The 2024 fantasy football semi-finals are here. No more teams on bye. It’s time for the final four to duke it out. The Week 16 waiver wire will be more direct than in the 15 weeks prior. There’s no need for any long-winded analysis as to why you should add these players. Your lineup may even already be locked and loaded. However, if you want to beef up your bench, block another manager from a certain player, or, in the most unfortunate scenarios, you do need a replacement for a sudden injury, I have a few pickups at each position that are worth considering. With only two weeks left, these are players who can have a legitimate impact if and when called upon. See you in the finals.
Week 16 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire By Position
Running Back
Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb will miss the remainder of the season with a broken foot. Jerome Ford has the clearest path to points among Week 16 waiver wire running backs. Not only has Ford led all Browns running backs in snaps this season, but in games both he and Chubb were both active, he played more than Chubb in all but one game. Ford is averaging 5.2 yards per carry and roughly three targets per game this season. Ford and the Browns face the Bengals in Cincinnati in Week 16. The Bengals’ defense have allowed a top-10 running back performance in four of their last five games. The one who didn’t was Rico Dowdle (RB16 in Week 14) who had 141 total yards without a touchdown.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
There’s no better time than the fantasy football semi-finals for Kendre Miller to break out. Miller has battled injuries and the disdain of his former head coach, Dennis Allen, for the better part of his two-year career. However, he may have a chance this week to hint as to why he was a third-round selection last year. This all, of course, rests on the availability of Alvin Kamara. He exited Week 15 with a groin/abductor injury. Given the Saints’ 5-9 record and Kamara turning 30 next summer, it’s possible he sits. If so, Miller figures to be the lead back on Monday night in Green Bay against the Packers. He’s rushed 19 total times for 78 yards and a touchdown over his last two games. Miller is a strong runner that New Orleans could, and probably should, lean on if Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler remain the starting quarterback options.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Spears played a season-high number of snaps (39), logged his second-most touches (10), and scored a season-high fantasy points total (27.2) in Week 15. A lot of Spears’ success was in relief of Tony Pollard who missed some of the game due to an ankle injury. Pollard did return, but he’s been battling injuries all season. In fact, he suited up in Week 15 despite not practicing all week. It’s possible we see the same pattern in Week 16, as well. If Pollard can’t go, however, Spears becomes a plug-and-play option off of the Week 16 waiver wire for running back needy teams. He’s a high-upside flex consideration even if Pollard can go. The Titans play the Colts in Indianapolis. Their defense has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points, including the fourth-most rushing yards, to opposing running backs this season.
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
Week 15 was a disaster for those with Derrick Henry in their lineups. He rushed for 67 scoreless yards in a game in which the Ravens scored 35 points! However, it was the first of three games in 11 days for the Ravens. They play this Saturday in Week 16 then open Week 17 on Christmas Day on Wednesday the following week. It’s possible Henry got a break of sorts against the New York Giants in preparation for the Steelers then Texans ahead. Both are bottom-10 fantasy matchups for opposing running backs. If you’re still competing and have Derrick Henry, you’re starting him. However, Justice Hill could have more upside if called upon for an expanded receiving role especially. If the Ravens don’t pull away from either team, especially with limited rest, we will see more of Justice Hill. He’s worth a Week 16 waiver wire add in 12-team leagues but isn’t a must-start by any means.
Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills
It would be irresponsible to leave Ty Johnson off of the Week 16 waiver wire column. He caught five passes for 114 yards in Week 15. Johnson was Josh Allen’s top receiver in their massive win over the Lions. Unfortunately, however, his five receptions are nearly one-third of his 16 total on the season. Johnson has just 29 total carries, as well. The Bills will host the Patriots and Jets in Weeks 16 and 17. It’s possible Johnson remains in the mix in potential blowouts against inferior AFC East opponents. James Cook and Josh Allen are the two main ball carriers. Though I would imagine Ray Davis is more likely to see an uptick in opportunity, in the form of carries.
Wide Receiver
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
Doubs returned to the field in Week 15 and caught two touchdowns on just five targets. Doubs has 49 or more receiving yards in five of his last seven games played. Up next is a Monday night matchup at home with the Saints. They’ve allowed the fifth-most receptions and yards to wide receivers this season. Doubs is a high-upside flex play on an offense and team still jockeying for a top playoff seed in the NFC.
Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs’ rookie wide receiver has scored three touchdowns over his last two games. That includes 59 or more yards and six or more targets in each game. He also has a 26-yard or greater catch in each. The Buccaneers have the Cowboys in Week 16. Their defense just lost top cornerback Trevon Diggs to a season-ending knee injury. They also rank ninth in fantasy points allowed to the position, including the sixth-most yards.
Malik Washington, Miami Dolphins
The rookie wide receiver led all Dolphins in receiving yards in Week 15. Unfortunately, it was just 52 yards, but that feels notable when when nine different players on Miami were targeted. Jaylen Waddle played just 38% of the snaps, leaving early due to a knee injury. If he is unable to play, Washington has proven to be the “next man up” amongst Miami wide receivers. The Dolphins will host the 49ers’ defense in Week 16. This is a much deeper league Week 16 waiver wire addition for those throwing darts at high-upside playmakers. San Francisco’s defense just help the Rams offense in check last Thursday and will have extra rest going into this game.
Tight End
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
There have been stranger waiver wire suggestions this season than Brenton Strange. Nothing strange about putting him at the top of the tight end list for the Week 16 waiver wire, however. Strange drew 12 targets from quarterback Mac Jones in Week 15. He caught 11 of them for 73 yards. This, of course, is in the absence of Evan Engram. His season is over after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his shoulder. Strange and the Jags will head to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders, who have one less day of preparation for this matchup. The Raiders are the third-best matchup for opposing tight ends in fantasy football. They’ve allowed the fourth-most yards and touchdowns on the seventh-most receptions.
Stone Smartt, Los Angeles Chargers
With Will Dissly out due to injury, it was Stone Smartt who filled in as the starting tight end. He made the most of his increased opportunities. Smatt caught five of his six targets for 50 yards. His six targets account for 18.75% of Justin Herbert’s targets in Week 15. The Chargers host the Broncos on Thursday to open up Week 16. It’s not a particularly advantageous matchup for opposing tight ends in fantasy football, but Smartt should continue to have a role amongst Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, who are Justin Herbert’s obvious top receivers.
Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs
Gray has five or six targets in four of his last five games. In the one game he did not, he caught all four of his targets for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Since mid-November, Gray has proven to have a higher floor than expected for fantasy football purposes. He could be that much more valuable to Carson Wentz if he is called upon to replace Patrick Mahomes in Week 16 due to an ankle injury. Either way, Gray is a high-upside receiving option on an offense that’s chosen to utilize him more as of late. Gray is definitely a touchdown-dependent pickup for Week 16 on the waiver wire.
Quarterback
If you’re playing in your league’s semi-finals, you probably don’t need a quarterback. You probably have Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or another obvious starter ready to roll. If you don’t, and you’re facing one of these studs, you need to do whatever you can to harness some luck before this weekend. The Week 16 waiver wire is bleak when it comes to finding a player worth picking up to start. Some of the best fantasy matchups for opposing quarterbacks are reserved for players you can’t realistically justify playing with a trip to the finals on the line. That includes Desmond Ridder vs. The Jaguars and Cooper Rush vs. The Buccaneers. The following players are “break glass in case of emergency” additions for quarterback-needy teams on the Week 16 waiver wire.
Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
It doesn’t feel right to suggest Jameis Winston after he threw for just 146 yards and three picks in Week 15. This Week 16 waiver wire suggestion is also under the assumption he gets the starting nod against the Bengals this week. If so, the good news, for Winston, is that the Bengals’ defense is downright awful this season. Cincinnati has allowed 27.6 points per game. That’s second-highest only behind the Carolina Panthers this season. The Bengals have allowed 30.3 points per game over their last three, which ranks third in the league. In addition to the matchup, Winston does have a good enough supporting cast of Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, Jerome Ford, and, hopefully, David Njoku. This is a complete boom-or-bust play. However, that may just be the situation you’re in.
Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
It’s far too late for it to mean anything, but Aaron Rodgers is playing his best football of the season as of late. In December, Rodgers has averaged 271 passing yards per game, thrown six touchdowns, and just one interception, on an average of 36.0 pass attempts per game. As far as weapons go, Rodgers arguably has the best amongst Week 16 waiver wire options. That’s Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, and a talented backfield. Here’s to hoping you can ride Rodgers’ season-high 30.06 fantasy points from Week 15 into a Week 16 matchup when the Jets host the Rams. The Jets are not the Bills. I know that. It’s worth mentioning, however, that Josh Allen did score 51 fantasy points against the Rams two weeks ago.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 16 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!\