Zach Thompson is sipping Mai Tai’s on some beach in Hawaii, so I’m filling in from my mom’s basement. Congratulations to all of you who advanced in the playoffs. Two more wins and you will forever be etched in history.
Every week, players in many leagues’ fantasy football waiver wire step up with big games to emerge as potential pickups. DK Network will have coverage throughout the week of all the hot pickups and best additions, but each Sunday night, I have gotten to break down some of the players who popped up as early candidates to be additions heading into the week.
A key factor to keep a close eye on every week is that new injuries occur, changing the fantasy football landscape. Heading for the Waiver Wire Week 16, here are some new situations to keep a close eye on moving forward
Players with new injuries from Week 15 to watch:
- RB Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
- QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
- RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
- QB Tommy DeVito, New York Giants
- TE Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
With those injuries in mind, here are some of my top names to watch on the Week 16 waiver wire.
WR Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers
Jalen Coker ($3,700; 24 FPTS) went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. He is 6-foot-1, 208 pounds, played his college ball at Holy Cross and runs a 4.57 40. After not playing in the first three games, he slowly and steadily started playing more snaps, from 10% to 50% to over 60% before finally playing in 88% of the snaps in Week 10 due to injuries. He had two games with over five targets and caught four of six targets for 78 yards and a touchdown against Denver.
Unfortunately, he suffered a quad injury himself, forcing him to miss three weeks.
In his Week 15 return, Coker hauled in four of six targets for 110 yards and this 83-yard touchdown:
The Panthers play Arizona and Tampa Bay in Weeks 16 and 17. They will likely be underdogs in both contests and chasing points. Both Arizona and Tampa Bay have been generous to opposing passing attacks, allowing the ninth and fifth-highest EPA per dropback.
Coker is rostered on 2% of Yahoo teams.
Other receivers who stepped up in Week 15 and will get attention on the waiver wire in Week 16 include: Rashod Bateman ($4,400; 23 FPTS) and Jalen McMillan ($3,700; 18.5 FPTS).
RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
Jerome Ford ($4,900; 18.4 FPTS) is rostered on 42% of Yahoo teams. He was the unquestioned starter when Nick Chubb was out to begin the season, garnering 70% of the snaps and putting up double-digit FPTS three times. When Chubb returned, though, the snap share decreased to the 50 to 60% range and he did not sniff 10 FPTS.
In Week 15, Chubb broke his foot and Ford finished with 84 rushing yards with a touchdown while catching two passes for 20 yards.
Ford should return to receiving 70 to 80% of the snaps going forward and is involved in the passing game. While Jameis Winston is volatile and threw three interceptions in Week 15, he still makes the offense dangerous and should provide opportunities for Ford.
The Browns plays the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins the next two weeks. Both teams have the ability to put up points, although weather could be a factor. Volume is volume, though, and that shouldn’t be an issue now with Chubb sidelined.
Other running backs who are options to consider from the waiver wire Week 16 include: Tyjae Spears ($4,300; 27.2 FPTS), Ty Johnson ($4,400; 20.3 FPTS) and Justice Hill ($4,800; 17.8 FPTS).
QB Cooper Rush, Dallas Cowboys
Since replacing Dak Prescott under center, Rush has scored double-digit FPTS in five straight. In Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers, Rush went 18-of-29 for 214 yards and three touchdowns.
He is rostered on 8% of Yahoo teams and gets one of the best matchups in Week 16, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that has allowed the fifth-highest EPA per dropback.
The Week 17 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles isn’t so good, but let’s take it one week at a time and deal with that when we need to.
Other available QBs to consider include: Jameis Winston ($5,500; 2.64 FPTS), Bryce Young ($5,300; 15.96 FPTS) and Mac Jones ($4,900; 20.66 FPTS).
TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brenton Strange ($2,500; 18.3 FPTS) is 6-foot-4, 253 pounds and runs a 4.7 40. The Jaguars drafted him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Penn State, so they thought highly of him. Strange has been playing since Week 1, but took a back seat to Evan Engram when he was healthy. Well, Engram missed four games early in the season before undergoing season-ending surgery prior to the Week 15 game.
Strange was peppered with 12 targets and caught 11 for 73 yards in Week 15. He is rostered on only 2% of Yahoo teams.
Strange should dominate the snaps and targets at the tight end position for the Jaguars with Engram shelved. The matchup in Week 16 is pristine, as the Las Vegas Raiders have allowed the fourth-most FPTS to tight ends on average.
Other available TEs to consider include: Chig Okonkwo ($2,900; 13.9 FPTS).
Falcons DST
UPDATE: What Zach wrote two weeks ago remains pertinent, so I will not taint his masterpiece.
The Falcons DST ($2,500; 0 FPTS) had a very rough week in Minnesota against the Vikings, finishing with zero fantasy points. They did have four sacks but gave up 42 points in their loss to the Vikings.
After that showing, the Falcons’ ownership is under 10%, but they’re in a great spot to bounce back over the next two weeks. They travel to Las Vegas on Monday Night Football next week, where the Raiders will have to figure out what to do at QB after Aidan O’Connell (knee) suffered a potentially significant injury. It could be former Falcon Desmond Ridder ($4,800; 4.34 FPTS). After that game, in Week 16 they host the Giants in another great matchup.
The Falcons defense had five sacks against the Chargers last week and had forced 11 turnovers in 12 games before Sunday’s struggle. Facing two struggling offenses is enough to make them a good streaming option, especially since they’ll be looking to erase the memory of this week’s trip to Minnesota.
Other top streaming options to check out for Week 16 include the Colts DST (vs. the Titans).
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
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