Week 16 TNF: Rams-Seahawks Preview, Props, Prediction

Thu Dec 18 3:08pm ET
Field Level Media

Week 16 kicks off with one of the biggest games of the 2025 regular season, and one chock full of playoff ramifications when the Los Angeles Rams visit the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.

The NFC West rivals enter with identical 11-3 records atop the conference. The Seahawks have won four consecutive games since a Week 11 loss at the Rams. That victory has Los Angeles atop the NFC standings, with Seattle currently in the top wild-card spot.

A win on Thursday night very well could propel the Rams to the division title and home-field advantage in the NFC. A loss, and Los Angeles risks going on the road throughout its playoff run. And whichever team loses risks falling into a tie with 10-4 San Francisco, which plays at Indianapolis on Monday night.

ODDS AND TRENDS

The Seahawks are a consensus 1.5-point favorite at home. The line has held steady this week at BetMGM, where the Rams have been backed by 64% of the total spread-line bets and 59% of the money.

Los Angeles' moneyline has also been popular, drawing 67% and 57% of the action, respectively, while shifting from -115 to +105.

The total points line of 42 is down significantly from opening at 45.5, due in large part to the unknown status of Rams wide receiver Davante Adams. The Over has been backed by 61% of the money.

PLAYER PROPS

--Rams TE Terrance Ferguson Over 19.5 Receiving Yards (-115 at BetMGM): Ferguson figures to be one of the beneficiaries of Adams being doubtful to play due to a hamstring injury. This has been the most popular Rams-based player prop at the book, even though the rookie has only one catch for 6 yards over his past five games. Ferguson has six catches for 144 yards and one touchdown on the season.

--Seahawks QB Sam Darnold 200+ Passing Yards (-223 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at the book with Darnold topping 200 passing yards in 11 of his past 13 games. He threw for 279 in the first matchup, but also was picked off four times. Seattle's offense failed to score a touchdown last week and has struggled in the first half much of the season. If you're looking for a bigger potential pay out, Darnold is -125 to throw for 220+ and +133 to throw for 240+ yards.

INSIDE EDGE

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is known for his play-action passing game. However, Seattle ranks third-worst in the NFL with a success rate of just 39.3% on plays with motion this season, according to Inside Edge's Remarkable engine.

KEY STATS

--Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford leads the NFL with a passer rating of 126.2 on passes to the right side of the field this season.

--Seattle's defense ranks second in the league in opponents' scoring, allowing just 17.3 points per game.

INJURY REPORT

Rams coach Sean McVay said he likely would wait until game time to make a decision on Adams, who aggravated the injury while running a deep route on Sunday in Los Angeles' 41-34 victory against visiting Detroit.

"I'm not ruling anyone out," McVay said Tuesday. "He just got his hamstring. He felt it a little bit, and it's something he's been dealing with, and he's as tough as it gets. Want to be able to see what it looks like with the time we have."

Adams has twice previously dealt with hamstring issues this season, his first with the Rams. He has 60 catches for 789 yards.

Rams defensive end Braden Fiske (ankle) is listed as questionable.

Stafford is a leading MVP contender with a league-leading 37 touchdown passes and 3,722 yards through the air, second only to the 3,931 of the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott.

Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross, who sustained a hamstring injury on Jason Myers' game-winning kick Sunday, was ruled out of the contest on Wednesday.

"We're just trying to gather the info right now, exhausting all options to see how fast we can get him back," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of Cross.

FLUTTERING HAWKS

While the Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the NFL with 1,541 receiving yards, the rest of the offense has stalled. Seattle's offense has scored just six first-half points in each of its past three games (not counting an interception return for a TD).

The Seahawks likely will need more than that against a Rams team that has scored 40-plus points in each of its past two contests.

"We just need to get together and understand the game plan and execute at the end of the day," Smith-Njigba said. "And I'll leave it at that."

Seattle managed a season-low 50 rushing yards against the Colts, with Kenneth Walker III totaling just 17 yards on nine attempts.

"We didn't run it the way we wanted to," Macdonald said. "It's kind of a little bit of everything right now. A little bit late in the year to be saying that. So, I mean, we got to pick it up, really, on all fronts."

"What a crazy week to be playing on a Thursday," McVay said. "This is a good challenge. ... It's a blessing to be able to play in meaningful games this late in the season." --McVay, who admitted he hasn't gotten much sleep this week after his wife Veronika gave birth to son Christian Alexander McVay on Monday morning.

PREDICTION

Seattle's offensive line already was struggling before losing Darnold's stalwart blind-side protector for this game. Minus Cross, the Seahawks will continue to struggle running the ball and Darnold will be prone to the types of poor decisions under duress that put Seattle in a 14-3 hole in the first meeting. --Rams 23, Seahawks 20

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 16

Player Notes
Sam Darnold Dec 19 12:20am CT
Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold completed 22 of his 34 pass attempts for 270 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions during Thursday's Week 16 comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. He also rushed for seven yards and took four sacks in the victory. It wasn't exactly the cleanest game for Darnold, who has now been picked off by the Rams six times during two meetings in 2025. He was just 4-for-6 passing in the first half, but he cleaned things up in the second half and overtime, ultimately leading the Seahawks to a comeback victory that erased Los Angeles' 16-point lead. The 28-year-old is a borderline top-12 fantasy quarterback (with undeniable risk) heading into a Week 17 clash with his old team, the Carolina Panthers.

From RotoBaller

Zach Charbonnet Dec 19 12:20am CT
Zach Charbonnet

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet had nine carries for 32 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown during Thursday's Week 16 win over the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. He also caught all four of his targets for an additional 22 receiving yards. Charbonnet was outperformed by Kenneth Walker III in terms of touches, yards, and fantasy points, but he did still lead the backfield with his 56% snap share on Thursday night. Managers should expect the two backs to continue splitting work roughly 50/50 in this backfield from now on. That lowers the floor for both players, but if Seattle's offense plays well over the final two weeks, Charbonnet and Walker could each carve out standalone fantasy value as low-end RB2 or high-end RB3/flex options. Charbonnet should be a top-36 fantasy running back in Week 17, when he takes on a well-rounded Carolina Panthers squad.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Dec 18 11:50pm CT
Kenneth Walker III

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III had 11 carries for 100 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown during Thursday's Week 16 win over the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. He also caught all three of his targets for an additional 64 receiving yards. The highlight of Walker's game was a 55-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter that temporarily gave Seattle the lead. The 25-year-old bounced back in a huge way after posting fewer than 4.0 fantasy points in each of his last two games. Walker only played 44% of the snaps on Thursday night, while teammate Zach Charbonnet played 56%. However, Walker was more productive than his backfield-mate, and he also handled more total touches. Managers should expect the fourth-year back to remain in the low-end RB2 tier for fantasy football ahead of a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Dec 18 11:50pm CT
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught eight of his 13 targets for 96 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's Week 16 win over the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. Smith-Njigba didn't have a single catch during the entire first half, sending managers into a panic as the fantasy playoffs continue in most leagues. However, he was highly explosive throughout the second half and overtime, during which he scored the game-winning touchdown. The 23-year-old is the second-highest-scoring fantasy receiver (full-PPR) in 2025, trailing only Puka Nacua. He has been one of the biggest risers in the NFL this season, and he should continue to be started as an elite WR1 option in Week 17 against the Carolina Panthers.

From RotoBaller

Puka Nacua Dec 18 11:30pm CT
Puka Nacua

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua caught 12 of his 16 targets for 225 yards and two touchdowns during Thursday's Week 16 loss against the Seattle Seahawks. He played 78.3% of the offensive snaps, which was his highest mark since Week 12. In the effort, he set new career-highs in receiving yards and fantasy points. He also surpassed Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the highest-scoring fantasy receiver in 2025, despite playing one fewer game than the Seahawks' superstar. All in all, Nacua gave his managers a huge early advantage as the second round of the fantasy playoffs kicked off in most leagues on Thursday night. If his big game ends up being enough to get managers into the championship, he'll look for an opportunity to stay hot during next week's favorable matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Dec 18 11:30pm CT
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 29 of his 49 pass attempts for 457 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Thursday's Week 16 loss against the Seattle Seahawks. He also rushed for six yards and didn't take a sack. Although the Rams came up short, Stafford delivered a fantastic final stat line for his fantasy managers. Not only did he set a new season-high in fantasy points, but he also delivered his highest passing yards total since 2013, more than a dozen years ago. As a result, this was also his highest passing yards total as a Ram. The veteran quarterback managed to have such a spectacular performance despite being without Davante Adams (hamstring) against a strong Seahawks defense. Instead, he found Puka Nacua for 12 completions, 225 yards, and two touchdowns, while the rest of his pass-catchers accounted for the remaining volume. Stafford remains a high-end QB1 heading into a very favorable Week 17 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

Van Jefferson Dec 18 9:40pm CT
Van Jefferson

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Van Jefferson (back) practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday ahead of Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Jefferson's status improved after he missed practice altogether on Wednesday. The veteran receiver played at least 73% of the snaps in every game from Week 6 through Week 14, but his snap share dropped to 58% when he injured his back in Week 15. In nine games since Week 6, Jefferson has 43 targets, 20 catches, 256 yards, and one touchdown. During that span, he ranks as the overall WR71 in PPR leagues. Even if he manages to suit up this week, Jefferson won't be a worthwhile fantasy option while operating behind Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor in the Titans' struggling offense.

From RotoBaller

Cade Otton Dec 18 9:40pm CT
Cade Otton

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) practiced in full on Thursday ahead of Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers. This was an upgraded status for Otton after he was limited on Wednesday. The 26-year-old missed last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but barring a setback, he will return to action this upcoming Sunday. It's been an underwhelming year for Otton, who ranks as the overall TE26 in PPR leagues with 46 catches, 430 yards, and zero touchdowns. He typically struggles when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. are healthy, which should be the case this week. As a result, managers can bench Otton in their Week 16 matchups. He currently ranks as the TE24 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings.

From RotoBaller

Tre Harris Dec 18 9:10pm CT
Tre Harris

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris (hip) remained limited during practice for a second consecutive day on Thursday. The rookie is coming off an impressive showing against the Kansas City Chiefs in which he played a career-high 85% of the snaps, leading to five targets, three catches, and 49 receiving yards. Harris' increased workload was the direct result of Quentin Johnston (groin) being inactive, and he could see similar opportunities against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16, depending on whether Johnston suits up. Johnston has mirrored Harris' availability so far this week, practicing in a limited capacity on Wednesday and Thursday. Harris has long-term WR2 or WR3 upside in dynasty leagues, but he remains tougher to trust in Week 16 lineups if Johnston, Allen, and Ladd McConkey are all active. On the other hand, if Johnston is inactive, Harris could be a WR3/flex in deeper leagues.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Nailor Dec 18 8:50pm CT
Jalen Nailor

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (back) was limited in practice for a second consecutive day on Thursday. Nailor picked up the injury during last Sunday's Week 15 win over the Dallas Cowboys. As a result, his status remains uncertain for the Vikings' upcoming contest against the New York Giants on Sunday in Week 16. The 26-year-old is having a solid season as Minnesota's No. 3 receiver, catching 26 passes for 395 yards and four touchdowns. He has 10 touchdowns over his last 31 games dating back to the 2024 campaign. As long as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are healthy, though, Nailor should not be viewed as a reliable fantasy starter. He ranks outside the top 50 fantasy receivers for Week 16, if he suits up.

From RotoBaller

Deebo Samuel Dec 18 8:30pm CT
Deebo Samuel

Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. has been productive in his first season with the team, averaging 5.0 receptions for 46.5 receiving yards on 6.6 targets per game to go with six total touchdowns across 13 contests. The veteran started off the season as the engine of Washington's offense, clearing 80 yards from scrimmage in three of the first five games of the season. In eight games since, Samuel has failed to reach that mark. The former San Francisco 49ers wideout has hauled in 12 of 18 targets for 134 yards in three games since the team's WR1, Terry McLaurin, returned. He'll be looking for a vintage performance on Saturday against the Eagles, whom he's enjoyed facing in the past. Samuel totalled 138 yards and three touchdowns in his most recent game against Philadelphia in Week 13 of the 2023 season. He ranks as RotoBaller's WR34 in PPR leagues in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Ben Sinnott Dec 18 8:30pm CT
Ben Sinnott

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott played a season high 58.6% of the snaps and ran 38.5% of the routes in the Week 15 win over the New York Giants, with Zach Ertz (knee) now out for the season with a torn ACL. The second-year tight end caught his lone target for an explosive 36-yard gain on the team's second-to-last drive of the game. Sinnott ran a crisp route to create separation versus Giants safety Jevon Holland and hauled in the catch before picking up some yards after the catch. Sinnott was still behind John Bates in both snaps (69%) and routes (50%), so the young tight end is still looking to earn the full-time role as the receiving tight end with Ertz sidelined. His usage should continue to tick up on Saturday against the Eagles, with Washington eliminated from playoff contention. With third-string TE Colson Yankoff (ankle) ruled out, Sinnott could see more snaps with the Commanders thin at tight end, but he is a risky fantasy option in Week 16, profiling more as a desperation TE2 in deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Darren Waller Dec 18 8:30pm CT
Darren Waller

Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (knee) practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday. This was the second day in a row that Waller logged a limited practice session. The veteran tight end picked up the injury during Monday's explosive performance in which he caught seven passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns. The lingering injury and change in quarterback from Tua Tagovailoa to Quinn Ewers could hinder his fantasy outlook for Week 16, but on the other hand, he should benefit from a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati has allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends in 2025, and it's not particularly close. If Waller plays in Week 16, he'll be a low-end TE1 for fantasy football. Managers should get more info on his availability when the Dolphins publish their final injury report on Friday.

From RotoBaller

Quentin Johnston Dec 18 7:50pm CT
Quentin Johnston

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (groin) was limited during Thursday's practice. He has now been a limited participant for two days in a row. At this point, it remains unclear whether Johnston will return from last week's absence and play in Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Dallas Cowboys. The TCU product was one of the biggest surprises at the start of the season, ranking as the overall WR4 in PPR leagues from Weeks 1 through 4. However, he has come back down to earth since then, catching three or fewer passes in four of his last six games. He continues to face competition for targets in a crowded wide receiver room that also includes Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Tre' Harris (hip). He gets a favorable matchup this week against a Dallas secondary allowing the most fantasy points, the most touchdowns, and the third-most receiving yards to opposing wide receivers in 2025. Managers should get more clarity on his Week 16 availability when the Chargers publish their final injury report on Friday afternoon.

From RotoBaller

Javonte Williams Dec 18 7:40pm CT
Javonte Williams

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams (neck) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. The 25-year-old has been limited for two consecutive days, creating some uncertainty about his status ahead of Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. Williams hasn't missed a game yet this season, but he's coming off a season-low 29% snap share as the neck injury limited his usage last weekend against the Minnesota Vikings. He touched the ball nearly every time he was on the field, amassing 15 carries for 91 rushing yards and a touchdown despite playing fewer than one-third of the snaps. Williams could see a similarly reduced workload in Week 16, if he does suit up. We should get more clarity on his status when the Cowboys post their final injury report with injury designations on Friday afternoon. If active, he'll remain a low-end RB1 against a Chargers defense surrendering the eighth-most rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Dec 18 7:40pm CT
Tyler Lockett

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (knee) was a full participant in Thursday's practice. The receiver saw his status get upgraded after practicing in a limited capacity on Wednesday. Barring a setback, Lockett should suit up during Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Houston Texans without any limitations. The veteran receiver handled a season-high 76% snap share last week, catching two of his four targets for 10 yards in the Raiders' Kenny Pickett-led offense. Geno Smith should return to the starting quarterback role in Week 16, offering a minor bump to Lockett's fantasy value. Still, he's a risky fantasy option as the Raiders' offense continues to struggle week in and week out. At best, he's a low-end WR3/flex in deep leagues.

From RotoBaller

Drake London Dec 18 7:20pm CT
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (knee) was limited for a second consecutive day on Thursday. The superstar receiver's status remains uncertain heading into Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Arizona Cardinals. London is working his way back from a multi-game absence and hasn't played since Week 11. He's getting closer to returning, offering managers a boost as the fantasy playoffs continue. If he can suit up this week, he'll benefit from a favorable matchup against the Cardinals, who allowed 85 yards and two touchdowns to Houston's Nico Collins last weekend. Managers should stay tuned to the Falcons' final injury report on Friday, which will provide more clarity on his status and a potential injury designation for Week 16. If he plays without any limitations, he'll be a high-end WR1.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Dec 18 7:20pm CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (knee) was added to the injury report after practicing in a limited capacity on Thursday. The "limited" tag could mean that Pitts simply took some reps off Thursday, or it could mean that he injured himself midway through and didn't return. Without any sort of official clarification from the team, managers will likely have to wait for the Falcons' injury report on Friday before getting any updates on his status. Atlanta will include injury designations on Friday's report, offering some more clarity on whether Pitts will be able to play in Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Arizona Cardinals. He's arguably the hottest player in fantasy football right now, coming off a career-best outing in which he caught 11 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Pitts is a strong mid-range TE1 option for this weekend, and he could jump to the high-end TE1 tier if Drake London (knee) is ruled out and he operates as Kirk Cousins' top target. Of course, Pitts now has his own injury to deal with, so managers should stay tuned for updates as kickoff gets closer.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Carter Dec 18 6:50pm CT
Jalen Carter

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulders) did not practice at all again this week and has been ruled out for Saturday's divisional game versus the Washington Commanders in Week 16, according to the team. Carter has not played for the Eagles since Week 13 after having surgery on both of his shoulders earlier this month. With the 24-year-old missing another game, Byron Young will continue to see more playing time on the interior of Philly's defensive line. Carter's absence is good news for the Commanders' ground game that should feature a split backfield on Saturday between Chris Rodriguez Jr. and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The Eagles' defense is more vulnerable on the ground without Carter on the field, but their defense/special teams unit should still be considered a strong fantasy option this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Jakobi Meyers Dec 18 6:10pm CT
Jakobi Meyers

The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract extension for wide receiver Jakobi Meyers on Thursday that will tie him to the organization through the 2028 season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The deal includes $40 million guaranteed. Meyers was scheduled to be a free agent after the 2025 season, but instead, the Jaguars will lock him up six weeks after acquiring him from the Las Vegas Raiders at the trade deadline. In the wake of rookie first-round two-way player Travis Hunter's (knee) season-ending injury, the 29-year-old Meyers immediately came in and took Jacksonville's offense to a level it had been lacking in the first half of the season. Since arriving, the Jags have gone 5-1, while Meyers has caught 27 of his 38 targets for 355 yards and three touchdowns in six games. Meyers has become quarterback Trevor Lawrence's top target, and together with Brian Thomas Jr., they present a tough one-two WR punch for opposing defenses.

From RotoBaller