penalties, consistently losing one-on-one matchups. On the right edge, DJ Glaze has surrendered 39 pressures, 8 sacks, and been flagged for 5 penalties. Interior protection hasn’t been much better, as C Alex Kappa has given up 20 pressures and 5 sacks.
That’s a dangerous formula against a Houston Texans defensive line that has been arguably the best unit in the NFL. Former first-round pick Will Anderson Jr. has been dominant, ranking second in the league with 82 total pressures while adding 11 sacks, which places him inside the top 10.
On the opposite edge, Danielle Hunter has piled up 70 pressures and 13 sacks, ranking fifth in pressures and fourth in sacks leaguewide. Inside, veteran Sheldon Rankins has added 32 pressures and 2 sacks, consistently collapsing the pocket from the interior.
Bills DL vs. Browns OL
The Cleveland Browns' offensive line has been ravaged by injuries, forcing constant shuffling and unorthodox line combinations.
LT Cam Robinson ranks 78th out of 82 tackles via PFF and has allowed 30 pressures, 6 sacks, and an alarming 12 penalties. On the right side, K.T. Leveston ranks 78th out of 81 tackles in pass protection and has given up 24 pressures, 5 sacks, and 6 penalties. C Luke Wypler has been flagged 4 times and allowed 2 pressures in limited action.
Buffalo’s defensive line is well-equipped to exploit those weaknesses. DE Greg Rousseau ranks eighth out of 112 edge defenders via PFF and has recorded 41 total pressures along with 5 sacks. On the other side, veteran DE Joey Bosa has also posted 43 pressures and 5 sacks, giving the Bills relentless pressure off both edges.
Inside, DaQuan Jones adds push with 18 pressures and 3 sacks, rounding out a front that might be able to win at every level against a Browns offensive line struggling to stay intact.
Week 16 Prediction for PrizePicks: Geno Smith– 185.5 Passing Yards
Make NFL Week 16 Predictions on PrizePicks
The 2025 NFL season marches another week closer to the playoffs as we enter Week 16.
This week brings us yet another opportunity to earn real money on PrizePicks with NFL predictions. Use this NFL Cheat Sheet and predictions to sharpen your takes and build out your winning picks for Sunday's Week 16 slate.
PrizePicks is the simplest way to make your NFL predictions and earn cash rewards if you're right. Pull up the PrizePicks NFL board, pick at least two players, predict More or Less on their projections, then follow along to see if your picks are right.
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