It's the most wonderful time of the year, and it's a little more wonderful for the fantasy football owners skilled and lucky enough to get into their leagues' playoffs. If you're in, congrats, but there's more work to be done. If you really want to taste victory and carve your name into the legacy of your league, you must think ahead and prepare your squad for everything. Our Week 16 waiver wire watchlist can help you do just that, as we highlight potential streamers and players we expect to spike in ownership between now and next week. Dare Ogunbowale, Hunter Renfrow, Jordan Mason, and Jeff Driskel could go from obscure free agents to x-factors both in real life and in fantasy land.
Injuries have been as rampant as ever this season, and it seems to be getting worse each week. The biggest obstacle to fantasy success — especially at this stage of the season — is always depth. You can never have enough skill players, and you should always consider who you will stream if one of your major players goes down. Don't wait until under-the-radar players go off this weekend or a stud comes off the IR early next week. You will more than likely find yourself getting outbid by an owner with more FAAB or a higher waiver priority. Instead, anticipate the breakouts, recognize your Week 16 needs, and grab the best available streaming options for free right now.
If you've been with us all season, you've been ahead of the curve on a ton of hits. Most recently, we highlighted Jared Goff when he was just under 50 percent owned — he's now 71-percent rostered after posting three consecutive gems. We also featured the Rams' Cam Akers not long ago, and he has since scored three TDs in the past two weeks. Oh, and Zonovan Knight of the Jets? He racked up 195 scrimmage yards and 32.5 PPR points in that span. Want some wideout highlights? DJ Chark has 36.2 PPR points over the past two weekends and Jameson Williams scored last week. We also called Hunter Henry and Chig Okonkwo last week, and both saw big jumps in ownership this week. These waiver-wire wonders are all making for a jolly December.
The proactive approach is one that all consistently successful fantasy owners engage in. You aren't just managing for the present — you're also managing for the future so you never end up saying "what now?" when issues arise. Even with the bye weeks behind us, you need to have backup plans for when the injury bug or matchup gods strike (especially at RB and D/ST). That can be the difference between being "championship bound" and "gone Toilet Bowl fishing."
If you have a "dead spot" on your roster, then use that open space to invest in a player who you expect to see a usage spike, breakout opportunity, or return from injury. Monitor your playoff matchups and grab a guy you can stream in place of a usual starter going against a particularly challenging defense. You give yourself a distinct advantage when you plug your team's expected holes while your competition fails to prepare for what's ahead.
WEEK 15 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Unfortunately, some shallower leagues don't feature enough roster spots for "planning ahead." But for those in relatively deep leagues, our week-ahead watchlist will continue to be a helpful resource. Even though you won't pick up most of these players, it's worth watching their snap counts, target shares, and weekly production trends to file away for later.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist
Reminder: This list was put together in the lead-in to Week 15, looking forward to the players who could be popular waiver-wire targets ahead of Week 16. If you have a roster spot to play with, these are free-agent options you could grab early to beat next week's waiver buzz.
All these players are below 50-percent ownership on Yahoo, unless otherwise specified.
Week 16 Waiver Wire Watchlist: QB
Brock Purdy, 49ers vs. Commanders (18%)
Purdy has been decent — not nearly as good as everyone seems to make him out to be — but he's absolutely worth a waiver add if you're a bit thin at QB. He had multiple TDs in each of his first two games, and Washington has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to QBs this season. With Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, defenses will almost always stack the box to force the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft to beat them. Unless the past two weeks have been complete mirages, Purdy should have a high floor with San Francisco's array of weapons.
MORE POTENTIAL WEEK 16 STREAMERS WITH FAVORABLE MATCHUPS: Zach Wilson, Jets @ Jaguars (7%); Sam Darnold, Panthers vs. Lions (5%); Kenny Pickett, Steelers vs. Raiders (13%)
WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 16 Waiver Wire Watchlist: RB
Khalil Herbert, Bears (38 percent rostered)
Herbert has been on IR with a hip injury since mid-November, but the Bears could have him back in action as soon as Week 16. If you have IR spots, he absolutely needs to be added to yours if he's available. No back in the NFL has averaged more ground yards over expected per carry than Herbert. Even though he shares a backfield with David Montgomery, his production could be fruitful in fantasy championship week. Chicago draws a Week 17 matchup with the division-rival Lions, who have surrendered a whopping 19 ground TDs (second-most) and 5.0 yards per carry (fourth-most) this season. Stash the Herbs.
Rex Burkhead (8%) and Dare Ogunbowale, Texans (1%)
Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Dameon Pierce went down with an ankle injury in Week 14 against the Cowboys, immediately launching Burkhead and Ogunbowale into the waiver discussion. Sure, Houston's offense has not exactly been textbook this season, but opportunity often produces results. Burkhead has a strong history of PPR production, while Ogunbowale played more snaps in Week 14 and has a higher ceiling as a younger, quicker back. For now, just stash them if you have the room.
MORE WORTHWHILE RB ADDS: Gus Edwards, Ravens (46%); Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs (37%); Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (37%); Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (37%); Jordan Mason, 49ers (13%); Zamir White, Raiders (3%); All key handcuffs
WEEK 15 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 16 Waiver Wire Watchlist: WR
Hunter Renfrow (22 percent rostered) and Mack Hollins (22%), Raiders at Steelers in Week 16
With Renfrow (oblique) expected to return soon and Hollins now a regular target-hog in Josh McDaniels' pass-heavy Raiders offense, both would make for nice streams against a beatable Steelers secondary next week. Darren Waller coming off IR should also open up the field for both receivers. Pittsburgh has allowed the fourth-most receiving TDs and fifth-most passing yards to wide receivers this season.
Chris Moore, Texans at Titans (5%)
Moore is one of the last productive wideouts standing for the Texans, who have gone without veteran Brandin Cooks (calf) and young speedster Nico Collins (foot) over the past couple of weeks. He certainly seems capable when given the opportunity to produce. The sixth-year receiver hauled in 10-of-11 targets for 124 yards in Week 14 against a stout Cowboys secondary. He's not an immediate must-start, but if he performs admirably again this weekend, you can consider him in Week 16. The Titans have one of the most inexperienced, Swiss-cheese secondaries in football and are allowing the second-most TDs and third-most yards to wideouts this season.
MORE SOLID WEEK 15 WR STREAMS: Kendall Hinton, Broncos at Rams (7%); DJ Chark (48%) and Jameson Williams (36%), Lions at Panthers; Corey Davis (18%) and Elijah Moore (34%), Jets vs. Jaguars; Demarcus Robinson (14%) and DeSean Jackson (1%), Ravens vs. Falcons; Richie James (12%) and Isaiah Hodgins (2%), Giants at Vikings; Nico Collins, Texans at Titans (24%); Marquise Goodwin, Seahawks at Chiefs (2%); Terrace Marshall, Panthers vs. Lions (5%)
WEEK 15 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Week 16 Waiver Wire Watchlist: TE
Cade Otton, Buccaneers at Cardinals in Week 16 (9 percent rostered)
Death, taxes, and the Cardinals sucking at defending tight ends. These are the certainties of life. Otton has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the Bucs' topsy-turvy season, and Tom Brady's No. 1 objective these days is to get the ball out of the pocket quickly. You could do far worse than Otton against a Cardinals' defense allowing by far the most fantasy points to TEs.
Jeff Driskel, Texans at Titans
We have to mention him, as he's TE-eligible in Yahoo leagues, and the Texans obviously have some gimmicky tricks up their sleeves. In Week 14, Driskel played 33 snaps, running seven times for 36 yards and throwing six passes for 37 yards and a TD. You'll take that production from a tight end any day, at least in standard leagues. The worst that could happen is you add him, he sucks on your bench, and you drop him. At best, you have a QB in your TE spot, which would give Driskel one of the highest floors of any TE in a given week.
MORE POTENTIAL WEEK 16 STREAMERS WITH FAVORABLE MATCHUPS: Tyler Conklin, Jets vs. Jaguars (29%); Robert Tonyan, Packers at Dolphins (27%); Trey McBride, Cardinals vs. Buccaneers (4%)
WEEK 15 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
Week 16 Defense Streamers and Sleepers
Tennessee Titans vs. Texans in Week 16 (51 percent rostered)
Tennessee has struggled lately, producing negative fantasy points in Weeks 13 and 14, but a Week 16 matchup with the lowly Texans might be this defense's "get-right" game just when you need a big play the most. Houston has allowed the second-most fantasy points to D/STs this season.
Cleveland Browns vs. Saints (24%)
Cleveland showed us in Week 13 against Houston that it can still put together mammoth fantasy performances against poor offensive squads. Well, New Orleans has become about as stagnant of an offense as we have seen this season. In Weeks 8-14, the Saints posted four games with 16 or fewer points, four games with 14 or fewer first downs, and five total turnovers. Overall, they have yielded the fifth-most D/ST points on the season.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Broncos (31%)
It's easy to overlook the Rams based on their woeful offensive campaign, but let's remember that L.A. still has plenty of defensive studs who can deliver in plus matchups. With Aaron Donald (ankle) possibly back soon, he might be just in time to terrorize Russell Wilson and Denver's shoddy offensive line in Week 16. The Broncos have surrendered the sixth-most points to fantasy defenses this season.
Los Angeles Chargers at Colts (23%)
This defense has lost a handful of key cogs throughout the fall, but it should have stud safety Derwin James (quad) back by Week 16. Perfect timing for the best matchup of the season, a meeting with Matty Molasses Ryan and the struggling Colts. Indy has allowed D/STs to score an average of 11.3 fantasy points, the most in the NFL this year.
Detroit Lions at Panthers (3%)
Detroit is a bit of a dart throw, but it's picked it up in a major way defensively over the past month, probably feeling extra motivation now that the offense has come alive and reinvigorated playoff hopes. As long as Carolina starts Sam Darnold in Week 16, it will be a plus matchup for D/STs.
Cincinnati Bengals at Patriots (30%)
Cincy produced two sacks and a takeaway in both Weeks 13 and 14, and it allowed 16.6 points per game in Weeks 12-14 despite playing Tennessee, Kansas City, and Cleveland. A date with Mac Jones and the feeble Patriots passing offense could produce positive results in a make-or-break fantasy week.
