Fantasy Football Week 16: Waiver-Wire Pickups, Rankings, Box Score Stat Projections

The fantasy season is winding down, and for managers lucky enough to make their league's playoffs, compiling the best lineup is of the utmost importance with championships and bragging rights at stake.

Ahead of Week 16, who are poised to be the biggest contributors and which two waiver-wire options could be the difference between victory and defeat?

Find out in this preview.

The rankings for Week 16 are as follows:

1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders (18 carries, 115 yds, 2 TDs, 3 rec., 45 yds)
2. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants (12 carries, 95 yds, TD, 5 rec., 50 yds, TD)
3. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns (10 rec., 140 yds, 2 TDs)
4. AJ Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders (7 rec., 85 yds, 2 TDs)
5. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks (10 rec., 115 yds, TD)
6. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints (15 carries, 100 yds, TD, 3 rec., 15 yds, TD)
7. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets (20 carries, 115 yds, 2 TDs)
8. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (14 carries, 90 yds, TD, 3 rec., 15 yds)
9. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers (14 carries, 100 yds, TD)
10. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (12 carries, 85 yds, TD, 4 rec., 50 yds)
11. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets (8 rec., 115 yds, 3 carries, 25 yds, TD)
12. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (8 rec., 90 yds, TD)
13. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8 rec., 115 yds, TD)
14. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers (6 rec., 75 yds, TD)
15. Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns (14 carries, 90 yds, TD)

The Cincinnati Bengals give up the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks at 20.05 per game.

While Jameis Winston has always been a little haphazard when it comes to protecting the ball, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick is a prolific passer and will do damage against their division rival's leaky defense.

Before Sunday's stinker against Kansas City, the 30-year-old had gone four consecutive weeks as a top 20 fantasy quarterback while throwing eight touchdowns.

Look for the Browns signal-caller to get back to that form against a Bengals team that has everything to play for, and may still win, but will do so while combating a defense that has been its Achilles' heel all season.

Another four-touchdown day like his performance against Denver is not out of the question.

Just watch out for those interceptions.

Winston is available for managers looking to upgrade at the QB position or struggling to find a starter to stick, in 67 percent of Yahoo and 79 percent of ESPN leagues.

Quentin Johnston may struggle to catch the ball at times, but the second-year player has a knack for finding the end zone and has scored a touchdown in all but five games this season. He has eight total TDs and double-digit fantasy days in all but four weeks of PPR play.

Against Kansas City and Tampa Bay over the last two weeks, the 23-year-old has caught five balls each and averaged at least nine yards per reception in those games.

Johnston has developed chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert, despite his "hands of stone" and is a worthwhile pickup in the 59 percent of Yahoo leagues and 44 percent of ESPN leagues in which he is still available.

A Week 16 matchup against a Broncos team ranked seventh against opposing wideouts may not be ideal, but Herbert will have time to get someone the ball and Johnston is as likely an option as any.

With two touchdowns in the last two games, the TCU product is a scoring threat and someone managers should jump at the opportunity to add to their rosters, especially while they seek a league championship.

All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise noted.