For many fantasy football season leagues, there are two weeks left in the playoffs before they crown a champion. For a few, the action continues for three more matchups all the way through the Week 18 finales. Either way, there are plenty of injuries affecting things, and many teams will need to dig deep in their remaining FAAB budgets for some waiver-wire pickups to make it through Week 16.
Running backs in Las Vegas and Indianapolis have been hit hard by injuries, and there were more shelved wide receivers (Tyreek Hill and Chris Olave, now Ja'Marr Chase, Michael Pittman Jr., and Jayden Reed) this week. Luckily from streaming QBs (Jake Browning) to premium handcuffs (Zamir White), there always are new options. At tight end, there's even someone emerging with league-winning potential.
Whether you're thinking about just this week or also the final two weeks, how should you prioritize the pickups, either through the running of waivers or allocation of your now almost depleted free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB)? Here's your advice and buying guide for the latest week of the fantasy open market:
WEEK 16 FANTASY: Top waiver pickups
Week 16 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
1. Jake Browning, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 53%). Browning has been burning up with QB1-caliber numbers for three straight games, getting it done with yardage and overall TDs no matter whom he's using in the passing game. He should be game to attack the Steelers after he has had a few weeks to improve from the first meeting. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
2. Gardner Minshew, Colts (Yahoo league availability: 75%). It's not been Minshew Mania the sequel, as his numbers are rather volatile from week to week, but if you can trust in his key healthy weapons in a particular matchup, you can correlate to using him. The favorable indoor spot against the Falcons D in Week 16 would be one if needed. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
3. Derek Carr, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 61%). Carr had his one of his best games without (go figure) Chris Olave (ankle) and Michael Thomas (knee) against the Giants last week, as he went nuts spreading the ball around to several wideouts and tight ends when not checking down to Alvin Kamara. He could come through in a shootout with the Rams on TNF. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
4. Tommy DeVito (Yahoo league availability: 92%). The DeVito hype cooled, as Jersey Tom got sandwiched to the tune of seven sacks against the Saints. The Eagles' pass defense on paper seems like a great rebound spot in another negative game script, but be wary of getting too cute with this, a la using a Jets' QB not named Aaron Rodgers vs. Washington. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
5. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (Yahoo league availability: 77%). Speaking of the Commanders, the only reason Rodgers (Achilles) would want to play vs. them with the Jets eliminated is a matter of pride. The wiser decision would be proceeding to shut it down until next season. However, should he look good in practice and want to get an unnecessary ego-building tuneup down the stretch, it's not a stretch to at least think about it. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
WEEK 16 PPR RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 16 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
1. Ty Chandler, Vikings (Yahoo league availability: 48%). Chandler turned 26 touches into 137 scrimmage yards and TD against the Bengals. Let's hope that tells his team he needs to be the main guy down the stretch regardless of Alexander Mattison's status. Chandler might need to do it more as a receiver against the Lions in Week 16. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
2. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs (Yahoo league availability: 60%). CEH resurfaced as a big playmaker, as Kansas City got creative again with his passing game minus Isiah Pacheco's power running. Edwards-Helaire made a sweet TD grab and was used in his ol' LSU role with four catches for 64 yards on top of 12 rushes for 37 yards. Should Pacheco (shoulder) miss another game, a smash spot at home vs. the Raiders awaits. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
3. Zamir White, Raiders (Yahoo league availability: 85%). White and the Raiders' offense exploded big time against the Chargers, and while the Chiefs' matchup isn't easy overall for running backs, he's earned more high-leverage touches should Josh Jacobs (quad) miss another game in Week 16. He can still get it done from scrimmage. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
4. Jerick McKInnon, Chiefs (Yahoo league availability: 59%). McKinnon got only eight touches behind CEH, but he also maximized his work with 30 scrimmage yards and two more TDs — one passing to Rashee Rice on dandy trickery. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
5. Chase Brown, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 94%). Brown got 10 more touches (including three catches) behind Joe Mixon as a change of pace vs. the Vikings, adding up to a modest 60 yards. He's a deep-league flex option, but more so premium Mixon insurance. Projected FAAB bid: 6-8% of total budget
6. Trey Sermon, Colts (Yahoo league availability: 100%). The former 49er and Eagle resurfaced to handle much of the power work against the Steelers once Zack Moss (arm) got injured filling in for Jonathan Taylor (thumb). Should Taylor need to miss another game and there's no Moss, Sermon would have some pop vs. a reeling Falcons run D. Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
1. Tyler Goodson, Colts (Yahoo league availability: 100%). He was the other random Colts back to look great in a big scrimmage day against the Steelers and likely would stay in his receiving-oriented change-of-pace role with Sermon if there's no Moss or Taylor in Atlanta. Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
WEEK 16 STANDARD RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 16 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
1. Josh Palmer, Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 71%). Palmer is the last healthy reliable veteran standing now for Easton Stick, and he showed instant downfield chemistry vs. the Raiders with the elevated backup. Palmer is a home-run threat, but he also can get it done with volume with the Bills next. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
2. Noah Brown, Texans (Yahoo league availability: 60%). Brown rebounded from back-to-back goose-eggs to lead the Texans with an 8-82-1 line on 11 targets against Tennessee. Nico Collins (calf) isn't a sure thing to return in Week 16, so even with a tough matchup on deck against the Browns, Brown has plenty of upside. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
3. Dontavyion Wicks, Packers (Yahoo league availability: 97%). Wicks caught six-of-seven targets for 97 yards to lead Green Bay in receiving vs. Tampa Bay. The rookie was needed more for Jordan Love working off Romeo Doubs and Tucker Kraft once Jayden Reed (toe) got hurt on top of missing Christian Watson (hamstring) again. The Packers don't have the easiest passing game matchup at Carolina, but his usage can't be ignored. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
4. Rashid Shaheed, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 53%). The Saints may need to go another game without Chris Olave (ankle) for the Rams' matchup on Thursday and will likely need to throw downfield more in a potential shootout. Although Derek Carr was spreading it out, Shaheed, returning from his thigh injury, still was the most familiar wideout option. Projected FAAB bid: 6-8% of total budget
5. Tyler Boyd, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 51%). With Ja'Marr Chase day-to-day with his shoulder injury, Boyd may get another bump in his role, starting with a decent matchup against the Steelers working off a red-hot Tee Higgins. Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget
6. Michael Thomas, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 65%). He could be activated from IR soon, but it seems like a stretch that he would be ready for TNF, so this is more of a possible consideration for Week 17 at Tampa Bay. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
Week 16 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
1. Hunter Henry, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 76%). Henry has reemerged after his zero revenge game vs. the Chargers with a 3-40-2 line vs. the Steelers, followed by a 7-66-1 on the Chiefs. He's combined for 12 targets and three TDs in the past two games and can be Zapped again in the sweet spot vs. Broncos, who just gave up a scoring hat trick to the Lions' Sam LaPorta. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
2. Juwan Johnson, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 88%). He's been hard to trust given that Jimmy Graham is annoying in stealing TDs, but he also scored against the Giants. Now he gets the Rams, who are giving up plenty to the position. Johnson could have key value again with Derek Carr should Chris Olave (ankle) remain out. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
3. Cade Otton, Buccaneers (Yahoo league availability: 66%). Otton caught his only two targets for 44 yards in Green Bay and also saw Ko Kieft pilfer his usual TD chance. The Buccaneers get a nice spot for him vs. the Jaguars next. Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
4. Logan Thomas, Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 57%) Thomas steps into another strong matchup vs. the Jets, as you can't expect Washington's wideouts to do much. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
5. Tyler Higbee, Rams (Yahoo league availability: 61%). Higbee missed a game and saw Davis Allen go off in Week 14. He will try to become relevant again in a fine matchup vs. the Saints on a short week with some wideout injury concerns. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
6. Luke Musgrave, Packers (Yahoo league availability: 88%). Tucker Kraft keeps producing in his place, but watch out for a potential return for the other Packers rookie tight end. There's also a chance he might not play again this season because of a kidney issue, so don't bid much at all on him. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
Week 16 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire D/ST pickups, streamers
(Note: Do not spend any of FAAB budget on D/ST! Get them for $0 after waivers run!)
1. Denver Broncos (Yahoo league availability: 53%). The Broncos' defense was red-hot before the Week 15 embarrassment in a horrible matchup at Detroit. They can rebound with big-time playmaking pride with the Patriots limping into Denver.
2. Seattle Seahawks (Yahoo league availability: 83%). The Titans have been clobbered by the Dolphins' and Texans' defenses, and now Will Levis (leg) is hurting. The Seahawks' pass rush can rack up the sacks and pressure whoever's at QB into key mistakes.
3. Houston Texans (Yahoo league availability: 63%). The Texans' defense looked great in Tennessee despite no Will Anderson Jr. and has a favorable shot to make some big plays vs. the Browns and Titans at home the next two weeks.
4. Detroit Lions (Yahoo league availability: 69%). The Lions' defense rebounded big-time at home and now gets the interception-prone Nick Mullens and the Vikings.
5. Green Bay Packers (Yahoo league availability: 53%). The Packers' defense has been terrible against the Giants and Buccaneers, but they get the ultimate get-well game on the road vs. the Panthers.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 52%). The Bengals' defense is breaking down and is giving up a lot of yards and points, but they get the shaky Steelers at home next in their AFC wild-card push.
7. Washington Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 86%). The Commanders' defense stinks against the pass, but it draws the Jets' inept offense, likely without Zach Wilson (concussion) and Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) given New York is out of playoff contention.
