Waiver Wire Watch: Week 16 Fantasy Football Targets

Dec 18, 2017

Editor's Note: We're happy to have Brandon Niles on the Waiver Wire Watch this year. He'll work in conjunction with Senior Editor John Paulsen to compile the weekly list of pickups and generate recommended prices for FAAB leagues.

Here is a look at the top waiver wire pickups for Week 16. To be eligible for discussion, the player must be owned in 50% or fewer Yahoo leagues, though we’ll stretch the rules a bit for the RB position, which is usually very thin. We’ll also include suggested bid prices (with a $100 budget) for those leagues that use Free Agent Acquisition Budgets (FAAB). Of course, player value depends on league characteristics and team needs. Players are listed by position in order of importance. For extremely shallow or extremely deep leagues, be sure to review our Rest-of-Season Rankings (updated every Tuesday) to get an idea of how to value players not on this list.

Quarterbacks

Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles ($10)

Foles had a great game against the Giants on Sunday, throwing for four touchdown passes to go with 237 yards in a victory. Foles has been a productive fantasy option in the past and he has an excellent schedule to close out the season, including the Raiders this week, who have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. Foles also faces the Cowboys in Week 17, so he should be added in all leagues where owners have been streaming up to this point.

Next up: Raiders, Cowboys

Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills ($4)

Taylor had a nice game against the Dolphins on Sunday, delivering a much-needed Bills victory and throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown. He added 42 yards and a score on the ground as well, and his rushing production often gives him a fairly high ceiling for fantasy owners looking at streaming options. This week, he’ll face a struggling Patriots defense, and then he has the Dolphins again to close out the season. Taylor should be considered one of the primary streaming targets for teams needing a quarterback this week.

Next up: @ Patriots, @ Dolphins

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers ($2)

Garoppolo won his third straight game as a starter for the 49ers on Sunday, beating the Titans with a late-game drive that set up the game-winning field goal. Garoppolo threw for 381 yards and a touchdown, and he looks more and more comfortable in the 49er offense each week. While he doesn’t have a great schedule to finish out the season, he should be considered an above-average fantasy starter for his last two games. He’s playing for a contract right now, and the 49ers are playing for next year’s season-ticket sales.

Next up: Jaguars, @ Rams

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens ($1)

It’s hard to trust Flacco in the midst of such a terrible season, but he’s just wrapped up his three best games of the year and has an excellent remaining schedule. Flacco threw for 288 yards and a touchdown against the Browns on Sunday, and he ran in another score. He faces the Colts this week, and then the Bengals in Week 17, so he has some value as a streaming option in deep leagues and formats that feature two quarterbacks.

Next up: Colts, Bengals

Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears ($1)

Trubisky had three picks on Saturday against the Lions, but he also threw for 314 yards and a touchdown and has turned in above-average fantasy performances in two straight games. This week, he’ll face a vulnerable Browns defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. In deep leagues, Trubisky should be considered a sneaky streaming option.

Next up: Browns, @ Vikings

I’m not buying: Brock Osweiler played well in relief of Trevor Siemian on Thursday night and he has Washington this week, but he averages 146 yards, 0.76 touchdowns, and 0.63 interceptions per game over the course of his career, so there should be better streaming options available. I know Eli Manning blew up this week against the Eagles, but he’s been terrible all season and he faces a Cardinals defense that has been stout the last two weeks against Marcus Mariota and Kirk Cousins.