Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 16

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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Gardner Minshew, Colts

Minshew has been a solid streaming option over the last month with fantasy finishes of QB5, QB11, QB14, and QB19.

Even with Michael Pittman exiting with a concussion in Week 15, Minshew managed to throw for three scores.

His next opponents, the Falcons, are among the 10 easiest matchups for fantasy quarterbacks, so Minshew remains a strong streamer - even if Pittman isn't cleared to play.

Baker Mayfield is above the 50% rostered mark but would be the top add this week if available.

Streaming options: Jake Browning at PIT (47% rostered), Joe Flacco at HOU (25% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Nick Mullens vs. DET (4% rostered), Derek Carr at LAR (39% rostered), Tommy DeVito at PHI (8% rostered), Taylor Heinicke vs. IND (0% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): C.J. Beathard at TB (1% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Aidan O'Connell at KC (5% rostered), Bailey Zappe at DEN (2% rostered), Mason Rudolph vs. CIN (0% rostered), Bryce Young vs. GB (13% rostered), Easton Stick vs. BUF (2% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if healthy): Zach Wilson vs. WAS (6% rostered), Will Levis vs. SEA (21% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): Ryan Tannehill vs. SEA (2% rostered), Trevor Siemian vs. WAS (0% rostered)

Running backs

Zamir White, Raiders

With Josh Jacobs sidelined due to a knee injury last week, White stepped into the lead back role by playing 70% of the Raiders' snaps and delivering 85 scrimmage yards and a score on 20 touches.

If Jacobs is healthy this week, White will return to the bench. But not knowing the severity of Jacobs' knee injury and with little for the Raiders to play for, the veteran back could sit out another game.

In that scenario, White would be a volume-based RB3 facing a Chiefs defense that's allowed some big stat lines to running backs lately, including Jacobs (125 yards, TD), James Cook (141 yards, TD), D'Andre Swift (107 yards, TD), and AJ Dillon (87 yards).

Ty Chandler, D'Onta Foreman, and Tyler Allgeier are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be claimed in most leagues.

RB3/Flex options (if starter is out): Trey Sermon at ATL (0% rostered), Tyler Goodson at ATL (0% rostered)

Flex options: Chase Brown at PIT (20% rostered), Tyjae Spears vs. SEA (45% rostered), Roschon Johnson vs. ARI (21% rostered), Justice Hill at SF (13% rostered)

Risky flex options: Samaje Perine vs. NE (25% rostered), Jerick McKinnon vs. LV (41% rostered), Rico Dowdle at MIA (11% rostered), Jamaal Williams at LAR (15% rostered)

Desperation flex options: Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. LV (40% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell vs. NYG (28% rostered), Isaiah Spiller vs. BUF, Latavius Murray at LAC (15% rostered), Ty Johnson at LAC (0% rostered), Miles Sanders vs. GB (42% rostered), Emari Demercado at CHI (3% rostered), Jordan Mason vs. BAL (3% rostered), Patrick Taylor at CAR (3% rostered)

Desperation flex options (if starter is out): Chris Rodriguez Jr. at NYJ (3% rostered), Ameer Abdullah at KC (1% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Jeff Wilson Jr. (10% rostered), Elijah Mitchell (14% rostered), D'Ernest Johnson (7% rostered), Royce Freeman (7% rostered), Chase Edmonds (1% rostered), Matt Breida (2% rostered), Michael Carter (2% rostered), Leonard Fournette (4% rostered), Kendre Miller (4% rostered)

Wide receivers

Joshua Palmer, Chargers

Keenan Allen missed Week 15 with a heel injury and is another veteran with little incentive to rush back on a team that's not in playoff contention and is without its starting quarterback.

While most of his production came on a 79-yard touchdown, Palmer made a big splash in his first game back from injured reserve by posting 113 yards and a score.

Now that he's knocked off the rust, Palmer is the favorite to lead the Chargers' receiving corps for however long Allen stays out of the lineup. Even when Allen returns, Palmer would be a flex option in fantasy.

Josh Downs is above the 50% rostered mark but should be claimed in most leagues.

Flex options: Noah Brown vs. CLE (40% rostered), Curtis Samuel at NYJ (37% rostered), Tyler Boyd at PIT (49% rostered), Dontayvion Wicks at CAR (3% rostered), Jameson Williams at MIN (22% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): Zay Jones at TB (32% rostered)

Risky flex options: Rashid Shaheed at LAR (47% rostered), Elijah Moore at HOU (48% rostered), Darius Slayton at PHI (2% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson at PHI (12% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Greg Dortch at CHI (5% rostered), Alec Pierce at ATL (3% rostered), Michael Wilson at CHI (6% rostered), Parker Washington at TB (5% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Jonathan Mingo vs. GB (14% rostered), DeVante Parker at DEN (2% rostered), Demario Douglas at DEN (21% rostered), Quentin Johnston vs. BUF (21% rostered), Cedric Tillman at HOU (1% rostered), Demarcus Robinson vs. NO (8% rostered), Rondale Moore vs. NO (8% rostered), Treylon Burks vs. SEA (11% rostered), Tre Tucker at KC (0% rostered), Rashod Bateman at SF (16% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): D.J. Montgomery at ATL (0% rostered)

Tight ends

Tucker Kraft, Packers

Kraft has been making the most of his opportunities since Luke Musgrave suffered a lacerated kidney in Week 11.

The Packers rookie has three top-12 fantasy finishes over the last four games and could see an uptick in volume if Jayden Reed (toe) and Christian Watson (hamstring) can't play this week.

Head coach Matt LaFlleur already suggested Musgrave might be out the rest of the season. Consider Kraft a fringe low-end TE1 until further notice.

Streamer options: Gerald Everett vs. BUF (44% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Cade Otton vs. JAX (34% rostered), Michael Mayer at KC (7% rostered), Tyler Higbee vs. NO (39% rostered), Tanner Hudson at PIT (4% rostered), Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. SEA (34% rostered)

Risky streamer options (if starter is out): Mike Gesicki at DEN (3% rostered)

Desperation streamer options: Tyler Conklin vs. WAS (17% rostered), Juwan Johnson at LAR (12% rostered), Durham Smythe vs. DAL (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 16 streamers

Favorable Week 17 schedule: Broncos vs. LAC (47% rostered), Jaguars vs. CAR (42% rostered), Colts vs. LV (46% rostered), Rams at NYG (21% rostered), Texans vs. TEN (37% rostered), Seahawks vs. PIT (18% rostered), Bears DEF vs. ATL (14% rostered)