Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 16

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

Aaron Rodgers, Jets

It's not a great week for fantasy quarterback streamers, so managers looking for a Patrick Mahomes replacement will be in a tough spot.

Rodgers has played better recently and has thrown for 300 yards or multiple touchdowns in six of his last seven appearances. The 41-year-old is also coming off his best fantasy outing of the season with 289 passing yards and three touchdowns, as well as six carries for 45 yards.

He'll get another favorable matchup in Week 16 with a Rams squad allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to the position, and L.A. has to travel cross-country for the game.

Despite all the Jets' struggles this year, Rodgers is a QB2/streamer in the fantasy semifinals.

Anthony Richardson and Russell Wilson are around the 50% rostered mark but would be among the top QB pickups this week if available.

Streaming options: Kirk Cousins vs. NYG (52% rostered)

Streaming options (if starting): Jameis Winston at CIN (33% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Drake Maye at BUF (13% rostered), Cooper Rush vs. TB (8% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Carson Wentz vs. HOU (0% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): Aidan O'Connell vs. JAX (4% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starting): Dorian Thompson-Robinson at CIN (0% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Bryce Young vs. ARI (7% rostered), Mac Jones at LV (3% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starting): Mason Rudolph at IND (0% rostered), Will Levis at IND (14% rostered), Desmond Ridder vs. JAX (0% rostered), Spencer Rattler at GB (0% rostered), Drew Lock at ATL (2% rostered), Tim Boyle at ATL (0% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): Sam Howell vs. MIN (0% rostered), Taylor Heinicke vs. DEN (0% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Michael Penix Jr. (1% rostered)

Running backs

Kendre Miller, Saints

Alvin Kamara was knocked out of Sunday's game with a groin injury and is at risk of missing more time.

Saints head coach Darren Rizzi said Kamara was getting a second opinion, which is normally a sign they weren't happy with the first diagnosis. In a lost year for the Saints, there's little reason to put the star back on the field if he's not 100% - especially with Miller waiting in the wings.

After finally returning to the lineup, the 22-year-old has put his skills on display over the last two weeks while racking up 78 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. If Kamara is ruled out, we could see Miller get more involved in the passing game, which would boost his fantasy potential.

There's no reason to sit on your waiver money at this stage of the season, so empty the bank on Miller, who would be an intriguing RB2 while Kamara is sidelined.

Tank Bigsby is over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

RB3 options: Sincere McCormick vs. JAX (44% rostered)

RB3 options (if starter is out): Jerome Ford at CIN (43% rostered)

RB3/flex options (if starter is out): Tyjae Spears at IND (44% rostered), Tyler Allgeier vs. NYG (32% rostered), Braelon Allen at LAR (49% rostered)

Flex options: Blake Corum at NYJ (15% rostered), Antonio Gibson at BUF (11% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): Trey Benson at CAR (20% rostered)

Risky flex options: Ty Johnson vs. NE (2% rostered), Ray Davis vs. NE (19% rostered), Kimani Vidal vs. DEN (12% rostered), Craig Reynolds at CHI (0% rostered), Devin Singletary at ATL (40% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Audric Estime at LAC (7% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Isaiah Davis at LAR (17% rostered), Justice Hill vs. PIT (17% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell at WAS (5% rostered), Raheem Mostert vs. SF (45% rostered), Cam Akers at SEA (15% rostered), Alexander Mattison (37% rostered), Samaje Perine (3% rostered), DeeJay Dallas at CAR (0% rostered), Jeremy McNichols vs. PHI (5% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Roschon Johnson vs. DET (11% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Pierre Strong Jr. at CIN (0% rostered), Kenny McIntosh vs. MIN (0% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Dameon Pierce (2% rostered), Sean Tucker (3% rostered), Sione Vaki (0% rostered), Khalil Herbert (7% rostered), Jaylen Wright (5% rostered), Patrick Taylor (26% rostered), Chris Brooks (0% rostered), Trey Sermon (3% rostered), Mike Boone (0% rostered), Tyler Goodson (1% rostered), Emanuel Wilson (3% rostered)

Wide receivers

Jalen McMillan, Buccaneers

McMillan was unable to carve out a significant role in the Buccaneers' offense for most of the season after finding the end zone in his NFL debut.

Even after Chris Godwin was lost for the year, the rookie failed to capitalize while dealing with injuries of his own.

Fortunately, he's finally taking advantage of his opportunities with back-to-back strong performances, including four catches, 59 yards, and two scores in Week 14 and five grabs for 75 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

McMillan will have an excellent chance to keep up his recent production against a Cowboys defense that was allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to receivers entering Week 15.

He can be started as a fantasy WR3/flex option in the last two weeks of the fantasy playoffs.

Christian Watson is over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

WR3/flex options: Romeo Doubs vs. NO (38% rostered)

WR4/flex options: Quentin Johnston vs. DEN (41% rostered), Rashod Bateman vs. PIT (25% rostered), Elijah Moore at CIN (21% rostered)

WR4/flex options (if starter is out): Jalen Coker vs. ARI (2% rostered)

WR4/flex options (if healthy): Cedric Tillman at CIN (32% rostered), Xavier Legette vs. ARI (26% rostered)

Risky flex options: Ray-Ray McCloud vs. NYG (21% rostered), Keon Coleman vs. NE (41% rostered), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at IND (33% rostered), Michael Wilson at CAR (9% rostered), Tim Patrick at CHI (3% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Malik Washington vs. SF (0% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Marquez Valdes-Scantling at GB (33% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: DeMario Douglas at BUF (22% rostered), Parker Washington at LV (3% rostered), Demarcus Robinson at NYJ (18% rostered), Brandin Cooks vs. TB (16% rostered), Devaughn Vele at LAC (15% rostered), Calvin Austin III at BAL (8% rostered), Kendrick Bourne at BUF (1% rostered), Marvin Mims Jr. at LAC (3% rostered), Dyami Brown vs. PHI (0% rostered), Olamide Zaccheaus vs. PHI (0% rostered), Jalen Tolbert vs. TB (9% rostered), Tre Tucker vs. JAX (7% rostered), Troy Franklin at LAC (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Alec Pierce vs. TEN (15% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson at ATL (33% rostered), Bub Means at GB (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Adonai Mitchell vs. TEN (5% rostered)

Tight ends

Brenton Strange, Jaguars

Strange didn't waste any time taking over for Evan Engram, who was placed on injured reserve last week.

The 23-year-old turned in his best outing of the year with 11 catches for 73 yards on 12 targets against the Jets.

It's not surprising, since Strange was the TE10 in fantasy points per game during the month Engram missed earlier in the season.

Now, he'll have an opportunity to finish strong as a high-end fantasy TE2 with TE1 upside in an even easier matchup versus the Raiders in Week 16.

Hunter Henry is around the 50% rostered mark but would be among the top TE pickups this week if available.

Streaming options (if healthy): Will Dissly vs. DEN (27% rostered)

Streaming options (if starter is out): Stone Smartt vs. DEN (6% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Cole Kmet vs. DET (48% rostered), Juwan Johnson at GB (13% rostered), Noah Gray vs. HOU (19% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Ben Sinnott vs. PHI (2% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): Tyler Higbee at NYJ (1% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Chigoziem Okonkwo at IND (5% rostered), Mike Gesicki vs. CLE (14% rostered), Foster Moreau at GB (0% rostered), Noah Fant vs. MIN (18% rostered), Grant Calcaterra at WAS (6% rostered), Isaiah Likely vs. PIT (23% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. LAR (11% rostered), Daniel Bellinger at ATL (0% rostered), Michael Mayer vs. JAX (1% rostered), Austin Hooper at BUF (1% rostered), Tommy Tremble vs. ARI (0% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out): Jordan Akins at CIN (1% rostered)

Defenses

Week 16 streamers

Favorable Week 17 schedules: Chargers DEF at NE (43% rostered), Colts DEF at NYG (21% rostered), Dolphins DEF at CLE (48% rostered), Titans DEF at JAX (26% rostered), Buccaneers DEF vs. CAR (44% rostered), Saints DEF vs. LV (47% rostered), Seahawks DEF at CHI (22% rostered), Jaguars DEF vs. TEN (8% rostered), Raiders DEF at NO (4% rostered)

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