Michael Carter and the Best Week 16 Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Pickups

There are two weeks left until a champion is crowned for the 2026 fantasy football season. If you are still in the hunt heading into Week 16, congratulations, but the hard work isn't finished yet.

With four teams still remaining in most formats—as well as eliminated players competing for monthly high scores and other challenges that many leagues offer—there is going to be fierce competition for the handful of serviceable talent left lingering on the waiver wire.

Whether you need a fill-in for an injured starter or simply want to deny a high-end free agent from reaching your upcoming foe's lineup, it's time to lock in and make the most of your waiver claims. Don't worry about wasting priority or your remaining FAAB bucks when you are involved in a win-and-in semifinal clash, either; it's worth blowing whatever you have to land any piece you may need.

With that in mind, let's review the top waiver targets for Week 16.

Suggestions are available in approximately half or more of all Yahoo! Sports leagues. Fantasy points and rankings courtesy of FantasyPros' PPR data. Suggested free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) bids are based on a $100 dollar starting budget.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons (9 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $5-10

Cousins' recent stretch of play may be giving Atlanta some pause about its decision to sit him in favor of Michael Penix Jr.

Since taking over as the QB1 following the sophomore's season-ending injury, Cousins has helped the Falcons win two of his four starts while throwing for 968 yards and six touchdowns, including three in a comeback win over the rival Buccaneers in Week 15.

Although that QB3 performance was his only showing inside the top 12 this year, the veteran appears to be settling into a rhythm and hitting his stride. Expect him to keep it rolling with another QB1-tier outing in Week 16.

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders (17 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $3-7

Mariota is officially filling in for Jayden Daniels for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. With the second-year starter's injury-filled season at a merciful end, managers can safely add Washington's backup and deploy him at will.

While Mariota hasn't been great in most of his starts, he does have a trio of top-10 finishes under his belt this season, including a QB3 showing in Week 13.

His Week 16 matchup against a tough Eagles defense isn't ideal, but his ability to take off and run boosts him into the low-end QB1 discussion for the semifinals.

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (21 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $3-7

Young has, by and large, been a disappointing fantasy option this season. He's posted just four finishes inside the top 12, but it's worth noting half of those QB1-tier days have come in the last four contests.

A friendly matchup gives a huge boost to his fantasy viability in Week 16. The Bucs are one of just four teams allowing more than 20 points to opposing signal-callers in 2025 and have been torched by just about every passer they've faced over the past five weeks.

It may not be ideal to entrust your championship hopes to Young, but the Panthers remain a playoff hopeful and will be pulling out all the stops to win down the stretch. Don't be surprised to see a big showing from the third-year signal-caller on Sunday.

Running Back

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

Michael Carter

Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (8 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $20-30

Michael Carter is the next man up for an Arizona backfield that has had a rough go of things in 2025.

With Bam Knight likely to be out for at least a week after suffering a "bad sprain"—joining James Conner and Trey Benson on the sidelines—Carter will be the go-to option for the Cardinals in Week 16.

Carter was pedestrian against a ferocious Texans front on Sunday, generating a meager 56 yards on his 14 carries. He did chip in a decent amount of PPR value with his 38 yards on four receptions, but better days should be ahead for the new leader of this platoon.

Consider Carter a must-add if you are lacking an RB2 for the semifinals and finals. He figures to see the lion's share of work over Emari Demercado and should put up some strong numbers against softer defenses in the coming weeks.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders (46 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $15-20

Croskey-Merritt failed to live up to the hype as a popular sleeper target during fantasy drafts, but those who have remained patient with the rookie are getting some late-season redemption.

JCM took control of Washington's backfield in Week 15, turning his 18 carries into 96 yards and a score. He didn't see a single look in the passing game, but still managed to post his first top-15 showing since Week 5 with a 15.6-point day against the Giants.

Although he had to split time with Jeremy McNichols and will likely remain in a timeshare going forward, Croskey-Merritt is a solid option in Week 15 as long as Chris Rodriguez Jr. remains sidelined.

Keep an eye out for updates regarding the Commanders' backfield and fire up the rookie seventh-rounder with confidence should the veteran sit out again.

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (43 Percent Rostered)
Suggested FAAB Bid: $12-18

Corum has come on strong lately with a surge of solid production. His latest outing—a 71-yard, one-touchdown gem on just 11 carries—resulted in his third top-15 finish in as many weeks.

While his volume is a tad worrisome, the Rams are firing on all cylinders and getting plenty of mileage out of both their running backs. The sophomore has carved out a meaningful role and should retain it for as long as he's producing at this level.

If Corum is still available in your league, snap him up as both injury insurance for Kyren Williams (Corum would become a top-flight RB1 if Williams goes down) and potential standalone flex option for the semifinals.

Jawhar Jordan, Houston Texans (3 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $5-10

Jordan saw meaningful action for the first time in his career on Sunday and made the absolute most of it.

Filling in for an injured Nick Chubb and stepping into an even larger role when Woody Marks exited with an ankle issue, Jordan made a strong argument to see a far bigger workload going forward. He finished the day with 101 yards on 15 carries and added two receptions for 17 yards.

Those are week-winning numbers from a potential RB2/flex fill-in, but it remains to be seen if Jordan is a one-week wonder. He'll be tough to trust outside deeper formats unless both Chubb and Marks are officially sidelined for Houston's Week 16 showdown with the Raiders.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Adonai Mitchell

Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets (28 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $5-10

Mitchell let managers down when he followed up an explosive 24.2-point Week 13 outing with a 3.4-point stinker in Week 14. He found a middle ground in Week 15, posting a solid 17.4-point WR14 finish against the Jags.

Although the pass-catcher will be difficult to trust, he's fared well in two of the last three contests and has more upside than any other receiver widely available on waivers. He's a dynamic playmaker who is a threat to break loose at any moment, making him the ultimate boom-or-bust dice roll in the semifinals.

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (44 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $4-8

It's a tough week for those needing receiver help, but Reed could do in a pinch for desperate managers who want a solid floor at the position.

Since returning from an extended injury layoff, he has quickly reassumed an important role in Green Bay's passing attack. Over the last two games, the 25-year-old has hauled in nine of his 10 targets for 86 yards. He's also added a pair of rushes for 22 yards in that span.

Those may not be elite numbers, but they are serviceable in deeper leagues and for managers simply out of options. They should only improve if Christian Watson winds up missing time with the injury he sustained in Week 15.

Darius Slayton, New York Giants (31 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $3-7

Slayton isn't living up to the lofty expectations managers had for him following Malik Nabers' season-ending injury, but he's at least starting to see the type of volume that could move the needle.

After heading into the bye on the heels of a WR16 finish despite seeing just three targets in Week 13, Slayton saw far more volume in Week 15. He largely failed to capitalize on his 10 looks, though, reeling in just four for 53 yards.

If Slayton can combine his recent surge in targets with the type of production he had before the break (he caught two passes for 41 yards and a score in that contest), he'll be on the WR2 radar in the semifinals. That outcome is far from guaranteed, though, making it risky to start him in a meaningful fantasy playoff game.

Tight End

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Dalton Schultz

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (50 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $15-25

After a quiet week for free-agent tight ends, Schultz is looking like the only truly viable plug-and-play choice at the position in Week 16.

While he's unavailable in approximately half of all leagues, he's up for grabs in the other half and should be a nice high-floor option for managers in those who need a safe streamer. The veteran returned to his productive ways after a quiet Week 14 showing, picking up eight catches for 76 yards and a touchdown on nine targets

Don't count on Schultz to find the end zone with any regularity (his TD in Week 15 was just his second of the season), but he'll get you enough catches and yardage against the lowly Raiders to be well worth a starting spot in Week 16.

Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams (4 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $5-15

Parkinson is a deep league streaming option who could swing semifinal matchups if he lives up to his potential.

He's turned on the jets over the past fortnight, racking up a whopping 36.7 fantasy points in that span, including a 24.5-point, TE4 finish in Week 15.

With Parkinson earning the trust of Matt Stafford and playing a larger role each passing week, he could be a league-winning addition for the brave managers willing to overlook his poor production in the early portion of the campaign and place him in their starting lineup.

Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins (31 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-5

Waller's return to the league following a brief retirement started with a bang. He scored four touchdowns in his first three games, but a long injury layoff seems to have hindered the 2020 Pro Bowler.

Since he got back on the field in Week 13, Waller has caught just three of his six targets for 60 yards with zero touchdowns.

While a soft Steelers defense makes for a good opportunity to get back on track, only the most desperate managers should trust the 33-year-old to produce.

D/ST

AP Photo/Ella Hall

Chase Young

New Orleans Saints (15 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $5-10

Targeting the New York Jets is a shrewd way to get production from the D/ST position in fantasy football. They have been a punching bag for much of the season and could be in for an ugly outing if Brady Cook draws the start again in Week 16.

While the Saints are far from a powerhouse defense, this unit has had its moments, including double-digit scoring performances in two of the last five games. New Orleans underwhelmed against the rival Panthers in Week 15, but it should bounce back by terrorizing Cook on Sunday.

Miami Dolphins (20 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $3-6

After an ugly start to the 2025 season, Miami has got back on track in recent weeks. The team put up nine or more D/ST points every game between Weeks 10-14, a stretch that included some tough foes such as the Bills.

While the Bengals with Joe Burrow aren't an ideal matchup to target, Cincinnati seemed out of sync when it was blanked by the rival Ravens in Week 15.

The Dolphins probably won't keep the Bengals off the scoreboard, but it isn't unreasonable to expect the D/ST to have a top-10 outing, either.

Minnesota Vikings (35 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $2-4

Minnesota didn't do much of note against the Cowboys this weekend, but it shouldn't have much trouble putting up big numbers for the second time in three weeks with the downtrodden Giants on tap.

The Vikings showed they can dominate lesser teams defensively in Week 13, exploding for 18 points against the Commanders. A similar performance should be in store this week.