The Week 16 waiver wire will be all about winning fantasy football championships. Some of you play through Week 17, but for the purpose of this week's watch list, everything is going to focus on Week 16 matchups, streamers and sleepers to give you the best chance at a year's worth of bragging rights.
The biggest name that needs to be back in your consciousness for Week 16 is Kerryon Johnson (knee), who looks likely to be activated from Injured Reserve then. He doesn't have a great matchup (Denver), but it's not often you can pick up a running back of his talent this late in the season. Joining him in the picture above is Patrick Laird, who probably isn't close to as talented but should get high volume against a bad Bengals team in Week 16.
WEEK 16 WAIVER WIRE: Top pickups
The most important thing you can do as you work your way through this list is understand your Week 16 needs. Fantasy sites allow you to set lineups in advance, and while you can obviously do more tinkering, going ahead and setting what your potential Week 16 lineup would be will let you know where your weaknesses are. Furthermore, you'll realize which players on your roster aren't starters for you in Week 15 or Week 16. If that's when your league ends and you won't be using a particular player, there's no reason not to pick up a handcuff or a streamer, even if it's just in case of emergencies.
If you're proactive on your free agent pickups, it also can give you an advantage over an opponent who only reacts once an injury happens. At that point, it can be too late if you've already snagged the best option or two off the wire. But don't feel pressured into it, either -- if your roster is truly as strong as it can be, good luck to you!
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watch List
Reminder: This list was put together in the lead-in to Week 15, looking forward to the players that could be waiver-wire targets in Week 16. If you have a roster spot to play with, these are options you could pick up early to beat the waiver buzz.
All these players are below 50-percent ownership on Yahoo unless otherwise specified.
Week 16 Waiver Wire Watch List: Quarterback
Philip Rivers, Chargers (58 percent ownership)
I had to include Rivers at the slightly above half ownership to alert those of you in leagues he isn't owned in: He plays the Raiders in Week 16. Oakland's allowed the second-most fantasy points to QBs in 2019. Yes, Rivers threw three interceptions the first time they played, but he should do better this time around and will likely be the best streaming option if he's on your wire.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dolphins (24)
Get used to a list full of Bengals and Dolphins. Cincinnati has the third-fewest interceptions in the league, so Fitzpatrick's gambling ways might pay off more often than not in a game Miami should actually be favored in.
Mitchell Trubisky, Bears (21)
Trubisky faces the Chiefs in Week 16, and while KC's pass defense isn't as bad as its reputation suggests, it's still in the bottom half of the league. Perhaps more importantly, Trubisky has thrown three touchdowns in back-to-back games, showing a passing upside that he didn't have earlier in the season.
Gardner Minshew, Jaguars (15)
The mustache magic that existed earlier in the season for Minshew hasn't really shown up yet, but he shouldn't need magic to have aerial success against the Falcons, who allow the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Dock Minshew a bit if we know DJ Chark (foot) will be out through Week 16 (he's currently being called "week-to-week").
Andy Dalton, Bengals (8)
Ideally you don't have to go this far down to find a stream if you need one, but there's nothing about Miami's defense that should cause Dalton to struggle. The key will be touchdowns because it's easy to picture 250 passing yards -- he'll just need to find the end zone.
Drew Lock, Broncos (4)
Denver hosts Detroit in Week 16, and the Lions have the fewest interceptions in the NFL this season. That should allow Lock to sling the ball around and try to continue some strong momentum at the end of his rookie season.
WEEK 16 WAIVER WIRE: Top pickups
Week 16 Waiver Wire Watch List: RB
Alexander Mattison, Vikings (49)
As Minnesota tried to be careful with Dalvin Cook (chest/shoulder) in Week 14, Mattison received 14 carries. If he can get double-digit carries against a bottom-five Packers run defense in Week 16, he could turn it into double-digit fantasy points (and Cook owners should all have Mattison as a handcuff, where possible).
Adrian Peterson, Redskins (45)
This is AP's backfield the rest of the way, and the Giants' run defense isn't intimidating anyone. You can lock Peterson in for a hefty workload of 15-plus carries and hope he busts one out or finds the end zone.
Kerryon Johnson, Lions (34)
Johnson (knee) can return from Injured Reserve in Week 16, and as of this point, it looks like he will. The Broncos have been above average against the run this season, but if it looks like Johnson will get his full workload, this was a preseason top-12 RB. And if you play through Week 17, he's got a favorable matchup with the Packers then.
Patrick Laird, Dolphins (29)
Laird got 15 carries and five targets (catching four) in Week 14. If he can get nearly 20 touches against the Bengals in Week 16, it could be a really solid day, especially in PPR formats.
DeAndre Washington, Raiders (28)
With news that Josh Jacobs is expected to play in Week 15, Washington returns to handcuff status, although one that should clearly be grabbed in case Jacobs' shoulder injury worsens.
Dion Lewis, Titans (10)
With Derrick Henry battling a hamstring injury, it's at least worth it for Henry owners to snag Lewis. While we picture him as a passing-down back, he's also the only other halfback on Tennessee's roster, along with a fullback. If Henry went down, it'd be the Lewis show, for better or worse.
Boston Scott, Eagles (3)
Scott's Monday night involvement was rather unexpected a week after receiving zero touches, and a Jordan Howard (shoulder) return would conceptually knock him further down the depth chart. But he looked dynamic and talented, which is what you'd be taking a bet on by adding him because the Cowboys in Week 16 aren't a great matchup.
Reggie Bonnafon, Panthers (2)
This is my weekly request that all Christian McCaffrey owners pick up Bonnafon as his handcuff immediately.
Other direct handcuffs worth adding to be safe:
- Ryquell Armstead (Leonard Fournette)
- Javorious Allen (Saquon Barkley)
- Tony Pollard (Ezekiel Elliott)
- Giovani Bernard (Joe Mixon)
- Malcolm Brown (Todd Gurley)
Full RB handcuff chart
WEEK 16 WAIVER WIRE: Top pickups
Week 16 Waiver Wire Watch List: WR
A.J. Brown, Titans (47)
You should just pick up Brown right now ahead of a Week 15 matchup with the Texans, but he'll remain a solid start as a big-play threat against the Saints in Week 16, too.
Darius Slayton, Giants (40)
Slayton gets the Dolphins in Week 15 before finishing with the Redskins in Week 16, both solid matchups. He's coming off five catches for 154 yards and two scores on Monday night against the Eagles, and he keeps getting consistent targets. Whether Eli Manning or Daniel Jones starts, you can feel good about Slayton.
Danny Amendola, Lions (24)
We don't love the Denver matchup in Week 16, but Amendola should see more targets with Marvin Jones (ankle) on Injured Reserve. That probable increase in targets is worth considering at least in PPR formats.
Anthony Miller, Bears (21)
This is less about the Kansas City matchup in Week 16 -- which is solid -- and more about the fact that Miller has simply proven himself a trustworthy receiver down the stretch. If you've been hit by injuries, he's a play you can feel good about.
Chris Conley, Jaguars (20)
Assuming DJ Chark (foot) is out, Conley might be in line for a big day against a brutal Falcons pass defense in Week 16. You can also consider Keelan Cole, who might be the best deep threat out of Jacksonville's healthy wideouts.
John Ross, Bengals (13)
Ross can bookend his season with a strong beginning and strong end if he can get behind the Dolphins' defense for a big play in Week 16. The odds of that are good enough to take a shot on him.
Justin Watson/Breshad Perriman, Buccaneers (3)
Both of these big-bodied athletes stand to benefit from Mike Evans' injury. Perriman got more playing time in Week 14 than Watson, but Watson caught more passes. Both caught touchdowns. Both are freakish athletes based on combine and SPARQ numbers. It might be hard to predict who makes the big play or two, but against the Texans' pass defense in Week 16, the answer might be both.
Allen Hurns, Dolphins (2)
Assuming DeVante Parker's concussion lingers or Miami does the safe thing and just lets him rest, Hurns will be the No. 1 Dolphins' WR against the beatable Bengals. He was actually outplayed slightly by Isaiah Ford in Week 14, but both should see plenty of targets if Parker is out.
Eagles WRs
Nelson Agholor, JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Greg Ward are all in play down the stretch with Alshon Jeffery's ankle injury creating an opening or two. Agholor is battling a knee injury, as well. Arcega-Whiteside is the biggest boom-or-bust play of the trio, though he limped off with a hamstring injury on Monday night. Ward is an interesting PPR option if Agholor remains out. Just be aware that Dallas in Week 16 isn't a great matchup -- this is more about possible opportunity.
Week 16 Waiver Wire Watch List: TE
Before we get into the tight end options, a quick mention of Jacob Hollister, who's currently owned in 60 percent of leagues and plays the Cardinals in Week 16. If Hollister is available, he's the top tight end stream.
Tyler Higbee, Rams (39)
Even if Gerald Everett (knee) returns, Higbee should see ample targets, and he's more than proven himself with back-to-back 100-yard games. His Week 15 matchup against Dallas is favorable, and he can even hold his own in a Week 16 matchup against San Francisco.
Darren Fells, Texans (35) | Jordan Akins, Texans (2)
Akins has actually leapfrogged back over Fells in playing time, so this is a bit of a tricky spot to guess on ahead of time and might be better served seeing how Week 15 plays out first. The reason we're interested is a matchup with the Buccaneers in Week 16, one of the league's worst defenses against tight ends.
O.J. Howard, Buccaneers (34)
Maybe Mike Evans' injury will also free up Howard, who had four catches on five targets in Week 14. The Texans are a bottom-10 defense against tight ends, as well, and we know Howard is one of the league's most talented at the position.
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins (29)
The Bengals actually defend the tight end pretty well, but if Parker remains out, Ryan Fitzpatrick's most trusted target will probably be Gesicki, which should translate to looks in the end zone against a bad team, if nothing else.
Bonus: If tight end injuries linger, both Giants' TE Kaden Smith (@ Redskins) and Carolina's Ian Thomas (@ Colts) are in play as streams, as well, with Thomas being the preferred option of the two.
Week 16 defense streamers and sleepers
Seattle Seahawks vs. Cardinals (49)
Kansas City Chiefs @ Bears (43)
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Raiders (43)
Indianapolis Colts vs. Panthers (29)
Denver Broncos vs. Lions (21)
New York Giants @ Redskins (7)
Miami Dolphins vs. Bengals (1)
Most of these plays depend on how much you believe in a subpar defense or how much you believe in an opposing QB. The Seahawks should be the top stream, while Denver should have its way with David Blough, as well. And who knows which way that Dolphins-Bengals game will really play out, but you can take a shot there if you're really desperate.