Week 16 Waiver Wire: Top Pickups and Drops

Championship week.

You've been waiting for this all year. To get to this point, you had a solid draft. You played the waiver wire like a champ. You maybe made a key trade or two. You played the matchups like a champ. You did your research. 

And you reached your league's championship.

Don't go soft now, fantasy owners. For one more week, you need to nail the waiver wire. Below, I'll help you do just that.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington

Ugh.

I know you don't want to trust Robert Griffin III after the season he's had. I certainly don't trust him. But there are justifications for starting him, in very specific situations, this week. 

First off, you are only considering Griffin in really deep leagues, and only if you've been streaming quarterbacks this year. Let's start there. Secondly, you are only considering Griffin because he faces a Philadelphia Eagles defense that has given up 18 or more fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks 10 times this season.

Could Griffin lay an egg? Sure. Does he have the talent to post big numbers against Philly? Absolutely. Can you trust him? Probably not. For players in deeper leagues that have been streaming quarterbacks and are bold of spirit, can you justify gambling on him this week?

Yup.

Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar, RB, Dallas Cowboys

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With DeMarco Murray needing surgery on his hand and questionable to play this week, per Todd Archer of ESPN, the scramble to add his handcuff will be intense heading into championship week. 

The question is which player should you prioritize?

I'd lean toward Randle. He's likely to get more carries than Dunbar, who will probably be used more on passing downs. That's how the Cowboys have handled the pair thus far this season when they've played, per Mike Clay of Pro Football Focus:

I don't love either of these guys in the event Murray doesn't play, but Randle is the player you should go after. I expect them to split snaps, however, so it's possible the two will end up canceling each other out. Still, Murray owners and everyone else should be adding both of these players this week.

Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota Vikings

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The starting gig is clearly Matt Asiata's in Minnesota. His 18 touches for 86 yards and a score on Sunday—while Ben Tate and Joe Banyard combined for seven touches and all of 10 yards—suggests as much.

With a decent matchup against Miami next week, Asiata is a flex consideration and should absolutely be owned in all formats. 

Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Doug Martin's 15 touches for 99 yards on Sunday was reminiscent of the player we've seen in years past, especially as he already had 92 rushing yards in the first half before the Bucs ditched the running game because, you know, they're the Bucs and logic isn't in their playbook.

More than a few folks have given up on Martin this year, so he might just be sitting on your waiver wire. The Bucs would be wise to try to establish a running game next week and keep the ball out of Aaron Rodgers' hands in a matchup against the Green Bay Packers, so you would be wise to take a flier on Martin if he's available in your league.

Andre Williams, RB, New York Giants

With the health of Rashad Jennings uncertain down the stretch, Williams could have the running back duties mostly to himself down the stretch. A matchup against the St. Louis Rams isn't ideal, no, but if you're hurting at running back and need a player to fill in this week, Williams is worth adding.

He just shouldn't be your top priority at the position. There are more appealing options out there this week.

Harry Douglas, WR, Atlanta Falcons

With Julio Jones sidelined, Harry Douglas caught 10 passes for 131 yards on 14 targets against the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading the team in all three categories. Up next is a truly tasty matchup against the New Orleans Saints, a team that is really poor on the defensive side of the ball.

You can do the math here. If Jones is able to play, Douglas loses most of his value. But if Jones can't go, Douglas could help you win a fantasy championship.

Players to Drop 

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Ryan Lindley is the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals in their matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, the best defense in the NFL. I think you know where this is going—drop Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. Immediately. They won't do squat this week.

Everyone can say goodbye to Mark Sanchez. I'll admit, I thought the Chip Kelly system and the talented skill position players on Philly's roster would carry Sanchez from a fantasy perspective. I was wrong. Sanchez just isn't a very good quarterback, and from a fantasy perspective, he's gone for 20 or more fantasy points just twice in six starts. 

You can't trust him during championship week, even against Washington's shoddy pass defense. He could blow up, sure, but there are better players you can rely on this week.

Speaking of the Eagles, I'm not so sure you need to hold onto Darren Sproles, who has hit double-digit fantasy points just once in his last 11 games (he has hit nine points twice in that span). Frankly, he was pretty droppable a while ago. LeSean McCoy is still the main man in Philly, while Sproles is a change-of-pace spark who isn't getting enough touches to consistently make a fantasy dent.

Maybe you picked up Jonas Gray after he scored 44 fantasy points in Week 11. He has all of 75 rushing yards since. He's wasting space on your roster, folks.

Finally, there are a few players available you might be considering, from Branden Oliver (if Ryan Mathews is out for another week) to Latavius Murray. Ignore them. Oliver faces the San Francisco 49ers this week, while Murray gets the Buffalo Bills. Those are brutal matchups, folks, and neither player is good enough to overcome them.

All ownership percentages, point totals and points-against statistics via ESPN standard-scoring leagues.