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Michael Florio's deeper-league waiver wire pickups and fantasy football sleepers for Week 16. His top free agent options for 14-team fantasy leagues or deeper.
Week 15 might have been the toughest week to navigate in fantasy football history. That may sound like an exaggeration but when you factor in three postponed games, a record number of players on the IR on top of all the regular injuries and stuff we have to worry about on a weekly basis - it was difficult. Some of you may have struggled to piece together a healthy lineup! But hopefully if you are reading this, you are still alive in the fantasy playoffs.
If you are still playing that means you have likely reached the semi-finals in your league and are one of the final four teams left. I know we live in a culture where we all think we are Michael Jordan or Tom Brady and it's championship or bust, but it is ok to enjoy this accomplishment. I promise you trying to enjoy it a little won’t take away any edge you think you have!
But just because you are in the final four does not mean it's time to start ignoring the waiver wire. In fact, its the exact opposite. We are seeing that having a backup plan at key positions is more important than ever right now. And lets say you have your backups, well you can try to block your opponent. If they need a QB you can grab the best one out there. That is how you can unleash that inner Brady or Jordan, by making your lineup as strong as possible and doing what you can to block your opponent!
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets for Week 16
Tyler Huntley threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 73 yards and another two scores, going off for 35.9 fantasy points. He nearly upset the Packers, showing he can hold his own in this league and still play well in a tough matchup. Not saying he is Lamar Jackson, but he has a similar skillset. If Jackson misses more time Huntley will definitely be in play once again as a streaming option.
Trevor Lawrence failed to take advantage of a good matchup last week against the Texans, but he gets another shot this week facing the Jets. New York has allowed an average of 19.9 fantasy PPG to QBs since Week 7. Lawrence has not shown a whole lot of upside as of late, but if you are diving a little deeper for a QB, the matchup is worth taking a shot on.
Drew Lock came in after Teddy Bridgewater suffered a scary injury. Teddy is doing okay according to reports, but we should not expect to see him immediately return to the field. If he misses time, Lock will get the start for Denver. Lock completed six of 12 pass attempts for 88 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. He would purely be a deeper option in two QB formats next week against the Raiders.
Ronald Jones II became the top waiver wire target wherever he is available after Leonard Fournette exited Sunday night with a hamstring injury. Reports are indicating that injury will cost him a week or two, but for fantasy purposes, thats the entire season. Meaning Jones, who played 30 percent of the snaps and saw eight carries good for 63 yards while catching both his targets for eight yards, is the new lead runner on one of the best offenses in football. Jones comes with flaws, but he also brings a great deal of burst and explosiveness, even more so than Fournette. Plus, the Bucs are already saying he has a chance to give them a boost, similarly to what Fournette did last season. He is a must pick up and the top target for teams in need of a RB. He is also another lesson that you want to roster your handcuffs this late in the season.
Craig Reynolds carried the ball 26 times for 112 yards against the Cardinals and caught his lone target for five yards. Reynolds has seen nice volume in each of the last two weeks and scored double digit fantasy points in both those game. The fantasy production hasn’t been elite, but the volume is certainly nothing to sneeze at. If D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams miss more time than Reynolds is very much in play next week against the Falcons.
Samaje Perine ended up playing after Joe Mixon suffered a sprained ankle. Perine ended up playing 31 percent of the snaps with four carries for 30 yards, while catching both his targets for 13 yards. Perine’s fantasy value clearly comes down to the availability of Mixon, but he would be an RB2 on volume if Mixon was to miss time. Again, roster your handcuffs!
Duke Johnson led the Dolphins playing 58 percent of the snaps while carrying the ball 22 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns. He caught his only target for 20 yards. Johnson stepped up after Myles Gaskin spent the whole week on the Covid reserve list. This could have just been Gaskin wasn’t 100 percent or they felt more comfortable with Johnson who got the reps all week. But either way, Johnson made the most of his opportunity. We will have to monitor this backfield to see what reports come out this week, but its worth taking a flier on Johnson incase he gets more playing time.
Gabriel Davis went off in Week 15 for five catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns on seven targets. Davis was able to showcase his two biggest traits as a receiver – the ability to strength the field and to be utilized in the end zone. Davis can play, the issue is, he has bene buried on the Bills depth chart behind Emmanuel Sanders. He brings something the offense has clearly lacked - another downfield threat opposite of Diggs. Fans and reporters have been clamoring for Davis to get more playing time and this is just further proof why. Davis will very much be in play if either Sanders misses more time or if we hear he replaces him as the WR3 in this offense. He is worth adding if he is still on the waiver wire.
Laquon Treadwell saw a team-high nine targets, catching six for 57 yards - good for nearly a dozen fantasy points, but the volume is what is important. Treadwell has now seen at least five targets in four straight games. His fantasy points increasing in each of the last four, putting up between 9.3 and 11.7 fantasy points in each. The consistent volume gives him a safer floor that can be utilized in deeper formats. Also, he faces the Jets next week which only makes him more appealing.
Robby Anderson saw eight targets, catching three for 29 yards, while adding in 33 rushing yards. It was not a big day, but he does now have 20 targets in his last two games combined. He also has at least six targets in four of the last five games and has topped eight fantasy points in each game with six targets. That means he brings a decently safe floor and has some upside. Its not going to be pretty with Anderson, but if you are diving deeper for a flex option, he is a name to take a shot on.
Evan Engram has struggled this season but he has seen at least five targets in four of his last five games. Plus, he faces the Eagles next week, who heading into Week 15 allowed the most catches, yards, touchdowns and fantasy points to the tight end position. Evan Engram is a tight end, who will be facing the Eagles next week. Plus, he could see a boost in volume with Sterling Shepard now out for the season. Look, you don’t have to be excited to use him, but if you have been streaming the position in a deeper league, the matchup alone makes him a shot worth taking.
Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter @MichaelFFlorio
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