Waiver Wire Watch: Week 16

Dec 21, 2020

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Week 16. Championship week. Well, that's the case in most leagues. It’s hard to believe but the fantasy season is almost over. Thanks to all of you for sticking with us and reading this article all season. It has been a pleasure providing this analysis for all of you. Hopefully, there’s some magic left for one more week of good recommendations and pickups. I tried to limit the list this week to truly only players that have starting value in Week 16, since many of you will not be playing in Week 17 (though I know select leagues do). So enjoy this truncated Waiver Wire Watch.

Recommendations are based on a PPR-scoring, four-point passing touchdown, 12-team league, with ownership percentages coming from Yahoo. I try to mention when a player is a better streaming play (short-term/one-week starter) versus a long-term addition. Free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) suggestions are based on a $100 season-long budget. Lastly, the great John Paulsen will edit this article every week and adjust rankings and prices if necessary. Essentially, you’re getting two minds collaborating on this piece instead of one, so lucky you.

Be sure to come back on Tuesday for John's Week 16 rankings and double-check those Week 16 FAAB bids.

Now, with that out of the way, here are some players to target heading into Week 16.

Quarterbacks

Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Baker Mayfield, Browns
Mitch Trubisky, Bears
Matthew Stafford, Lions
Marcus Mariota, Raiders

Jalen Hurts, Eagles, 38% rostered ($10)

Hurts continued to perform well as the starting quarterback for the Eagles, putting up 338 passing yards with another 63 on the ground while accounting for four total touchdowns. Next up for Hurts is the very beatable Cowboys defense in an important divisional matchup. Last week the Cowboys let Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard throw for over 300 yards with three touchdowns against them.

Baker Mayfield, Browns, 47% rostered ($1)

Mayfield has been on fire of late, as he’s averaging over 300 passing yards per game over his last three, while scoring nine touchdowns with just two turnovers. Next week he gets to face the lowly Jets, who should offer little resistance to this potent Browns offense. Mayfield looks like one of the better streaming options this week.

Mitch Trubisky, Bears, 13% rostered ($3)

Trubisky has been playing quite well the last few weeks, even if his bone-headed interception in the fourth quarter almost cost the Bears the win. His fantasy roller-coaster could be on the upswing again next week when the Bears take on a Jacksonville defense that is shredded pretty much every week. They’ve allowed two-plus touchdown passes in eight straight games.

Matthew Stafford, Lions, 54% rostered ($3)

Stafford gutted out an impressive performance against the Titans considering he was playing through a rib injury. Stafford finished with 252 yards and one touchdown. Stafford left the game late, but that may have been precautionary given the Lions were down by a lot. Next week Stafford has a home date with the Buccaneers, whose defense has looked much more beatable in recent weeks. Last week Matt Ryan and the Falcons carved up the Bucs defense for three passing scores--without Julio Jones. If Stafford is free in your league he’s a great pickup for championship week.

Marcus Mariota, Raiders, 1% rostered ($1)

Derek Carr suffered a serious groin injury last week that will require a multi-week recovery. That puts Mariota in consideration as a streamer next week. Mariota looked good off the bench for the Raiders, completing 17-of-28 passes for 226 yards, one touchdown and one pick, but his legs were the real difference-maker as he notched 88 yards on nine carries with one score. He’ll face a feisty Dolphins defense next week, but his rushing ability provides a nice floor if the Raiders call a few runs for him again.

Other streaming options: Tua Tagovailoa (@ LV), Drew Lock (vs. LAC)