Week 16 Waiver Wire – NFL Fantasy Football

DFS Army’s Gthom goes over the the waiver wire targets for this week. These waiver wire targets are normally available in 50-percent of ESPN leagues.

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QUARTERBACKS

Jake Browning (CIN) – 37% Ownership

What can you say? Browning is making a case to be a starter in this league. His last three games he has scored 27, 24 and 20 fantasy points. If he is somehow available in your two-quarterback league he is a must-add. His ownership will inflate much more following three straight games of high-quality fantasy production.

Joe Flacco (CLE) – 11% Ownership

38 years old and looking better than he did at 28. Flacco has been a fun storyline, especially with 17, 21 and 19 fantasy points over his last three games. The 15-year vet is another plug-and-play quarterback available on the waiver wire.

Derek Carr (NO) – 22% Ownership

He FINALLY reached 20 fantasy points for the first time in 2023. He is a great streaming option for Week 16 too as he takes on the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams have allowed 6.3 fantasy points above expectation over their last three games (32^nd), and 21.3-FPPG to the quarterback position (31^st).

Gardner Minshew (IND) – 16% Ownership

Poo slingin’ Minshew has provided solid QB2 value over his last three weeks, an average of 16.78-FPPG in that time. He can be streamed against the Falcons in Week 16 but the other three quarterbacks mentioned above should be utilized over Minshew. WR1, Michael Pittman, also exited Week 15’s contest and if he misses Week 16, that would be a downgrade to the passing offense.

 

RUNNING BACKS

Ty Chandler (MIN) – 46% Ownership

Chandler has been named the “featured” back in Minnesota according to head coach Kevin O’Connell. And who could blame O’Connell after Chandler finished 23/132/1 on the ground and 3/25/0 through the air. Chandler is a MUST ADD player and has potential to be a league winning addition. Feel free to spend most or all your FAAB if needed.

Zamir White (LV) – 7% Ownership

White is a plug-and-play RB2 you can find widely available should he be the starter in Week 16. Last week while being thrust into the RB1 role, White finished with 17/69/1 on the ground and 2/16/0 through the air. The biggest question is whether or not starting running back Josh Jacobs is healthy or not. Jacobs did not practice all last week so there is legitimate worry about his availability for Week 16.

Trey Sermon (IND) – 2% Ownership

Sermon was inserted into Week 15’s contest after an injury to Zack Moss. The third-year vet went 17/88/0 and maintained 5.18 YPC in his limited role against the Steelers. Sermon may have to share the backfield with Goodson, who looked good as well. Snap rates for Sermon and Goodson were respectively the following, 43-percent and 22-percent. Lastly, Zack Moss is ‘hopeful’ to play in Week 16 which would zap Sermon’s value, but Sermon is still worth a stash in case Moss misses.

Tyler Goodson (IND) – 0% Ownership

See Trey Sermon’s breakdown above to get up-to-speed. Goodson finished 11/69/0 and maintained a 6.27 YPC against the Steelers in Week 15. It is important to note that Sermon sits above Goodson on the depth chart; Goodson was relegated to the practice squad after Week 15’s game (this has happened for the last three weeks however). If Moss were to play, Goodson’s value would be near zero.

Justice Hill (BAL) – 9% Ownership

Hill has fallen out of grace following the rise of rookie Keaton Mitchell. Sadly, Mitchell tore his ACL which will end his season. Hill projects to see more usage because of the injury and he’s had FLEX worthy weeks in 2023 for deep-leagues. Hill has 398 total yards across 88 touches, a 4.41 YPC average, and three touchdowns this season. Gus Edwards will remain the starter.

Jerick McKinnon (KC) – 37% Ownership

Starting running back, Isiah Pacheco, is expected back in Week 16, but McKinnon should be picked up in case that does not happen. McKinnon has 26 touches and two touchdowns over the last two weeks. If you add one of Mckinnon or CEH, McKinnon would be the preference due to his role in obvious passing downs.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) – 32% Ownership

Starting running back, Isiah Pacheco, is expected to return in Week 16, but CEH should be picked up in case that does not happen. CEH has 30 touches over the last two weeks and he has finished with respective fantasy scores of 8.8 and 20.1. If you add one of Mckinnon or CEH, McKinnon would be the preference due to his role in obvious passing downs.

Chase Brown (CIN) – 8% Ownership

Brown is a deep-league FLEX option going forward. Since Joe Burrow’s injury the running back room has gotten more involved. In his last three games Brown has 28 touches for 217 total yards and one touchdown. There may be meat on the bones too as Brown has facilitated five redzone opportunities as well. Brown’s PPR production in the last three weeks has been 6.1, 19.5 and 7.1 fantasy points.

Tyjae Spears (TEN) – 40% Ownership

Always playable in PPR formats, especially when his team is projected to lose. Currently the Titans are +2.5 underdogs to the Seahawks and Spears could have an elevated role if the Titans find themselves in a lot of passing situations. Spears has heavy usage across the last three games: 43 touches for 243 total yards, while averaging 11.43-FPPG.

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Curtis Samuel (WAS) – 42% Ownership

This player has been on fire and we have seen him do this in the past too. 20, 10.5 and 21.1 fantasy points over his last three games, respectively. The best part is that he is seeing tons of targets too, 26 in his last three games.

Noah Brown (HOU) – 40% Ownership

Brown is BACK! 8/82/1 against the Titans in Week 15, and that was with a backup quarterback at the helm. C.J. Stroud likely gets back under center in Week 16 and that only boosts Brown’s value. He has a tough game against Cleveland next, but he can be started – especially if Nico Collins misses the game.

Jameson Williams (DET) – 12% Ownership

From injured, to degenerate, to role player, to featured receiver, Williams saw a career-best seven targets in Week 15 where he finished 4/55/0. Williams has upside if his usage maintains this rate or increases. Plus, Williams is a deep threat on every play. He carries solid value/upside in 12-team leagues and deeper.

Zay Jones (JAC) – 34% Ownership

Plagued by injuries, and he is currently nursing a hamstring injury at the moment, nevertheless Jones is someone you can play any week due to his usage and rapport with his quarterback. If Trevor Lawrence misses, which is very possible due to the league’s concussion protocol, Jones is not worth playing unless you utilize him in deep leagues. 12.8, 7.9, and 10.9 PPR points over his last three games.

Josh Palmer (LAC) – 20% Ownership

Palmer saw more usage with Keenan Allen out and because the Chargers fell behind the Raiders quickly. If Allen is out again, Palmer becomes much more appealing to start. He still carries low-end FLEX value if Allen plays.

Tyler Boyd (CIN) – 43% Ownership

Jamar Chase is out for some time and Tyler Boyd should see more usage as a result. While he is not a great start in fantasy, he carries FLEX value with Chase injured. Boyd has 575 receiving yards across 59 receptions and two touchdowns this season. Teammate Trenton Irwin should see an uptick in usage as well, in case Boyd is not available.

Rashid Shaheed (NO) – 22% Ownership

After he missed the last two games, Shaheed failed to deliver in Week 15 despite being the best receiver available (Chris Olave and Michael Thomas were both out). Injuries still plague the receiver room but they are getting healthy. If one of Olave or Thomas misses, Shaheed can be started with confidence. Even if Olave and Thomas play, Shaheed has standalone value as a deep threat. In his normal WR3 role Shaheed has three separate weeks of 18-plus fantasy points due to his ability to stretch the field – think of DeSean Jackson back in the day.

Demarcus Robinson (LAR) – 1% Ownership

Three straight games with a touchdown and he can be utilized going forward as a touchdown-or-bust player. He is the WR3 in this offense, temper expectations to that role.

Dontayvion Wicks (GB) – 3% Ownership

Wicks will carry value if the receiver room still has injuries. While taking on a larger role in Week 15, Wicks finished with a line of 6/97/0. Christian Watson is still battling injuries so Wicks has a chance to be featured in this offense.

 

TIGHT ENDS

Hunter Henry (NE) – 18% Ownership

Strong performance in Week 15 against the Chiefs where he scored a touchdown and logged 19 fantasy points. That’s three touchdowns in the last two weeks, it seems Bailey Zappe has found a reliable pass catcher in Henry. Henry can be streamed in Week 16 against Denver, the worst defense in the NFL against tight ends over the last five weeks.

Tucker Kraft (GB) – 3% Ownership

Back-to-back weeks of double-digit fantasy production. Kraft will play the Carolina Panthers next and they are nothing to shy away from. As a starter he has finished with the following fantasy scores: 9.5, 6.7, 10.4 and 15.7.

Cade Otton (TB) – 26% Ownership

Otton is always someone you can plug into your lineup but he can hardly break double-digit fantasy points. He is playable in Week 16 as he takes on Jacksonville, the 25^th best team at defending tight ends.

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