This article is part of our NFL Barometer series.
As we head into Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season, many fantasy football managers are trying to advance to title game. Injuries, offensive changes and emerging trends continue to reshape the fantasy landscape, making it vital to stay ahead of value swings. This week's fantasy football risers and fallers spotlight players whose stock is moving sharply in one direction or another, and how to adjust accordingly. For a deeper dive into player usage and evolving roles, check out the RotoWire NFL team depth charts.
Fantasy Football Risers
Quarterback
For much of the season, Lawrence has been a better fantasy asset than real-life quarterback, but last week he delivered his best performance in both areas. The veteran erupted against the Jets, throwing for 330 yards and five touchdowns while adding 51 rushing yards and a score on the ground. It marked the first time all season he produced more than two touchdowns without an interception. While a matchup with Denver presents a challenge, Lawrence appears to be peaking at the right time.
Running Back
Pollard was one of the most disappointing fantasy running backs from Weeks 8-13, failing to top 8.1 PPR points in any contest. Over the last two games, the running back has flipped the script with 270 total rushing yards and three touchdowns. After shredding Cleveland and following it up with another strong performance against San Francisco, his confidence appears restored. The matchup with Kansas City is difficult, but Pollard's recent form makes him hard to ignore.
Etienne has handled elite volume throughout the season, keeping his fantasy value intact even when efficiency has lagged. While he has not recorded a 100-yard rushing game since Week 4, he has found success in multiple ways. Over the last five games, the running back has produced two multi-touchdown rushing performances and followed that up with three receiving touchdowns last week. Despite inconsistent efficiency, Etienne remains a great weekly fantasy option.
Wide Receiver
Evans endured a frustrating, injury-filled first half of the season that limited both his availability and production. In his return last week against Atlanta, he played just 37 snaps but saw 12 targets, catching six passes for 132 yards. With Baker Mayfield struggling for consistency, funneling targets to his most reliable option makes sense. Evans should continue seeing heavy volume down the stretch.
Playing in a low-volume passing offense makes it difficult for any receiver to sustain fantasy value, especially one operating as the second option. Still, Coker has built on his chemistry with Bryce Young and quietly produced solid results: he had at least 52 receiving yards in three of the last four games while scoring touchdowns in back-to-back contests. While the target volume remains modest, Coker has become a viable flex option.
Tight End
Goedert opened the season on a tear, recording double-digit PPR points in six of his first seven games. Following the Week 9 bye, he struggled mightily as the Philadelphia offense sputtered, averaging just five PPR points across four games. Over the last two weeks, however, the tight end has rebounded with strong performances, including a two-touchdown outing against Las Vegas. While consistency remains a question, the prolonged slump appears to be behind him.
Fantasy Football Fallers
Quarterback
Burrow looked sharp in his return from a turf toe injury, delivering strong fantasy performances against Baltimore and Buffalo. Unfortunately, his rematch with the Ravens last week was a disaster, as he threw for just 225 yards and two interceptions. With Cincinnati's postseason hopes extinguished, the loss was especially painful for fantasy managers. There is still upside if Tee Higgins returns, but the floor is suddenly much lower.
Running Back
As the Jets' season has unraveled, Hall has suffered the most from the offensive collapse. Between Weeks 10-13, the running back delivered three games of at least 15.6 PPR points. Since quarterback injuries mounted, defenses have focused solely on stopping him, resulting in back-to-back games under six PPR points. With difficult matchups remaining, trusting Hall in fantasy lineups has become increasingly risky.
Jeanty managed to overcome poor blocking and inconsistent quarterback play for much of the season. While he produced several double-digit PPR performances, the last two weeks have marked a clear downturn. During that stretch, the rookie is averaging just 7.0 PPR points. Facing Houston's defense next, Jeanty will need a touchdown or explosive play to justify fantasy confidence.
Wide Receiver
Pickens was among the top fantasy wide receivers for much of the season, regardless of scoring format. Over the last two games, however, his production has cratered with lines of five catches for 37 yards and three catches for 33 yards. Those outings mark the first time all season he failed to reach 12.2 PPR points in any game since Week 1. While he remains a lineup lock, the matchup with the Chargers' zone-heavy defense creates discomfort.
Injuries across the Chargers' offense have severely limited the unit's effectiveness, and McConkey has been caught in the fallout. After a dominant stretch between Weeks 6-10, the receiver has struggled over the last month. He has posted three games with 20 or fewer yards and no touchdowns during that span. Although the matchup with Dallas is favorable, recent trends make him difficult to trust.
Tight End
Warren enjoyed an excellent rookie campaign through Week 13, rarely delivering poor fantasy performances. Over the last two weeks, quarterback instability has derailed his production despite steady target volume. He has totaled just five catches for 34 yards across those contests. With Philip Rivers operating the offense conservatively, Warren's role may remain crowded and his upside limited heading into Week 16.
Conclusion
As the playoffs march forward, evaluating fantasy football risers and fallers becomes essential for optimizing lineups and making timely roster moves. Several players are peaking at exactly the right moment, while others appear to be fading at the worst possible time. Staying flexible with roster construction and monitoring usage trends will provide a significant competitive edge. For updated projections and weekly lineup guidance, be sure to visit the RotoWire weekly projections page.
