NFL DFS Week 16 Example Lineups: Top Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel Contests
Published: Dec 24, 2023
Welcome to the NFL Week 16 DFS Example Lineups for the Sunday main slate. If you're already reading this, it means you've already gone through all the NFL DFS content Fantasy Alarm has to offer and you've built a few lineups. If not, go back to the NFL DFS Playbook first and then hit all of the DFS coaching pieces as well. Then build yourself a few potentially winning DFS lineups and use what I have here as a sounding board for feedback.
Just a few notes here about the lineups below...
The cash lineups were built solely off the players I put in the Playbook. These are the guys who, unless I have indicated otherwise, offer up the higher floor and will help you cash in your Double-Ups and 50/50s. For GPP tournaments, particularly the large-field ones, you need to find alternative routes to the cash line. I will utilize players from the Playbook and the DFS Dart Board to fill in the gaps, but what I am looking for are some lower-owned stacks that make sense based on expected game flow and other news. You may also see in the GPP lineups, there may be some names I haven't discussed this week on the site, but have talked about during the week on the Fantasy Alarm Show or even on the Fantasy Alarm Sunday Gameday Show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. You will also notice, though, that others on the site have mentioned some of these players in places such as the position coaches, so it's not like we're trying to hide anything from you. The only time, and I mean the only time you will see a player in a GPP lineup who hasn't been discussed is if we are using a stack and need a player from the other team coming back. But it's rare when that happens.
Again, these lineups are meant to serve as examples for you; a sounding board, as I said. They are not meant for you to plug in as your own. That's the lazy way and we don't condone it. We are trying to teach you how to be a better DFS player; we aren't lineup-sellers. You should be creating your own lineups using all the information we provide you throughout the week and then coming here to see if there is anything you may have missed or simply for an alternative perspective.
**Be sure to check the Playbook and Dart Board for late changes
Best of luck to you this week and let's make some money!
SUNDAY MORNING NOTES:
According to Adam Schefter:
- Nico Collins is expected to play for the Houston Texans
- Will Levis is unlikely to play on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks
- Trevor Lawrence is going to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kenneth Walker is going to play for the Seattle Seahawks
- The Miami Dolphins are “optimistic” that Tyreek Hill will play against the Dallas Cowboys
- Jonathan Taylor will be active for the Indianapolis Colts
- Geno Smith will start for the Seattle Seahawks
- De'Von Achane is expected to play for the Miami Dolphins
- Michael Pittman has re-entered concussion protocol and will not be active for the Indianapolis Colts
- Eagles WR Devonta Smith is off the team's injury report
- Titans have placed defensive end Jeffery Simmons on season ending IR
WEATHER REPORT:
As of now there doesn't look to be too much going on weather wise. Some light wind in the Dallas Cowboys vs Miami Dolphins game. There's a chance for a shower during the Arizona Cardinals vs Chicago Bears game but again, not something that we should be too worried about.
GPP STACKS:
As a reminder, when you're stacking in GPP, you always want to run someone back from the opposing team. One-sided games often turn to a running back seeing higher-than-usual volume or the back-ups start to play. For a stack to really pop, the other team needs to keep things competitive.
Chalk Stacks (Expect High Ownership):
*Chicago Bears: Justin Fields, DJ Moore, Cole Kmet (Trey McBride or Michael Wilson coming back)
*Minnesota Vikings: Nick Mullens, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson (Amon-Ra St. Brown coming back)
Seattle Seahawks: Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett (DeAndre Hopkins coming back)
*Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, Calvin Ridley, Evan Engram or Parker Washington (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin or Rachaad White coming back)
Possible Lower-Owned Stacks:
Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert (Ceedee Lamb or Jake Ferguson coming back)
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott, Ceedee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, Brandin Cooks (Jaylen Waddle or Raheem Mostert coming back)
*Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans Rachaad White or Chris Godwin (Calvin Ridley or Parker Washington coming back)
*Detroit Lions: Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta (Justin Jefferson comnig back)
Cleveland Browns: Joe Flacco, Amari Cooper, David Njoku (Noah Brown or Nico Collins coming back)
Dart Throw Stacks:
Atlanta Falcons: Taylor Heinicke, Bijan Robinson, Drake London (Jonathan Taylor coming back)
Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, Rondale Moore (DJ Moore coming back)
*denotes favorite
| Pos | Player | Team | Opponent | Salary | Proj. Draft% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Jared Goff | DET | MIN | $7,800 | 4.6% |
| Pivot | Geno Smith | LV | KC | $6,600 | 6.7% |
| RB | Bijan Robinson | ATL | IND | $7,100 | 17.4% |
| RB | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | GB | $6,400 | 13.8% |
| WR | Calvin Ridley | TEN | SEA | $6,800 | 20.6% |
| WR | Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | MIN | $8,600 | 10.2% |
| Pivot | Tyler Lockett | TEN | SEA | $6,700 | 9.2% |
| WR | Garrett Wilson | NYJ | WAS | $7,000 | 16.6% |
| TE | Jake Ferguson | DAL | MIA | $6,000 | 5.7% |
| FLEX | Chris Rodriguez | WAS | NYJ | $5,400 | 1.7% |
| Pivot | Jonathan Taylor | IND | ATL | $9,000 | 15.4% |
| DST | Chicago Bears | CHI | ARI | $4,400 | 7.1% |
| $59,500 |
Player News
Free agent WR Chase Claypool revealed the severity of the toe injury he suffered in July 2024.
In a social media post, the 26-year-old receiver explains that he “tore a ligament and tendon” in his second toe on his left foot and has “been rehabbing, working out, and recovering everyday for the past year.” This explains his extended absence. Following the injury, Claypool was briefly placed on injured reserve in August 2024 before being released with an injury settlement. He is “back to being the strongest and fastest” he’s ever been and is “excited to step back out on the field.”
Free agent LB Jason Pierre-Paul hopes to sign with an NFL team, ideally the Giants, in “a full-circle moment.”
Per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, “Pierre-Paul still believes he can help a team, that he can be a veteran closer.” The 36-year-old has continued training to remain NFL-ready despite failing to find a suitor for the 2024 season. He logged 22 defensive snaps, playing for both the Saints and Dolphins in 2023. His last sack occurred as a Raven, in a Wild Card Weekend loss to the Bengals in the prior season. Sitting at 94.5 career sacks, Pierre-Paul hopes to reach 100 as a part-time player in 2025.
The CFL’s Toronto Argonauts claimed Shedeur Sanders’ negotiating rights in case Sanders one day chooses to leave the NFL for the CFL.
There is no indication that Sanders is in contact with the Argonauts and we do not expect Sanders to leave the NFL for the CFL at this time. Every year in early July, just before NFL training camps begin, the CFL allows its teams to claim NFL players’ negotiating rights, on the off chance that the player is released or waived by his team and decides to pursue a career in Canada. Per the CFL’s Marshall Ferguson, “the CFL began releasing a few names here and there periodically, but now the full list is available for all to see from each of the nine teams.” Fans can rest assured that their high-profile, fifth-round rookie remains a Cleveland Brown.
Free agent CB Stephon Gilmore wants to play football in “the right situation” this season.
The 34-year-old veteran visited the Cowboys pre-draft but left without a contract. Gilmore is no longer an above-average starter, but he did force eight incompletions and record one interception last year. A playoff contender could benefit from signing Gilmore as an experienced option, but teams tend to not have high valuations on older cornerbacks.
ESPN’s Turron Davenport reports that Titans QB Cam Ward is adjusting to the NFL’s speed and field width while learning how to adjust protection against the blitz.
Ward is learning through trial and error, as many rookies do. The young quarterback is now aware that an open receiver in the NFL looks far different than it did in college, even when targeting a linebacker’s coverage. The NFL’s condensed field spacing has also reportedly required Ward to improve his awareness against the blitz. Per Davenport, Ward successfully showcased a lightbulb moment in this regard, which occurred “during team period when Ward recognized where the pressure was coming from and checked to a different protection to block it up.” Ward also notably signaled an audible to Calvin Ridley and connected with the veteran receiver for a touchdown. These are positive steps for a quarterback who currently profiles as a QB2 in re-draft formats.
Speaking to Rich Eisen about the Steelers’ contract talks with EDGE T.J. Watt, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said the “most likely” outcome is that the two sides agree to an extension that resets the market before the season opener.
Pelissero recently reported that the Steelers do not plan to trade Watt, and Watt’s record-setting goals are well known, so the most recent report makes sense. The team will do its best to ensure team-friendly outs exist later in the deal, but for now, Watt appears to be on track for a hefty payday sometime before September 7th. Pelissero states succinctly, Watt’s expected extension “is going to be north of Myles Garrett—it is going to be upwards of $40 million per year.”