Week 16 Waiver Wire: Fantasy Football's Top Pickups and Breakout Candidates

We have just a couple of games left in Week 15 of the fantasy football season, but by now, you probably have a pretty good idea whether you are advancing.

For those who aren't, better luck next year. For those who are, how fitting is it that you will find out on Christmas Day whether you are a fantasy champion?

Week 15 saw a few players make themselves worth a look as we head into the fantasy championship week.

Sure, there are some of you who play until Week 17, but that's a whole other conversation—long story short, you guys are way too brave.

The season is winding down, and this could be the final time you visit the waiver wire.

Make it count.

Quarterbacks

1. Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles (24.98 PTS, 26% own)

2. Eli Manning, New York Giants (27.40 PTS, 33% own)

Running Backs

1. Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals (13.30 PTS, 48% own)

2. Wayne Gallman, New York Giants (13.90 PTS, 5% own)

3. Kerwynn Williams, Arizona Cardinals (6.10 PTS, 35% own)

Wide Receivers

1. Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars (31.60 PTS, 3% own)

2. Jaydon Mickens, Jacksonville Jaguars (22.10 PTS, 0% own)

3. Dede Westbrook, Jacksonville Jaguars (4.10 PTS, 45% own)

4. Kendall Wright, Chicago Bears (15.10 PTS, 4% own)

Tight Ends

1. Ricky Seals-Jones, Arizona Cardinals (3.10 PTS, 33% own)

All scoring reflects PPR formats. All qualifying waiver pickups must have 50 percent or less ownership in Yahoo leagues.

Players to Watch

Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

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It's a total bummer for the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans, but for fantasy purposes, the team's backup quarterback, Nick Foles, can serve as a last-ditch effort in Week 16.

You probably don't want to depend on Foles with the title on the line, but he's in a nice situation.

First, Foles has an excellent supporting cast, from the defense to his receiver to his backfield.

Second, he balled out in Week 15, throwing four touchdown passes to four different receivers.

Third, the Eagles will be hosting the Oakland Raiders who cannot stop a nosebleed on defense this season, it seems.

If you were a Carson Wentz owner and you are streaming for Week 15 and need to stream again in Week 16, look to your former starters real-life backup.

And oh yeah, remember the last time Foles faced the Raiders in an Eagles uniform?

Kerwynn Williams, RB, Arizona Cardinals

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This one is simple: Adrian Peterson has been placed on injured reserve, so it's the next man up.

Over the past three gameweeks without Peterson, Kerwynn Williams has averaged 18 touches per game.

It's clear that head coach Bruce Arians is not afraid to let Williams get in his work in the backfield.

Williams isn't used in the passing game, so he's better suited for standard leagues. Either way, he's only owned in just over a third of leagues.

This has been said ad nauseam this season: Any time you can get a running back getting most of the workload, he needs to be on your roster.

And Williams, a running back on the Arizona Cardinals with an offense headed by quarterback Blaine Gabbert, is no different.

Dede Westbrook, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Volume and opportunity are what is going to make Dede Westbrook a top priority on waiver wires in Week 16.

First, Westbrook has been heavily involved since his return from injury earlier in the season but still somehow remains under 50 percent owned.

Sure, Week 15 wasn't reflective of that, but Sunday's Jacksonville Jaguars-Houston Texans game got out of hand quickly, and Westbrook didn't need to do anything.

He's played in just five games this season. Prior to Week 15, Westbrook had not seen fewer than six targets. His lone six-target outing was in his first career game.

We mentioned opportunity. Unfortunately, fellow wide receiver Marqise Lee had to be helped off the field Sunday because of an ankle injury. We have no idea what's going on, but without Lee, the Jaguars are down to just three receivers: Westbrook, Jaydon Mickens and Keelan Cole.

As you can see in the list above, both Cole and Mickens are also listed. They had phenomenal games Sunday, but you should side with the more proven commodity. Cole and Mickens would be fine adds but present a bit more risk.

According to Dr. David Chao, Lee's status for Week 16 doesn't look promising:

Westbrook will be the team's No. 1 wide receiver in Week 16 should Lee not suit up against the lowly San Francisco 49ers.

Pick up Westbrook, especially if you are in a PPR league.

Kendall Wright, WR, Chicago Bears

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

In a rare Saturday NFL game, we had something confirmed to us: It's time to pick up Wright.

In Week 14, Wright saw 13 targets and had high reception and yardage numbers. But maybe that was a fluke.

Well, apparently not. Wright saw 11 more targets in Week 15, and over the past two gameweeks, Wright averaged 12 targets, 8.5 receptions and 94 receiving yards.

Prior to this emergence, it was all fellow wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, but he's virtually disappeared.

Although it's not the more trustworthy offense, rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has clearly found his stride with Wright.

That should continue in Week 16 against the Cleveland Browns.

If you are in a PPR league and need a flex or wide receiver play, Wright is your guy.

Scoring stats and ownership stats via Yahoo and current as of Sunday, Dec. 17. Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference.