The 2023 fantasy football playoffs are upon us. The NFL landscape continues to shift, and fantasy managers should always be looking to improve their rosters. Let’s take a look at the top Week 16 waiver wire targets and pickups that fantasy managers should consider for their rosters.
Top Waiver Wire Pickups in Week 16 | Quarterbacks
Note: As always, all players are rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo leagues. For the final two weeks, I have done away with FAAB recommendations, as they no longer serve a purpose.
Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts (25% Rostered)
With all the quarterback injuries, there are certainly those of you out there with a bye or who managed to advance that need someone for Week 16. Why not Gardner Minshew?
The Colts QB threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns against the Steelers. Next week, he gets a soft Falcons pass defense that entered Week 15 allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to the position.
Be sure to monitor Michael Pittman Jr.’s status. If he’s out, Minshew becomes a bit less appealing. But he’s on the streaming radar nonetheless.
Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns (24% Rostered)
It was yet another 300-yard passing day for Joe Flacco. For the third consecutive game, Flacco threw for multiple touchdowns. While the three interceptions were less than ideal, he’s now attempted 40+ passes in each of his three starts this season.
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Next week, the Browns get the Texans pass defense that entered Week 15 allowing the eighth-most PPG to quarterbacks. Flacco is a worthwhile streaming option in Week 16.
Top Waiver Wire Pickups in Week 16 | Running Backs
The Week 16 waiver wire is surprisingly strong for this late in the season. There are a number of backup running backs potentially replacing injured starters that are worth pushing all your chips in the middle on.
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings (48% Rostered)
I don’t know if Alexander Mattison will return next week. But I also don’t know if it will even matter. Ty Chandler carried the ball 23 times for 132 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. He added three catches for 25 yards. Chandler’s game was better than anything Mattison has done all season.
Whoever starts at running back for the Vikings next week will have a tough time against the Lions’ tough run defense. But if Chandler is the guy, he’s going to play over 70% of the snaps. He needs to be added everywhere he’s still available.
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders (16% Rostered)
Josh Jacobs missed last Thursday’s demolition of the Chargers. In his stead, Zamir White not only started, but operated as the clear lead back. He played 70% of the snaps and saw 21 opportunities, scoring 17.5 fantasy points.
Jacobs didn’t practice at all last week. It is uncertain whether he will be able to return this week. With just three games left in the season and Jacobs playing without a long-term contract, it is probably in his best interest not to play. Now, that doesn’t mean he won’t. But if he doesn’t, we know White’s role is excellent and that he’s capable of putting up RB1 numbers. Pick him up.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs (40% Rostered)
The time to add Clyde Edwards-Helaire was when Isiah Pacheco first went down. You could’ve gotten two quality weeks out of him.
After his 20-point performance against the Patriots, I have to include him on the list. However, Pacheco is expected to return this week, which would destroy any value CEH currently has.
Nevertheless, Edwards-Helaire has proven he can be worth starting if the Chiefs put him in the lead-back role. Perhaps Pacheco is unable to make it back, affording fantasy managers one more week of CEH as a fantasy RB2.
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals (20% Rostered)
The Bengals are utilizing Chase Brown early and often now. It seems like their plan is to basically split the snaps early in the game to keep Joe Mixon fresh for the higher-leverage plays later in the game.
Brown had seven carries and three targets on Saturday. He scored a respectable 8.3 fantasy points.
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There is some standalone value here. But Brown has RB1 upside if Mixon were to go down. Of course, there’s only one more opportunity for that to happen. But still, if you can give yourself a small chance at an RB1/2 for the final, you do it.
Tyler Goodson and Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts (0% Rostered)
Zack Moss left the game with an arm injury after an illegal horse-collar tackle on his touchdown reception. He did not return. After he departed, Tyler Goodson and Trey Sermon split the work.
Sermon carried the ball 17 times for 88 yards. Goodson had 69 yards on 11 carries. X-rays on Moss’ arm were negative. It’s entirely possible he plays next week. It also seems likely that if he can’t go, Jonathan Taylor will, making picking up either of these guys moot. But I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t at least point them out as potential options in a desperation scenario.
Top Waiver Wire Pickups in Week 16 | Wide Receivers
We don’t have a clear priority add on the Week 16 waiver wire at wide receiver, but Josh Palmer, Noah Brown, and Curtis Samuel are interesting options.
Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers (29% Rostered)
After a six-game absence due to a knee injury, Josh Palmer returned Thursday night against the Raiders. In a disastrous game where the Chargers never had a chance, Palmer still managed to put up 113 yards and a touchdown.
While Palmer only seeing four targets in a game Keenan Allen didn’t play is less than ideal, the Chargers also can’t possibly play worse over these final two games of the fantasy season.
At worst, Palmer is the Chargers’ WR2. But I have my suspicions about whether Allen will even return this year. The 31-year-old doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. The Chargers’ season is over. I would be surprised if we saw him again. That would set Palmer up to lead the team in targets going forward.
Noah Brown, Houston Texans (40% Rostered)
After back-to-back goose eggs, Noah Brown somehow managed to bounce back with Case Keenum at quarterback. He caught eight of 11 targets for 82 yards and a touchdown.
With Nico Collins out and Tank Dell done for the season, it was Brown operating as the Texans’ WR1. It remains to be seen whether Collins will be able to return next week. But either way, Brown should be startable even as the WR2.
Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders (37% Rostered)
Fresh out of the bye, Curtis Samuel saw his role in the Commanders’ offense continue to grow. His nine targets were his second-most of the season. He caught five of them for 41 yards and two touchdowns.
Of course, touchdowns are what made Samuel’s day an elite WR1 one. We can’t expect those to happen often. But it’s clear he’s the WR2 in an offense willing to throw a lot. He should be picked up.
Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers (3% Rostered)
There are a lot of moving pieces with the Packers wide receivers right now. Christian Watson has missed the past two weeks with a hamstring strain. That elevated Dontayvion Wicks to the WR3 role.
This week, Jayden Reed left the game with a toe injury. It’s unclear how serious it is or whether he will miss any time. If he does, Wicks would stand to benefit significantly.
Against the Bucs, Wicks caught six of seven targets for 97 yards. He’s a talented player who can excel with opportunity. It’s possible that is coming this week, making him worth adding.
Top Waiver Wire Pickups in Week 16 | Tight Ends
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers (10% Rostered)
As it turns out, losing Luke Musgrave wasn’t that much of a blow to the Packers’ tight end position. Their other rookie, Tucker Kraft, stepped in seamlessly.
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Kraft caught four of six targets for 57 yards and a touchdown against the Bucs. He’s now scored at least 9.5 fantasy points in three of his last four.
If Christian Watson can’t return and Jayden Reed is forced to miss time, Kraft could be in line for an increased role. At the always difficult tight end position, he is startable.
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers (44% Rostered)
Admittedly, adding players playing with Easton Stick is not the best move. Gerald Everett certainly doesn’t possess the same upside he would with Justin Herbert under center.
But Everett has been serviceable with 8.4 points or more in his last four games. He’s now seen eight targets in two straight.
The Chargers have a tough spot next week against the Bills but close out against the Broncos, who just surrendered three touchdowns to Sam LaPorta. You can certainly do worse than Everett.
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