Fantasy Football Week 16 Rankings: Targets For This Week's Injured Stars

Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers has been among the best and most consistent fantasy options this year, routinely taking up residence at the top of standard and PPR league rankings, thanks to his output on the field as both a running back and in the passing game.

Not every team is lucky enough to have the all-world back and MVP candidate on their roster, though. Injuries have left them scurrying in Week 16 to find replacements at key positions.

That is where the waiver wire comes into play.

Ahead of the potentially pivotal week for managers still in the hunt for their league's playoffs, these are the positional rankings for Saturday and Sunday's games, as well as waiver wire pickups worth your attention.

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All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise stated.

Quarterbacks

Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 17: Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns is introduced prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

QB Rankings

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers
2. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals
3. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants
4. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers
5. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys
6. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboy at Miami Dolphins
7. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
8. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
9. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears
10. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens

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Waiver Pickup: Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans

Raise your hand if you imagined Joe Flacco being on any list of worthy waiver additions in Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season.

Liars.

Here he is, though, averaging just over 44 throws a game, 313 yards, and 2.3 touchdowns for a Browns team with eight different ways to clinch a playoff berth Sunday against a Houston defense giving up over 18 points a game to opposing quarterbacks.

Furthermore, FantasyPros writes, "Since Week 10, Houston has allowed the fourth-highest yards per attempt, the third-most passing yards per game, and the sixth-highest CPOE. Week 16 Positional Value..."

With Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence listed as questionable and Houston's CJ Stroud out, both as part of their respective team's concussion protocol, Flacco is a worthy pickup for managers looking for a Band-Aid for the week.

He is available in 68 percent of Yahoo and 88 percent of ESPN leagues.

Running Backs

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CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 17: Roschon Johnson #23 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball as Ronnie Hickman #33 of the Cleveland Browns looks to make a tackle during the second quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

RB Rankings

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
2. James Cook, Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers
3. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons vs. Indianapolis Colts
4. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans vs. Seattle Seahawks
5. Breece Hall, New York Jets vs. Washington Commanders
6. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
7. Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
8. Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys
9. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
10. Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Waiver Pickup: Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals defense gives up the most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs.

While the Chicago Bears backfield has been anything but fruitful for managers this year, and Johnson has managed double-digit fantasy points just twice all season, this is the most favorable match-up he has faced to date, and could benefit exponentially from it.

He will have the make the most of limited touches, though. Johnson has only eclipsed 10 rushes once this season.

Is he a reliable back who will be a difference-maker in your week? Maybe, but for managers who could be without Kenneth Walker III, Josh Jacobs, or Zack Moss, all listed as questionable entering this week's slate, he is a worthwhile waiver addition.

Even if it is just for this week.

Wide Receivers

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HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 03: Noah Brown #85 of the Houston Texans runs during the first half against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium on December 03, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

WR Rankings

1. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers
2. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins
3. AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants
4. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
6. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
7. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins vs. Dallas Cowboys
8. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets vs. Washington Commanders
9. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
10. DJ Moore, Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals

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Waiver Pickup: Noah Brown, Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns

With Ja'Marr Chase and Keenan Allen out, and Tyreek Hill, DeVonta Smith, Christian Watson, and Nico Collins all listed as questionable, fantasy managers should pay close attention to their lineups ahead of this weekend's games.

Collins' health, coupled with Tank Dell missing the rest of the season with a broken fibula, means quarterback Case Keenum (replacing an injury CJ Stroud) will be looking for someone to get the ball to down the field.

Enter Brown, who he targeted 11 times in the Week 15 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Look for the journeyman to go to the speedster against Cleveland. The Browns are giving up the second-fewest fantasy points in the league but Brown has the rare speed to get behind even the best corner or safety and make a big play that warrants his inclusion on your roster.

He is available in 47 percent of Yahoo and 42 percent of ESPN leagues.

Tight Ends

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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 07: Mike Gesicki #88 of the New England Patriots looks on from the field during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 7, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

TE Rankings

1. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
2. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders
3. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears
4. TJ Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
5. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
6. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins
7. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans
8. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
10. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants

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Waiver Pickup: Mike Gesicki, New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

Patriots starting tight end Hunter Henry is listed as questionable for Sunday night in Denver, meaning Mike Gesicki may, at the very least, get more opportunities than he would normally.

That he has been targeted more than five times just once this season is an indictment of the Patriots offense as a whole, but against a Denver Broncos defense giving up the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends at 13.7 per game, he could go off and have a surprisingly solid day for fantasy managers.

Especially with quarterback Bailey Zappe at the helm and, potentially, looking for a safety blanket against an improving Broncos defense.

He is available in nearly all ESPN and Yahoo leagues.