Fantasy Football: Ashton Jeanty's points per game when the Raiders don't get blown out and more key stats from Week 16
Each Monday, fantasy football analyst Joel Smyth will go over eight important stats that you may have overlooked from this week. Week 16 had plenty of notable stats. What keys to fantasy success do you need to know that your leaguemates may have missed?
15
Routes run for Emeka Egbuka on Sunday, the lowest of his rookie season. With Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan fully healthy, both WRs played more than the struggling Egbuka in Week 16. The QB efficiency hasn't bounced back upon the Buccaneers receivers return. To begin the year, Egbuka was excelling not because of the incredible volume he saw as Tampa Bay's lone healthy wideout, but because of top-notch efficiency. Now, the rookie has neither. In his two games back, Evans has a league-high 40.4% targets per route.
With Egbuka being fourth in line for a struggling Bucs' passing attack, he is no longer in the flex range for managers hoping for a bounce-back week. Since the Week 9 bye, Tampa Bay ranks 24th in receiving fantasy PPG produced. Even when facing a weak Miami secondary in Week 17, there isn't much positive to hold on to for any Buccaneers passing weapons outside of Evans.
18-5
The carry + target advantage for Omarion Hampton over Kimani Vidal. In the first two weeks since Hampton's return, it was a near-perfect 50/50 split at 31-30. With the offensive line struggles and lack of receiving volume, Hampton needs the bellcow volume to produce as he did on Sunday vs. the Cowboys. The difference between receiving 18 of the 23 touches compared to Vidal, rather than the usual 12 of the 23, is the difference between a great RB2 and a weak flex, based on his points per touch on the day.
The Cowboys without Quinnen Williams aren't the same as the Texans defense Hampton will face in the fantasy championship, but Week 16 should give some hope. Fellow rookie first-round RB Ashton Jeanty scored over 30 fantasy points in Week 16 against the Texans defense, which was the best against the position when compared to their schedule. A close score in a home game could help Hampton's success greatly next Saturday.
Shout out to Omarion Hampton today:
- Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) December 21, 2025
-16 carries
-85 yards
-5.3 per carry-first game over 5+ yards per attempt since Week 4
-1 TD
-2 receptions for 10 yards
pic.twitter.com/woJVpOb75K
21.5
Fantasy PPG for Ashton Jeanty in the Raiders' six games where they didn't lose by over three points. In his other games, the rookie has averaged only 10.5 points. When they keep it close, Jeanty becomes the focus, shown by his 25 touches on Sunday versus the best defense in the NFL. I don't use this stat only because of the Raiders losing by two against a dominant Texans defense, but because of their Week 17 matchup.
As mentioned earlier, Houston was No. 1 versus RB compared to their schedule this season. The Giants, the Raiders next matchup, entered the week ranked 31st. Las Vegas has a shot to have its seventh close game of the season, as the Raiders are only 2.5 points underdogs at home to New York. Jeanty can be a much more confident start in Week 17 for those who survived the 31-0 blowout to the Eagles in Week 15.
Ashton Jeanty is the first player in over a decade to have a game with:
- Real Sports (@realapp) December 22, 2025
50+ YD Receiving TD
50+ YD Rushing TD pic.twitter.com/xw7xouLjDc
83%
Of routes run for Drake London. It wasn't the day people hoped for coming off injury, but London's volume was back to normal. In a Zac Robinson offense, Kirk Cousins has kept the philosophy of having a heavy focus on the star players. Bijan Robinson with 11 targets, Kyle Pitts with nine and London with eight. No other player had more than two targets. London may have been out-targeted by Pitts, but his downfield targets should pan out better than they did on Sunday.
London's 26.7% targets per route were the best among Atlanta wide receivers and tight ends, however. Next week, the Falcons play the Rams, who have fallen off in terms of passing fantasy PPG allowed as of late. I could very well see it going like the Rams' Week 14 matchup versus a struggling Cardinals team. Arizona lost 45-17, but it didn't stop Michael Wilson and Trey McBride from posting 200 receiving yards. For what it's worth, London's last poor game came in Week 7 versus San Francisco. In Week 8, he scored 34.3 points.
13.3
Fantasy points for Taysom Hill in Week 15. The best thing about a good Taysom Hill is the fact that the QB-RB hybrid counts as a TE, the most difficult fantasy position to find real value at. The key here is the absence of Devin Neal and Alvin Kamara. The Saints pivoted to their triple threat TE" by giving Hill 12 carries, six targets and a passing attempt that went for a 38-yard TD to Chris Olave. Fantasy TEs are all about TDs, and Hill's red-zone usage makes him one of the best shots.
Another reason, outside of volume, that Hill played great in Week 15 was the Jets defense. New York allows over 28 points scored per game to opposing offenses, yet the Titans, the Saints' Week 17 matchup, are less than two points better. Hill has multiple games of 15+ fantasy points in every season since 2019; he just got his first of 2025.
33.7
Fantasy PPG by Steelers RBs since Week 11, the second-most in the NFL to Detroit. Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren have been a dominant duo with Aaron Rodgers. Pittsburgh is second to only CMC and the 49ers in RB target share this season, as 25% of Rodgers passes go to backs. It most importantly helps their consistency. In their last five weeks, each RB has scored 12+ fantasy points in four out of five games. Gainwell specifically has been the fantasy RB10 since Week 10.
With likely no DK Metcalf in Week 17, the Pittsburgh running backs may become even more of a focus. Although the Steelers duo combined for under 100 scrimmage yards in their last matchup against Cleveland, this has not been the same Browns defense. Since the bye in Week 9, Cleveland ranks last (32nd) in fantasy points allowed to RB. Both running backs can be trusted as the Steelers continue their playoff push.
KENNETH GAINWELL ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!
- SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 21, 2025
One of the best plays of the season
(via @steelers)pic.twitter.com/GZpmYw04Yc
0/7
RB touches for Josh Jacobs following his third-quarter fumble. After entering Week 16 against Chicago on Saturday without practicing, Jacobs finished his day with 12 carries for 36 yards. The key for Week 17 is watching his practice report. In weeks past, when Jacobs had produced while injured, the Packers were allowing him to practice in limited fashion throughout the week. Only in Week 16 did Jacobs fully rest up until game time.
Once he fumbled in the third quarter, the injured back played just two snaps in the fourth quarter without receiving a touch. It can be a scary start against a Ravens defense that has dominated on the ground in the second half of their season. Since their Week 7 bye, the Ravens defense has allowed just 11.7 rushing fantasy PPG, the lowest in the NFL. With Jacobs value relying on his rushing touchdowns, it's a concerning matchup with Baltimore, which has allowed two rushing touchdowns to RB in the last six games.
Josh Jacobs practices & playing time:
- Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) December 20, 2025
WK14: LP-LP-FP 53% snaps, 14.4 xFPs
WK15: DNP-DNP-LP 54%, 10.1
WK16: DNP-DNP-DNP "pitch count"
I have him as RB15, so downgraded vs norm. https://t.co/EwFql7QWPy
0.16
Fantasy points per snap for Breece Hall with Brady Cook at QB, which would be last among RBs on the season. Rushing volume can only take you so far. I say rushing because Hall's once game-changing receiving upside has been nonexistent in 2025. Hall hasn't had a game of 5+ targets since Week 5. The Jets' star RB has a TD on under 2% of his touches this season, and his odds aren't getting any better.
New York has already played New England in Week 11, when Hall had 14 carries for 58 yards along with two receptions for six yards. I would not be shocked to see Hall held under 10 fantasy points once again, and for the fourth straight week.