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See how The Sporting News lines up its Week 16 fantasy football WR rankings, including the best players to start and sit candidates in PPR leagues for the first week of the playoffs.

Early Week 16 Fantasy Rankings WR PPR: Start-sit wide receivers, best sleepers, top streamers for first fantasy playoffs week originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Round 2 of the fantasy football playoffs approaches in Week 16, on the heels of several top performances from known and surprising names.

The likes of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Michael Wilson have taken over the wide receiver position in recent weeks, though mainstays will play a huge role in advancing teams to their league championship round.

Which wideout injuries, depth chart changes, and production trends should we monitor ahead of this week's slate of games?

Keep scrolling for our WR Week 16 rankings.

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Week 16 WR Fantasy Football Rankings: Start 'em, sit 'em lineup tips for wide receivers

These rankings for Week 16 fantasy wide receivers count players in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues, along with 0.1 points for every receiving or rushing yard.

↕️ Fantasy Rankings for Week 16: QB | RB | TE | D/ST | PK | Flex Cheat Sheet

Rk	Tr	Wide Receiver	TM	OPP	Week 16 Value
1	1	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	SEA	LAR	Elite WR1
2	1	Mike Evans	TB	@CAR	Elite WR1
3	2	Ja'Marr Chase	CIN	@MIA	Elite WR1
4	2	A.J. Brown	PHI	@WAS	Elite WR1
5	2	Amon-Ra St. Brown	DET	PIT	Elite WR1
6	2	Puka Nacua	LAR	@SEA	Elite WR1
7	3	DK Metcalf	PIT	@DET	WR1
8	3	Michael Wilson	ARI	ATL	WR1
9	3	DJ Moore	CHI	GB	WR1
10	3	Christian Watson	GB	@CHI	INJ-QUE
11	4	Nico Collins	HOU	LV	WR1/WR2
12	4	Chris Olave	NO	NYJ	WR1/WR2
13	4	Wan'Dale Robinson	NYG	MIN	WR1/WR2
14	4	Jameson Williams	DET	PIT	WR1/WR2
15	4	Terry McLaurin	WAS	PHI	WR1/WR2
16	5	CeeDee Lamb	DAL	LAC	Strong WR2
17	5	George Pickens	DAL	LAC	Strong WR2
18	6	Jauan Jennings	SF	@IND	Strong WR2
19	6	Jakobi Meyers	JAX	@DEN	Strong WR2
20	6	Justin Jefferson	MIN	@NYG	Strong WR2
21	6	Courtland Sutton	DEN	JAX	Strong WR2
22	6	DeVonta Smith	PHI	@WAS	Strong WR2
23	7	Rashee Rice	KC	@TEN	WR2
24	7	Chris Godwin	TB	@CAR	WR2
25	7	Brian Thomas	JAX	@DEN	WR2
26	7	Jayden Reed	GB	@CHI	WR2
27	7	Troy Franklin	DEN	JAX	WR2
28	8	Keenan Allen	LAC	@DAL	WR2/WR3
29	8	Xavier Worthy	KC	@TEN	WR2/WR3
30	8	Adonai Mitchell	NYJ	@NO	WR2/WR3
31	8	Zay Flowers	BAL	NE	WR2/WR3
32	9	Ladd McConkey	LAC	@DAL	Strong WR3
33	9	Ricky Pearsall	SF	@IND	Strong WR3
34	9	Emeka Egbuka	TB	@CAR	Strong WR3
35	9	Jordan Addison	MIN	@NYG	Strong WR3
36	9	Tetairoa McMillan	CAR	TB	Strong WR3
37	10	Jerry Jeudy	CLE	BUF	WR3
38	10	Jalen Coker	CAR	TB	WR3
39	10	Khalil Shakir	BUF	@CLE	WR3
40	10	Jaylen Waddle	MIA	CIN	WR3
41	11	Jalen Nailor	MIN	@NYG	WR3/Flex
42	11	John Metchie	NYJ	@NO	WR3/Flex
43	11	Josh Downs	IND	SF	WR3/Flex
44	11	Michael Pittman	IND	SF	WR3/Flex
45	12	Jalen McMillan	TB	@CAR	Flex
46	12	Chimere Dike	TEN	KC	Flex
47	12	Michael Bandy	DEN	JAX	Flex
48	12	Christian Kirk	HOU	LV	Flex
49	12	Devaughn Vele	NO	NYJ	Flex
50	12	Alec Pierce	IND	SF	Flex
51	13	Cooper Kupp	SEA	LAR	Flex
52	13	Elic Ayomanor	TEN	KC	Flex
53	13	David Sills	ATL	@ARI	Flex
54	13	Stefon Diggs	NE	@BAL	Flex
55	13	Jayden Higgins	HOU	LV	Flex
56	13	Darius Slayton	NYG	MIN	Flex
57	13	Deebo Samuel	WAS	PHI	Flex
58	14	Marquez Valdes-Scantling	PIT	@DET	Flex/Bench
59	14	Rashid Shaheed	SEA	LAR	Flex/Bench
60	14	Olamide Zaccheaus	CHI	GB	Flex/Bench
61	14	Parker Washington	JAX	@DEN	Flex/Bench
62	14	Dontayvion Wicks	GB	@CHI	Flex/Bench
63	14	Romeo Doubs	GB	@CHI	Flex/Bench
64	14	Darnell Mooney	ATL	@ARI	Flex/Bench
65	14	Kyle Williams	NE	@BAL	Flex/Bench
66	14	Ryan Flournoy	DAL	LAC	Flex/Bench

67	15	Tre' Harris	LAC	@DAL	Bench
68	15	Tim Patrick	JAX	@DEN	Bench
69	15	Mack Hollins	NE	@BAL	Bench
70	15	Mitchell Tinsley	CIN	@MIA	Bench
71	15	Andrei Iosivas	CIN	@MIA	Bench
72	15	Kevin Austin	NO	NYJ	Bench
73	15	Tre Tucker	LV	@HOU	Bench
74	15	Jack Bech	LV	@HOU	Bench
75	15	Tyler Lockett	LV	@HOU	Bench
76	15	Isaiah Williams	NYJ	@NO	Bench
77	15	Tom Kennedy	DET	PIT	Bench
78	15	Malik Washington	MIA	CIN	Bench
79	16	Marvin Mims	DEN	JAX	Bench
80	16	Keon Coleman	BUF	@CLE	Bench
81	16	Isaiah Hodgins	NYG	MIN	Bench
82	16	Lil'Jordan Humphrey	DEN	JAX	Bench
83	16	Kayshon Boutte	NE	@BAL	Bench
84	16	Matthew Golden	GB	@CHI	Bench
85	16	Isaiah Bond	CLE	BUF	Bench
86	16	Tez Johnson	TB	@CAR	Bench
87	16	DeMario Douglas	NE	@BAL	Bench
88	16	KaVontae Turpin	DAL	LAC	Bench
89	16	Xavier Smith	LAR	@SEA	Bench
90	16	Isaac TeSlaa	DET	PIT	Bench
91	16	Bo Melton	GB	@CHI	Bench
92	16	KeAndre Lambert-Smith	LAC	@DAL	Bench
93	16	Shedrick Jackson	LV	@HOU	Bench
94	17	Jalen Brooks	ARI	ATL	Bench
95	17	Xavier Legette	CAR	TB	Bench
96	17	Mason Tipton	NO	NYJ	Bench
97	17	Van Jefferson	TEN	KC	Bench
98	17	Dylan Drummond	ATL	@ARI	Bench
99	17	Xavier Restrepo	TEN	KC	Bench
100	17	Tyquan Thornton	KC	@TEN	Bench
101	17	Darius Cooper	PHI	@WAS	Bench
102	17	Devin Duvernay	CHI	GB	Bench
103	17	Gage Larvadain	CLE	BUF	Bench
104	17	Deven Thompkins	ATL	@ARI	Bench
105	17	DeAndre Hopkins	BAL	NE	Bench
106	17	Calvin Austin	PIT	@DET	Bench
107	17	Xavier Hutchinson	HOU	LV	Bench
108	17	Demarcus Robinson	SF	@IND	Bench
109	17	Tyrell Shavers	BUF	@CLE	Bench
110	17	Cedrick Wilson	MIA	CIN	Bench
111	17	Cody White	SEA	LAR	Bench
112	17	Treylon Burks	WAS	PHI	Bench
113	17	Sterling Shepard	TB	@CAR	Bench
114	17	James Proche	TEN	KC	Bench
115	17	Dante Pettis	NO	NYJ	Bench
116	17	Dont'e Thornton	LV	@HOU	Bench
117	17	Tai Felton	MIN	@NYG	Bench
118	17	Devontez Walker	BAL	NE	Bench
119	17	Konata Mumpfield	LAR	@SEA	Bench
120	17	Kendrick Bourne	SF	@IND	Bench
121	17	Jimmy Horn	CAR	TB	Bench
122	17	Ben Skowronek	PIT	@DET	Bench
123	17	Jonathan Mingo	DAL	LAC	Bench
124	17	Jaylin Noel	HOU	LV	Bench
125	17	Adam Thielen	PIT	@DET	Bench
126	17	Cedric Tillman	CLE	BUF	Bench
127	17	Malachi Corley	CLE	BUF	Bench
128	17	Jordan Whittington	LAR	@SEA	Bench
129	18	Allen Lazard	FA		Bench
130	18	Andre Baccellia	ARI	ATL	Bench
131	18	Xavier Gipson	PHI	@WAS	Bench
132	18	Jahan Dotson	PHI	@WAS	Bench
133	18	Brandin Cooks	BUF	@CLE	Bench
134	18	Xavier Weaver	ARI	ATL	Bench
135	18	JuJu Smith-Schuster	KC	@TEN	Bench
136	18	Roman Wilson	PIT	@DET	Bench
137	18	Trent Sherfield	ARI	ATL	Bench
138	18	Kameron Johnson	TB	@CAR	Bench
139	18	Austin Trammell	JAX	@DEN	Bench
140	18	Dyami Brown	JAX	@DEN	Bench
141	18	Malik Heath	GB	@CHI	Bench
142	18	Charlie Jones	CIN	@MIA	Bench
143	18	Arian Smith	NYJ	@NO	Bench
144	18	Tylan Wallace	BAL	NE	Bench
145	18	Jalin Hyatt	NYG	MIN	Bench
146	18	Jaylin Lane	WAS	PHI	Bench
147	18	Nick Westbrook-Ikhine	MIA	CIN	Bench
148	18	Elijah Moore	DEN	JAX	Bench
149	18	Tyler Johnson	NYJ	@NO	Bench
150	18	Jalen Tolbert	DAL	LAC	Bench
151	18	Chris Moore	WAS	PHI	Bench

INJ	--	Davante Adams	LAR	@SEA
INJ	--	Drake London	ATL	@ARI
INJ	--	Savion Williams	GB	@CHI
INJ	--	Joshua Palmer	BUF	@CLE
INJ	--	Gabe Davis	BUF	@CLE
INJ	--	Quentin Johnston	LAC	@DAL
INJ	--	Tee Higgins	CIN	@MIA
INJ	--	Hollywood Brown	KC	@TEN
INJ	--	Marvin Harrison	ARI	ATL
INJ	--	Greg Dortch	ARI	ATL
INJ	--	Luther Burden	CHI	GB
INJ	--	Rome Odunze	CHI	GB
INJ	--	Pat Bryant	DEN	JAX
INJ	--	Rashod Bateman	BAL	NE
INJ	--	Kalif Raymond	DET	PIT
INJ	--	Anthony Gould	IND	SF
IR-R	--	Garrett Wilson	NYJ	@NO
IR-R	--	Josh Reynolds	NYJ	@NO
IR-R	--	Tutu Atwell	LAR	@SEA
IR-R	--	Tory Horton	SEA	LAR
IR-R	--	Ashton Dulin	IND	SF
IR	--	Calvin Ridley	TEN	KC
IR	--	Noah Brown	WAS	PHI
RES	--	Brandon Aiyuk	SF	@IND

➕ BEST WR PICKUPS: Week 16 waiver wire

What fantasy WR injury news should I know for Week 16?

Given the quick turnaround to Thursday Night Football, the Rams likely will be without Davante Adams (hamstring), but Sean McVay isn't ruling him out yet.
Packers breakout star Christian Watson (shoulder) isn't out of the woods despite early optimism he was OK after leaving with an injury; the Pack's pool of secondary pass-catchers will be worth watching and maybe adding if Watson misses time.
Drake London (knee) has a chance to return for the Falcons versus the Cardinals.
Keep an eye on the much more questionable Tee Higgins (concussion) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel).
Will the Bears have either Rome Odunze (foot) or Luther Burden (ankle)? This wideout group around DJ Moore could have opportunities that eventually put Olamide Zaccheaus into flex territory.
The Chargers may also have to adjust once again without Quentin Johnston (groin), which would put Keenan Allen with more targets as No. 1 wideout and and Ladd McConkey, Tre Harris, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith fighting for scraps.

Who are the top fantasy wide receivers for Week 16?

Mike Evans' 6-catch, 132-yard return on 12 targets in his return was a welcome outing for his fantasy managers, and he's slotted right near the top of the rankings again this week as the most secure receiver on the Buccaneers' pass game.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ja'Marr Chase, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Puka Nacua (even more without Adams) remain in must-start territory.

DK Metcalf leapfrogs into the top 10 with a drool-inducing matchup with the Lions, and Michael Wilson remains in the same tier staring down the Falcons if Marvin Harrison Jr. remains sidelined.

We're keeping Watson among the top 10 until his prognosis worsens; the Bears' defense can snag takeaways but allows plenty of deep production to the Packers. Watson of course went 4-89-2 in Week 14 against these Bears.

Who are the top Week 16 fantasy sleepers at wide receiver?

While sleepers, in the traditional, "from out of nowhere" sense, may not be plentiful with byes over, boost these names:

The Colts' cornerbacks continue to suffer without Sauce Gardner (calf) -- well, even with him this year. This means we've jolted the projections for 49ers wideouts Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall.
How could we not double down on Marquez Valdes-Scantling after he scored a touchdown during his reunion with Aaron Rodgers? Luckily, the Steelers also face the Lions, a pure doormat to wide receivers.
If QJ is out again, find a way to get Ladd McConkey into your lineup if you're not lucky enough to have Keenan Allen. Johnston himself would occupy a WR3/flex spot if he returns.
Stay tuned for which Packers to start, based on Watson's healthy. But Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and Matthew Golden, in that order, would rise up the hierarchy if he's out.
Roll with the Vikings; Justin Jefferson is a must-start through the pain, but Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor both should make PPR noise versus the Giants, who've all but given up.

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