Week 16 TNF: Rams-Seahawks Preview, Props, Prediction

Thu Dec 18 3:08pm ET
Field Level Media

Week 16 kicks off with one of the biggest games of the 2025 regular season, and one chock full of playoff ramifications when the Los Angeles Rams visit the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.

The NFC West rivals enter with identical 11-3 records atop the conference. The Seahawks have won four consecutive games since a Week 11 loss at the Rams. That victory has Los Angeles atop the NFC standings, with Seattle currently in the top wild-card spot.

A win on Thursday night very well could propel the Rams to the division title and home-field advantage in the NFC. A loss, and Los Angeles risks going on the road throughout its playoff run. And whichever team loses risks falling into a tie with 10-4 San Francisco, which plays at Indianapolis on Monday night.

ODDS AND TRENDS

The Seahawks are a consensus 1.5-point favorite at home. The line has held steady this week at BetMGM, where the Rams have been backed by 64% of the total spread-line bets and 59% of the money.

Los Angeles' moneyline has also been popular, drawing 67% and 57% of the action, respectively, while shifting from -115 to +105.

The total points line of 42 is down significantly from opening at 45.5, due in large part to the unknown status of Rams wide receiver Davante Adams. The Over has been backed by 61% of the money.

PLAYER PROPS

--Rams TE Terrance Ferguson Over 19.5 Receiving Yards (-115 at BetMGM): Ferguson figures to be one of the beneficiaries of Adams being doubtful to play due to a hamstring injury. This has been the most popular Rams-based player prop at the book, even though the rookie has only one catch for 6 yards over his past five games. Ferguson has six catches for 144 yards and one touchdown on the season.

--Seahawks QB Sam Darnold 200+ Passing Yards (-223 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at the book with Darnold topping 200 passing yards in 11 of his past 13 games. He threw for 279 in the first matchup, but also was picked off four times. Seattle's offense failed to score a touchdown last week and has struggled in the first half much of the season. If you're looking for a bigger potential pay out, Darnold is -125 to throw for 220+ and +133 to throw for 240+ yards.

INSIDE EDGE

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is known for his play-action passing game. However, Seattle ranks third-worst in the NFL with a success rate of just 39.3% on plays with motion this season, according to Inside Edge's Remarkable engine.

KEY STATS

--Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford leads the NFL with a passer rating of 126.2 on passes to the right side of the field this season.

--Seattle's defense ranks second in the league in opponents' scoring, allowing just 17.3 points per game.

INJURY REPORT

Rams coach Sean McVay said he likely would wait until game time to make a decision on Adams, who aggravated the injury while running a deep route on Sunday in Los Angeles' 41-34 victory against visiting Detroit.

"I'm not ruling anyone out," McVay said Tuesday. "He just got his hamstring. He felt it a little bit, and it's something he's been dealing with, and he's as tough as it gets. Want to be able to see what it looks like with the time we have."

Adams has twice previously dealt with hamstring issues this season, his first with the Rams. He has 60 catches for 789 yards.

Rams defensive end Braden Fiske (ankle) is listed as questionable.

Stafford is a leading MVP contender with a league-leading 37 touchdown passes and 3,722 yards through the air, second only to the 3,931 of the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott.

Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross, who sustained a hamstring injury on Jason Myers' game-winning kick Sunday, was ruled out of the contest on Wednesday.

"We're just trying to gather the info right now, exhausting all options to see how fast we can get him back," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of Cross.

FLUTTERING HAWKS

While the Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 1,541 receiving yards, the rest of the offense has stalled. Seattle's offense has scored just six first-half points in each of its past three games (not counting an interception return for a TD).

The Seahawks likely will need more than that against a Rams team that has scored 40-plus points in each of its past two contests.

"We just need to get together and understand the game plan and execute at the end of the day," Smith-Njigba said. "And I'll leave it at that."

Seattle managed a season-low 50 rushing yards against the Colts, with Kenneth Walker III totaling just 17 yards on nine attempts.

"We didn't run it the way we wanted to," Macdonald said. "It's kind of a little bit of everything right now. A little bit late in the year to be saying that. So, I mean, we got to pick it up, really, on all fronts."

"What a crazy week to be playing on a Thursday," McVay said. "This is a good challenge. ... It's a blessing to be able to play in meaningful games this late in the season." --McVay, who admitted he hasn't gotten much sleep this week after his wife Veronika gave birth to son Christian Alexander McVay on Monday morning.

PREDICTION

Seattle's offensive line already was struggling before losing Darnold's stalwart blind-side protector for this game. Minus Cross, the Seahawks will continue to struggle running the ball and Darnold will be prone to the types of poor decisions under duress that put Seattle in a 14-3 hole in the first meeting. --Rams 23, Seahawks 20

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The Paur Report

Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 16

Player Notes
Christian Watson Dec 20 4:00pm CT
Christian Watson

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (chest, shoulder) should be able to go for Saturday night's divisional matchup against the Chicago Bears, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Watson missed Tuesday's practice but practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday this week. The 26-year-old wideout was sent to the hospital after suffering injuries to his chest and shoulder during last week's loss to the Denver Broncos, but said that he was "feeling pretty good" this week and will suit up for a big matchup on Saturday night. Watson has been the Packers' most explosive pass catcher since returning in Week 8 and offers WR2 upside in a favorable matchup against the Bears.

From RotoBaller

David Moore Dec 20 4:00pm CT
David Moore

The Carolina Panthers won't activate wide receiver David Moore (elbow) from Injured Reserve this week, according to Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer. Moore landed on IR after suffering an elbow injury during Carolina's 42-13 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 4. The 30-year-old wideout has just one catch for five yards in his four games played this season. The veteran will hope to return to action for Week 17's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

From RotoBaller

Chigoziem Okonkwo Dec 20 3:40pm CT
Chigoziem Okonkwo

Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo isn't a realistic fantasy option for Week 16's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Okonkwo has yet to find the end zone in 14 games this season and hasn't exceeded four catches in a game. The 26-year-old tight end is second on the team in receiving yards over the past four games, but that's more of a reflection of how poor the Titans' offense is. Okonkwo has a tough matchup on deck in Week 16 against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. He's fallen outside the top 32 tight ends in RotoBaller's Week 16 rankings.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Dec 20 3:40pm CT
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) missed practice for the third straight day on Saturday and is considered unlikely to play Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports. Pearsall aggravated his PCL injury during last week's win over the Tennessee Titans and is set to miss more time. The second-year wideout still produced a strong receiving line despite picking up the injury, catching six of seven targets for 96 yards. Jauan Jennings should be in line to see an uptick in opportunities behind Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle in San Francisco's pass game on Monday night, with Kendrick Bourne also in line to fill in for extra reps.

From RotoBaller

Mecole Hardman Dec 20 3:40pm CT
Mecole Hardman

The Buffalo Bills have elevated kicker Michael Badgley from the practice squad to the active roster and activated wide receiver Mecole Hardman (calf) from Injured Reserve. Badgley will be filling in for an injured Matt Prater (quadriceps), who could be looking at a multi-game absence. The 30-year-old Badgley was signed to the Bills' practice squad after beginning the season with the Indianapolis Colts, where he made 10 of his 11 field goal attempts and 18 of his 21 extra points in seven games. Hardman, on the other hand, landed on IR after injuring his calf in his first game with the Bills in Week 11's win over the Buccaneers. The 27-year-old wideout is unlikely to be a significant factor in the Bills' offense, but should play a role on special teams in Week 16's game versus the Cleveland Browns.

From RotoBaller

Marvin Harrison Jr. Dec 20 3:40pm CT
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) will benefit from his team's high-volume passing attack if he's healthy enough to play in Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Harrison has missed four of the last five games due to various injuries, but he's making good progress ahead of Sunday's battle of eliminated NFC teams. The former first-round pick was limited in practice this week and told reporters that he's healthy enough to play. Assuming he's confirmed as active for Week 16, Harrison should operate as a high-volume WR2. The Cardinals' passing attack has been impressive ever since Jacoby Brissett took over for Kyler Murray (foot). Brissett is averaging 43 pass attempts and 301 passing yards per game as a starter, and he has been a top-12 fantasy quarterback in each of his nine starts. Arizona's high passing volume has allowed Brissett to support fantasy-relevant performances from Harrison, Michael Wilson, and Trey McBride. Therefore, Arizona's game plan and Week 16 game script against the Falcons bodes well for Harrison to deliver a solid fantasy performance. The Falcons have allowed the fourth-most touchdowns and seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2025. Harrison ranks as the overall WR36 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16, but he could climb into the top 24 once he's officially confirmed as active on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Gunnar Helm Dec 20 3:30pm CT
Gunnar Helm

Tennessee Titans rookie tight end Gunnar Helm (toe) is expected to play on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Helm was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to full on Friday. The rookie fourth-rounder has emerged as one of the few bright spots on the Titans' offense in recent weeks. He caught all four of his targets for 49 yards and his second touchdown of the season in last week's loss to the 49ers. The Texas product leads the team with 131 receiving yards over the past four games, ranking as the TE15 in that span. Helm's stock is trending up, and he projects as an upside TE2 option even in a tougher matchup on Sunday against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has given up the fifth fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends.

From RotoBaller

Emari Demercado Dec 20 3:30pm CT
Emari Demercado

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado is expected to handle an increased workload against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, but his fantasy outlook remains murky. He is on track to operate as the backup to Michael Carter this week after Zonovan Knight (ankle) was placed on injured reserve. While Demercado was viewed as Arizona's passing-down specialist at points earlier this season, it's unclear whether that remains his role given how well Carter has performed in the passing game lately. Carter has 19 catches over his last five games, whereas Demercado has just 10 catches through parts of 10 games this year. Rather than being a true passing-down specialist, it seems more likely that the 26-year-old will fall into a change-of-pace role, allowing the Cardinals to manage Carter's workload and keep him fresh. Demercado has shown impressive burst in the past, and his 8.3 yards per carry over the last two seasons indicates that he's capable of breaking off big plays. His fantasy value in Week 16 likely hinges on whether he's able to break off any big runs or catches against the Falcons. In other words, he'll need high efficiency to overcome a backup's workload. He currently ranks as the RB51 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Elic Ayomanor Dec 20 3:20pm CT
Elic Ayomanor

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor hasn't been a trustworthy fantasy option despite playing a full-time role since the start of the season. Ayomanor has caught just one ball in each of the past three games after recording multiple receptions in his first 10 games. His two lowest target totals of the season have also come in the past two games. The rookie fourth-rounder has scored double-digit PPR points twice in 13 games, coming back in Weeks 2 and 3. Ayomanor is tough to trust beyond a deep league FLEX option for Week 16's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

From RotoBaller

Michael Wilson Dec 20 3:20pm CT
Michael Wilson

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson should remain a strong fantasy option against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 despite the potential return of Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel). Harrison, listed as questionable, is working his way back from missing four games in the last five weeks. Wilson has been at his best when Harrison is inactive. During those four games, he averaged a whopping 15.0 targets, 10.3 catches, 124.8 yards, and 0.8 touchdowns. Harrison's potential return would certainly lower his ceiling and floor, but he can still be a viable fantasy starter, especially with Jacoby Brissett throwing the ball at least 40 times every game. Wilson has low-end WR1 upside if Harrison sits out, and he'd be a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 with Harrison playing. Even if Harrison suits up, we wouldn't be surprised to see Wilson lead the Cardinals' wide receiver room in snaps, targets, catches, and yards, given how well he has played lately. He ranks as the overall WR15 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Trey McBride Dec 20 3:10pm CT
Trey McBride

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride remains a top fantasy option despite a difficult matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16. On paper, it may appear that the odds are stacked against McBride. Not only is he facing a Falcons defense that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in 2025, but he could also face additional competition if Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel, questionable) returns from his two-game absence. However, McBride has consistently established himself as matchup-proof this year, so he should feast despite facing Atlanta. Furthermore, he could still lead the team in targets and catches, even if Harrison does return to the mix. In total this year, the 26-year-old has 105 catches, 1,071 yards, and a career-high 10 touchdowns. He is on track to finish this year as the overall TE1 in PPR leagues after finishing 2024 as the TE2. McBride has especially benefited from the presence of quarterback Jacoby Brissett. In full-PPR leagues, he averaged 12.5 fantasy points per game with Kyler Murray (foot) as the starter, and a whopping 23.3 fantasy points per game with Brissett as the starter. We should expect more otherworldly, video-game numbers from McBride this week. He's the undisputed TE1 in this week's fantasy rankings and should be a must-start as the fantasy playoffs continue.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Dec 20 2:50pm CT
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears recorded just five touches for 36 yards in last week's loss to the San Francisco 49ers. It was the third year back's fewest touches in a game since Week 5, his first game of the season after opening the year on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury. Spears' role in the Titans' offense hasn't expanded with Tony Pollard locking down the lead back duties and delivering his two best performances of the season in the last two weeks. The 24-year-old has just one game this season with double-digit PPR points, coming back in Week 8. Spears will remain a low-upside FLEX option in a tough Week 16 matchup versus the Kansas City Chiefs, who have allowed the fourth fewest PPR points per game to running backs.

From RotoBaller

Chimere Dike Dec 20 2:50pm CT
Chimere Dike

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike has held down a full-time role in the offense, but hasn't emerged as a reliable option for fantasy football. Dike leads the Titans with 24 targets in the past four games, but has generated just 93 yards. The rookie fourth-rounder delivered his two best fantasy performances in Weeks 7 and 8, scoring 16.9 and 16.4 PPR points. However, he has underwhelmed in six games since, averaging just 6.6 points per game. The Florida product still profiles as the most reliable receiver in the Titans' offense, but he is tough to trust for fantasy purposes for a tough matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. He profiles as a deep league FLEX option at best in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Michael Carter Dec 20 2:40pm CT
Michael Carter

Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter should lead the backfield against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, reinforcing his fantasy value as a low-end RB2 or high-end RB3 in fantasy football. Carter will handle a larger workload this week after Zonovan Knight (ankle) was placed on injured reserve. After Knight exited last weekend, Carter played a season-high 80% snap share with 14 carries, 56 rushing yards, four catches, and 38 receiving yards. The 26-year-old is likely headed for similar volume this Sunday, but we also wouldn't be surprised if Emari Demercado eats into his workload slightly. Nevertheless, Carter should remain the clear No. 1 back heading into a favorable matchup against the Falcons, who have allowed the 13th-most rushing yards and 14th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. A spread of ATL -3.0 also indicates that this should be a competitive game, which is another reason why we expect Carter to see a healthy dose of carries and targets. He ranks as the overall RB25 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Dec 20 2:30pm CT
Jacoby Brissett

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett has filled in admirably for Kyler Murray (foot), and he remains a strong fantasy option ahead of Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. The veteran quarterback wasn't expected to have any fantasy relevance coming into this season, and even when he took over as the Cardinals' starter, expectations were quite low. However, he has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy managers, ranking as a top-12 quarterback in all nine of his starts this year. Since replacing Murray in Week 6, he is the overall QB3 in fantasy scoring, trailing only Josh Allen and Trevor Lawrence. He already has talented receiving threats available in Trey McBride and Michael Wilson, and he could get additional reinforcements with Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) listed as questionable. Harrison is working his way back after missing four of the last five Cardinals games. Having all three of his top targets available would give Murray an extra boost against the Falcons, who rank near the middle of the league with the 16th-most fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks in 2025. Just last week, Atlanta's defense surrendered 277 passing yards and two touchdowns to Baker Mayfield. As it stands, Brissett is the overall QB7 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Zane Gonzalez Dec 20 2:10pm CT
Zane Gonzalez

Atlanta Falcons kicker Zane Gonzalez has been solid as the team's third placekicker this year, going 11-for-13 in the six games he's played, with both misses coming from more than 50 yards out. He's also 11-for-11 on extra point attempts. The 30-year-old is on the streaming radar for Week 16's road matchup against the Cardinals, as Arizona has given up 35 points per contest over the last three weeks, which is second-worst in the NFL over that stretch, and Atlanta owns an implied total of 25 for this contest, so there is scoring expected in this one. Gonzalez won't have to deal with any elements playing indoors in Arizona either, so it sets him up as a potential top 12 kicking option for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

David Sills Dec 20 2:00pm CT
David Sills

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver David Sills V drew 10 targets in Week 15, converting them into six catches for 78 yards. The 29-year-old enjoyed a four-game stretch with Drake London (knee) missing from action, which included touchdown receptions in Weeks 12 and 13, however, London is expected to return in Week 16. That could mean Sills' fantasy relevance could revert to near-zero, although he did manage to outsnap Darnell Mooney each of the last two weeks, so it could be Mooney's playing time that takes a hit. Either way, with it being the fantasy playoffs for most managers, it's a situation that is probably best avoided if possible, leaving the 29-year-old as a deep league Hail Mary where needed.

From RotoBaller

Evan Engram Dec 20 1:30pm CT
Evan Engram

Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram will host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. Engram enters Week 16 as the TE30 overall on the season in full-PPR leagues and has had a downtrend in offensive snaps with 36% in Week 14 and 28% in Week 15. While the Jaguars will likely force the Broncos to focus more on the passing attack since they are the best in the league at average rushing yards allowed per game, with 86.3, it's hard to bet that Engram will be a beneficiary of the gameplan. As RotoBaller's TE27 overall on the week, Engram will be best left on the bench or on waivers.

From RotoBaller

Wil Lutz Dec 20 1:30pm CT
Wil Lutz

Denver Broncos Kicker Wil Lutz will look for more opportunities to contribute as he'll face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. In the Week 15 win over the Green Bay Packers, Lutz was able to convert four PAT attempts and didn't get a chance to kick a field goal. The Jaguars' defense is currently ranked 10th in scoring allowed per game at 20.9, and while it can be difficult to predict exactly how likely a kicker will be relied upon for field goals, Lutz has been reliable when given the opportunity this season. As Lutz will do all he can to help the Broncos extend their win streak to 12 straight, RotoBaller ranks him at 21 overall for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Dec 20 1:20pm CT
Bo Nix

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will look to stay hot as they will host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. After lighting up the Green Bay Packers in Week 15 with 302 passing yards and four passing touchdowns, Nix should theoretically have an easier time moving the offense down the field against a defense ranking 20th overall in average passing yards allowed per game at 222.2. Nix will also get rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant back into the lineup for Week 16, which could lead to even more open options to choose from throughout the day. Fantasy managers should feel confident starting Nix as RotoBaller's QB11 overall for Week 16 rankings.

From RotoBaller