Waivering: Week 16

Tue Dec 16 9:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Carter could get some starts


For the second straight week, we have some iffy options out there on waiver wires. There are a few decent pickups but no sure things by any means. We know there are never sure things, but it seems there are more question marks than usual with this group. Hopefully, you aren’t searching for too much help on waivers for this week’s crucial set of fantasy games.

But if you need some players, here are some to consider. . . . .

QUARTERBACK

Tyler Shough, Saints (32.0% owned). Shough topped 20 fantasy points for the third straight game. He has 20-plus fantasy points four of his last five starts. He keeps getting it done on a weekly basis in this emerging Saints offense. Shough is giving fantasy owners a ton of consistency right now.

Kirk Cousins, Falcons (24.6% owned). Cousins had his best game of the season last weekend, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns. He topped 30 fantasy points. Cousins is looking more and more comfortable in this offense and has a favorable matchup this week against the Cardinals. He could be worth a spot start, especially in two-quarterback leagues.

RUNNING BACK

Audric Estime, Saints (1.2% owned). Estime could be the next man up with Devin Neal banged up last week. Estime had 50 total yards in Week 14 on six touches. He might be worth grabbing if you are desperate for running back help.

Jawhar Jordan, Texans (0.0% owned). Jordan got his first touches of the season last week and looked great. He ran 15 times for 101 yards and caught two passes for 17 yards. He might be the last man standing at running back for the Texans with both Woody Marks and Nick Chubb banged up right now. Jordan is an unknown but showed last week he could help fantasy teams in a starting role.

Michael Carter, Cardinals (23.8% owned). The Cardinals are all beat up at running back. Carter is about the only healthy option left for the team. He got extended work last week after Bam Knight was hurt. Carter ran 14 times for 56 yards and caught four passes for 38 yards. He could be worth a start for fantasy teams if he finds his way into the starting lineup in this explosive offense.

WIDE RECEIVER

Jalen Coker, Panthers (15.0% owned). Coker has found the end zone two straight games. He has double-digit fantasy points three of his last four games. He doesn’t rack up a ton of targets but is a big-play threat that is getting some red-zone looks. Coker is gaining value on a weekly basis.

Jalen McMillan, Bucs (6.4% owned). McMillan made his season debut last week and had two receptions for 38 yards. He made a couple big plays and should see his playing time rise in the coming weeks. He had legit fantasy value last year as the slot receiver in this offense, so don’t discount him to have a solid finish to his season now that he is healthy.

TIGHT END

Colby Parkinson, Rams (17.1% owned). Parkinson remains available in most leagues and probably shouldn’t. The numbers don’t lie. He has 12-plus fantasy points two straight and four of six games. He has scored touchdowns five of his last six games. Parkinson is starting to get it done on a weekly basis, making him a low-end TE1.

Dawson Knox, Bills (4.7% owned). Knox splits time with Dalton Kincaid at tight end, but is producing his best numbers his last two games. He has nine receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns on 11 targets his last two games. Knox has 17-plus fantasy points each of those two games. He is no sure thing in this offense but has a high ceiling when getting the looks.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 16

Player Notes
Mack Hollins Dec 16 11:40pm CT
Mack Hollins

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins continues to establish himself as a potential waiver wire option in deeper leagues ahead of Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens. Hollins has been heavily involved in the Patriots' offense, averaging six targets and 9.2 full-PPR fantasy points over his last seven contests. During that span, he ranks as the overall WR40. He has also played at least three-quarters of the offensive snaps in each of his last five games. The veteran receiver is coming off an impressive, high-volume contest against his old team, the Buffalo Bills, in which he converted eight targets into four catches for 41 yards. During that Week 15 contest, he totaled 136 air yards, which ranked eighth-most among all NFL wideouts. Quarterback Drake Maye trusts Hollins as one of his most reliable receivers on the perimeter, which bodes well for his Week 16 outlook. The Ravens have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025, as well as the 14th-most fantasy points to wide receivers who play on the perimeter. Hollins isn't the flashiest name, but his consistency, reliability, and high involvement make him a solid WR3/flex play for Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Konata Mumpfield Dec 16 11:30pm CT
Konata Mumpfield

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Konata Mumpfield has emerged as a potential riser with teammate Davante Adams (hamstring)'s status in doubt for Week 16 against the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams play on Thursday Night Football, leaving very little turnaround time for Adams to get healthy. The veteran receiver didn't practice on Monday, and while head coach Sean McVay didn't rule him out yet, he certainly faces an uphill battle to play. If Adams is inactive, Mumpfield could handle an increased workload on Thursday. The 23-year-old rookie has played at least 38% of the offensive snaps in each of his last four games, including 44% of the snaps last Sunday with both Adams and Puka Nacua (cramping) receiving medical attention. His Week 15 snap share ranked third among Rams receivers behind Adams and Nacua. Although the Pitt product's snap share has increased lately, his volume remains relatively low. Over his last four games, he has just four targets, three catches, and 30 receiving yards. Managers should expect Mumpfield to handle more opportunities this week, while also acknowledging that he has a low floor. His outlook also hinges on whether Jordan Whittington (back) suits up in Week 16. Whittington was limited on Monday before logging a full practice on Tuesday. At this point, Mumpfield is a low-floor receiver who is on track for more snaps and targets, but is only worth considering in extremely deep fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Woody Marks Dec 16 9:10pm CT
Woody Marks

Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (ankle) exited early from his team's Week 15 blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals due to an ankle injury. However, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans indicated on Monday that Marks could have re-entered the game had the score been closer. While Marks' status for Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders is still up in the air, Ryans' comments would seem to point to his running back avoiding missed time. Before getting injured against Arizona, Marks appeared to be emerging as the clear RB1 in Houston. Across a five-game stretch from Week 10 to Week 14, Marks recorded 313 rushing yards and a touchdown on 93 carries. Fellow Texans running back Nick Chubb (ribs) is also dealing with an injury that caused him to miss Week 15. If Chubb misses additional time and Marks can make his return in Week 16, he could be in line to continue dominating backfield work in Houston down the stretch of the season.

From RotoBaller

Leonard Williams Dec 16 9:03pm CT
Leonard Williams

Seattle Seahawks OT Charles Cross (hamstring) did not practice on Tuesday Dec. 16 ahead of a Week 16 game with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. LB DeMarcus Lawrence (quadricep), WR Cody White (abdomen), LB Derick Hall (finger), OT Abraham Lucas (neck), DE Mike Morris (knee), S Ty Okada (shoulder), NT Jarran Reed (wrist, thumb), DT Leonard Williams (wrist) and WR Dareke Young (quadricep) all practiced in full.

From TheHuddle

Omarion Hampton Dec 16 9:00pm CT
Omarion Hampton

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton missed seven games in the middle of the 2025 season due to an ankle injury, but he made his return to the field in Week 14. The Chargers have worked Hampton back in slowly, as he's split backfield snaps with Kimani Vidal over each of the past two weeks. Even with the limited playing time, Hampton has provided modest production. Over his last two games, the 22-year-old has recorded 132 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 31 touches. In his final two full games before suffering the ankle injury, Hampton demonstrated his explosive upside by logging 294 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 42 touches. If the Chargers continue to increase his workload as he gets healthier, Hampton could get back to his pre-injury levels of production. Los Angeles will face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16 before hosting the Houston Texans in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Luther Burden III Dec 16 8:50pm CT
Luther Burden III

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (ankle) is dealing with an ankle injury that caused him to miss practice on Tuesday ahead of Chicago's Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. If Burden III can get back on the practice field and prove healthy enough to play, he could see his best opportunity of the season to make an impact in Chicago. Bears wideout Rome Odunze (foot) also missed practice on Tuesday and is considered week-to-week with a stress fracture in his foot. With Odunze sidelined in Week 15, Burden III recorded six catches for 84 yards on seven targets despite being limited to just 29 offensive snaps due to the ankle injury. Burden III's role has been steadily growing over the second half of the season, as he's earned at least five straight targets in five straight games after failing to hit that mark in any of his first eight contests. Depending on Odunze's return timeline and his own health, Burden III could emerge as a league-winner over the final weeks of the fantasy season.

From RotoBaller

Von Miller Dec 16 8:43pm CT
Von Miller

Washington Commanders DT Eddie Goldman (concussion), LB Von Miller (rest), DT Daron Payne (rest), OT Laremy Tunsil (oblique), LB Bobby Wagner (rest), and TE Colson Yankoff (ankle) did not practice on Tuesday, Dec. 16 ahead of a Week 16 game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. QB Jayden Daniels (left elbow) was a limited participant Tuesday. OT George Fant (knee), DE Drake Jackson (groin, knee), CB Jonathan Jones (rib) and RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) practiced in full.

From TheHuddle

Jaxson Dart Dec 16 8:40pm CT
Jaxson Dart

After missing two games due to a concussion, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart recorded a season-low four rush attempts in his first game back against the New England Patriots in Week 14. However, Dart got back to his aggressive style of play in Week 15 against the Washington Commanders, recording 63 rushing yards on nine attempts. The 22-year-old also completed 20 of 36 pass attempts for 246 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Across 11 games (nine starts) in 2025, Dart has thrown for 1,802 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for an additional 400 yards and seven scores. When healthy and let loose, Dart has proven to be one of the NFL's premier dual-threat quarterbacks. As long as New York continues to let him run, Dart's legs give him fantasy upside every week. The Giants will face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16 and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17.

From RotoBaller

Harold Fannin Jr. Dec 16 8:30pm CT
Harold Fannin Jr.

Across 14 games this season, Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has recorded 66 catches for 667 yards and four touchdowns on 99 targets. While the 21-year-old has played an important role in his team's offense all season long, he's seen his usage ramped up to a new level in recent weeks. Over his last two games, Fannin Jr. has hauled in 15 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown on a whopping 25 targets. Fannin Jr. has played at least 90% of Cleveland's offensive snaps in four straight games, including a season-high 96% in Week 15 with fellow Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) sidelined by a knee injury. Even if Njoku returns for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Fannin Jr. should have a path to production. Across four games since Shedeur Sanders has taken over as the starting quarterback in Cleveland, he's targeted Fannin Jr. on 29.5% of his pass attempts. Fannin Jr. profiles as a must-start fantasy tight end down the stretch of the season.

From RotoBaller

Tank Bigsby Dec 16 8:20pm CT
Tank Bigsby

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby (illness) was listed as a limited practice participant on Tuesday due to an illness. With Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (stinger) a non-participant in practice due to a stinger he suffered in Week 15, Bigsby could be in line for more work in Philadelphia's Week 16 matchup against the Washington Commanders. The 24-year-old recorded 17 carries for 57 yards in Week 15 and has rushed for 225 yards on 36 carries across 13 games with Philadelphia this season. While Bigsby's status for the weekend is not yet under threat, he will have one fewer day than usual to recover, as the Eagles and Commanders square off on Saturday. If Barkley and Bigsby were both sidelined, Philadelphia would likely turn to the combination of Will Shipley and A.J. Dillon to handle backfield reps in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Dec 16 7:53pm CT
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (stinger), did not practice on Tuesday, Dec. 16 ahead of a Week 16 contest with the Washington Commanders.

Fantasy Spin: Barkley still has four days to recover but with teh Eagles close to clinching the NFC East, they may be cautious with him. Barkley, who rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries against Las Vegas in Week 15, is not coming close to matching last season's monster campaign but needs just 60 rush yards for 1,000 and has scored eight touchdowns.

From TheHuddle

Kyle Monangai Dec 16 7:00pm CT
Kyle Monangai

Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai has had some impressive performances during his first year in the NFL. Monangai has rushed for over 100 yards twice but has been held in check lately. Even though D'Andre Swift remains Chicago's primary back, Monangai continues to get consistent playing time in the backfield. The 23-year-old has 10 carries or more in five straight contests. The biggest problem is that Swift has been the much more effective runner lately. The Bears have shown they will ride with the hot hand, which is Swift right now. Monangai is worth holding, but he shouldn't be considered as much more than a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex in fantasy for the rematch against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16 on Saturday night.

From RotoBaller

Younghoe Koo Dec 16 6:50pm CT
Younghoe Koo

New York Giants kicker Younghoe Koo was waived by the organization on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero. This doesn't come as a total shock after Koo's struggles this past Sunday. The 31-year-old missed three kicks during the 29-21 loss to the Washington Commanders. He connected on six of nine field-goal attempts while making 13 of 14 extra points during his five-game span with the Giants. It's unclear if Koo will get another opportunity this season with only three games left in the regular season. The Giants are expected to elevate Ben Sauls off the practice squad to serve as their kicker for the Week 16 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Fantasy managers should avoid Sauls everywhere.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Dec 16 6:50pm CT
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (neck) was a non-participant during Tuesday's practice session with a stinger that he suffered in the Week 15 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. This was only a walkthrough, so fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried yet. Barkley is coming off a solid performance, where he rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in the blowout win over the Raiders. He's a little banged up to begin the week, but he should be fine with a few days of rest. Barkley has another plus matchup ahead of him against the Washington Commanders defense in Week 16. As long as he's active on Saturday, Barkley is a must-start, as always, in fantasy lineups.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Dec 16 6:50pm CT
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson had arguably his best performance of the season last week in the loss to the Buffalo Bills. Henderson rushed the ball 14 times for 148 yards and scored two touchdowns versus Buffalo. The rookie back put the league on notice when he took over as the lead RB when Rhamondre Stevenson missed three games earlier in the season. Since Stevenson returned, the two backs have been splitting the workload in the backfield. Henderson has been the much more productive option with 60 rushing yards or more in each of his last five games. The expectation is that Henderson will continue to be fed the ball often because of his explosive playmaking abilities. He'll have RB1 upside against the Baltimore Ravens defense in Week 16.

From RotoBaller

Sam Darnold Dec 16 6:40pm CT
Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has only turned in two solid fantasy days in his last six outings. Darnold and the Seahawks' offense have failed to do well to find the end zone in recent weeks. Additionally, Darnold has been turning the ball over far too much. Although the Seahawks continue to win, their recent success is largely attributed to their stellar defensive play. Based on what we saw earlier in the season, we know what Darnold and this offense are capable of. However, NFL defensive coordinators are very adaptable, and they may have figured out the ticket to stopping Seattle. With matchups against the Rams, Panthers, and 49ers remaining, Darnold will face three solid-to-great defenses in a row. Streaming Darnold was fun earlier in the season, but it may not be feasible in the fantasy playoffs.

From RotoBaller

Saquon Barkley Dec 16 6:33pm CT
Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (stinger), DT Jalen Carter (shoulders), G Landon Dickerson (calf), OT Fred Johnson (ankle) and OT Lane Johnson (foot) did not practice on Tuesday, Dec. 16. RB Tank Bigsby (illness) was a limited participant. LB Zack Baun (hand), OLB Jaelan Phillips (knee) and OT Cameron Williams (shoulder) practiced in full.

From TheHuddle

Chris Rodriguez Jr. Dec 16 6:20pm CT
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a full participant in practice on Tuesday. Rodriguez was limited twice in practice last week before being ruled out for Sunday's win over the New York Giants. He appears to be trending in the right direction with a full session to begin Week 16 preparation. In his absence on Sunday, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries during Sunday's victory. The return of Rodriguez would likely reduce Croskey-Merritt's role for the upcoming matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. If healthy, Rodriguez should offer low-end flex appeal in deep leagues this weekend in a bad matchup.

From RotoBaller

Dontayvion Wicks Dec 16 6:20pm CT
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) was a non-participant during Tuesday's walkthrough practice. Wicks was on the injury report last week with a lingering ankle issue. He ended up playing on Sunday but was ineffective with one catch for six yards in the loss to the Denver Broncos. Wicks has been a non-factor since his two-touchdown performance against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The 24-year-old could see an increased role in Week 16 with Christian Watson (chest, shoulder) banged up to begin the week. The absence of both wideouts could mean bigger roles for Romeo Doubs,Jayden Reed, and rookie Matthew Golden. Fantasy managers will need to monitor the Packers' injury report throughout the week ahead of the Week 16 rematch against the Chicago Bears on Saturday.

From RotoBaller

RJ Harvey Dec 16 6:00pm CT
RJ Harvey

Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey (rib) left Sunday's win over the visiting Green Bay Packers with a rib injury, according to Jon Heath of Broncos Wire. However, there has been no official update on Harvey's injury or whether it could impact his status for the upcoming Week 16 matchup in Denver versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 24-year-old's injury came late in the Week 15 contest, and he did not return in the final two minutes with the Broncos salting the clock away. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Harvey's status on Wednesday after the team's first practice of the week. The Broncos claimed RB Cody Schrader off waivers on Tuesday, potentially indicating a serious injury for Harvey. If Harvey is limited or out this weekend, Jaleel McLaughlin would most likely be the team's early down back, with Tyler Badie handling third-down duties.

From RotoBaller