Hello and welcome to the Week 16 waiver wire watch!
The first week of the fantasy playoffs is mostly in the books and some of you are step closer to winning your league and claiming bragging rights over your friends. We still have the Monday night showdown between the Dolphins and Steelers to get to this evening, but it’s not too early to start looking for ways to fortify your rosters for the next round of the postseason.
We’ll go over some performers that you should consider scooping off the waiver wire ahead of Week 16 and as always, we’ll classify a waiver add as someone who is rostered in 60% of leagues at the max. As a reminder, bye weeks a no longer a thing at this juncture of the year, so every team will be in action for the rest of the way.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (54.0%)
Lawrence is dialed in right now and led the Jaguars to their fifth straight win in a 48-20 clowning of the Jets on Sunday. 330 passing yards, 51 rushing yards, and six total touchdowns were the numbers that he put up in what was his the best regular-season performance of his five-year pro career, finishing the week as the top fantasy quarterback with 44.3 points.
The former No. 1 overall pick has gotten better throughout the second half of the season and that was notably his third straight week without an interception. He has the 10-4 Jags inching closer to the AFC South title and with the Chiefs being eliminated from the postseason, he’s one of the QB’s who could finally break through when the playoffs begin next month. We’ve been telling you to grab T-Law for weeks now and there’s still a chance to find him on your waiver wire.
Week 16 matchup: @ Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m. ET
Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals (35.5%)
The Cardinals were pantsed by the Texans 40-20 on Sunday and once again, the team’s success (or lack there of) is irrelevant to this conversation. It’s all about Brissett, who once again had another solid day in fantasy with 249 passing yards and three touchdowns to one interceptions, earning 21.6 fantasy points for mangers in the process. Jonathan Gannon is still just letting him rip to close out this miserable campaign as that marked his sixth straight game with at least 40 pass attempts.
The veteran journeyman is still the garbage time king in fantasy for this season and it will remain that way for the rest of the way. Need a top-20 QB that can help you through the rest of your playoff bracket? He’s sitting right there.
Week 16 matchup: vs. Atlanta Falcons, 4:05 p.m. ET
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (42.6%)
The Rams became the first team in the NFL to clinch a playoff spot with Sunday’s 41-34 victory over the Lions and look like a legitimate Super Bowl contender. One of the things that makes them a danger right now is the emergence of Corum in recent weeks and he broke off 11 carries for 71 rushing yards and a touchdown in their home victory over Detroit on Sunday.
That is now three straight games with a touchdown for the second-year back out of Michigan and the second straight week where he’s recorded 10+ carries while backing up Kyren Williams. He’s going to remain an important part of the Rams offense for their playoff push, so why not make him part of yours?
Week 16 matchup: @ Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday night)
Bill Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders (41.9%)
We haven’t heard Croskey-Merritt’s name as of late as the Commanders’ season has fizzled out, but he did play a big role in their 29-21 victory over the Giants on Sunday. The rookie ended up posting 18 carries for 96 rushing yards, and a touchdown in the win, marking his first trip to the end zone since two-score outing against the Chargers way back in Week 5.
BCM’s production dropped off significantly in the second half of the season as prior to Sunday, he hadn’t gone above 60 yards on the ground since their Week 6 loss to the Bears on Monday Night Football. Perhaps his performance against the New York is an indicator that he’ll get to tote the rock more as Washington closes out the season. He’ll be someone to keep in mind when scoring the wire this week.
Week 16 matchup: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 5 p.m. ET (Saturday night)
Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos (53.3%)
The Broncos joined the Rams as the only teams to clinch a playoff spot so far, punching their ticket to the postseason with a 34-26 victory over the Packers. Franklin ended up coming through big in this possible Super Bowl preview, catching all six of his receiving targets for 86 yards and a late third-quarter touchdown reception that put Denver on top.
That’s now six touchdowns on the year for the second-year wideout from Oregon as he remains a reliable option for Bo Nix like their days in Eugene. With a rostership of roughly 50%, this may be your last chance to see him on the waiver wire, so you might as well submit a bid.
Week 16 matchup: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 4:05 p.m. ET
Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets (27.6%)
The Jets are doing exactly what you’d expect them to be doing at this point in the season: losing games to ensure their top-five positioning in next year’s draft while still squeezing production out of their younger players. That’s exactly what happened in Sunday’s 48-20 loss to the Jaguars as wide receiver Adonai Mitchell grabbed six passes for 58 receiving yards and a touchdown.
That’s now two touchdowns in the last three weeks for the second-year wideout and he’s proving to be more than just a throwaway piece in the Sauce Gardner trade. Whoever’s throwing for the Jets in the Superdome next Sunday, they’re going to want to look for Mitchell early and often.
Week 16 matchup: @ New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET
Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams (4.7%)
There hasn’t been a bigger tight end touchdown machine in the second half of the season than Parkinson and he continued his tear in the Rams’ 41-34 victory over the Lions on Sunday. The veteran posted his best numbers of the season in this showdown of NFC playoff contenders, catching five of seven targets for 75 receiving yards and two second half touchdowns that were critical for L.A.
That’s now six touchdowns in the last six games for Parkinson and he proved on Sunday that he can be more than just a red-zone target. He’s yet another dangerous weapon in the arsenal for Matthew Stafford and most of you should be able to find him on the waiver wire this week.
Week 16 matchup: @ Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday night)
Dawson Knox, TE, Buffalo Bills (2.3%)
Knox came up huge for the Bills in Foxborough on Sunday as they kept their AFC East title hopes alive in a 35-31 victory. The veteran tight had had three receptions for 37 receiving yards with two of them being second-half touchdowns that helped fuel Buffalo’s second-half comeback. This performance was a direct follow-up to his 93-yard effort against the Bengals the week prior, so he’s establishing a rhythm with Josh Allen late in the year. You may want to try to capitalize.
Week 16 matchup: @ Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET
