Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings - Fantasy Football Pickups Include Zamir White, Curtis Samuel, Hunter Henry, Trey Sermon, more

For most leagues it's time for the second round of the fantasy football playoffs, and today we're back with our Week 16 fantasy football waiver wire rankings to help you make the right moves this week on the waiver wire. The grind never stops.

Week 16 will be an interesting one -- with new injuries popping up yet again, there are likely going to be fill-ins and backups to emerge as viable fantasy options. Be sure to follow the news closely and be ready to strike. Each year players always rise during the fantasy playoffs to become difference makers and help win championships. Is Joshua Palmer here to stay and can be trusted down the stretch after a big week? Can we trust Noah Brown again after putting up back-to-back duds? Is Zamir White in line for another large workload with Jacobs injured?

Our waiver wire rankings will help answer these questions -- they've been a staple in the fantasy industry for years, providing a quick-hit list of player names that goes deep into the free agent options each week. For those unfamiliar, one of the industry's sharpest fantasy football minds, Nick Mariano, brings you his weekly waiver wire rankings and priority adds for the top 60 potential options.

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Week 16 Waiver Wire Articles

Before diving into the Week 16 rankings, let's look at some other free waiver wire resources available at RotoBaller.

Each week, our NFL team puts out a complete array of fantasy football waiver wire articles to compliment our slick new Who Should I Pickup? Waiver wire player comparison tool. Bookmark it!

In addition, here is a quick rundown of our other waiver wire articles. First up is our overall Week 16 fantasy football waiver wire pickups (all positions) article by Robert Lorge and the famous Week 16 waiver wire express article compliments of Nick Mariano. These give a nice overview of the waiver wire pickup options each week. Then, we also look at FAAB waiver wire bidding recommendations from Nick Mariano. We also dig deeper for each position with individual waiver wire articles:

• RB waiver wire pickups for Week 16
• WR waiver wire pickups for Week 16
• TE waiver wire pickups for Week 16
• QB waiver wire pickups for Week 16
• D/ST waiver wire pickups, streamers for Week 16
• Kicker waiver wire pickups, streamers for Week 16
• IDP waiver wire pickups for Week 16
• The Cut List - players to consider dropping for Week 16

Who To Pickup for Fantasy Football Week 16?

Finally, below, you'll see our weekly rankings for the relevant waiver wire pickup options, including how to prioritize them for your league (depending on the league size). Quarterbacks and Defenses (D/ST) are grouped together at the bottom of the list:

Some of the top names include Zamir White, Curtis Samuel, Hunter Henry, Trey Sermon, and Noah Brown. We recap why these players rostered under 55% in Yahoo! leagues should be on your radar when scrolling through the waiver wire for Week 15.

Noah Brown, WR, Houston Texans (40% Rostered)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings: 2

After sitting out Weeks 11 and 12 with a knee injury, Houston Texans wide receiver Noah Brown (knee) was cleared to play Sunday against the Titans. He rebounded in Week 15 after posting donuts in the last two games. The 27-year-old caught eight of 11 targets for 82 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Titans.

Brown is Houston's No. 1 wide receiver with Nico Collins (calf) sidelined. His fantasy stock will rise if rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) returns in Week 16 after missing a game due to a concussion. Fantasy managers should add Brown in all league formats with the expanded role as the Texans' top target.

Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (15% Rostered)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings: 17

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (quad) was ruled out for last Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Zamir White drew the start and posted a solid line in the Raiders' 63-21 win over the Chargers. White rushed 17 times for 69 yards and a touchdown while catching three of four targets for 16 yards. The 24-year-old outpaced Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden 17-6-2 in Week 16.

If Jacobs cannot suit up for Sunday's upcoming contest against the Kansas City Chiefs, White would remain the Raiders' lead back and have an expanded role in the second game of the fantasy postseason. Fantasy managers, especially Jacobs ones, and those searching for running back help should look to add White in all league formats.

Trey Sermon, RB, Indianapolis Colts (0% Rostered)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings: 34

Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss (arm) exited Saturday's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers with an arm injury and did not return. Trey Sermon filled in for Moss and rushed for 88 yards on 17 attempts in the Week 15 win. Sermon would have an expanded role and be the Colts' lead back if Moss and Jonathan Taylor (thumb) remain sidelined.

However, Taylor is feeling good and could return after missing the previous three games with a thumb issue. The severity of Moss' injury is unknown, but he did have his x-rays come back negative. Sermon's fantasy value all depends on the health of both Taylor and Moss, making him an add in most leagues, but especially for any Moss or Taylor managers. 

Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots (24% Rostered)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings: 11

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (knee) is dealing with a knee  and was initially injured during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 29-year-old caught seven of nine targets for 66 yards and one touchdown in the Week 15 loss. Over the last two games with Bailey Zappe under center, Henry has caught 10 of 12 targets for 106 yards and three touchdowns.

Fantasy managers should monitor Henry's practice status throughout the week. If Henry doesn't miss any time, he is an excellent streaming option for the fantasy playoffs in a plus matchup against the Broncos. Denver has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Managers searching for tight-end help can add and stream Henry in Week 16.

Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders (37% Rostered)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings: 3

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin's monster performance overshadowed teammate Curtis Samuel but he still had a productive fantasy day in Week 15. Samuel caught five of nine targets for 41 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 28-20 loss to the Rams. The 27-year-old has hauled in 18 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns over his last three games.

Samuel has played well recently but draws a tough matchup against a tough Jets secondary in Week 16. The Jets allowed the least number of fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2023. Fantasy managers searching for wide receiver help or an option in deep leagues can look to add and start Samuel this week. It gets more challenging for the Commander's schedule with the 49ers on deck after the Jets, making Samuel a flex option at best in the upcoming weeks.

Running Backs - Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings
Pickups are in priority order:

Wide Receivers - Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings

Pickups are in priority order:

Tight Ends - Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings

Pickups are in priority order:

Quarterbacks - Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings

Pickups are in priority order, with emphasis on Week 16:

Defenses (D/ST) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings

Pickups are in priority order, with emphasis on Week 16:

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