Week 16 Monday Night Fantasy Football Takeaways: Josh Jacobs, Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft Post Solid Numbers in Packers' Win; Saints' Struggle Behind Spencer Rattler

Week 16 of the NFL regular season wrapped up with an NFC game between the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints.

It wasn’t a great game, but we’ll still discuss some fantasy football takeaways from the contest.

Also be sure to check out takeaway stories from Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, along with the IDP roundup.

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Game Stats

The Packers dominated from start to finish, easing to a 34-0 victory over the Saints.

Green Bay had 404 total yards of offense, with 216 passing yards and 188 rushing yards. The Pack had no turnovers, six penalties and didn’t get sacked.

New Orleans had only 196 total yards of offense, with 153 passing and 67 rushing. The Saints got sacked three times, turned the ball over twice and got called for seven penalties.

Josh Jacobs Leads Pack Again

Josh Jacobs only got 17 touches in the lopsided game, but he still delivered a big fantasy outing.

He rushed 13 times for 69 yards and a touchdown, while catching all four of his targets for 38 yards. It was the seventh time in eight games that Jacobs had over 100 total yards, and he’s scored 12 times in that span.

Jacobs has been a must-start fantasy player for a while now, and he’ll remain that way for week 17, even in a tougher matchup against the Vikings. He had 78 total yards on 13 touches in the team’s first matchup back in late September, but the Packers’ offense has evolved since then and Jacobs has become a much bigger part of the gameplan. Start Jacobs with confidence.

Packers’ Backup RBs also Shine

Jacobs wasn’t the only Packer running back to deliver on Monday. Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks also were pretty involved and posted solid fantasy scores.

Wilson rushed 11 times for 52 yards and a score, while catching a four-yard pass on his lone target. Brooks had 23 rushing yards and a score on six carries and caught a two-yard pass on his lone target.

Neither back is likely to remain this involved moving forward, unless Green Bay is winning by a lot again. They would only be heavily involved if Jacobs were to miss time with an injury.

Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft Lead Pack’s Pass Catchers

It was a pretty balanced offensive showing for the Pack, with several guys helping out instead of one guy dominating.

Jayden Reed led the team with 76 receiving yards on three catches and four targets. He rushed once for five yards.

Tucker Kraft had 63 yards on three receptions and four targets. He rushed once for two yards.

Reed had a solid fantasy showing for a second straight week - he had 61 yards on eight touches in week 15. He’s struggled a bit in the latter portion of the regular season after a good start to the season, but at least he is moving in a positive direction now.

The clash against the Vikings is a favorable one on paper for Reed and the rest of the Packers’ wideouts. He went for 139 yards and a touchdown on seven catches and eight targets in the team’s first meeting, and after what he’s done the past couple weeks, Reed looks like a pretty good starting option for week 17.

Kraft topped 50 receiving yards for the first time since week 13. He had 34 yards on two catches in week 15 and 41 yards and a score on three grabs in week 14.

Kraft isn’t the most confident fantasy starting option, but he’s at least in the running to make starts in all leagues every week. His matchup against Minnesota is pretty average. When the teams first met, Kraft had 53 yards and a score on six grabs and nine targets. I almost guarantee he’ll be in start/sit stories here later this week, so check back for those!

Christian Watson didn’t have a target in the passing game, but rushed twice for 23 yards. Romeo Doubs had 20 yards on two catches and three targets. Dontayvion Wicks caught a touchdown, but had just three grabs for 13 yards across seven targets overall.

This balanced group of Packers’ pass catchers are frustrating to fantasy owners, because the top fantasy performer changes from week to week. Having a favorable matchup in week 17 makes everyone a starting option, but it’s really a guessing game as to who is going to deliver each week.

Jordan Love Solid in Win

Jordan Love wasn’t asked to do a lot in the team’s win. He also didn’t hurt himself with any turnovers.

Love was 16-of-28 passing for 182 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. He rushed once for two yards.

It was his lowest passing yard output in the past five weeks, but he also continued his streak of interception-free football. He has eight touchdowns and no picks over that five-game span. I wouldn’t read too much into his lower fantasy output in this one, as a closer game would have led to a much better fantasy showing.

His matchup against the Vikings next week is pretty tough, but he’s been one of the few quarterbacks to have a little success against Minnesota. He was 32-of-54 passing in the first matchup, going for 389 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

That was basically the opposite kind of game from last night, with Green Bay frantically trying to catch up. I don’t expect those kinds of numbers this time around, but I do think Love will perform better as a fantasy player than he did on Monday because the game should be much closer. Love should be in the QB start decision story I put together this week, so check back for that.

Spencer Rattler Struggles

The Saints have been decimated by injuries and rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler was playing with a lot of the team’s backups last night (or players added midseason after several injuries occurred).

Rattler performed as one might expect with a lack of talent around him. He was 15-of-30 passing for 153 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Rattler rushed for 28 yards on five carries and fumbled once.

He hasn’t looked good very often this season, and I wouldn’t have much confidence in him, or any other New Orleans player for a week 17 fantasy start.

Rattler does have a pretty favorable matchup against the Raiders in week 17 (if he starts again), but I’d still do my best to avoid all the Saints.

Not Many Other Step Up

With Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Marquez Valdes-Scantling all out with injuries, there was a chance for several offensive players to step up. It didn’t happen.

Kendre Miller rushed eight times for 15 yards and caught both of his targets for 16 yards. Jordan Mims had a better night, with 16 rushing yards on four carries and 16 receiving yards on five grabs and eight targets.

If Kamara can’t go in week 17, the Saints’ backs will have an average matchup against the Raiders. After this performance against a similar defense when it comes to slowing opposing fantasy backs, I wouldn’t want to start Miller or Mims unless it was a deeper league.

Tight end Foster Moreau was the top pass catcher, going for 33 yards on two catches and three targets. Fellow TE Juwan Johnson had 27 yards on two grabs and targets.

They have a great matchup in week 17, but while splitting the targets and production and being a part of a lackluster offense, I only view them as deep-league options now.

Dante Pettis had two catches for 31 yards across seven targets. Kevin Austin had a 17-yard catch across four targets. Cedrick Wilson Jr. went for 13 yards on his lone target.

None of those receivers are appealing fantasy options for week 17. The matchup against Vegas is just average, but I’d do my best to stay away from all those guys, and the Saints’ offense in general (unless Carr, Kamara, Olave and Valdes-Scantling get back on the field).

IDP Standouts

Green Bay’s Edgerrin Cooper had 10 total tackles on Monday. He has at least six tackles in five straight appearances. Cooper’s role could change a bit when Quay Walker returns, but at the very least, Cooper is a name to remember for 2025, as he looks to have a bright and promising future.

New Orlean’s Demario Davis also had 10 combined tackles. He has at least eight tackles in three straight games, and has hit that mark five times in the past six contests. He’s one of the few Saints I’d want to start in week 17.

Packers’ Eric Wilson and Saints’ Pete Werner had nine tackles each.

Wilson is another linebacker who could see his role change when Walker returns, but until that happens, he’s a good IDP option in deeper leagues.

Werner has at least six tackles in five straight games. He doesn’t add much else when on the field, but the healthy amount of tackles each game make Werner a pretty good weekly option.