Top 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Priority 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 all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for the week. Here are our latest fantasy football waiver wire rankings and top fantasy football waiver wire pickups to target for the week.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings & Top Targets: Week 16

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

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WSH): 48% Rostered

• Next Opponents: PHI, DAL, @PHI

Analysis: It seems fitting to end the season with Jacory Croskey-Merritt being an attractive pickup after he was such a popular player in August. With Chris Rodriguez Jr. missing Week 15 with a groin injury, Croskey-Merritt was the Commanders’ primary ball-carrier. He finished with 18 carries for 96 yards and a score in the Commanders’ 29-21 win over the Giants, turning in his best game since Week 5. Without Rodriguez, Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols split carries 32-30, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Despite playing nearly identical snaps, McNichols had only 10 touches for 22 total yards. If Rodriguez misses additional time, Croskey-Merritt will be a solid Flex play against the Eagles in Week 16, with the Cowboys on deck in Week 17. The Eagles have given up an average of 107.8 rushing yards a game to opposing running backs over the last five weeks. Croskey-Merritt offers little as a pass-catcher, but his rushing volume should be ample if Rodriguez remains out.

Jayden Reed (WR – GB): 41% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @CHI, BAL, @MIN

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.

Darren Waller (TE – MIA): 35% Rostered

• Next Opponents: CIN, TB, @NE

Analysis: Darren Waller has become the favorite red-zone target of Tua Tagovailoa. Waller had two TD catches against the Steelers on Monday night, giving him six TDs in seven games this season. In Weeks 13-14, 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.

C.J. Stroud (QB – HOU): 48% Rostered

• Next Opponents: LV, @LAC, IND

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.

Dalton Schultz (TE – HOU): 49% Rostered

• Next Opponents: LV, @LAC, IND

Analysis: In Weeks 3-14, Dalton Schultz was the TE13 in fantasy points per game with an 18.2% target share, 47 receiving yards per game, 1.53 yards per route run and a 19.2% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In those 11 games, he had seven red-zone targets, five deep targets and only one touchdown. On Sunday, Schultz had another stellar game with a 31% target share, eight receptions, 76 receiving yards and a score in Houston’s win over Arizona. Schultz should continue to provide strong TE1 production for the rest of the season.