Fantasy Football Week 16 Cheat Sheet: Deep Sleepers to Grab on Waiver Wire

The arrival of Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season pushes the fantasy football world deeper into its playoff schedule.

Everything is magnified right now—from the elation of victory to the agony of a season-ending defeat.

Let's aim for that jubilation, shall we, and get your rosters into their best possible shape by spotlighting the top waiver-wire targets available in 50-plus percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros.

Jake Browning, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (47 Percent Rostered)

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 16: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) in a game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Saturday, December, 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Over the past three weeks, only three players have tallied more fantasy points than Jake Browning.

This is leaving the hot-streak realm and entering outright-inferno territory.

Last week was actually his least productive of the stretch, and he threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns. That's how absurd his stats have been. In total, these three outings have produced 953 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and a pair of rushing scores.

Now, he's about to tussle with a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that has allowed three passing touchdowns in each of its last two games—against Bailey Zappe and Gardner Minshew. Browning should keep this heater rolling and maybe even raise its temperature.

Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans (45 Percent Rostered)

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 11: Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (32) rushes with the ball during the game between the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Tyjae Spears couldn't get anything going in Week 15, but that was true of Tennessee's entire rushing attack. The Titans managed just 66 yards on 30 carries against the stingy Houston Texans defense, so maybe Spears gets some credit for producing nearly half of that (30 yards on nine carries).

More encouraging, though, was the fact he saw 10 touches in the tilt, his third consecutive game with double-digit opportunities.

With his big-play ability, this level of involvement usually leads to far more production. Over his previous two outings, he turned 33 touches (23 carries and 10 receptions) into 206 yards.

This contest could easily produce a similar stat line to those big ones, as he'll lock horns with a Seattle Seahawks defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs, per Yahoo.

Noah Brown, WR, Houston Texans (41 Percent Rostered)

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HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 03: Noah Brown #85 of the Houston Texans runs out of the tunnel prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium on December 3, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Noah Brown was silent in his first two games back from a knee injury, but he snapped out of it in spectacular fashion in Week 15.

The veteran wideout saw 11 targets and turned them into eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Brown clearly has the trust of Case Keenum, who looks like he'll get the nod for an injured C.J. Stroud again. Of course, with Tank Dell out for the season and Nico Collins battling a calf injury, it's not like there are a ton of other pass-catchers around.

Still, it's good to see Houston getting Brown involved, because he can be a fantasy juggernaut. Over the two games prior to his knee injury, he totaled 13 receptions on 14 targets for 325 yards and a touchdown.