Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 16 (Fantasy Football)
If you are reading this, congratulations on reaching the second round of the fantasy playoffs! Whether you did indeed earn your spot in the next round or are simply an extremely devoted reader of our waiver wire articles, the focus now is clear: it is time to gear up for the next two weeks. You likely just watched a lower seed upset a top contender in your league, which is a reminder of how unpredictable the playoffs can be. Your mission is to prepare for anything, giving yourself the best shot to emerge as champion.
Every new matchup begins with unlocking the full potential of the waiver wire. The right pickups this week could provide the critical edge you need to defeat your next opponent. With that in mind, here are the top Week 16 waiver wire targets to keep your championship hopes alive.
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Running Back Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
6
2
6
4
1
3
4
2
9
4
3
9
2
5
12
3
3
6
2
5
12
7
8
8
4
8
5
10
7
9
11
7
5
10
9
11
8
11
13
6
11
12
7
13
10
13
10
12
13
Michael Carter, RB, Arizona Cardinals – Arizona’s backfield has been a headache to sort out without James Conner and Trey Benson, but Bam Knight has recently emerged as the lead option. That momentum came to a halt in Week 15 when Knight suffered an ankle injury and was carted off, opening the door for Michael Carter to see an expanded role.
In Sunday’s loss to Houston, Carter made the most of his opportunity, showing both efficiency and versatility. He carried the ball 14 times for 56 yards and caught all four of his targets for an additional 38 yards. If Knight is forced to miss time, Carter could offer useful fantasy value for teams needing RB help, starting with a favorable Week 16 matchup against the Falcons.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders – Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! After weeks of frustration, Jacory Croskey-Merritt finally delivered on the promise he flashed early in the season. Chris Rodriguez had taken over the starting role, but a late injury scratch opened the door, and Croskey-Merritt made the most of his opportunity. He carried the ball 18 times for 96 yards and a TD, showing the burst and elusiveness that had been missing for much of the year.
It remains unclear whether Rodriguez will miss additional time or how the backfield will look if he returns in Week 16, but this performance is too strong to overlook and should earn Croskey-Merritt a larger role going forward. That makes him a priority pickup this week. Just keep expectations in check, as he may profile more as a volume-based option with a capped ceiling against a tough Eagles defense.
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams – It is genuinely surprising that Blake Corum remains rostered in under 60 percent of leagues. He has carved out a true timeshare with Kyren Williams and has been on a three-game heater, averaging 93.3 rushing yards per game while scoring in each contest. In Week 15’s loss to the Lions, Corum once again made the most of his opportunities, turning 11 carries into 71 yards and a TD.
The split backfield makes him a slightly uncomfortable start, but Corum’s consistent efficiency and scoring touch continue to outweigh the uncertainty. His ability to maximize limited volume keeps him firmly in the weekly starter conversation. He will face another challenge in Week 16 as the Rams look to stay hot in a pivotal matchup with Seattle.
Audric Estime, RB, New Orleans Saints – The next-man-up mindset is essential in fantasy football, and this situation is one to monitor closely. Devin Neal exited Sunday’s win over Carolina in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, and while it remains unclear whether he will miss time, the post-injury usage gives us a glimpse of how the backfield could shake out. After Neal left, Audric Estime stepped in as the team’s lead back, sharing touches with Evan Hull. Neal finished with just three carries for 11 yards but did contribute as a receiver, catching all three of his targets for 39 yards.
If Neal is forced to sit, Estime could be in line for a sizable workload and sneaky fantasy value. The timing could not be better, as the Saints close out the fantasy season with back-to-back favorable matchups against the Jets and Titans, setting the stage for potential volume-driven production.
Jawhar Jordan, RB, Houston Texans – You may not have heard his name before Sunday, but Jawhar Jordan quickly announced himself in Week 15. After Woody Marks exited the win over Arizona with an ankle injury, Jordan was thrown into the fire and delivered, carrying the ball 15 times for 101 yards while catching both of his targets for 17 additional yards. It was his first action of the season, and he immediately made it count.
With Nick Chubb already sidelined by a rib injury, Jordan and Dare Ogunbowale were the only backs left standing. If both Marks and Chubb are forced to miss time, Jordan could emerge as a surprising source of production in a favorable Week 16 matchup against the Raiders. With that said, he would still be a pretty uncomfortable start in the fantasy semifinals, but his elite speed gives him real upside if he can rip off a big run. That combination makes him an intriguing speculative pickup as this beat-up backfield comes into focus.
Wide Receiver Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
2
4
4
3
3
5
2
4
4
3
5
5
5
2
6
6
7
6
3
7
6
8
11
8
9
10
7
9
10
11
8
10
8
12
9
11
11
7
12
12
12
9
10
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers – Jayden Reed has the talent to be a true difference-making receiver, but injuries and inconsistency have repeatedly stalled his momentum. Now fully back from the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 1, he appears poised to salvage his season and finish strong. After a quiet return, Reed took a step forward in Week 15, catching five of six targets for 55 yards. With Christian Watson, the team’s recent WR1, leaving the game banged up, Reed could be in line for an expanded role moving forward. If you are searching for upside, he profiles as a strong flex option in Week 16 against the Bears, a matchup that has the potential to turn into a high-scoring affair.
Luther Burden, WR, Chicago Bears – Luther Burden’s role has steadily grown in recent weeks, and his production is finally catching up to his immense potential. The rookie has developed increasing chemistry with Caleb Williams, and with Rome Odunze dealing with injuries and his output tapering off, Burden has capitalized on the opportunity. In Week 15, he caught six of seven targets for 84 yards, marking his fifth straight game with at least five targets.
The lone concern is an ankle injury he picked up in that game, which could impact his availability or effectiveness. Monitor his practice participation closely this week, but if he is cleared and ready to go, Burden has a strong chance to deliver another productive outing in a pivotal Week 16 matchup against the Packers.
Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos – Troy Franklin no longer looks like a threat to overtake Courtland Sutton as Denver’s WR1, but he appears to be pulling his season out of a midyear lull. After totaling just over 30 yards across the previous two weeks, Franklin erupted in Week 15, hauling in all six targets for 85 yards and a TD. With Pat Bryant sidelined, his path to consistent volume is clearer, and he has room to operate alongside Sutton in an offense that continues to take shape. If Bryant misses another game, Franklin profiles as a high-upside boom-or-bust flex play in Week 16 against Jacksonville.
Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets – Adonai Mitchell is far from a safe weekly bet, but his ceiling is undeniable. With Garrett Wilson sidelined, Mitchell has stepped into the WR1 role and brings legitimate big-play upside. In Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars, he caught six of nine targets for 58 yards and a TD, flashing the explosive ability that makes him fantasy relevant.
Trusting any Jets receiver is uncomfortable right now, but volume alone can create value. If you are in a bind, Mitchell offers upside as a desperation play in Week 16 against the Saints, where opportunity could once again outweigh the risk.
Jalen Nailor, WR, Minnesota Vikings – Jalen Nailor may not possess the superstar talent of Justin Jefferson, but he has nevertheless emerged as a trusted target for J.J. McCarthy. In Sunday’s win over the Cowboys, Nailor hauled in three catches for 47 yards and two TDs, showcasing his growing chemistry with the struggling rookie QB. While this performance is encouraging, Nailor remains a highly volatile option this late in the fantasy season. He is strictly a boom-or-bust play, best reserved for situations where you have no other viable options.
Tight End Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
3
1
1
2
4
2
2
3
2
3
4
4
1
4
5
5
6
6
3
6
5
5
7
7
7
7
6
Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins – Darren Waller burst onto the scene after debuting with Miami in Week 4, but a pectoral injury sidelined him for several weeks and stalled that momentum. His usage has been inconsistent since returning, but Week 15 was a reminder of his elite fantasy ceiling. In Monday night’s loss to the Steelers, Waller hauled in seven of eight targets for 66 yards and two TDs. It remains to be seen if this usage sticks, but he draws a juicy matchup against the Bengals in Week 16, where he should be trusted in starting lineups immediately.
Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams – It feels like no one is paying attention to Colby Parkinson, but he has been on a legitimate heater since Week 10. Over that six-game stretch, he has scored in all but one game, matching that run with consistent TD production. In Sunday’s loss to the Lions, the burly tight end showed he is more than just a red-zone specialist, pushing his fantasy ceiling higher. He finished with five catches on seven targets for 75 yards and two TDs.
With Davante Adams expected to miss time because of an aggravated hamstring injury, Parkinson could emerge as a more prominent piece of this offense, particularly near the goal line. That expanded role puts the unheralded TE firmly on the fantasy radar for Week 16 against the Seahawks, a defense that is tough overall but has shown vulnerability to TEs.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans – Dalton Schultz’s production has been a bit sporadic, but he has quietly settled in as a reliable fantasy starter, especially since Houston’s Week 6 bye. For managers bold enough to trust him in the opening round of the fantasy playoffs, he delivered his best outing of the season in Week 15. In Sunday’s dominant win over Arizona, Schultz hauled in eight of nine targets for 75 yards and a TD. His scoring upside remains modest, with just two TDs on the year, but his consistent involvement in the passing game provides a steady weekly floor. That usage alone makes him a viable option worth considering in Week 16 against the Raiders if he can carry this momentum forward.
Quarterback Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
4
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
2
6
4
5
6
5
6
6
5
4
7
7
7
7
5
8
8
8
8
Check out Javier Manzanera’s weekly article on QB Streamers to Consider.
Team DST Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
3
1
2
3
2
5
3
6
1
4
4
2
5
3
5
5
7
2
6
7
4
6
7
4
6
7
Catch the weekly Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast
Final Thoughts
One down, two more to go. Whether you are coming off a hard-fought victory or shaking off the rust from your bye week hibernation, it is time to go all in. Stay focused, keep your foot on the gas, and set your team up for ultimate success in the weeks ahead. The playoffs are not about just making it—they’re about winning. Only one manager claims the title each season, and your path to the top starts now.
Bolster your roster with key waiver wire pickups and get ready for the challenges ahead. The chance to make it to the championship round is within reach, but first, there is one more battle standing in your way. I’ll see you on the other side, my friends, as we aim to emerge triumphant from the second battle of the fantasy playoffs.