Most fantasy football leagues are in their semifinals, with only four teams remaining. While bye weeks are over, injury issues continue to create lineup concerns. For those who have survived and advanced, there is less competition for available players in free agency. However, there may be overlooked players who remain available after waivers have run for the week.
If you still have streaming needs, the following players can be added and started in a pinch. Maybe you already have one of them on your roster, and these insights can influence whether you start them this week.
Players are listed in order of preference for lineup usage, and analysis is based on PPR scoring. Rostered percentages are from CBSSports.com.
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Jalen McMillan, WR, TB (49 percent rostered): The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie is breaking out at the most important time of the season, and you can add and start him right away as a fantasy WR3. In each of the last two games, he registered 18-plus fantasy points, fueled by three total touchdowns. Over the past four weeks, the Dallas Cowboys rank 29th in fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers. McMillan is planting his flag as the clear No. 2 WR for a Buccaneers offense that is surging right now.
Patrick Taylor Jr., RB, SF (48 percent): The 49ers are down to Taylor as the likely starter. Three Niners running backs are already on injured reserve, and Isaac Guerendo is unlikely to play this week due to injury. The San Francisco offense might rebound in Miami, and any RB who starts for them has the potential to post decent fantasy totals. Taylor models as a physical runner who should be a drive finisher for the 49ers. Miami has allowed 12 rushing TDs to RBs, tied for fourth-most in the league.
Brenton Strange, TE, JAX (33 percent): Strange briefly flashed on fantasy radar earlier this season with two double-figure PPR performances before bursting onto the scene officially last week with an 11-reception outing. The Las Vegas Raiders rank 29th in receptions allowed to TEs, so Strange can be streamed confidently in Week 16. He is working through a shoulder injury, but reports indicate that Strange should play this week.
Jalen Coker, WR, CAR (14 percent): Xavier Legette (hip) is not expected to play this week, pushing Coker into a prominent role in the Carolina passing game alongside Adam Thielen. Coker is dealing with a quad injury, but limited practice status suggests availability against the Arizona Cardinals. Coker finished with 110 receiving yards —including an 83-yard TD catch — last week against Dallas. Coker was targeted six-plus times in three of his previous four games played. He has a 70.3 WR/CB matchup grade on Pro Football Focus for Week 16 against the Cardinals cornerbacks, which qualifies as “Good.” He also gets a pretty good fantasy draw against Tampa Bay’s pass defense in Week 17.
Chig Okonkwo, TE, TEN (6 percent): While he is already known as a sleeper candidate who never delivered, Okonkwo is at least temporarily back on the fantasy map based on last week’s outing and a good Week 16 matchup. He caught eight of 10 targets last week, and the Colts rank 30th in FPPG allowed to tight ends. With Mason Rudolph taking over as the starting QB for the Tennessee Titans, Okonkwo is positioned to provide at least adequate fantasy production this week.
Calvin Austin III, WR, PIT (9 percent): With George Pickens out and Russell Wilson always capable of delivering a pinpoint deep ball, Austin has some statistical promise against the Ravens. He finished in double figures in PPR points in three of the last four games, with long receptions of 30-plus yards in two outings. Baltimore’s pass defense has been less leaky in recent weeks, yet still ranks 29th in receiving yards allowed to WRs this season.
Tim Patrick, WR, DET (5 percent): Apparently, many fantasy players believe Patrick’s three TD receptions in the last two games are not reasons to roster him. Sure, the TD output doesn’t seem sustainable, but Patrick was targeted 15 times in the last two games. The Detroit Lions also have many defensive injuries and may need to pass the ball often on offense to win games.
Marquise Brown, WR, KC (24 percent): Starting Hollywood Brown comes with a high level of risk, considering he has not played a single game in a Chiefs uniform yet. But he appears set to debut against the Texans this week and can potentially make an instant impact with his downfield playmaking abilities. Houston has allowed an AFC-high 19 TD passes to WRs, and Patrick Mahomes might benefit from the late-season addition of a big-play weapon.
Mahomes is averaging career lows in yards per game (239.1), per completion (10.0), and intended air yards per attempt (6.3), so he likely wants to welcome Brown into the mix quickly. Any player coming off such a long layoff has a limited ceiling. But you can add Brown now, and if he performs well, start him in Week 17 while keeping him off an opponent’s roster during the fantasy playoffs.
(Photo of Jalen McMillan: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
