Fantasy Football Week 16: Waiver-Wire Pickups, Rankings and Stat Projections
Fantasy football managers are always looking forward.
And, yes, that's still the case even in playoff time.
So, even if your first playoff matchup isn't yet complete, you should already be plotting your path forward into Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season. Consider this a head start, then, as we're laying out our early rankings and spotlighting a waiver-wire target (rostered in fewer than 60 percent of Yahoo leagues) at each of the three marquee positions.
Quarterback
1 of 3
Top 10
1. Josh Allen, BUF (at LAC)
2. Dak Prescott, DAL (at MIA)
3. Jalen Hurts, PHI (vs. NYG)
4. Lamar Jackson, BAL (at SF)
5. Patrick Mahomes, KC (vs. LV)
6. Jared Goff, DET (at MIN)
7. Brock Purdy, SF (vs. BAL)
8. Tua Tagovailoa, MIA (vs. DAL)
9. Justin Fields, CHI (vs. ARI)
10. C.J. Stroud, HOU (vs. CLE)
Waiver-wire target: Baker Mayfield, TB (54 percent rostered)
Mayfield may not be the model of consistency, but he is a talented passer who has a wealth of playmakers around him. When the stars align for him, he can be incredible. He just was incredible Sunday, in fact, as he posted a perfect passer rating while torching the Green Bay Packers on 22-of-28 passing for 381 yards and four touchdowns.
He won't reproduce that stat line in Week 16, but it is worth noting he draws a much more favorable matchup on paper this time around. While the Packers have given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, per Yahoo, Mayfield's next opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars, have allowed the third-most.
Projected stats: 26-of-35 passing for 291 yards, three touchdowns, one interception
Running Back
2 of 3
Top 10
1. Christian McCaffrey, SF (vs. BAL)
2. Raheem Mostert, MIA (vs. DAL)
3. Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (at MIN)
4. Bijan Robinson, ATL (vs. IND)
5. Alvin Kamara, NO (at LAR)
6. Tony Pollard, DAL (at MIA)
7. James Cook, BUF (at LAC)
8. Saquon Barkley, NYG (at PHI)
9. Joe Mixon, CIN (at PIT)
10. Austin Ekeler, LAC (vs. BUF)
Waiver-wire target: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (40 percent rostered)
If Isiah Pacheco remains sidelined by a shoulder injury that recently sent him under the knife, Edwards-Helaire could again have a dream opportunity in front of him.
Kansas City has also leaned on Jerick McKinnon in Pacheco's absence, but Edwards-Helaire is clearly the preferred option for streaming. Edwards-Helaire saw far more touches Sunday (17 to seven) and did more with his chances (101 scrimmage yards to 30).
Projected stats: 12 carries for 41 yards, three receptions for 29 yards, one touchdown
Wide Receiver
3 of 3
Top 10
1. Tyreek Hill, MIA (vs. DAL)
2. A.J. Brown, PHI (vs. NYG)
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (at MIN)
4. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (at MIA)
5. Cooper Kupp, LAR (vs. NO)
6. Deebo Samuel, SF (vs. BAL)
7. Justin Jefferson, MIN (vs. DET)
8. Davante Adams, LV (at KC)
9. Mike Evans, TB (vs. JAX)
10. Stefon Diggs, BUF (at LAC)
Waiver-wire target: Noah Brown, HOU (40 percent rostered)
Brown's first two games back from a knee injury were duds, as he saw seven combined targets and didn't haul in a single one. On Sunday, though, the light bulb suddenly clicked, and just like that, he was back to being a wildly intriguing waiver-wire option.
His team-high 11 targets resulted in eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. As brutal as his previous two outings were, his last two games before the injury featured a combined 13 receptions for 325 yards and a score. If he hits his ceiling, he can be the reason you win your weekly matchup.
Projected stats: Seven receptions, 92 yards, one touchdown
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