21 Dec Week 16 Waiver Wire Roundup – Championship Edition
Congratulations on making it to Championship Week! You have crafted one of the best lineups in a difficult year to play fantasy football. Injuries, COVID, and flopped picks did not keep you from scouring the waiver wire to enhance your squad. This is it.
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts
Philadelphia Eagles – Rostered at 39% Yahoo!, 32% ESPN
The rookie is heading into Monday night as the QB1 after a complete game throwing and running. Championship Week takes Hurts to Dallas in an excellent matchup. Lamar Jackson had his way through the air and with his legs Week 14, and Hurts should put up similar numbers as the reigning MVP.
Mitchell Trubisky
Chicago Bears – 13% Yahoo!, 21% ESPN
The Bears did not need Mitchell Trubisky to do much Week 15 as David Montgomery ran over the Minnesota Vikings defense. The Bears have a concentrated offense with Allen Robinson being the heavily targeted receiver. The Bears head to Jacksonville Week 16 and Trubisky could put up big numbers in a pinch.
Baker Mayfield
Cleveland Browns – 47% Yahoo!, 27% ESPN
Let the good times keep rolling! His dynamic backfield has made life easier, and that will not change against the New York Jets Week 16.
Running Back
Salvon Ahmed
Miami Dolphins – 34% Yahoo!, 23% ESPN
That is one way to make your return to the lineup. Salvon Ahmed looked great against the Patriots defense and should have another productive week against the Las Vegas Raiders. Their defense allows the seventh-most schedule-adjusted points to the running back position.
Lynn Bowden Jr.
Miami Dolphins – 27% Yahoo!, 13% ESPN
Depending on your league settings, Lynn Bowden Jr. is still a running back but may be able to slot as a wide receiver as well. His value comes as a back, with 17 receptions over the past three weeks.
Jeff Wilson Jr.
San Francisco 49ers – 56% Yahoo!, 50% ESPN
Raheem Mostert could not play through his nagging ankle injury, and Jeff Wilson Jr. played the rest of the way Week 15. He should see plenty of work against Arizona next week.
Ty Johnson
New York Jets – 15% Yahoo!, 9% ESPN
Frank Gore saw the heavy rushing load, but Ty Johnson saw the passing down work. He logged six catches and a touchdown in New York’s upset win. The Browns are next on the schedule. Johnson will be busy trying to keep up with Cleveland’s potent offense.
Tony Pollard
Dallas Cowboys – 45% Yahoo!, 22% ESPN
Word on the street is Ezekiel Elliot is not shutting it down for the season, but after Tony Pollard’s big day, Zeke may not have a say. Pollard accumulated 130-plus total yards on 18 touches and was a boon for the Cowboys offense. The Eagles have been good against the run, but Pollard showed his ability as a pass catcher against a solid 49ers defense.
Wide Receiver
Keke Coutee
Houston Texans – 41% Yahoo!, 31% ESPN
The Cincinnati Bengals are coming to town. That is all you need.
Chad Hansen
Houston Texans – 2% Yahoo!, 4% ESPN
From practice squad to championship on your fantasy squad? Also, the Cincinnati Bengals are coming to town.
Rashard Higgins
Cleveland Browns – 25% Yahoo!, 16% ESPN
Rashard Higgins has been no worse than a WR3 since the Browns figured out their offense three weeks ago. If the Jets defense can stymy the Browns run game like they did against the Rams, Higgins could be in for a particularly big day.
Russell Gage
Atlanta Falcons – 24% Yahoo!, 21% ESPN
As long as Julio Jones is out, Russell Gage is a WR3 with WR2 upside (including back-to-back WR2 performances).
Lil’Jordan Humphrey
New Orleans Saints – 0% Yahoo!, 0% ESPN
If you are feeling squirrely with a waiver wire add, Lil’Jordan Humphrey scored in his first lengthy look with New Orleans. Michael Thomas is out, and Tre’Quan Smith was injured during their loss to the Chiefs. Humphrey could get even more run against a questionable Vikings secondary.
Tight End
Logan Thomas
Washington Football Team – 63% Yahoo!, 53% ESPN
One of the best stories of the year can help you win your league Week 16. Thomas gets the Panthers after putting up 101 receiving yards on 15 targets.
Jordan Akins
Houston Texans – 4% Yahoo!, 4% ESPN
Akins is a hit-or-miss play, but the Bengals are the worst defense against opposing tight ends. Deshaun Watson is going to pad his stats next week and Akins should get a handful of targets to work with.
Dawson Knox
Buffalo Bills – 2% Yahoo!, 1% ESPN
Minus his first week back from injury and COVID, Dawson Knox has averaged five targets and over three catches per game. He also has a touchdown in two of those three games. As useless as the tight end position has been for Buffalo this season, it is clear that Josh Allen wants to get the ball to Knox in close quarters.
Jeff has been playing fantasy sports since 2001. He has covered and written about fantasy, high school, and professional sports for over five years. When not grinding articles and fantasy lineups, he spends time with his wife and two kids, runs for charity, and continues to get progressively worse at golf, no matter how hard he tries.