Welcome back to the Waiver Wire Week 16! It is Week 16, and you are still here. Enjoy this moment, and then get right back to tilting. You are now two weeks away from fantasy glory and a chance at some money.
Last week we ran pure here, and if you had to use some of my recommendations, you probably did well this week. My top QB Jake Browning finished as QB7 on the week. My top RBs- Ty Chandler, Zamir White and Chase Brown finished as RB4, RB11 and RB31. Two of my top TE recommendations finished in the top 6 at the position.
NOTE: MOST PLAYERS LISTED ARE AVAILABLE IN 75 % OF YAHOO LEAGUES OR MORE.
Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco | Cleveland (25%)
Do not try to comprehend what is happening. The only thing to do is simply embrace it. Joe Flacco is playing some of the best fantasy football of his career at the age of 38. If you wanted to ignore his first two games and simply brush them off, then start No. 3 was an eye-opener for you.
This past week, Flacco lit up the Chicago Bears second for 374 yards and two TD passes. The passing volume has been predictable, with Flacco attempting at least 44 passes in every game as starter. This week, Flacco is a Superflex lock starter and a desperation streamer for single QB managers. Cleveland faces off against Houston. The Houston defense is the No. 6 most generous defense to opposing QBs.
Nick Mullens | Minnesota (4%)
Mullens finished with 303 passing yards and two TDs in Saturday’s loss to Cincinnati. He had the potential for more but threw two costly interceptions in Bengals territory. Minnesota now faces off against the Lions in a must win game for the Vikings. It helps Mullens to have a healthy Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and Jordan Addison (two TDs in Week 15) at his disposal.
Gardner Minshew | Indianapolis (25%)
Superflex managers should feel good about Minshew in Week 16. He passed for three TD passes in the Colts win over Pittsburgh and will have the opportunity to air it out even more this week at home against Atlanta. Consider him low end QB2 with a slight matchup boost this week. The potential loss of Michael Pittman (concussion) hurts, but Minshew has now passed for six TDs over his past three games.
Running Backs
Zamir White | Las Vegas (15%)
If you missed on adding White last week, you are not alone. He is still available in 85-percent of Yahoo Leagues. He filled in admirably for the injured Josh Jacobs. White finished with 17.5 PPR Points on 20 touches. His stat line looked like a Josh Jacobs stat line. The Raiders were in cruise control in their blowout win over Los Angeles, and it gets a lot more difficult this week against Kansas City. Even in the tough matchup, White would still be a must-start if Jacobs were to miss another game and would be treated as a mid RB2.
Chase Brown | Cincinnati (20%)
My enthusiasm for Brown is still strong. Heading into MNF, he is RB31 on the week. He finished Saturday’s win with 10 touches, including three catches and finished with 51 combined yards. With Ja’Marr Chase banged up, there could be more RB targets. Brown is a must roster player wherever available. If Mixon were to miss Week 17, Brown could be a 20-point scorer. He also provides a gut shot high upside flex play if you are in a jam with roster attrition.
Tyler Goodson /Trey Sermon | Indianapolis (0%)
Zack Moss exited Saturday’s win over Pittsburgh, and his season is now in jeopardy. This could all be a moot point with Jonathan Taylor potentially returning from injury, but if Taylor misses another game, desperate fantasy managers can choose between Sermon and Goodson. Sermon was highly effective running the ball, with 88 yards on 17 carries. Goodson was targeted twice, caught both of them, and added 69 yards rushing on 11 carries.
There could be a split, with game flow dictating who sees more work. The matchup is bad, as Atlanta has virtually shut down RB production as a top five defense against the position all season long. Even still, look for Indianapolis to get their RBs involved early and often with target hog WR Michael Pittman set to miss with a concussion.
Roschon Johnson | Chicago (21%)
I hate how the Chicago Bears treat us. No really. Every week the RB usage is impossible to figure out. Week 14 was highly disappointing for Johnson as D’Onta Foreman dominated the touches. But in Week 15, Johnson was targeted six times, finishing with nine touches for 60 yards. Speculative managers should add Johnson, and if he takes over in Week 16, you may have something for Week 17.
Isaiah Spiller | Los Angeles Chargers (0%)
The Austin Ekeler era in LA seems to be coming to an end. Spiller led all Chargers RBs in yardage in Thursday night’s beatdown loss to Vegas. He finished with 50 rushing yards on 16 carries- both career highs. This offense is in shambles now, but if you are truly desperate, consider Spiller as a dart throw.
Wide Receivers
Josh Palmer | Los Angeles Chargers (29%)
Palmer was the lone bright spot for Los Angeles. His target totals were low (four), but he caught every one of them and finished with 113 receiving yards and a TD. This was his first game back after missing five in a row, so this was a very positive sign. The Chargers’ offense is in shambles, but Palmer should see a lot of target volume as the Chargers attempt to keep up with Buffalo this week. I will be using Palmer in a few spots.
Dontayvion Wicks | Green Bay Packers (4%)
Wicks had 97 receiving yards in Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay. This is his highest total of the season. He also set a season-high with seven targets. Wicks has multiple paths to viability this week and could be a high-ceiling dart throw for fantasy managers looking for an edge in their matchup.
Dontayvion Wicks Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Christian Watson could miss another game, and Jayden Reed could also miss with a toe injury. Wicks has a chance at his highest target total on the season in the fantasy semifinals.
Jameson Williams | Detroit (22%)
Williams is a dart throw option for managers who need a high upside flex or WR3. He had his highest target total of the season with seven and a 21 percent target share. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs will see their weekly targets, but Williams brings an explosive speed element.
The Lions could look to get that going and gain some momentum heading into the post-season.
SHALLOW LEAGUE ADD Noah Brown | Houston (40%)
Brown would be my No. 1 Waiver Wire addition this week if he was available in more leagues. However, at 40 percent rostered, he cannot be in the top 10. He is still worth being discussed here, as he finished as WR9 on the Week with 11 targets, eight catches, and a TD. Prioritize him if available.
SHALLOW LEAGUE ADD Curtis Samuel | Washington (37%)
Check your Waiver Wire for Curtis Samuel. Samuel finished with five catches for 41 yards and two TDs in Sunday’s loss to the Rams and was No. 2 amongst Washington wide receivers with nine targets.
Wan’Dale Robinson | New York Giants (12%)
The Giants offense was demoralized on Sunday as New Orleans completely shut them down in a 24-6 win.
Robinson had his best game of the season in Week 14, finishing with 115 combined yards on eight touches. The matchup is excellent this week. The Giants face off against an Eagles secondary that has been getting shredded.
Darius Slayton | New York Giants (2%)
Ugh, Theo I don’t want to start Robinson. Anyone else? Okay, fine. Go with Slayton. He led New York in targets with eight and had his No. 3-highest yardage total on the season. Maybe he breaks a deep one this week.
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry | New England (24%)
Henry is on a red hot two week stretch. He has finished with 16 PPR points or more in back-to-back games with 106 yards, 10 catches and three TDs in the two games combined. If Henry is healthy, he is a TE1 this week. The Denver Broncos have been abysmal against the TE, surrendering the No. 2 most fantasy points to opposing TEs in football. This past week, Denver conceded three to Sam LaPorta. The only issue with Henry is that he had some sort of a foot injury in Sunday’s game- so monitor his situation.
Tucker Kraft | Green Bay (10%)
Kraft continued his ascent. He tied a season high with six targets, finishing with four catches for 57 yards and a TD.
Heading into Monday Night Football, Kraft is TE6 Overall on the week in PPR. He has had back-to-back weeks with four catches in each and could see even more work this week with multiple injuries for the Packers at wideout.
Tanner Hudson | Cincinnati (4%)
This is our new break glass in case of emergency TE option. Hudson caught all five of his targets and finished with 49 receiving yards. This sort of score line can be expected if Ja’Marr Chase misses time. Hudson lacks a ceiling, but if you are a big favorite and need a floor play TE, Hudson is your guy.
Michael Mayer | Las Vegas (7%)
Mayer caught four passes and found the end zone in Week 15’s win over Vegas. He is a dart throw TE2 option in Week 16.
Overall Top 10
1- Zamir White RB | Las Vegas
2- Chase Brown RB | Cincinnati
3- Josh Palmer WR | LA Chargers
4- Dontayvion Wicks WR | Green Bay
5- Hunter Henry TE | New England
6- Jameson Williams WR | Detroit
7- Joe Flacco QB | Cleveland
8- Tucker Kraft TE | Green Bay
9- Tyler Goodson / Trey Sermon RB | Indianapolis
10- Roschon Johnson RB | Chicago
