Waiver Targets 16.25

Your weekly roadmap to the wire. Each Tuesday, Tony Kneepkens highlights the top adds across positions — complete with FAAB recommendations and context to help you prioritize based on your league size and format.

These are the top players to consider adding from waivers this week. Unless otherwise noted, all players below are available in greater than 50% of Yahoo leagues (as of Sunday evening). Priorities listed are meant to differentiate between some of the options available and are assuming 12-team, single-QB, fantasy formats.

The fantasy regular season is now over in most head-to-head fantasy leagues, with the majority playing their semi-final matchups this week. At this point in the year it’s likely a few teams have truly been eliminated from contention in either their championship or consolation brackets. While this might mean less waiver competition, those managers who do remain are likely to be aggressive in filling their perceived roster needs.

I will continue to identify potential streaming options and possible bench stashes at each position, but will no longer use FAAB recommendations as part of my analysis. If you have a roster need, there’s no time like the present: unload your FAAB, use your high waiver priority, etc. Every spot on your fantasy bench this far into the season should be very intentional, fill yours with handcuff RBs and other assets that you wouldn’t want to face in a matchup over the next two weeks if your opponent picked them up. Good luck the rest of the way in your leagues everyone!

QB Streamer of the Week

C.J. Stroud, HOU, Week 16 vs LV

• Stroud had his best game in a three-game stretch since returning from his mid-season concussion, passing for an efficient 260-3 line in a blowout victory over the Cardinals. The Texans have opened as 14.5 point favorites at home against the Raiders this week, they sport a solid 26.25 implied team total. 
• Last week Vegas let a struggling Philly passing game get back on track with their two QBs combining to throw for over 11 yards per pass attempt. Jalen Hurts tossed the same number of TDs, three, as incompletions.
• Low-priority add. Stroud is my favorite widely available passer to stream this week in what looks to be another exploitable matchup.

RB Pickups

Michael Carter, AZ, Week 16 vs ATL

• Carter operated as the Cards’ top RB last week after Bam Knight was carted off early with an ankle injury. The veteran RB turned his 18 touches into 94 scoreless yards in their lopsided loss.
• MC seems like the favorite to lead the Cardinals in touches as they host the Falcons this week as 2.5-point home underdogs in a game with a solid 47.5 implied point total.
• High-priority add. Carter has a solid matchup and the clearest path to touches of my top RB recommendations this week. Added bonus that AZ has a Week 17 matchup at the Bengals, where he could be usable again.

Jawhar Jordan, HOU, Week 16 vs LV

• With veteran Nick Chubb inactive, Jordan made the most of his NFL debut last week, racking up 118 scrimmage yards on his 17 touches. When starter Woody Marks got banged up himself, it was Jordan handling the majority of the RB work, with veteran passing game specialist Dare Ogunbawale mixing in.
• According to HC DeMeco Ryans, Marks “could have gone back into the game” last week if it had been more competitive. We’ve heard that before (from several coaches and about several players, not Ryans specifically), to varying results.
• High-priority add. While there are a lot of variables here, mainly the fact that both Marks and Chubb could be active this week, Jawhar’s 100-yard NFL debut ahead of hosting the Raiders as two-TD home favorites has my attention. JJ is a must-add at the initial waiver run, and even if he’s not a need, blocking a potential RB starter from a competitor can be a worthy endeavor, too.

Blake Corum, LAR, Week 16 at SEA

• Corum had another productive 11-71-1 rushing performance against the Lions on Sunday, but it was actually his worst fantasy performance over a three-week stretch that has seen him rack up an impressive 280-4 rushing line.
• The Rams game at Seattle is a quick turnaround on Thursday Night Football. Rams’ star WR Davante Adams, the teams’ TD leader with 14, seems unlikely to play after leaving last week’s win with a hamstring injury.
• High-priority add. Corum has already been one of my favorite widely available RB options for several weeks. He has his own rushing role alongside lead-back Kyren Williams, and there could be more goal-line totes available than usual if Adams misses a week or two to finish the fantasy season.

Some additional lower-priority RB options to stash on fantasy benches ::

• Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) – The rookie runner had a career-high 18 carries for 96 yards and a score against a generous NYG defense. It was his first game scoring a TD or topping 50 rushing yards since early October.
• Bhayshul Tuten (JAX) – My hopes for a reliable standalone role are fading after a season-low two touches in consecutive weeks, but he’s still a strong asset as an explosive injury-away RB on a solid offense and did find the end zone last week.
• Brian Robinson Jr. (SF) – Capable veteran backup to CMC, B-Rob would be another no-brainer RB starter if CMC happened to miss a game down the stretch.
• Tyler Allgeier (ATL) – A similar asset to B-Rob who actually has a stronger standalone role, but I prefer Robinson on the superior SF offense.

WR Pickups