Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings & Pickups (Week 16)

Our analysts combine to provide rankings for weekly fantasy football waiver wire targets. We’ll help you prioritize your bids for the week ahead. Check out our full expert consensus fantasy football waiver wire rankings. And also be sure to check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire pickups for the week.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings

Note: Players chosen based upon having early-week consensus roster percent below 50%.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Michael Carter (RB – ARI): 5% Rostered

Next Opponents: ATL, @CIN, @LAR
True Value: $12
Desperate Need: $17
Budget-Minded: $8

Analysis: Bam Knight was carted off the field with an ankle injury against the Texans in Week 15. With Knight out, Michael Carter was the lead back. Although the Cardinals’ offense met its match against an elite Texans defense, Carter finished with 14 carries for 56 yards on the ground and four receptions for 38 yards. Considering that he did this against the Texans, Carter could very well provide RB2 numbers against the Falcons and Bengals over the next two weeks. Monitor Knight’s status and adjust bids accordingly, but with Trey Benson now on season-ending injured reserve (IR), Carter and Emari Demercado are basically the only backs left in Arizona. Carter out-snapped Demercado 53-7 in a negative game script, suggesting that Carter might be a rare plug-and-play running back this late in the season.

Jayden Reed (WR – GB): 41% Rostered

Next Opponents: @CHI, BAL, @MIN
True Value: $2
Desperate Need: $4
Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: In Week 14, Jayden Reed returned from a broken collarbone and had a 65.4% route share, a 16% target share, 31 receiving yards, 1.82 yards per route run and a 25% first-read share (tied for the team lead), per Fantasy Points Data. Reed didn’t have a red-zone target or a deep target. In Week 15, Reed had a 71.6% snap share, a 67.3% route share, a 15% target share and he tied for the team lead in receiving yards with 55. The Packers could lean on him more for the rest of the season if Christian Watson‘s chest injury forces him to miss a few games. Reed is a decent PPR Flex option who could easily flirt with WR2/WR3 production for the rest of the season.

C.J. Stroud (QB – HOU): 48% Rostered

Next Opponents: LV, @LAC, IND
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: The turnaround for the Texans since their Week 6 bye is one of the most impressive storylines of the season. Powered by their incredible defense, they’re now in the thick of the playoff chase. Although Houston’s defense deserves a lot of praise, C.J. Stroud has admirably controlled games and limited turnovers. On Sunday, he had 260 yards and three scores without an interception in a 40-20 win over the Cardinals. In Week 16, Stroud faces the Raiders, who had the NFL’s eighth-worst opponent passer rating going into Week 15. With the Texans’ defense likely controlling this game from the opening kickoff, Stroud probably won’t be asked to do a lot. However, if the Raiders can make this a game, only Maxx Crosby stands in the way of another solid fantasy finish for Stroud.

Darren Waller (TE – MIA): 35% Rostered

Next Opponents: CIN, TB, @NE
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: In Weeks 13-14, Darren Waller had a 60.8% route share, a 13.6% target share, 30 receiving yards per game, 1.94 yards per route run and an 18.8% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Waller has a wonderful schedule remaining that could allow him to post strong TE1 numbers weekly. Each of his final opponents ranks inside the top 12 for most fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends.