By Winsto (12/17/2024)
Week 16: Waiver Wire
We are in the final stretch/playoff time. There are a few names here to consider for Week 16 and beyond, whether you are just looking to stream or looking to get out of the Browns Offense business now that, sadly, Jameis Winston (QB) has been benched.
(The following players are rostered by less than 50% according to Yahoo Fantasy.)
QUARTERBACK
Aaron Rodgers (QB-NYJ)–I guess he is an option here. He had a solid game against a stingy Miami defense in Week 14 (339 passing with 1 TD) and then followed it up with a very nice game against a completely porous Jacksonville defense in Week 15 (289 passing with 3 TDs to go along with 45 rushing yards). Week 16’s matchup against the Rams looks good—they allow the 10th most fantasy points to the QB position, so he could be a solid fill-in if you were relying on Jameis Winston against Cincinatti (oh what might have been) or your normal starter, Patrick Mahomes (QB-KC), does not play due to his ankle.
Cooper Rush (QB-Dal), who threw for 214 passing yards and 3 TDs against the 3rd most generous defense to fantasy QBs (Carolina) in Week 15 now gets to play the 2nd most generous defense to fantasy QBs (Tampa Bay).
If you are truly desperate and all other options are unavailable, Aidan O’Connell (QB-LV) looks like he will return from injury and has a date with the most generous defense in fantasy to the QB position. That’s right, Jacksonville is up next.
RUNNING BACK
Jerome Ford (Cleveland)–With the news of Nick Chubb’s injury and missing the rest of the season, Ford should see the work for the remainder of the season. That is the good news. The not so good news is he will be taking hand-offs from Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB-Cle), who will now be replacing Winston. Ford is averaging 5.2 YPC this season, which was definitely aided by his 62 yard TD run in Week 15. He should project as a borderline RB2/RB3 for the rest of the season.
Kendre Miller (New Orleans)–The 2023 3rd round pick saw increased action when Alvin Kamara (NO) left Week 15 with a groin injury. If Kamara is unable to play, Miller, with his 4.6 YPC this season, should see much work, considering how everyone else on this offense is injured. The next 3 games (GB and LV) are average against the run, so (in the voice of a 1980s commercial) it could just be Miller Time.
Kimani Vidal (Los Angeles Chargers)–I tend to be stubborn, which is why I will keep Vidal in this section for another week. Vidal out snapped Edwards (53% v. 43%) in Week 14, and then out snapped him again (67% v. 27%) in Week 15. Sadly, this has not resulted in fantasy point glory for Vidal thus far, however. At some point, the coaching staff has to realize that Vidal needs more touches, right?
Handcuffs—These are players, rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo, who I would grab if I had the space. They have little to no standalone value, but each could be a legitimate RB1 or RB2 if the opportunity presented itself. This is the order I would rank them as of now.
Blake Corum (LAR)
Trey Benson (Ari)
Patrick Taylor Jr. (SF)
Kenny Gainwell (Phi)–Bucky Irving would probably be involved as well, but Gainwell should lead the way.
WIDE RECEIVER
Jalen McMillan (Tampa Bay)–The 3rd round rookie has seen 13 targets over the last two games and converted those into 134 receiving yards and 3 TDs. He has also finished 1st or 2nd in targets in those two games. Mike Evans (WR-TB) is still going to command looks, but this offense has proven strong enough to support multiple pass catchers. The question really is do you believe his production will continue. I do like the possibility, especially against a generous Dallas defense in Week 16.
Rashod Bateman (Baltimore)–Bateman is the quintessential boom or bust receiver. You know how this works. He will typically see 3-5 targets, so you are banking on a long play/TD. There is a decent ceiling here, but virtually no floor.
Jalen Coker (Carolina)–Coker finished 2nd (to Adam Thielen) in targets last week, and with Xavier Leggette (WR) now expected to miss some time, I see Coker as a WR4-5 play, though not this week, as Arizona has been stingy. However, in Weeks 17 and 18, Tampa Bay and Atlanta offer nice matchups.
TIGHT END
Brenton Strange (Jacksonville)–Evan Engram (TE) is out for the season, and the 2023 2nd round pick is making the most of the increased playing time, catching 11 of the 12 targets for 73 yards in Week 15. Simply put, he had me at 12 targets, which was 2nd on the team to Brian Thomas Jr.’s (WR) 14. Las Vegas is generous to the TE position. For those of you who need help or for those of you who do not trust David Njoku with a different QB or with his hamstring, Strange is the answer. He is my waiver wire grab of the week.
Noah Gray (Kansas City)–I mean, he gets decent targets (4-6 targets per game over the last 5 games) and has proven to be a Red Zone option (5 TDs in the last 5 games). He plays about 60% of the snaps, so he sees the field. It appears that Patrick Mahomes (QB) will play this weekend, so Gray has value to those who are desperate for TE production.
Hunter Henry (New England)–Is he scoring a plethora of TDs? No, no he is not—he has 1 TD on the season. Is he 6th amongst all TEs in receiving yards? Yes! Drake Maye has shown a solid connection with Henry, as Henry has seen no fewer than 4 targets since Week 04. His remaining schedule is not too kind to the TE, but his floor is about as safe as can be. Just understand that he offers virtually no ceiling.
Stone Smartt (Los Angeles Chargers)–Will Dissly is still a few weeks away from returning, and Smartt has now topped 50 receiving yards in each of the last two games. The Chargers face Denver this week, and Denver’s secondary may force Justin Herbert (QB) to be more reliant on the TE for success.
Grant Calcaterra (Philadelphia)–With Dallas Goedert (TE) going on IR, Calcaterra will see some targets. He is an aimed dart throw, as the offense should provide Red Zone opportunities.
IDP
I am not on a good streak here. We are now 3 weeks in a row that something happened to one of the defenders I discussed. Three weeks ago, I mentioned Nazeeh Johnson (DB-Kansas City) in this section, and it looked like good advice, until he was benched in the early part of the game. Then two weeks ago, I discussed adding Tyler Nubin (DB-NYG). He was having fantasy success until he injured his ankle midway through the game. Last week, I championed Luke Gifford (LB-Ten), who had 8 total tackles (5-3) and an INT, but he only played 42% of the snaps due to a concussion.
So…, let’s try this again—Yes, I am cheating a bit here, as I mentioned both of the following last week. Still, they were good, good enough to discuss them again
Micah McFadden (LB-New York Giants)–With Bobby Okereke (LB) missing Week 14 and 15, McFadden has 22 total tackles (15-7) and a sack. Continue to roll with McFadden until Okereke returns.
Luke Gifford (LB-Tennessee) –IF he is declared healthy to play and Jerome Baker (LB) misses Week 15, I am doubling down here. As I just discussed, Gifford had that type of fantasy production despite leaving the game early. With both Kenneth Murray (LB) and Jerome Baker (LB) missing Week 14, Gifford stepped up, accumulating 12 total tackles (9 solo, 3 assists). If both Murray and Baker miss Week 15, Gifford is a solid play.