Welcome to the latest installment of Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups. We’re heading into Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season. We are moving on to the semifinals in our fantasy football leagues! For those of you who are still playing, it’s a one-week season. Here, you may have to take some bold swings.

We’re waiting to hear the status of some of our players like Ja’Marr Chase and Zach Moss. We are also waiting to hear if Jonathan Taylor is coming back along with Aaron Rodgers. Either way, every move counts as we strive for that fantasy football title!

With the above in mind, there are always areas to improve or block another manager. Regardless of your situation, here are players you should look to add for Week 16 based on CBS Fantasy Sports roster percentages. The following players are listed by position, in order of priority. Let’s get into it.

For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 60% of leagues according to CBS as of 12/17/23.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 15

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups

Joe Flacco, QB, Cleveland Browns (42% Rostered)

Three games now and Joe Flacco has scored 20+ fantasy points in them all. That includes Sunday’s game where he even threw three interceptions against a tough Bears defense. Backup quarterbacks have been putting up good numbers as of late and Flacco should be trusted going forward. He faces the Texans next, followed by the Jets.

Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints (57% Rostered)

No Chris Olave, no problem! Carr handled the New York Giants well dinking and dunking as he completed 23 of 28 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns. After a handful of stinkers, Carr was able to go over 20 fantasy points for the first time since Week 8. In Week 16, the Rams allowed three touchdowns from the Commanders quarterbacks, so he will look to continue that trend.

Gardner Minshew, QB, Indianapolis Colts (59% Rostered)

Now, I would have Minshew higher if Michael Pittman (concussion) didn’t get injured. Pittman has the chance to miss Week 16, making Minshew a player I will target later in my priority. Minshew could very well have a good game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16. But if you’re playing quarterback roulette, He does get a pass-funnel Raiders defense in Week 17.

Nick Mullens, QB, Minnesota Vikings (18% Rostered)

Okay, this is a deep add and as I may be a fan of it, I hate it going into the semifinals. Mullens, the starter for Week 15, completed 26 of 33 passes for 303 yards, two touchdowns, but two costly interceptions. He did a good job moving the ball down the field, yet the two interceptions are something that is just part of his game. However, he does get a favorable matchup in Week 16 against the Lions as long as he is named the starter.

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (51% Rostered)

While Edwards-Helaire had a stinker game in Week 15, many fantasy managers dropped him, even with Isiah Pacheco being out. It made sense as the Patriots have a tough run defense. However, Edwards-Helaire proved he still has fantasy value as he marched on for 101 total yards and a touchdown. If Pacheco is out again, then we should view Edwards-Helaire as no worse than a Flex play against the Raiders.

Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (22% Rostered)

White started Thursday night and delivered a solid performance against a Chargers team that appeared to quit on their coaches. White rushed 17 times for 69 yards and a touchdown along with catching three passes for another 16 yards. For as long as Josh Jacobs is out, White should be viewed as a Flex option against the Chiefs.

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (43% Rostered)

Even though he took a back seat to Clyde Edwards-Helaire, McKinnon was still quite productive. While only putting up 34 total yards, he had a four-yard touchdown pass along with a receiving one. Overall he now has three touchdowns in the last two games. One rushing, one receiving along with one passing. Could he be back on track to scoring touchdowns again? It is advised to consider him as a Flex option at best.

Trey Sermon, RB, Indianapolis Colts (1% Rostered)

Sermon stepped up and assumed a significant role after Zack Moss was ruled out at the beginning of the second quarter. He delivered an impressive performance by carrying the ball 17 times and gaining 88 yards. Let’s not forget also that Tyler Goodson (1%) also had 13 touches for 79 yards. For as long as Moss is out, along with Jonathan Taylor missing the upcoming game, Sermon is a desperation Flex play along with Goodson.

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups

Josh Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (42% Rostered)

From what we saw Thursday night, the Chargers offense was a mess. With Justin Herbert out for the remainder of the season and Keenan Allen out for the game Palmer benefited. Palmer caught all four of his targets for 113 yards and a touchdown. Most of it came off a 79-yard touchdown, which isn’t sustainable. However, if Allen is to miss the upcoming week, Palmer could be no worse than a Flex play.

Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders (57% Rostered)

Samuel was an add last week, and once again makes the list. The Commanders offense continued to be pass-happy as Samuel turned nine targets into five catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns. Samuel fell short of reaching 50 yards in a game for the sixth time this year, however, he managed to double his season’s touchdown count. Despite facing a challenging opponent in the Jets, it is advisable to consider him as no more than a Flex option.

Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions (35% Rostered)

Overall, Jameson Williams has looked like a bust this year. Looking at his stats he only had four receptions for 47 yards. However, he managed to receive seven targets. Additionally, this is the most targets he has seen all season. In terms of value, his appearance exceeded the final statistics on his overall performance. The Lions should be passing the ball around the yard once again, making Williams a viable Flex option.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Green Bay Packers (4% Rostered)

In Week 15, with Christian Watson unable to play, Wicks emerged as the one who rose to the occasion, showcasing the Packers’ abundant skill. Wicks brought in six of seven targets for 97 yards. He finished second on the team in targets, and first in yards with no touchdowns. However, Jayden Reed did miss a little bit of time during the game, but the Packers continued to spread the ball around to all their receivers. But Wicks continues to make a name for himself, and if Watson and or Reed are to miss Week 16, Wicks should see a nice boost once again.

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups

Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots (39% Rostered)

First off, be sure to keep a close eye on Henry over the next week. Unfortunately, he left the game on Sunday due to a knee injury. For the last couple of weeks, Henry has been a touchdown hog scoring three touchdowns over that span. For what it’s worth, I wasn’t so high on him last week as he only saw three targets. However, this week he saw nine targets turning it into seven receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. He has become Bailey Zappe‘s favorite target and would have a favorable matchup against a Denver defense that just gave up three touchdowns to Sam LaPorta.

Gerald Everett, TE, Los Angeles Chargers (56% Rostered)

As stated above about Josh Palmer, this Chargers offense struggled. On the bright side of it, Everett saw a team-high eight targets turning that into five receptions for 41 yards. Yeah, it’s easy to say you’ll pass on it, but with how Easton Stick used him as a safety blanket it should continue. Everett should be considered a start this week, especially if Keenan Allen is unable to suit up.

Darren Waller, TE, New York Giants (59% Rostered)

There weren’t many bright sides to the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon. No one on the Giants scored, but Waller came back catching four of six balls for 40 yards. Good enough for second on the team. We knew the Tommy DeVito hype would eventually hit a wall, and here it did. But Waller returned from IR after missing five games and produced, which was something bright. Although he didn’t finish as a TE1 this week, if you like many who don’t have a TE1, Waller is worth looking at.

Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers (9% Rostered)

If all the above tight ends aren’t available or you don’t trust them, you should not veer away from Kraft. Like most of the pass catchers in Green Bay, Kraft has excelled as of late, especially without Luke Musgrave. In three of his last four games, he has at least eight fantasy points, which has become the normal for tight ends this season. Like most tight ends this low, you are hoping for a touchdown, which may be possible in Week 16 against the Panthers.

---

Trending Now

Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em

Weekly Fantasy Football Rankings

Free NFL Picks

2024 NFL Draft