Week 16: Waiver Wire Recommendations For The Fantasy Football Postseason
Week 15 has been pretty odd, and not just because the Detroit Lions upset the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals by a score of 30-12 after being 12.5-point underdogs. We still have four games remaining even though it’s Monday. Due to COVID-19 raging through the NFL, three games were rescheduled, meaning we have a double-header tonight as well as a double-header tomorrow to finish off the week. Tonight, we will get treated to a matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns. Then, the normally scheduled Monday Night Football matchup between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings will kick-off. Tomorrow, the Los Angeles Rams will play the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles will play the Washington Football Team. Hopefully, your fantasy squad will still be alive for the semi-finals in Week 16.
In the fantasy football postseason, it is more critical than ever to optimize your roster with the most valuable players on the waiver wire as we gear up for a win-or-go-home matchup this week and beyond. Although COVID-19 and injuries have ravaged the league over the past few weeks, fortunately, there will be no byes in Week 16.
You would think that at this point of the season, there isn’t anyone available on the waiver wire worthy of a roster spot. Think again! With all the injuries that have occurred over the last few weeks, there are still some low-owned players who could prove to be vital contributors in the fantasy football postseason. Just look at how well one of last week’s hottest pickups did in Week 15: Gabriel Davis filled in admirably for the injured Emmanuel Sanders, hauling in five catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. He will surely be a highly coveted free agent heading into Week 16 as well.
With our eyes on the championship, let’s take a look at the top waiver wire pickups at each position heading into Week 16 (the semi-finals) of the fantasy football playoffs.
Waiver Wire Quarterbacks Heading Into Week 16
QB Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
In most leagues, there are barely any starting quarterbacks available on the waiver wire. However, the rookie signal-caller out of Chicago may be unowned if you play in a shallower league. Fields have yet to play in Week 15, as he and the Bears will play the Vikings tonight in primetime. However, Fields looked pretty strong in a Week 14 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The rookie produced 224 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions while chipping in 74 rushing yards on the ground, although he did lose a fumble. The three turnovers are a bit concerning, but his rushing production was highly encouraging. In the last three games that he started and finished, Fields averaged 74 rushing yards per game. He has immense upside due to his dual-threat abilities and has established an excellent rapport with his top wide receiver, Darnell Mooney. In Week 16, Fields will face a very beatable Seattle Seahawks defense. If you need a quarterback to stream in the semis, Fields could be your guy.
QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan has struggled with consistency all season, largely since Calvin Ridley hasn’t been active in two months. Against a tough 49ers defense yesterday, Matty Ice completed 19-of-32 pass attempts for 236 yards and one touchdown. Unfortunately, the Falcons turned the ball over on downs twice at San Francisco’s one-yard line. Ryan could have had a much better day from a fantasy standpoint if the Falcons had converted in the red zone yesterday. Matty Ice hasn’t had a two-touchdown effort since back in Week 7 against the Saints when he threw two touchdowns and ran for a third.
Fortunately for Ryan and the Falcons, they face a Detroit Lions defense in Week 16 that has struggled all season (outside of an incredible effort yesterday against the Cardinals). Although Detroit is much harder to beat through the air than on the ground, Atlanta lacks a strong running game. Cordarrelle Patterson has been one of this year’s biggest surprises, but he is more of a pass-catching back than a true running back. And Mike Davis has been pretty atrocious all season. It seems like the Falcons will have to throw the ball if they want to defeat the improved Lions in Week 16. Ryan has established great chemistry with wide receiver Russell Gage, and tight end Kyle Pitts has a decent outing against the Niners. Despite Detroit’s strong effort against the undermanned Arizona Cardinals, Ryan has a great opportunity to finally score multiple touchdowns for the first time since Week 7.
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QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Goff is coming off of his best performance as a member of the Lions after leading Detroit to its second victory of the season against the Cardinals. Goff completed 21-of-26 pass attempts for 216 yards and three touchdowns against an Arizona defense that has been very strong against the pass on defense. Since Goff recovered from an oblique injury and Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties, Goff has thrown nine touchdowns compared to two interceptions and the Lions have won two of their last three games.
Next week, Goff and the Lions face an Atlanta Falcons secondary that is allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. It may be tough to trust Goff in a playoff matchup, but the Lions are on a roll and have a very favorable matchup in Week 16. He’s not going to be a top-five quarterback, however, he’s clearly been better since Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds have emerged as solid wide receivers.
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Waiver Wire Running Backs Heading Into Week 16
RB Duke Johnson, Miami Dolphins
Johnson might be the most sought-after pickup on the waiver wire heading into Week 16. Johnson has had zero value before this past week. Johnson was incredible in Miami’s Week 15 victory over the New York Jets. He even saw more touches than Myles Gaskin. Johnson turned 22 carries into 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns. That said, Johnson may be relegated to a backup role in Week 16 since Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed missed the entire week of practice while they were on the reserve/COVID list. Still, Johnson may have earned more playing time after his inspiring performance. Next week, the Dolphins get a New Orleans Saints defense that just shut out Tom Brady and the reigning Super Bowl champs on Sunday night. The Saints allow the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season. Although Johnson has a phenomenal game against the Jets, New York allows the most fantasy points per game to running backs. Something tells me that we will be looking at a running-back-by-committee in Miami next week against a stout Saints defense. I would still put in a waiver claim for Johnson, but don’t expect the same type of results next week. Johnson is at best, a potential flex option.
RB Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Due to the injury to Leonard Fournette, Jones could prove to be a league-winning pickup heading into Week 16. Fournette was questionable heading into Tampa’s Week 15 matchup with the Saints and wound up exiting the game early in the second half due to a hamstring injury. If he misses the Bucs’ Week 16 matchup with the Carolina Panthers, Jones should see 15+ touches and serve as Tampa Bay’s goal-line back. He would be a low-end RB2. However, if Fournette returns, Jones should be relegated to your bench. This is a situation where the rewards outweigh the risk. Put in a waiver claim and if Fournette is healthy and suits up in Week 16, simply don’t start Jones. Plus, if you make it to the fantasy football championship, the Bucs play the Jets in Week 17.
RB Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Mixon was questionable for the Bengals’ Week 15 matchup with the Denver Broncos and was in and out of the lineup all day. Mixon was eventually helped off the field after suffering a left ankle injury against the Broncos. Although he was seen warming up and jogging on the sideline later in the game, he never returned to action and his Week 16 status is definitely uncertain. If Mixon is unable to go, Perine would likely get the starting nod. Perine has never lived up to expectations since entering the league, but he has shown flashes of brilliance over the past few seasons with the Bengals. Last season, the young running back tallied 136 yards and two touchdowns in Week 16. Could we be looking at similar results this year in Week 16? The Bengals have a pivotal matchup coming up with the Baltimore Ravens. This game could decide who wins the AFC North as each team is 8-6 at this moment. Although the Ravens allow the second-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, Perine should see tons of touches given the volume that Mixon gets when he is on the field. If Mixon is unable to suit up, fire up Perine.
RB Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions
Nobody had heard of Reynolds before he started for the Lions in the absence of D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams two weeks ago. In his first NFL action of the season, Reynolds totaled 99 yards against a stout Denver Broncos defense. Then in Detroit’s Week 15 upset of the Arizona Cardinals, Reynolds turned 27 touches into 117 total yards. Considering the Lions are already out of the playoffs, the organization may opt to leave Swift, they start running back, on the bench. However, Williams should return to the lineup in Week 16. Regardless, Reynolds has done enough to earn more playing time no matter who is healthy in Detroit’s backfield. His final two matchups of the fantasy football postseason are against the Atlanta Falcons (seventh-most fantasy points per game to running backs) and the Seattle Seahawks (second-most fantasy points per game to running backs). Reynolds could be a solid flex option if Swift remains out of the lineup. This is a situation worth monitoring.
Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers
With Austin Ekeler hobbled for the Chargers’ Thursday Night Football overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Jackson took advantage of his opportunity for more touches. The Chargers dialed back Ekeler’s playing time and Jackson turned 14 carries into 84 rushing yards, while also hauling in his lone target for 13 yards. It wasn’t an amazing performance from a fantasy standpoint, but Jackson is one of the most valuable handcuffs to own down the stretch in case Ekeler is unable to suit up for one of the Chargers’ next two outings. Ekeler owners should add Jackson at all costs.
Waiver Wire Wide Receivers Heading Into Week 16
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
The rookie wideout who scored Detroit’s game-winning touchdown back in Week 13 against the Vikings has been a staple of this column ever since. In Detroit’s upset victory over the Cardinals, St. Brown continued his red-hot production with eight receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. The rookie has now caught at least eight passes in three straight contests and has accumulated 269 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 35 targets over that span. The rookie has emerged as Jared Goff’s go-to target, especially with tight end T.J. Hockenson out of the lineup. St. Brown has been a beast in PPR formats, totaling 24.6, 15.3, and 23 PPR points over his last three contests. He’s a must-start down the stretch as the Lions face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16. Atlanta allows the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers this season. The rookie will continue to dominate in the fantasy football postseason.
WR Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills
Davis has emerged as one of Josh Allen’s favorite red-zone targets in recent weeks. In fact, Davis has scored touchdowns in three consecutive contests now. After Emmanuel Sanders suffered a knee injury in Week 14, Davis saw a massive increase in playing time in Buffalo’s Week 15 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Despite the tough matchup, Davis corralled five receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns. He was even more productive than Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley.
The Bills have a tough matchup on the horizon against the New England Patriots, however, Davis did manage to catch two-of-four targets for 30 yards and a touchdown in Buffalo’s Week 13 loss to the Pats. With Sanders injured, Davis should continue to provide value in the Bills’ pass-happy offense. Although the matchup is tough this week, the Bills face Atlanta’s weak secondary in Week 17, championship week. Davis could prove to be a league-winning pickup. He clearly has Josh Allen’s trust and is scoring more touchdowns than anyone on the Bills recently. Davis should be owned in all leagues at this point.
WR Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons
For some reason, Gage is available in way too many leagues considering his recent performances. Against the 49ers in Week 15, Atlanta’s WR1 by default hauled in eight receptions on 11 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown. He has now scored a touchdown or surpassed 100 yards in three of his last four contests. Over that span, he has caught 29 passes for 347 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He is a PPR gem given the number of targets he sees with Kyle Pitts usually double-covered. The Falcons will face a Detroit Lions defense that has struggled on defense all season. Gage is a solid WR3 in Week 16.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers
MVS had struggled in his last two contests, catching just seven passes for 70 yards. However, Valdes-Scantling stepped up big time in Green Bay’s thrilling Week 15 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. He caught five passes on seven targets for 98 yards and a touchdown. However, MVS is still risky to start considering he has to battle with Davante Adams and Allen Lazard for targets. The Packers face a Cleveland Browns secondary that has been pretty solid against opposing wideouts. However, MVS is a decent boom-or-bust option if you are willing to roll the dice. With Randall Cobb still sidelined, MVS should continue to see a decent number of looks in Green Bay’s high-powered offense. Anytime your quarterback is Aaron Rodgers, you have a chance at a massive performance.
WR Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions
The Lions’ passing game has come to life in recent weeks. Reynolds is benefiting from the chemistry he built with Jared Goff back when the two were teammates on the Rams. In Detroit’s Week 15 victory over Arizona, Reynold corralled all six of his targets for 68 receiving yards and a touchdown. Amon-Ra St. Brown is the WR1 in this offense, but Reynolds is a great deep-ball threat and has earned the WR2 job in Detroit. Reynolds now has at least 52 receiving yards in four straight games and has two touchdowns over that span. The veteran wide receiver gets a Week 16 matchup against an Atlanta Falcons secondary that allows the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Reynolds could be a decent flex option this week in PPR formats.
WR Braxton Berrios, New York Jets
After Corey Davis was ruled out for the season and Elijah Moore was placed on Injured Reserve, most assumed that Jamison Crowder would be the featured wide receiver in New York’s depleted offense. Against the Saints in Week 14, Berrios tallied six receptions for 52 yards compared to Crowder’s three receptions for a measly 19 yards. In the Jets’ 31-24 loss to the Miami Dolphins yesterday, Berrios only caught one pass for 26 yards, however, he also turned two carries into 10 yards and a red-zone touchdown. Although Crowder was more involved in the passing game than Berrios this week, Berrios is the one who found the end zone. In Week 16, the Jets have a winnable game against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that allows the 10th-most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers. The Jags just allowed Davis Mills to link up with Brandin Cooks for 102 receiving yards and two touchdowns. While I wouldn’t expect those numbers from Berrios in Week 16, he is a potential flex option in the fantasy football semi-finals.
Waiver Wire Tight Ends Heading Into Week 16
TE Ricky Seals-Jones, Washington Football Team
Washington hasn’t played yet this week, but RSJ should have a solid outing against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that allows the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. With Logan Thomas out for the season, RSJ is probably the most valuable tight end still available on the waiver wire in most leagues. Seals-Jones was a bust in Week 14 against the Dallas Cowboys, as John Bates ran more routes than Seals-Jones, however, it was RSJ’s first game back from an injury of his own. Something tells me that Washington will do what it can to feature Seals-Jones down the stretch, especially with Terry McLaurin not at full strength. When Thomas was out earlier this season, Seals-Jones did put together some decent outings, including when he caught four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs. RSJ faces the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16, who have been in the middle of the pack at defending opposing tight ends. Considering the massive number of players sidelined for Washington, RSJ should be a focal point of Washington’s aerial attack moving forward.
TE James O’Shaugnessy, Jacksonville Jaguars
O’Shaugnessy has drawn 21 targets from rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence over the last four weeks. Against the Texans on Sunday, the veteran tight end caught four passes for 60 yards. With Dar Arnold out for the season, O’Shaugnessy should continue to see plenty of targets considering Lawrence’s love for his tight ends. In Week 16, the Jags face a New York Jets defense that allows the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. There are barely any serviceable tight ends left on the wire, but if you are absolutely desperate, O’Shaugnessy has a relatively safe floor given the volume he has seen over the last month.
TE Evan Engram, New York Giants
Sterling Shepard just suffered a season-ending injury after tearing his ACL in New York’s Week 15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. With Kadarius Toney still sidelined, Engram could see an uptick in targets down the stretch. Engram had four receptions for 33 yards and has been a huge disappointment this season for fantasy owners and G-Men fans. However, the Giants face the Eagles in Week 16, a defense that allows the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. It’s also hard to blame Engram for his recent lack of production since Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm have been his quarterbacks. Daniel Jones has been ruled out for the rest of the season, which puts a cap on Engram's value, however, if the Giants let Fromm Start in Week 16, we all know that young quarterbacks love to rely on their tight ends.
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