If you are reading this article, it is fair to say that you have made the playoffs in your fantasy football league(s) – so congratulations! But the work is far from over, and making sure that you continue to stay on the top of your game is built upon how well you tackle your waiver wire pickups for Week 16.
Injuries and COVID have reared their ugly heads again, so ensuring you have enough depth to plan for anything and everything is going to be key – remember, the best ability is availability.
As always, all players below are rostered on fewer than 50 percent of all ESPN fantasy football rosters, making it likely that you will be able to make them a part of your league’s waiver wire pickups this week.
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Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups
10. Donovan Peoples-Jones – WR
16.7% Rostered
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns were absolutely ravaged by COVID and injuries this week for their game against the Las Vegas Raiders, so much so that their contest was bumped back to Monday. With third-string QB Nick Mullens forced to start, Donovan Peoples-Jones ended up being the WR1 in lieu of Jarvis Landry.
The Browns had quite the anemic offensive attack, as Mullens struggled to find any downfield targets. But Peoples-Jones was a heavily-targeted option, as he led the team in targets (even with a lower output). Peoples-Jones will be this team’s WR2 for the rest of the year (and WR1 when Landry misses time), and that role alone will help boost his value as a WR3/FLEX for your bench.
9. Jared Goff – QB
3.6% Rostered
Detroit Lions
Look, if you are hesitant to roster any members of the Detroit Lions, totally understand that. But by playing from behind most games, their offensive attack actually gets a boost for fantasy football purposes.
Jared Goff has begun to look like himself lately, as his 216-yard, 3-TD performance against AZ was a solid showing. With the Falcons and Seahawks up next for Detroit, Goff gets two favorable matchups for passing-game usage, making him an intriguing QB2 rest of fantasy football playoffs.
Keep an eye on his positive COVID results today, however, as he still has a chance to be available for next week’s game.
8. Craig Reynolds – RB
3.1% Rostered
Detroit Lions
Here is the second of three(!!!) members of the Lions on this list – and Craig Reynolds is likely the most surprising.
Filling in for D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, Reynolds was awesome in his 37 carries, rushing for over 200 yards (but no scores). As Williams returns from the COVID list, Reynolds will revert back into a secondary role – but as long as Swift remains out, expect Reynolds to receive regular work as an RB3/4.
7. Marquez Valdes-Scantling – WR
15.4% Rostered
Green Bay Packers
When teams game plan to shut down Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is the biggest beneficiary, and Sunday against the Ravens showed exactly why.
Leading the team in yards and tied for most targets, MVS put together another strong showing and helped Green Bay earn their 11th win of the year. With matchups upcoming against the Browns, Vikings, and Lions, MVS has a good chance to produce WR2/3 numbers when you need him the most.
6. Samaje Perine – RB
8.7% Rostered
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Mixon suffered an ankle injury late in Sunday’s game for the Cincinnati Bengals, and while it looks likely that he will suit up in Week 16, having a handcuff like Samaje Perine on hand never hurts.
Perine will likely earn an expanded role behind Mixon, and with reports of limited practice reps for Mixon during the week, Perine could factor more into the game plan than expected. Keep an eye on the news all week for updates on Mixon’s status, but keep in mind that Perine’s role will still be limited if Mixon returns, but it still can be fruitful for your fantasy football roster depth.
5. Tyler Johnson – WR
1.2% Rostered
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As Chris Godwin (torn ACL) and Mike Evans (hamstring) face injuries,the wide receiver core for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks quite barren at this point, improving the chances that someone like Tyler Johnson can become a sneaky savior for your waiver wire pickups this week.
Johnson earned a healthy seven targets against the Saints after Evans and Godwin departed, making him a likely target for increased looks from Tom Brady against the Panthers, seeing as how they will likely force Brady to go away from Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski.
If you are looking for a high-upside WR3 with a potential top-20 ceiling, Johnson is going to give you that, at least this week.
4. A.J. Green – WR
44.0% Rostered
Arizona Cardinals
After DeAndre Hopkins was lost for the rest of the fantasy football season, the Cardinals were forced to move ahead with A.J. Green and Christian Kirk leading their WR core. As Kirk had a big game (but is highly rostered), Green offers up a solid floor as the tall option for Kyler Murray to target.
Eight targets on Sunday marked the fifth game out of his past six that Green was targeted at least five times, with four of those games being seven-plus targets. He certainly is not the same player that he was when he was with the Bengals, but Green has a big opportunity to play a nice role on your fantasy football team(s).
Profiling as a WR2 on most weeks, look for Green to be successful again against the Colts in Week 16.
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown – WR
24.0% Rostered
Detroit Lions
The third and final member of the Lions on this list is one of the fastest-rising rookies in fantasy football this season in Amon-Ra St. Brown. As the Lions failed to dedicate a ton of capital into their WR core this past offseason, it fell to St. Brown to lead this team after Kenny Golladay departed for the Giants.
Over the past three weeks, St. Brown has earned 11+ targets in each game, showing that Goff has finally come around to fully trusting him as a strong WR in this offense. With the Lions always facing an uphill battle in every game they play, St. Brown is a volume-driven WR2 the rest of the year.
2. Gabriel Davis – WR
12.2% Rostered
Buffalo Bills
One of those players that have flashed but not been consistent enough during his time in the NFL, Gabriel Davis has stepped up in the absence of Emmanuel Sanders to help provide Josh Allen with a solid pass-catching option.
Davis has scored four TDs over the past three weeks, with two of those coming in Week 15 against the Panthers. As Sanders will likely be returning soon for the Bills, Davis’ role may be decreased slightly. However, as anemic as the run game is for the Bills, Davis has an established role as one of the top three wideouts for this team, making him a WR3.
1. Ronald Jones – RB
23.2% Rostered
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The most important target for your waiver wire pickups this week is a guy who was given a chance to start at running back but had that taken away after not great production – it's time for Ronald Jones to be back in the spotlight for the Buccaneers.
After Leonard Fournette suffered an injury against the Saints, it was Jones who stepped into his vacated role and looked pretty good doing so.
The Buccaneers will need to rely on Jones heavily at least this next week, especially with Godwin out, and both Evans and Fournette likely missing time – running the ball is what helps keep Brady efficient, and it will yet again be important for them to establish that, just through Jones this time. Consider him a top-15 RB option next week against the Panthers.
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