With only four teams remaining in your league, including your own, the competition on the Week 16 waiver wire shouldn’t be too tough. There are also very limited options on the Week 16 waiver wire. If you’re resorting to the waiver wire at this point, you’re in a deeper league, dealing with significant late-season injuries, or trying to block your opponents from picking up players those reasons, as well. Whatever the case may be, don’t be afraid to add players to bulk up the bench, but start your studs in the semi-finals! Good luck!
Week 16 Waiver Wire By Position
Running Back
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor is likely to miss the rest of the season with a high-ankle sprain. After an early game absence in Week 15, Zack Moss logged a career-high 24 carries. The Colts will host the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football in Week 16. They are allowing the second-most rushing yards to running backs and the fourth-most fantasy points this season to the position. Deon Jackson should see his fair share of touches, but based on Week 15’s usage, Moss figures to be lead back. I’m adding Moss and then Jackson in that order off of the Week 16 waiver wire.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Allgeier is a player I’ve been high on since the preseason. He continues to produce fantasy-friendly numbers even with Cordarelle Patterson back in action for the Falcons. Allgeier is fresh off of a 17-carry and 139-rushing-yard performance, both of which are career-highs. Even in a tough Week 16 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens defense, it’s likely Atlanta continues to lean on their run game. Desmond Ridder is only set to make his second start at quarterback. Allgeier is a volume-based, low-end RB2 to pick up on the Week 16 waiver wire.
Other Running Backs to Consider:
Chuba Hubbard is worth adding on the Week 16 waiver wire as the Carolina Panthers prepare to host the Detroit Lions. Hubbard should see more opportunities in a game with a 44.5 Over/Under and against a Lions team that is not only the favorite but hoping to clinch the playoffs this week with a win. Hubbard has three receptions in each of his last two games. He is a shaky start, though, against a Detroit team whose run defense is one of the best in the league as of late. They allowed just 50 total rushing yards last week to the New York Jets.
Jaylen Warren is still the clear-cut backup behind Najee Harris on the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, if Warren is on the field, there’s a good chance he’s going to get the ball. On 23 snaps in Week 15, Warren logged 11 carries, one target, and totaled 49 yards including a rushing touchdown. He is a must-add on the Week 16 waiver wire as the Steelers prepare to host the Las Vegas Raiders. They are allowing the most receiving yards to running backs in 2022.
Khalil Herbert is set to return to the Chicago Bears after spending nearly a month on Injured Reserve. He isn’t a player I’m starting immediately if available on the waiver wire, but is a good insurance policy for David Montgomery. If Montgomery were to go down, we’ve seen Herbert lead the Bears’ backfield before. The Bears are leading the league in rush attempts per game and if Herbert is called upon for the bulk of them, you will want him on your bench, at least, to consider starting.
Any and All Handcuffs are going to be important to roster the final two weeks of the fantasy football season. Injuries to lead running backs can strike at any time. Make sure you’re cuffing your own starters, but don’t be afraid to add others on the Week 16 waiver wire.
Wide Receiver
Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
Even with just a handful of teams remaining in your league, Zay Jones should be the top add on the Week 16 waiver wire, even if nobody needs him. He plays Thursday so, even if you’re not starting him, he is worth the add to prevent your opponents from doing so. I still believe Christian Kirk is the top receiver in Jacksonville, but Zay Jones is no stranger to stealing the spotlight. His three scores in Week 15 are evidence of that.
Chris Moore, Houston Texans
Chris Moore should remain a top waiver wire add ahead of Week 16 even after just 8.5 PPR points in Week 15. His 20 targets over the last two weeks easily lead all Houston Texans. That sort of volume is hard to come by no matter which team you look at. He gets the Tennessee Titans’ pass defense in Week 16 with a negative game script. That’s a recipe for putting up points in the fantasy football semi-finals. If you’re in a pinch at wide receiver, Moore is my top add, assuming Zay Jones is on a roster already.
ATTENTION Tyler Lockett fantasy managers
Pick up HOU WR Chris Moore
Lockett likely misses Wk 16 (at least) w/ broken finger
Moore @ TEN – allow the MOST fantasy points to WRs
Also likely negative game script after Derrick Henry runs all over them#NFLTwitter #FantasyFootball
— Colin McTamany (@Colin_McT) December 16, 2022
Other Wide Receivers to Consider:
Marquise Goodwin is the Seattle Seahawk receiver to add on the waiver wire assuming Tyler Lockett (broken finger) is unable to play in Week 16. He is far and away playing the most snaps at wide receiver behind Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. He likely plays close to, if not more than, 80% of snaps in Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs who are allowing a league-leading 19 touchdowns to wide receivers this season. Goodwin has a good chance to get into the end zone, too, if he sees a chunk of Lockett’s 24% target share.
Demarcus Robinson is suddenly leading all Baltimore Ravens wide receivers in targets (62) this season. Since the Ravens’ Week 10 bye, Robinson has logged 33 of those targets with at least six targets in four of those five games. Robinson’s ceiling is capped by Baltimore’s quarterback play. Still, his Week 16 and 17 opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons both rank in the top five in points allowed to wide receivers this season. Don’t let him land on anyone else’s roster but your own.
Tight End
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Okonkwo remains a top waiver wire add at the tight end position. He has 21 total targets in his last four games with at least five in each of them. He’s also averaging 13.1 fantasy points in the Titans’ last three games with just one touchdown. Okonkwo is a threat to break a big play, which is more than what most other tight ends have to offer this fantasy football season. You can add and stream him for Week 16.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
Greg Dulcich saw just two targets after back-to-back weeks with exactly eight targets. I’m willing to call his letdown a fluke, though, given his role in the Broncos’ win over the Cardinals on Sunday. He still ran the most routes and played the most snaps behind Jerry Jeudy. It doesn’t look like Courtland Sutton is going to return in Week 16, if at all this season, so Dulcich’s involvement should continue. His ceiling is low, but if Russell Wilson returns at quarterback, Dulcich is worth the gamble off of the waiver wire.
Cade Otton is this week’s lucky tight end who faces the Arizona Cardinals. They’re allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Though I was high on Greg Dulcich for this reason last week, it was his tight end teammate, Eric Tomlinson who found the end zone. That’s the league-leading 10th touchdown allowed to a tight end this season. Otton does split time with Cameron Brate on the Buccaneers’ offense but did play more snaps than him in Week 15. If you’re going to stream one for the matchup, I’m adding Otton off of the Week 16 waiver wire.
Quarterback
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Jones’ next two opponents are favorable fantasy football matchups. In Week 16, he takes on a Minnesota Vikings defense that’s allowed a 300-yard passer in six of their last eight games. The Vikings are also allowing the third-most points per game (30.7) over the last three weeks. In Week 17, Jones will face the Indianapolis Colts who are allowing the most points per game (39.0) over the last three weeks. They’re also reeling after allowing Kirk Cousins to complete the greatest comeback of all time. Jones is a safe option off of the Week 16 waiver wire.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy is on a roll since taking over as the 49ers’ starting quarterback. How could he not be? Even without Deebo Samuel for the foreseeable future, Purdy still has Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle to work with at the very least. He’s averaging 17.82 points per game in his last three. He has the ability to eclipse 20.0 points when his weapons do the work for him. The upside is there considering the Washington Commanders, his Week 16 opponent, allows the seventh-least points to running backs. Purdy could be busy through the air, at home, as a seven-point favorite.