Week 16 of the fantasy football season is here, and you’re either starting your playoffs or the second round. Let’s find some waiver wire help to make sure the wins keep coming as you chase a championship.
HEADS UP
- Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo
- Listed in order of preference — I’ll regularly prioritize potential upside over immediate replacement production
- RB backups have a separate secondary list based on only if the lead option got hurt
- No FAB suggestions: It varies wildly by league tendencies and always relative (ex: if you lost your RB1 to injury and there is a clear backup, you’re going to be more aggressive)
- Streaming QB and TE are grouped together — weekly ranking can change once projections/ranks run — DST could shift a bit too
WORRY REPORT
(Scale 1-5: more ducks = more worry)
- Brock Purdy, QB, ATL — 🦆🦆🦆 — Matt Barrows came on my radio show as a guest and warned that Purdy was bad in the rain. Who knew it would be that bad? Well, if it is ever raining, stay far away, and with the 49ers falling out of contention shortly, the 49ers could easily shut down Purdy (and George Kittle).
- Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, NYG — 🦆🦆🦆🦆 — Don’t ask what the plan is for the Giants outside of tanking. The backfield is a timeshare, despite Tracy’s upside. In this broken offense, that’s relegated Tracy to RB3 status.
- Isiah Pacheco, RB, KC — 🦆🦆🦆 — Kareem Hunt saw 50% of the work, and the Chiefs will likely (and smartly) share Pacheco’s touches to limit a chance of re-injury. Plus, without Patrick Mahomes, the offense takes a step back, which will keep Pacheco as a volatile RB2/3.
- Adam Thielen, WR, CAR — 🦆 — No concern. If Bryce Young doesn’t narrowly miss him on a potential touchdown, Thielen finishes with a Top 10 week.
- Amari Cooper, WR, BUF — ♾🦆 — Not one target. There is no way you can trust Cooper in your playoff lineup with everyone healthy for the Bills.
STREAMING QUARTERBACKS
Week 16
- Anthony Richardson, IND (vs TEN)
- Jameis Winston, CLE (at CIN — might not start)
- Bo Nix, DEN (at LAC)
- Aaron Rodgers, NYJ (vs LAR)**
- Matthew Stafford, LAR (at NYJ)
- Caleb Williams, CHI (vs DET)
- Drake Maye, NE (at BUF)
- Kirk Cousins, ATL (vs NYG)
Week 17
- Bo Nix, DEN (at CIN)
- Anthony Richardson, IND (at NYG)
- Jameis Winston, CLE (vs MIA — might not start)
- Matthew Stafford, LAR (vs ARI)
- Drake Maye, NE (vs LAC)
- Aaron Rodgers, NYJ (at BUF)**
- Caleb Williams, CHI (vs SEA)
- Kirk Cousins, ATL (at WSH)
NOTE: I’m making some late-season changes to the waiver blurbs. Not only are there numerous repeats, grabbing depth now comes down to backup plans with high ceilings. So, the waiver wire sections will talk about new-ish additions, since there may be questions about performances and being start- or stash-worthy.
WAIVER WIRE RUNNING BACK RANKS
- Kendre Miller, NO — If Alvin Kamara is out, Miller (a Jamaal Williams type) would be in the RB2 tier, even with the struggling offense.
- Jerome Ford, CLE — With Nick Chubb out, Ford gets a boost, albeit not as much as some might think. Don’t forget D’Onta Foreman got early-down and short-yardage work before Chubb debuted this year. Ford would be a risky RB2.
- Braelon Allen, NYJ — Tweaked his back, but Breece Hall is no guarantee to play any week, and if Hall was out, Allen would slide into the RB2 territory… if he’s okay. If Hall plays, Allen is behind Bigsby on this list.
- Tyjae Spears, TEN — Easy schedule, and maybe the Titans pull a Buccaneers and utilize both running backs down the stretch, particularly with Tony Pollard playing at less than 100% health.
- Kimani Vidal, LAC — I’d rather chase his ceiling over Gus Edwards, even though it’s still limited.
- Justice Hill, BAL — As seen, passing game and garbage time upside.
- Antonio Gibson, NE — Desperate play this week, but if the Patriots are passing and trying to keep up in Buffalo, PRR Flex value is possible.
- Tank Bigsby, JAX — RB2 upside when close and leading, but the problem is trusting that happens for the Jaguars, even in Las Vegas.
- Gus Edwards, LAC — Super meh, short week, bad matchup.
- Kenneth Gainwell, PHI — If you haven’t stashed him yet, maybe the Saquon Barkley injury scare was enough.
- Isaiah Davis, NYJ — With Breece Hall and Braelon Allen banged up, Davis could be a lead option this week. If both are out, Davis would be the No. 1 waiver option at RB.
- Ray Davis, BUF — Great upside if James Cook were to get hurt.
- Craig Reynolds, DET — You can’t use him this week, but if the Lions timeshared him enough (though unlikely), Reynolds could be a Flex play as the Lions try to play ball control against the 49ers next week.
- D’Onta Foreman, CLE — The Browns haven’t used him since Chubb returned, but you might be desperate and in a deep league.
OTHERS OF NOTE
- Ty Johnson, BUF — Fun two weeks, but this feels like chasing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at running back, which I did (and wish I didn’t).
- Devin Singletary, NYG — Can’t even use Tracy, so don’t mess with Singletary.
- Kareem Hunt, KC — Split was 50/50, but that makes Pacheco more dicey than making Hunt worthy of starting.
- Patrick Taylor, SF — Isaac Guerendo was/is fine. Taylor is no more than a stash.
- Jeremy McNichols, WSH — Didn’t see much use against the Saints, so no more than a stash, especially with the Eagles on tap.
NEXT MAN UP:
(with potential desperation startability)
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL
- Tyjae Spears, TEN
- Tank Bigsby, JAX
- Justice Hill, BAL
- Kimani Vidal, LAC
- Ray Davis, BUF
- Antonio Gibson, NE
PURELY NEXT MAN UP RANKS
(if they had the lead role)
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL
- Ray Davis, BUF
- Jaylen Warren, PIT
- Trey Benson, ARI
- Blake Corum, LAR
- Braelon Allen, NYJ
- Tyjae Spears, TEN
- Kareem Hunt, KC
- Patrick Taylor, SF
- Kenneth Gainwell, PHI
- Jaylen Wright, MIA
- Kimani Vidal, LAC
- Roschon Johnson, CHI
- Khalil Herbert, CIN
- Raheem Mostert, MIA
- Justice Hill, BAL
- Cam Akers, MIN
- Tyler Goodson, IND
- Antonio Gibson, NE
- Devin Singletary, NYG
- Emanuel Wilson, GB
WAIVER WIRE WIDE RECEIVER RANKS
- Adam Thielen, CAR — Most routes. Most targets. The most disappointing opportunity was when Bryce Young missed him on a potential touchdown. I’ll take 5-for-51 as Thielen’s floor and keep him in lineups.
- Jalen McMillan, TB — What more can I say? The Chris Godwin role is his, and McMillan is showing why he was a fun deep sleeper.
- Romeo Doubs, GB — Zero consistency with the Packers, but Doubs continues to lead the way in routes/snaps.
- Keon Coleman, BUF — Only 54.1% route participation, but the ceiling was evident on his touchdown reception.
- Christian Watson, GB — Coleman… on the Packers.
- Quentin Johnston, LAC — Lesser Coleman and Watson.
- Jalen Coker, CAR — Xavier Legette got hurt, which opens the door for Coker as the No. 2. If Legette returns, it would be hard to trust either one in your lineups.
- Rashod Bateman, BAL — Had him as a sleeper for last week, as he’s come up big in cake matchups, but the next two games are not cake, or even brownies. Back to Hail Mary play, and one that more than likely doesn’t hit.
- Malik Washington, MIA — If Waddle is out, Washington is a desperation play, though, it’s not easy for Tua Tagovailoa to rebound with the schedule.
NEXT MAN UP
(of sorts, for WR)
These wide receivers could see a boost into startability if something happened in front of them.
- Rashod Bateman, BAL
- Tim Patrick, DET
- Jalen Nailor, MIN
- Joshua Palmer, LAC
- Tutu Atwell, LAR
- Ray-Ray McCloud, ATL
- Jalen Tolbert, DAL
- Malik Washington, MIA
- John Metchie, HOU
- Ricky Pearsall, SF
- Greg Dortch, ARI
STREAMING TIGHT ENDS
- Brenton Strange, JAX
- Hunter Henry, NE
- Stone Smartt, LAC
- Chigoziem Okonkwo, TEN
- Cole Kmet, CHI
- Noah Gray, KC
- Grant Calcaterra, PHI
STREAMING DST
Week 16
- GB vs NO
- LAC vs DEN
- ATL vs NYG
- LV vs JAX
- IND vs TEN
- ARI at CAR
- TEN at IND
- CIN vs CLE
- JAX at LV
Week 17
- LAC at NE
- MIA at CLE
- TB vs CAR
- IND at NYG
- TEN at JAX
- SEA at CHI
- WSH vs ATL (assume WSH will drop under 60% with PHI this week)
- CHI vs SEA
- CIN vs DEN
- LV at NO
- NO vs LV
- JAX vs TEN
(Top photo of Kendre Miller: Stephen Lew / Imagn Images)
