Well, the time has finally come. If you are still looking at your waiver wire, it is likely because you have made it to your fantasy football championship. With several key injuries suffered in Week 15, some interesting names might still be available in your league’s Week 16 waiver wire.
Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups | Quarterbacks
Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield (at New York Jets)
If you are lucky enough to have Baker Mayfield on your waiver wire still, I would strongly suggest you add him to your roster. Over the past four weeks, Mayfield has put on an absolute clinic. Mayfield sports an impressive 70.2% completion rate and 0.63 fantasy points per pass in that same time span.
It has become evident that under a new offensive-minded head coach in Kevin Stefanski and a steel wall around him, the former first overall pick can thrive. This week, he takes on a New York Jets defense that gives up the third-most fantasy points to opposing gunslingers each week.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (at Dallas Cowboys)
Well, it looks like we officially have a QB controversy in Philadelphia.
Jalen Hurts has stepped in to replace the struggling Carson Wentz and has proven to be the real deal. It’s time everyone gets on board! Since taking over as the starter, Hurts has tossed for over 500 passing yards while also rushing for almost 170 yards. There are some impressive numbers for a rookie being thrust into the starting role.
Other QBs that could be still available on your Week 16 waiver wire
- Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (at Las Vegas Raiders)
- Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky (at Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Las Vegas Raiders QB Marcus Mariota (vs. Miami Dolphins)
Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups | Running Backs
Miami Dolphins RB Salvon Ahmed (at Las Vegas Raiders)
Salvon Ahmed shined this past week with 24 of the Dolphins 40 backfield touches, rushing for over 100 yards and a score. On a team that has struggled to run the ball, 22nd in the league with 106.3 rushing yards per game, Ahmed has proven to be the number one option in this backfield.
One thing to keep in mind in this one is that there is a chance that Myles Gaskin could be activated off the reserve list. If that is the case, Ahmed’s fantasy outlook will take a hit. However, if he remains the starting back, Ahmed could offer another serviceable day.
Dallas Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
Ezekiel Elliott being inactive in Week 15 opened the door for Tony Pollard to strut his stuff, both on the ground and in the passing game. Last week against the San Francisco 49ers and their seventh-ranked run defense, Pollard put up a total of 132 yards and two touchdowns.
If Elliott misses time and Pollard is once again the starter, he gets to face off against the 22nd ranked rush defense in the Philadelphia Eagles. They are allowing 125.6 yards on the ground.
With Pollard being a versatile option in both the running game and the passing attack, he is a valuable option that could help win your fantasy championship. In a matchup against the all of a sudden high-scoring Eagles, the Cowboys will need to score to keep up. Pollard will be a big part of the game plan.
Other running back options
- San Francisco 49ers RB Jeff Wilson (at Arizona Cardinals)
- Cincinnati Bengals RB Giovani Bernard (at Houston Texans)
- Miami Dolphins RB Lynn Bowden Jr. (at Las Vegas Raiders)
- Atlanta Falcons RB Ito Smith (at Kansas City Chiefs)
- Kansas City Chiefs RB Le’Veon Bell (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
- New England Patriots RB Sony Michel (vs. Buffalo Bills)
- San Francisco 49ers RB Tevin Coleman (at Arizona Cardinals)
- Baltimore Ravens RB Gus Edwards (vs. New York Giants)
Wide Receivers
Cleveland Browns WR Rashard Higgins (at New York Jets)
One interesting Week 16 waiver wire option is Rashard Higgins. Higgins has carved out a nice role for himself in the Browns offense with the absence of Odell Beckham Jr.
Higgins is second to Jarvis Landry in target share and red zone looks. This week Higgins has a juicy matchup against the New York Jets secondary. With Baker Mayfield’s sudden resurgence, Higgins’ potential increases dramatically.
Houston Texans WR Keke Coutee (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
It has been three weeks since Will Fuller has been on the shelf, and Keke Coutee has thrived in his absence. In the three weeks without Fuller, Coutee has over 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His target share in the red zone is one of the best for WRs in the last three weeks.
Other Week 16 waiver wire options
- Green Bay Packers WR Allen Lazard (vs. Tennessee Titans)
- Chicago Bears WR Darnell Mooney (at Jacksonville Jaguars)
- New Orleans Saints WR Emmanuel Sanders (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
- San Francisco 49ers WR Kendrick Bourne (at Arizona Cardinals)
- New England Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers (vs. Buffalo Bills)
- Philadelphia Eagles WR Jalen Reagor (at Dallas Cowboys)
Waiver Wire Week 16 | Tight Ends
Chicago Bears TE Cole Kmet (at Jacksonville Jaguars)
Cole Kmet is receiving a lot more playing time than Jimmy Graham in the Bears offense as of late. However, he needs to get more targets from Trubisky for that playing time to matter. The Jaguars defense is one of the worst in defending opposing tight ends, and Kmet is a great streaming option this week.
Other Week 16 waiver wire options
- Los Angeles Rams TE Tyler Higbee (at Seattle Seahawks)
- Minnesota Vikings TE Irv Smith (at New Orleans Saints)
- Cleveland Browns TE Austin Hooper (at New York Jets)
- Arizona Cardinals TE Dan Arnold (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
Which defenses should you stream in Week 16?
- Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
- Carolina Panthers (vs. Washington Football Team)
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Anita Marks is a fantasy analyst at Pro Football Network. Marks is also a gambling analyst for ESPN and appears on Daily Wager, which airs from 6-7 PM ET on ESPN 2. Her radio show – Weekend Wager – airs on ESPN New York (98.7) FM every Friday at 10 PM ET. Follow her on Twitter: @AnitaMarks.