Wide receiver non-PPR rankings for Week 16 fantasy football

Friday injury report

Tyreek Hill got in limited practice sessions and is officially questionable for Sunday football. It’s a positive sign to get in any amount of practice , though it is worth wondering if they're looking to spare some wear and tear on their star wideout ahead of the playoffs.

Terry McLaurin’s doubtful status is a huge bump for any JD McKissic or Logan Thomas managers. Cam Sims could see some targets as well as the next receiver up, but he’s an unworthy dart throw.

Keenan Allen is officially listed as questionable for Week 16, which likely has fantasy managers shaking in their boots after he didn’t practice this week. If active, he’s a liability in lineups in a crucial game following the burn of Week 15.

Out: Kenny Golladay (hip), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Julio Jones (hamstring), Tyler Boyd (concussion), Golden Tate (calf)
Doubtful: Terry McLaurin (ankle)
Questionable: Tyreek Hill (hamstring), Larry Fitzgerald (groin), Jakeem Grant (hamstring), DeVante Parker (hamstring), Allen Robinson (hamstring), Keenan Allen (hamstring), Marquise Brown (knee)

Thursday injury report

Deebo Samuel ruled out.

Allen Robinson was downgraded from a full practice participant to DNP on Thursday. He’s listed with a hamstring.

A.J. Brown was downgraded from limited to DNP with an ankle injury.

DNP: Tre’Quan Smith (ankle), Kenny Golladay (hip), Terry McLaurin, Allen Robinson (hamstring), Tyler Boyd (concussion), Julio Jones (hamstring), Marquise Brown (knee), Keenan Allen (hamstring), A.J. Brown (ankle), Golden Tate (calf)
Limited: DeVante Parker (hamstring), Jakeem Grant (hamstring), Tyreek Hill (hamstring), Larry Fitzgerald (groin), Allen Lazard (core, wrist), Michael Gallup (hip), Jalen Reagor (ankle), Denzel Mims (foot)
Full: Hunter Renfrow (concussion), Le’Veon Bell (knee), Curtis Samuel (hamstring), Jamison Crowder (calf, thigh), Stefon Diggs (foot), Jarvis Landry (hip)

Wednesday injury report

Remember back in the day of the Oprah Winfrey Show, when studio audience guests would receive giveaways of some of her favorite big-ticket items? That’s kind of what this week’s injury report feels like for wideouts. “You get a DNP! You get a DNP! Everybody gets a hamstring injury!”

Keenan Allen’s absence at practice is ominous, but fantasy managers probably aren’t much surprised considering his Week 15 sting. He’ll be difficult to trust in championship week unless he’s able to log a full practice.

Bengals wideout Tyler Boyd suffered a concussion on MNF and was absent from Wednesday’s practice. Considering the short week, fantasy managers should make contingency plans. Unless he makes quick progress through the protocol, he’ll be out for Week 16.

Hunter Renfrow’s full practice following last week’s brutal head injury is a great sign of his progress heading into Week 16, looking like a real possibility that he’ll be able to clear the concussion protocol.

Tyreek Hill didn’t practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury, though Andy Reid doesn’t seem overly concerned regarding his status for Sunday. Hill has been dealing with a tight hamstring but should still be good to go for Week 16 barring any unexpected developments.

DNP: Keenan Allen (hamstring), Tre’Quan Smith (ankle), Collin Johnson (hamstring), Julio Jones (hamstring), Tyler Boyd (concussion), Larry Fitzgerald (groin), Jakeem Grant (hamstring), DeVante Parker (hamstring), Terry McLaurin (ankle), Tyreek Hill (hamstring)
Limited: Keke Coutee (foot), Allen Lazard (core), Jamison Crowder (calf/thigh), Denzel Mims (foot), Jalen Reagor (ankle), A.J. Brown (ankle)
Full: Hunter Renfrow (concussion)

If you had Zach Pascal, Marvin Jones and Corey Davis in your top-five rankings for Week 15, raise your hand. Then, put it back down, because it’s a stone-cold lie.

Injury news

Stefon Diggs left on a cart towards the end of the Bills Week 15 matchup against the Broncos, though he returned not long after to celebrate the win with the team. He returned to the field without a shoe and didn’t need assistance while walking, so we’ll need to keep a close eye on practice reports through the week. By all accounts, the hope is that this injury is a minor one.

The 49ers have shut down Deebo Samuel for the season, meaning they’ll play their final two games without their second-year wideout. Brandon Aiyuk has commanded a monstrous 12.4 targets per game over his last five games.

The Saints continue to have issues at the wide receiver position as Tre’Quan Smith is now also listed as week-to-week with an ankle injury. The team placed star wideout Michael Thomas on IR last week to get him rested and healthy for playoffs, and now their WR3 is out as well. This could mean that Alvin Kamara, Jared Cook and Emmanuel Sanders are in for a big workload in Week 16.

Tyler Boyd left his Monday Night Football matchup against the Steelers after hitting his head into the turf. He walked off on his own power but was placed in the concussion protocol. Raiders wideout Hunter Renfrow also landed in the protocol this week after a big-time hit to the head but did return to practice in a limited fashion Tuesday, a step in the right direction. The Raiders play the Dolphins in a Saturday game this week.

Streaming options

Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions

Unfortunately, it seems quite doubtful that fantasy managers will see the return of Kenny Golladay in 2020. In his absence, Marvin Jones Jr. has led the team in targets, receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. He’s commanded ten or more targets in four of his last six games with two top-five fantasy performances in the last three games. Jones has a nice matchup to close out the season against the Bucs, who have allowed four games of 130 or more receiving yards since Week 11.

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

This is your weekly reminder that Brandon Aiyuk has officially reached “must-start” territory. Don’t believe me? He’s ranked as a top-17 WR (or better) for standard scoring leagues in each of his last five games. In the absence of other playmakers, he’s been made a focal point of the offense and that should continue as fantasy managers close out their seasons. Though the Cardinals have been more stingy with yardage allowed to opposing wideouts, they have allowed nine receiving TDs to the position since Week 9, including three last week from the Eagles for crying out loud. Aiyuk’s volume and versatility make him a solid upside play in all scoring formats.