If you’re here – chances are you made it through round one of the playoffs! Congratulations.
Let’s get down to business. We have two weeks left to win us a championship and that means knowing exactly where we need help and when we’ll need it. We’re aggressively playing matchups with waiver wire additions.
As always, the following players are rostered in fewer than 40% of leagues. This is being written prior to the kickoff of Sunday’s 4:00 P.M. slate of games.
Week 16 Fantasy Football Early Waiver Wire Pickups to Target
Zamir White (RB – LV)
Rostered: 7.3%
White’s worth a start if Josh Jacobs misses another week. White put up 17.5 points on Thursday in Jacobs’ absence. It’s nice to be a running back when your team wins by 42 points.
Next weekend, the Raiders play the Chiefs. They’ll likely be playing from behind, meaning more obvious passing downs meaning more Ameer Abdullah. I’m downgrading White next weekend, but should Jacobs miss even more time, White’s week 17 matchup against the Colts is favorable.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB – KC)
Rostered: 32.3%
Isaiah Pacheco reportedly underwent shoulder surgery, making Edwards-Helaire the de facto starter as long as Pacheco is out. CEH has 28.9 fantasy points in the last two weeks, making him a fantasy consideration for those looking to fill out flex spots.
Beware, the Chiefs do like Jerick McKinnon (who’s also in waiver wire consideration) on passing downs.
Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
Rostered: 8.3%
With Joe Mixon fully healthy, Brown has scored more than 35 fantasy points in his last three games. Brown’s an explosive rookie and just getting started. He’s a risky play with Mixon active; right now, he’s an elite handcuff.
Trey Sermon (RB – IND) and Tyler Goodson (RB – IND)
Rostered: 1.6%, 0.0%
Sermon and Goodson are in consideration to be starters next week IF AND ONLY IF both Zack Moss and Jonathan Taylor are inactive.
The Colts play the Falcons next week, and it’s a fantastic matchup for Indianapolis running backs.
The Falcons will be without interior defensive linemen Kentavious Street and Grad Jarrett. They could be without defensive tackle David Onyemata. These injuries leave Atlanta with massive holes to fill to stop the run. Today, they let Chuba Hubbard run for 87 yards on 22 carries.
DeVante Parker (WR – NE)
Rostered: 3.3%
Parker has quietly amassed 19 targets and 27 fantasy points over the last three weeks. His ceiling is low, given the Patriots’ offensive malaise, but he appears to be Bailey Zappe‘s favorite target of the receivers. That’s worth something if you’re in a tough enough spot. The Patriots are in Denver and Buffalo for the next two weeks, so make sure to monitor the weather.
Rashid Shaheed (WR – NO)
Rostered: 21.5%
Shaheed has scored fewer than 30 fantasy points since Week 8. That’s a fact. However, it appears he’s finally healthy again and can still serve as a boom-or-bust deep threat. Shaheed has scored 18 or more points three times this season. Shaheed could be a sneakily lucrative play if you’re sifting through waiver wire receivers.
Hunter Henry (TE – NE)
Rostered: 17.6%
Henry had seven catches for 66 yards and a touchdown today. He has 38.6 fantasy points in his last three weeks. The biggest reason Henry is on here, however, is his matchup next weekend. The Patriots take on the Denver Broncos, who are uniquely terrible at defending opposing tight ends. Sam LaPorta just scored three touchdowns on them. Henry is likely a top-six play at the position heading into next weekend.
Keep in mind Henry did sustain a knee injury today that knocked him out of the game. I still think he’s worth an add on the chance he can suit up next weekend.
Gardner Minshew (QB – IND)
Rostered: 15.5%
Minshew is averaging 17 fantasy points per game since Indy’s week 11 bye. In the next two weeks, the Colts play Atlanta and Las Vegas, both fine matchups for Minshew. If you’re in a deep or two-QB league, you could do worse than streaming Minshew these next couple of weeks. His scrambling ability isn’t nonexistent, either. Minshew has had four rushing touchdowns in his last 12 starts.
Detroit Lions Defense/Special Teams
Rostered: 30.1%
The Lions, who held Russell Wilson and the Broncos to 17 points Saturday, get Nick Mullens and the Vikings next weekend.
Denver Broncos Defense/Special Teams
Rostered: 14.7%
The Broncos should be in a good spot to rebound next weekend as they host the New England Patriots. The Broncos are home in week 17, as well, hosting the Justin Herbert-less Chargers.
Jacksonville Jaguars Defense/Special Teams
Rostered: 36.0%
The Jags are set to play some meaningful football over the next three weeks, fighting for playoffs and seeding. In Week 16, they play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in Week 17, they host the Carolina Panthers, every defense’s favorite matchup.
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