Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 16: Streamers, Zack Moss, Zay Jones and more

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Read the latest fantasy football waiver wire pickups advice. 

Here’s hoping Santa brought you a playoff win and another is in store for Week 16. More injuries have popped up, including Jonathan Taylor, which means the Week 16 waiver wire has some interesting pickups for your playoff needs.

HEADS UP

  • Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo
  • Listed in order of preference — I’ll often prioritize potential upside over immediate middling production
  • 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— their ranking might change slightly once projections/ranks run, and DST could shift a bit too
  • Emojis
    • 😤 = I Tried to Tell Ya — players included for several weeks (not much more to add if you don’t want them)
    • 🧐 = Check if Dropped — players whose managers might have cut for other need or impatient

WORRY REPORT
More DUCKS 🦆 (1-5) = More Concern (woo-hoo!)
Egg 🥚 = 1/2… or about to birth a new concern duck

  • Justin Herbert, QB, LAC 🦆🥚 — Herbert’s only game without a touchdown was Week 6 against the Broncos. The Titans were supposed to be a cakewalk. Credit to the Titans, as they played Herbert well, mixing up coverage and getting Herbert off rhythm early. For Herbert’s career, he’s better versus zone than man in Comp% (70.5 to 60.0), TD/INT ratio (2.8 to 1.5) and YD/Comp (11.9 to 10.6) — those numbers for this season are 70.6%/62.3%, 4.0/1.3 and 12.6/9.3. A big tell is his Play Action% per drop back in zone versus man (29.7 to 22.1 career, 30.2 to 24.7 this year), which has more success too. All of this is to say, Herbert will rebound, as the Rams have the highest Zone% this year (84.3) and the Colts are 14th (70.9), and both are bottom six in pressure percentage.
  • D’Onta Foreman, RB, CAR ♾️🦆 — Foreman had some late run in Week 14 to get 21-for-74 on the ground in a great matchup, but Chuba Hubbard had 74 yards on just 14 carries with 3-for-25 receiving added. The 47% to 32% of snaps share in favor of Foreman reversed in Week 15 with just 30% for Foreman and 63% for Hubbard —Hubbard finished with 4-for-10 rushing and 3-for-57 receiving while Foreman had 10-for-9 and nothing receiving. The Panthers host the Lions in Week 16, whose run defense has been better in the second half of the season, and Foreman is now a touchdown prayer to save his day.
  • Miles Sanders, RB 🦆🥚; A.J. Brown, WR 🦆🦆; DeVonta Smith, RB, PHI 🦆🦆🦆 — Sanders “led” the Eagles backfield with 11-for-42 and one reception for -13 yards (yep), in an unexpected game with the Bears challenging early and Jalen Hurts monopolizing the rushing (17-61-3). Eagles head to Dallas to face a defense that has been in a downfall during the second half of the season. If Hurts is out (shoulder), Gardner Minshew is capable enough to keep A.J. Brown alive and Sanders’ rebound in effect, but DeVonta Smith is more of a concern, particularly if Dallas Goedert returns and adds another option to share the targets.
  • Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF 🦆🦆 — The 49ers got out early and cruised to a victory. QB Brock Purdy had just 26 attempts and George Kittle smashed this amazing matchup for tight ends. The Commanders are one of the best teams against tight ends and can keep things close enough for Purdy to need Aiyuk more.
  • David Njoku, TE, CLE 🦆🦆🦆🦆 — It’s tight end. This is how it goes. Okay, the Ravens defense has been tough for a while now, Deshaun Watson is still a bit rusty, and the Saints do no favors for a rebound hope in Week 16.

STREAMING QUARTERBACK RANKINGS

  • Brock Purdy, SF — WSH, LV, ARI
  • Derek Carr, LV — PIT, SF, KC
  • Gardner Minshew, PHI — DAL, NO, NYG
  • Daniel Jones, NYG — MIN, IND, PHI
  • Russell Wilson, DEN — LAR, KC, LAC
  • Taylor Heinicke, WSH — SF. CLE, DAL
  • Matt Ryan, IND — LAC, NYG, HOU
  • Mac Jones, NE — CIN, MIA, BUF
  • Ryan Tannehill, TEN — HOU, DAL, JAX
  • Baker Mayfield, LAR — DEN, LAC, SEA
  • Kenny Pickett, PIT — LV, BAL, CLE
  • Sam Darnold, CAR — DET, TB, NO
  • Andy Dalton, NO — CLE, PHI, CAR
  • Desmond Ridder, ATL — BAL, ARI, TB
  • Davis Mills, HOU — TEN, JAX, IND

    • Gardner Minshew breakdown:

    Minshew 2021 (2 games, one w/ Week 18 backups)
    Air/ATT 6.14
    TD/ATT 6.9%

    RB TGT% 27.6
    WR% 46.6
    TE% 20.7

    Minshew Career
    Air/ATT 7.42
    TD/ATT 4.8%

    RB TGT% 21.4
    WR% 58.7
    TE% 15.2

    Hurts 2022
    Air/ATT 8.22
    TD/ATT 5.2%

    RB TGT% 12.0
    WR% 65.2
    TE% 17.9

    Lots of factors/etc but snapshot

    — Jake Ciely (@allinkid) December 19, 2022

    I’d still go Purdy, and Carr is a toss-up. Minshew has top streamer pickup upside, but plenty of risk (he did have a few snaps earlier this year so he doesn’t have deep rust). If you’re looking for ceiling, Minshew has the highest, but the mix of a high-turnover, destructive floor pushes him behind those two.

    WAIVER WIRE RUNNING BACK RANKS

  • Tyler Allgeier, ATL 😤 — The safest of the group. Been here nearly all year. The Colts RBs have more upside, but more risk, as we’re about to discuss.
  • Zack Moss, IND — With Jonathan Taylor out, Moss looks to be the lead, but be cautious. Yes, Moss had 67.1% of the snaps with 24 rushes for 81 yards, but this was a game Taylor left. Teams don’t always use the replacement from an in-game situation as the clear lead when planning for the week ahead. Nevertheless, needy teams should take the shot that Moss leads the Colts backfield, even with Deon Jackson possibly sharing more, including more passing game work. Best case, Moss is a Top 15 running back. Worst case, you start him and get a ho-hum RB3 performance.
  • Deon Jackson, IND — As mentioned with Moss, Jackson should be the complement, and that could mean anywhere from 30-50% of the snaps and touches. Jackson had shown bellcow ability previously, but struggled in Week 9 (though, with Sam Ehlinger at QB and versus the Patriots). Jackson is an RB3 play in the realm of a Rachaad White.
  • Damien Harris, NE 🧐 — Sounded like he was getting close last week, and while Rhamondre Stevenson has been great, the Patriots would give Harris some work, especially near the goal line.
  • Gus Edwards, BAL 😤 — Just lock him in for RB3 numbers each week.
  • Chuba Hubbard, CAR — See: Foreman concern. At least a timeshare and, at best, Hubbard is the lead option.
  • Royce Freeman, HOU 😤 — You have to be desperate, but from off the street to new backfield lead option. Here we are.
  • James Cook, BUF 🧐 — Just 33.8% of the snaps in Week 15, and seven touches to 16 for Devin Singletary. He’s a chase in the RB4 range with high ceiling and high risk.
  • Jordan Mason, SF — Getting consistent touches behind Christian McCaffrey (even though the low end is just four) and has hit 51+ yards in each of the past three games.
  • Jaylen Warren, PIT — Warren had 12 touches, but just one was in the passing game (on one target), which we’d like to see more of, hopefully with Kenny Pickett back. Warren remains an RB4 flier, but better than most.
  • Marlon Mack, DEN — Mack found the end zone again, but he’s still a boom/bust prayer with just five carries and four receptions.
  • Joshua Kelley, LAC — A lot in the RB4 group who aren’t just floor guys. Kelley has Top 20 upside if Austin Ekeler got hurt and is a weekly gamble for a touchdown or big play.
  • Salvon Ahmed, MIA — Even if Jeff Wilson remains out, Ahmed had just six carries. They looked good, and he’d be a touchdown hope again, but he’s far from a must-grab and has zero interest if Wilson returns.
  • Khalil Herbert, CHI — Can return this week, and if this season has taught you anything, every week is another chance for a lead running back to get hurt.

    • WAIVER WIRE WIDE RECEIVER RANKS

  • Treylon Burks, TEN 😤 — If he returns. Been saying that for weeks though.
  • Zay Jones, JAX 😤😤 — WR6 overall and in FPPG since Week 10. What more do you need?
  • Drake London, ATL 🧐 — If he was dropped, London had 11-7-70-0 on 42.3% of the targets and 72.2% of the Falcons receiving yards. Even with Desmond Ridder’s lackluster play, this is insane volume.
  • Jahan Dotson, WSH 😤 — This is why Dotson has been here since he was out with an injury. Still a WR4 but one with Top 15 upside on any given week.
  • Chris Moore, HOU — His encore after his big Week 14 performance resulted in just 4-42-0, but Moore continued his run as the No. 1 in Houston with nine targets for a 33.3 TmTGT% and 38.2% of the team air yards.
  • Romeo Doubs, GB 🧐 — Doubs returned, and in his first game back, he looked to be a top two option for Aaron Rodgers with… Christian Watson, pushing aside Allen Lazard… maybe? Given the potential Doubs flashed earlier this year and one week back, you have to at least stash Doubs. Maybe you don’t need to start him and risk it in Week 16 (though, the Dolphins don’t make it a huge risk), but he could be a Championship Week must-start against the Vikings.
  • Marquez Valdes-Scantling, KC — With Kadarius Toney back, Valdes-Scantling still held the No. 2 spot behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, and it wasn’t close (67.4 Route% to 6.5 for Toney). Yes, Toney will get more involved, but MVS is a weekly touchdown flier.
  • Elijah Moore, NYJ — Zach Wilson is back again for Week 16, but Moore had seven targets with Denzel Mims getting hurt after Corey Davis did the previous week. It’s risky with Wilson, but the Jaguars matchup is nice.
  • Russell Gage, TB 🧐 — This is why everyone drafted Gage in the middle rounds even with Chris Godwin returning midseason. He’s a fine boom/bust gamble in the WR4 range if Tom Brady can salvage this season.
  • D.J. Chark, DET — For Week 17, Chark is up by Dotson. For this week, Jared Goff and the outdoors go together like ducks and Alka Seltzer.
  • Rashid Shaheed, NO — This was Shaheed’s first game with over 75.0% routes and just second over 68.6%. Both games were the past two weeks, where Shaheed was 4-4-75-0 and 4-3-95-1, respectively.
  • Marquise Goodwin, SEA — Tyler Lockett could be back for Week 17, making Goodwin a one-week flier. As long as Lockett is out, Goodwin is in the MVS conversation, but he’s here for the limited window.
  • Mack Hollins, LV — With Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller back, Hollins still had 25.0% of the targets with just 9.4% for Renfrow and Waller. That will change as those two work back into the mix more (58.5 and 65.9 Route%, respectively). So, Hollins is the same WR4 volatile receiver he’s been all year.
  • Kalif Raymond, DET — D.J. Chark was/is back to being the No. 2 and had a tough game in a tough matchup. The Lions head to Carolina this week, which is still outdoors for Jared Goff and not much better than the Jets for the receivers outlooks.
  • Byron Pringle, CHI — Desperation play, but you could do worse as Pringle in a top two receiver for the Bears, running the most routes in Week 15 (93.9%).
  • Noah Brown, DAL — Since Michael Gallup returned, this was only the second game Brown had over 16% of the targets, with four games of 9.1% or less. The Cowboys get the Eagles this week, and Cooper Rush was abysmal against them the first time. Brown still has Top 20 upside (with a WR5 floor) with Dak Prescott this time.
  • Kadarius Toney, KC — He’s a stash for his talent/upside if the usage increases.

    • MEH 😒 NO THANKS

    • Nyheim Hines, BUF — Zero rushes, three passing snaps for 1-1-10-1 receiving.
    • Keelan Cole, LV — Just 26.8 Route% and two targets.
    • Jeff Smith, NYJ — Moore is risky with Zach Wilson, and turning to the Jets’ No. 3 is like believing in Santa.
    • Marvin Jones, JAX — Line was 6-2-17-1, which means Jones still didn’t hit double-digit fantasy points… which would have been just his third such game.
    • K.J. Osborn, MIN — Only Osborn’s third game with more than five targets and 18%+ target share (29.6 this one). Also only his fourth touchdown and third game with over eight points.

    WAIVER WIRE TIGHT ENDS

    Top Streamers

    STREAMING DST RANKINGS

    Week 16

    • TEN vs HOU
    • CLE vs NO
    • MIN vs NYG
    • LAR vs DEN
    • DET at CAR
    • NYJ vs JAX
    • JAX at NYJ
    • LAC at IND
    • PIT vs LV
    • NO at CLE
    • WSH at SF

    Week 17

    • JAX at HOU
    • LAC vs LAR
    • SEA vs NYJ
    • WSH vs CLE
    • CLE at WSH
    • MIA at NE
    • DET vs CHI
    • NYJ at SEA

    (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

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