Week 16 Fantasy Football Look Ahead/Best Matchups: Devin Neal, Quentin Johnston, J.J. McCarthy and More

The fantasy football playoffs start for many of you this week. Others don't open the postseason until week 16, while some have first-round byes. For those of you in those boats, this article is for you.

If you can afford to look ahead to week 16, here are some favorable matchups with possible waiver wire pickups and starting lineup choices included.

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Running Back

The New York Giants are the second-best fantasy matchup for running backs, and Minnesota faces them in week 16.

That means that Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason could both be set up for success. Those two are more flex-level options, or deep-league assets, so those are the situations where these two should be coveted.

The New York Jets are also a super favorable matchup for running backs, and that's who New Orleans plays in week 16.

That makes Devin Neal and Alvin Kamara (if he's healthy enough to play) good options. Again, those are more flex-level guys or deep-league options, so get them on your rosters for potential week 16 starts.

The Cowboys are another very favorable matchup for fantasy running backs. The Chargers play them in week 16, so Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal could be solid fantasy options.

Depending on how the Chargers' backfield plays out this week will help determine which LA backs are the best options in every league type for week 16. The super favorable matchup means both backs could deliver good fantasy scores though, so get them lined up for next week if you can.

Buffalo is another great fantasy matchup for running backs, and that's who Cleveland plays next week.

That makes Quinshon Judkins a great starting option. He's starting in most leagues anyways, but he'd be a fairly easy start for week 16 because of the matchup.

Wide Receiver

Dallas is the best fantasy matchup for wide receivers, so Los Angeles' Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen are the first names that come to mind.

McConkey is the best standard league option, while Johnston could also start in those leagues because of the matchup. Allen could get himself in that conversation too if he delivers big in week 15. All three LA receivers are good/great deep-league options in week 16 because of that matchup.

Detroit is the second-best fantasy matchup for wide receivers, and Pittsburgh plays them in week 16.

DK Metcalf is really the only notable fantasy wideout for the Steelers, so he'll be a good starting option in all leagues. We'll see if Calvin Austin, Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Ben Skowronek can make some fantasy noise this weekend to work into deep-league starting talks for week 16.

The Giants are also a favorable matchup for wide receivers, so Vikings' Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are set up for a ton of success in week 16.

Jefferson has struggled a bit of late, so that favorable matchup will make it easier to start him in week 16. Addison is more on the flex line most weeks, so that favorable matchup should earn him plenty of standard league starts for next week.

Indianapolis is the fourth-best fantasy matchup for wide receivers. San Francisco plays Indy on Monday night in week 16.

That puts Jauan Jennings in a great position, as he's been the team's WR1 of late - he should earn plenty of starts, in all league types, for week 16. Ricky Pearsall has played enough since returning to the field, but hasn't delivered yet - maybe he can get rolling in week 15 and become a good deep-league, or standard league, option for next week.

Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson could also deliver enough this week to earn week 16 deep-league starting consideration in that favorable matchup.

Pittsburgh is the fifth-best fantasy matchup for wide receivers, so Detroit's wideouts are also primed for big games in week 16.

Amon-Ra St. Brown could end up as WR1 in week 16 as a result - he's a must-start wideout anyways. Jameson Williams is closer to the flex line, but has done enough of late to start in all leagues, especially in a good matchup like this.

Quarterback

Dallas is the best fantasy matchup for week 16, so LA's Justin Herbert is set up extremely well. He's worth adding now, so that you can start him in the elite matchup next week.

The Giants are the next-best matchup, so Vikings' J.J. McCarthy is in a great spot for week 16. He's really a better deep-league option, but after a solid week 14, and hopefully a decent week 15, McCarthy could earn more standard league starts in week 16.

Cincinnati is the next most favorable clash for a quarterback, so Miami's Tua Tagovailoa could be a sneaky good option in week 16. He's just a deep-league option, and fantasy owners probably need him to look decent in week 15 in order to be confident enough to start Tagovailoa next week.

Washington is the next-best fantasy matchup for a quarterback. Philadelphia plays them on Saturday in week 16.

Jalen Hurts is already a high-end fantasy QB, even after a disastrous week 14. Hopefully he bounces back this week, but even if he doesn't, Hurts is going to be a great option for week 16 in this high-end matchup.

Tampa Bay is the fifth-best fantasy matchup for a quarterback, and the Bucs' defense was just torched by Kirk Cousins last night. Carolina plays Tampa Bay in a massive NFC South clash in week 16.

Bryce Young is set up for success as the Panthers' quarterback. He's a better deep-league option, but after he delivered big in his last game, Young could earn some standard league starts in week 16, especially if he delivers again in week 15.

Tight End

Cincinnati is the most favorable fantasy test for tight ends, so Miami's Darren Waller is primed for a big showing in week 16.

Ideally, Waller looks good in week 15 so fantasy owners have more trust in him for week 16. He's a good deep-league starting option, and could sneak into standard leagues with a big showing this week.

Seattle is the second-best fantasy test for tight ends. The Los Angeles Rams play them on Thursday in week 16.

Colby Parkinson is the best LA tight end right now, but I doubt any standard league owner will fire him up in week 16, especially with so much on the line. Parkinson will be a stellar deep-league option, even if he doesn't accomplish much in week 15.

Jacksonville is the next-best fantasy matchup for a tight end. Denver plays them in week 16.

Evan Engram is the top Denver tight end, but is an average-or-so fantasy TE this season. He'll be a solid deep-league option in week 16, and only super TE-desperate fantasy teams would consider him in standard leagues for next week.

Miami is another great fantasy test for a tight end. Mike Gesicki has been the best Bengals' tight end, so he's set up well for week 16.

Gesicki delivered big in week 14, and if he looks good this week, I don't think it'd be crazy to fire him up in standard leagues for week 16. He'll be a great deep-league option.

Washington is the fifth-best fantasy matchup for a tight end. That puts Philly's Dallas Goedert in a great position to succeed in week 16.

Goedert is already a pretty strong fantasy option, and that great matchup will help him start in most leagues for week 16.

Defense/Special Teams

Let's wrap this article up by discussing some of the top fantasy DSTs this season, and the ones with favorable matchups on paper for week 16.

The Seahawks DST, Texans DST, Browns DST, Patriots DST and Broncos DST are the top-five fantasy DSTs this season. 

Seattle has the LA Rams, so that's not a great matchup for the DST. Houston has Las Vegas, so the Texans DST needs to be starting in every single fantasy league for week 16.

Cleveland has Buffalo, so that's another tough test for the DST. New England has Baltimore, so again, the DST will be put to the test. Denver has Jacksonville, which isn't a terrible test, but it's not very favorable either.

I'm not a huge fan of the Washington offense right now, so the Eagles DST could be a nice option in week 16. Philly has been a pretty good DST this season.

The Bills DST are a higher-end fantasy unit this season, and are set up well against the Browns in week 16.

The Chiefs DST hasn't been great, but a favorable test against the Titans gives them week 16 upside.

The Saints DST and Dolphins DST are decent options in the same NFL game. New Orleans has been the slightly better DST through 14 weeks.