December 21, 2025
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NFL DraftKings Picks: Week 16

Walt011 mins
Jared Goff

I’ll be posting NFL DraftKings picks here. I cannot post lineups anymore, but I will list some players I like each week.


Week 16: Main Slate


I can no longer post any lineups, per DraftKings rules. I will be trying something different this year, which is to rank my order of preferences by position taking price into account.


Top DFS Quarterbacks:

  1. Joe Burrow, $6,500 (at Dolphins)
  2. Jared Goff, $6,300 (vs. Steelers)
  3. Jacoby Brissett, $5,300 (vs. Falcons)
  4. J.J. McCarthy, $4,900 (at Giants)
  5. Aaron Rodgers, $5,000 (at Lions)
  6. Kirk Cousins, $4,800 (at Cardinals)
  7. Trevor Lawrence, $5,900 (at Broncos)
  8. C.J. Stroud, $5,400 (vs. Raiders)
  9. Quinn Ewers, $4,000 (at Bengals)
You have to love the Lions off a loss, and Jared Goff looks great with the Steelers missing T.J. Watt. Joe Burrow will do great if he tries this week.


Top DFS Running Backs:

  1. Jahmyr Gibbs, $8,500 (vs. Steelers)
  2. James Cook, $7,700 (at Browns)
  3. Bijan Robinosn, $8,700 (at Cardinals)
  4. De’Von Achane, $8,800 (vs. Bengals)
  5. Bucky Irving, $6,700 (at Panthers)
  6. Quinshon Judkins, $6,000 (vs. Bills)
  7. Kenneth Gainwell, $5,100 (at Lions)
  8. Audric Estime, $5,000 (vs. Jets)
  9. Michael Carter, $5,400 (vs. Falcons
The Steelers are weak to the run, so Jahmyr Gibbs has a terrific matchup. James Cook also looks good versus Cleveland’s suddenly porous defense. The two most expensive running backs also look great. Kenneth Gainwell is mispriced because this slate didn’t take Monday night into account.


Top DFS Wide Receivers:

  1. Mike Evans, $6,400 (at Panthers)
  2. Justin Jefferson, $6,000 (at Giants)
  3. DK Metcalf, $5,400 (at Lions)
  4. Xavier Worthy, $4,400 (at Titans)
  5. Ja’Marr Chase, $8,600 (at Dolphins)
  6. Amon-Ra St. Brown, $8,400 (vs. Steelers)
  7. Nico Collins, $7,500 (vs. Raiders)
  8. Jameson Williams, $6,400 (vs. Steelers)
  9. Michael Wilson, $6,900 (vs. Falcons)
  10. Chris Olave, $6,500 (vs. Jets)
  11. Tetairoa McMillan, $5,800 (vs. Buccaneers)
  12. Jalen Coker, $4,400 (vs. Buccaneers)
  13. Jakobi Meyers, $5,500 (at Broncos)
  14. Isaiah Bond, $3,000 (vs. Bills)
  15. Jayden Higgins, $4,100 (vs. Raiders)
Mike Evans is 100 percent and looks like a great play this week. Justin Jefferson may seem high here, but he was so close to having a huge breakout game on Sunday night, and that could happen this week. DK Metcalf has a great matchup versus the Lions and looks like a strong run-back option versus the Lions. Xavier Worthy’s projection has increased because of Rashee Rice’s injury.


Top DFS Tight Ends:

  1. Darren Waller, $3,500 (vs. Bengals)
  2. Kyle Pitts, $5,000 (at Cardinals)
  3. Dalton Schultz, $4,200 (vs. Raiders)
  4. Brenton Strange, $3,900 (at Broncos)
  5. Oronde Gadsen, $4,100 (at Cowboys)
  6. Evan Engram, $2,900 (vs. Jaguars)
Darren Waller has the best matchup among tight ends this week. Kyle Pitts should continue his onslaught against another team weak to tight ends.


Top DFS Defenses:

  1. Texans, $4,000 (vs. Raiders)
  2. Saints, $3,400 (vs. Jets)
  3. Vikings, $2,800 (at Giants)
  4. Bills, $3,500 (at Browns)
  5. Cowboys, $2,900 (vs. Chargers)
The poor Raiders don’t stand a chance against the Texans. The Saints will look great if Brady Cook starts again.




Players to Avoid: Chase Brown (6900), Cowboys Receivers. Chase Brown looks like he has a positive matchup, but the Bengals are not running the ball well against anyone. … The Cowboys have a rough matchup this week against the Chargers’ No. 2 defense.


Week 16: Saturday Slate


I can no longer post any lineups, per DraftKings rules. I will be trying something different this year, which is to rank my order of preferences by position taking price into account.


Top DFS Quarterbacks:

  1. Jalen Hurts, $6,900 (at Redskins)
  2. Jordan Love, $5,700 (at Bears)
  3. Caleb Williams, $5,500 (vs. Packers)
There’s one defense far worse than the others in the Saturday slate, and that would be the Redskins. However, Caleb Williams is worth a shot because Green Bay lost Micah Parsons. “No Cookie” Jordan Love is only in play if Christian Watson is healthy.


Top DFS Running Backs:

  1. Saquon Barkley, $7,200 (at Redskins)
  2. D’Andre Swift, $5,900 (vs. Packers)
  3. Kyle Monangai, $4,900 (vs. Packers)
Saquon Barkley has been a disappointment this year, but he had a big game against the Giants. This is a similar matchup. Meanwhile, the Bears runners look better with Parsons gone.


Top DFS Wide Receivers:

  1. A.J. Brown, $6,700 (at Redskins)
  2. DeVonta Smith, $5,700 (at Redskins)
  3. D.J. Moore, $5,300 (vs. Packers)
  4. Christian Watson, $5,200 (at Bears)
  5. Jayden Reed, $5,000 (at Bears)
  6. Olamide Zaccheaus, $3,500 (vs. Packers)
The Bears will be missing a couple of Chicago receivers, so we have some value with the Bears. Christian Watson’s status dictates the slate.


Top DFS Tight Ends:

  1. Dallas Goedert, $4,100 (at Redskins)
  2. Colston Loveland, $3,900 (vs. Packers)
  3. Cole Kmet, $3,900 (vs. Packers)
  4. Luke Musgrave, $2,700 (at Bears)
Of all the tight ends, Dallas Goedert has the best matchup by far.


Top DFS Defenses:

  1. Eagles, $3,600 (at Redskins)
  2. Bears, $2,500 (vs. Packers)
The Eagles are the obvious choice, but the Bears will be intriguing if Christain Watson is out.




Players to Avoid: Josh Jacobs (7300), Deebo Samuel (5100). Josh Jacobs is banged up and has a tougher matchup this week with Chicago’s defense getting healthier. … Deebo Samuel is banged up and will be going up against Cooper DeJean.


Week 16: Patriots at Ravens Showdown Slate


Top Captains: Isaiah Likely (6600). The Patriots are weak to tight ends. Isaiah Likely did nothing last week, but that makes him a good play Sunday night, given that people will be hesitant to put him into their lineups.

Top Spend-Up FLEX (in addition to Top Captains): Drake Maye (10800), Lamar Jackson (10600). Having someone like Likely at captain allows for easier builds with the two quarterbacks.

Top Value: Mark Andrews (5400), Mack Hollins (4800). You can easily swap out Likely for Mark Andrews. Mack Hollins saw a team-high eight targets last week.

Top Punt Play: Keaton Mitchell (3000). The Patriots have been weaker to the run recently. Keaton Mitchell seems to be getting more work each week.

Player to Avoid: TreVeyon Henderson (9600). An easy fade after those two long touchdown runs. The Ravens are much better against the run than the Bills are.




Week 16: 49ers-Colts Showdown Slate


Top Captains: George Kittle (12600). The Colts are weak to tight ends, so Kyle Shanahan will undoubtedly exploit this liability.

Top Spend-Up FLEX (in addition to Top Captains): Christian McCaffrey (11800). Unless you go very cheap at captain, you’ll probably have to decide between Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor. I’d go with the former because the 49ers will be able to stack the box and bottle up Taylor, whereas McCaffrey will catch a healthy number of passes, especially with Ricky Pearsall being injured.

Top Value: Tyler Warren (6600). The 49ers are also weak against tight ends. Philip Rivers may pepper Warren with a bunch of targets.

Top Punt Play: Kendrick Bourne (4400), Demarcus Robinson (4000). Both of these tertiary targets are in play because of Pearsall’s injury.

Player to Avoid: Philip Rivers (8800). Rivers is just dinking and dunking. It’ll be tough for him to get to 10 DK points.



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