Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Deep Dive. Week 16
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Deep Dive. Week 16

The Waiver Wire is crucial to fantasy football success, so we've created the Waiver Wire Hub to help you dominate your league.

I'll be using Yahoo's "percentage rostered" data. Players are listed in order of priority, by position. Most of the players listed are available in at least 75% percent of leagues.

Zay Jones

  • Available in 45% of leagues

Let’s get this out of the way.

WR Zay Jones should not be on waivers in any league, regardless of size or format. Here are his per game averages since Week 10.

  • 10.2 targets
  • 7.0 receptions
  • 83 receiving yards
  • 20.5 fantasy points

This isn't an accident. He’s earning targets at an elite clip and it’s paying massive dividends for both the Jaguars and fantasy managers. Get Jones on your squad as you prepare for the semi finals of the fantasy playoffs.

FAAB: 75%

Donovan Peoples-Jones

  • Available in 36% of leagues

There aren’t many players who offer the blend of floor & upside at this price point.

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones fits the bill perfectly.

First, the floor. He has 10 games with 10+ fantasy points this season. Consistent production can be challenging to come by, especially in the fantasy playoffs. 

Next, the upside. The return of QB Deshaun Watson unlocks the ceiling of this offense. We just need Watson to get back into football shape.

Peoples-Jones has the athletic profile to go nuclear anytime. He has both a TD and a 100+ yard receiving game in the last two weeks. Pairing that tantalizing upside with someone like Watson could be the key your fantasy team needs.

FAAB: 40%

K.J. Osborn

  • Available in 95% of leagues

It’s incredible to get a breakout, career-best performance in the first round of the fantasy playoffs. But it’s tough to know if it was an anomaly or the start of something new.

WR K.J. Osborn racked up a 30% target share and a 34% receiving yards share during the Vikings historic 33-point comeback. Understandably, the team was pass-oriented the entire second half as QB Kirk Cousins set season-high marks in passing attempts, completions, yards, and TDs.

We have seen flashes of brilliance from Osborn. Last season, he scored five TDs in his final six games. However, WR Adam Thielen missed four of those games and barely played in the other two. Osborn has also been quiet this season, scoring double-digit fantasy points in just two games entering Week 15.

Looking to Week 16, I don’t mind taking the shot on Osborn. Now is the time to go for it and load up your roster for the final push.

FAAB: 35%

Additional Waiver Targets

DJ Chark

  • Available in 49% of leagues

I’m willing to go back to the well on WR DJ Chark.

Despite the tough matchup with DB Sauce Gardner and the Jets defense, Chark remains a priority waiver addition this week. If he didn’t cost you your matchup last week, a better  is on the horizon.

Rookie WR Jameson Williams is not receiving much of a workload yet so Chark and fellow WR Amon-Ra St. Brown will remain the engine of this passing attack moving forward.

FAAB: 30%

Zack Moss

  • Available in 98% of leagues

It was a brutal day for Jonathan Taylor managers as the talented RB suffered an ankle injury early in the contest and did not return.

In his stead, RBs Deon Jackson (13 rushing attempts) and Zack Moss (24 rushing attempts) carried the load. Recent reports on Taylor say that he’s dealing with a high-ankle sprain and is unlikely to play again this season.

Jackson (available in 93% of leagues) and Moss are likely to form the dreaded committee backfield. Moss gets the nod here due to the sheer volume of opportunities he received. He figures to get the first crack at lead duties should his services be required.

FAAB: 20%

Gud Edwards

Dec 17, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards (35) runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Gus Edwards

  • Available in 56% of leagues

Over the last two weeks, RB J.K. Dobbins has topped 120 rushing yards twice. In that span, RB Gus Edwards has topped 55 rushing yards twice.

It’s no secret that, when healthy, Dobbins is the preferred option. However, this offense has shown a willingness and ability to successfully utilize multiple RBs. Edwards is a borderline flex option with elite handcuff upside heading into Week 16.

FAAB: 20%

Russell Gage

  • Available in 87% of leagues

From Weeks 1-7, WR Russell Gage averaged 5.7 targets per game. He then missed Weeks 8-12 due to injury. After a slow Week 13, he’s totaled 14 targets, 10 receptions, and three TDs over his last two games.

The Buccaneers offense continues to be streaky at best, but Gage is finally looking like the viable No. 3 option he was brought over to be. He’s a back-end flex option with upside the rest of the way.FAAB: 15%

Mack Hollins

  • Available in 71% of leagues

Despite the return of TE Darren Waller and WR Hunter Refrow, it was veteran WR Mack Hollins who continued to serve as the No. 2 option in the Raiders passing game.

Hollins is averaging seven targets per game over his last five and 64 snaps per game (PFF) for the season. We’ll see how much more involved Waller & Renfrow are moving forward but, for now, Hollins remains the No. 2 option for QB Derek Carr.

FAAB: 15%

Juwan Johnson

  • Available in 80% of leagues

It’s always fun when I get to recommend TEs in this column. The position remains as barren as ever so any potential options draw immediate intrigue.

TE Juwan Johnson returned from his one-game absence (and bye week) to score another two TDs. He scored five total TDs from Weeks 7-11 but then seemed to disappear. Thankfully we have a reason. Johnson played less than 50% of the snaps in Week 12, missed Week 13 with an injury, and had his bye last week.

It’s not just the end zone that’s boosting his production. Johnson also has 40+ receiving yards in his last three games where he plays more than half the snaps. The lack of playmakers for the Saints should mean more opportunities for Johnson as the fantasy playoffs continue.

FAAB: 15%

Tyler Allgeier

  • Available in 63% of leagues

RB Tyler Allgeier had a career-best performance in Week 15 with a line of 17/139/1. He’s been splitting snaps with fellow RB Cordarrelle Patterson but it was encouraging to see the rookie flash big-play potential.

Allgeier is averaging 11.4 rushing attempts per game and now has over 740 total rushing yards. That’s impressive production on a team that’s been as disappointing as the Falcons.

He’s a near-lock for double-digit carries each week which makes him an intriguing stash as we near the end of the season.

FAAB: 10%

Marlon Mack

Dec 18, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos running back Marlon Mack (37) carries the ball for a touchdown past Arizona Cardinals linebacker Ezekiel Turner (47) in the second half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Marlon Mack

  • Available in 95% of leagues

Normally, I don’t recommend the RB2 on an objectively bad offense. However, RB Marlon Mack is making an interesting case for himself.

Despite playing behind RB Latavius Murray, Mack has found the end zone for consecutive weeks. In fact, it’s his usage in the passing game that catches my eye. Since Week 14, Mack is averaging over 53% of the RB targets.

It doesn’t matter who is under center for the Broncos, this offense isn’t fantasy friendly. Still, Mack has a proven track record of success and is worth a stash heading into the final weeks of the season.

FAAB: 7%

Jaylen Warren

  • Available in 87% of leagues

It came a few weeks after many fantasy managers (myself included) predicted it would, but RB Jaylen Warren finally had his best fantasy performance of the year.

His 11 rushing attempts were a far cry from the 24 earned by RB Najee Harris, but the positive gameflow, and his first TD, allowed him to finish with double-digit fantasy points for the first time this year.

FAAB: 7%

Royce Freeman

  • Available in 100% of leagues

Veteran RB Royce Freeman emerged to lead the Texan backfield with a weirdly inspiring line of 11/51 on the ground against the Chiefs.

Don’t get too excited about rushing to add Freeman to the end of your bench. The Texans are still bad and don’t see positive game scripts often. Up next, a date with the Titans who entered Week 15 ranking No. 5 against the RB position per our NFL DvP tool.

FAAB: 5%

QB Streamer for Week 16

Brock Purdy

  • Available in 80% of leagues

If you need a viable option for Week 16 and/or Week 17, rookie QB Brock Purdy is your man. He has three straight games with 20+ fantasy points and has thrown two TDs in each of them. Despite the loss of WR Deebo Samuel, the offensive scheme and talent surrounding Purdy make him a worthwhile streaming option moving forward.

FAAB: 10%

Defense Streamer for Week 16

Detroit Lions

  • Available in 96% of leagues

This one might be a bit surprising as the Lions have been one of the more fantasy-friendly matchups this season. However, they square off with a Panthers team that has thrown for more than 200 yards just once since Week 9. Conversely, the Lions have held four of their last five opponents to under 100 total rushing yards (PFR).

If the Panthers can’t pass, and the Lions are good at stopping the run, it could turn into a sneaky good matchup for Detroit. Their defense has racked up 30 sacks and 17 takeaways this season.

FAAB: 5%