Waiver Wire Targets Week 16 2017

By Armando Marsal
Armando Marsal
If you have advanced to the next round of the playoffs or the championship game, congratulations. As we near the end of the season, the waiver wire could become thin, but that does not mean that there are not any players out there that could be helpful to close the season out. Several notable players suffered injuries this week which could cause them to miss a game or two, and this could put you, as a fantasy owner in a bind. If that is the case, the waiver wire will likely be your best bet. With that said, let’s take a look at some players to target off of the waivers this week.

Quarterback


Nick Foles – Eagles: I wrote about him last week, but he remains available in 65 percent of ESPN leagues. He torched the Giants defense in Week 15 for 237 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. Foles gets a matchup against the Raiders in Week 16 and the Cowboys in Week 17, two defenses that have been generous to opposing signal callers. If you need help at the quarterback position, Foles can be considered a strong streaming play the next two weeks.

Others to consider: Blake Bortles – Jaguars

Running Back


Kerwynn Williams – Cardinals: Williams suffered a quad injury, which is something to closely monitor this week, but assuming he is good to go, he has to be considered a strong play in Week 16 against the Giants. Williams has 16 or more touches in three straight games and should continue to receive the bulk of the workload so long as he is healthy and could be of big help to fantasy owners who lost Rex Burkhead this past week. If Williams is unable to give it a go, Elijhaa Penny could see an increased role.

Peyton Barber - Buccaneers: Barber received the start on Monday night with Doug Martin being a healthy scratch. It is uncertain if the Bucs will continue to roll with Barber, but being that they are not in the playoff hunt, they could elect to give their young running back as much playing time as possible. The Bucs face off against the Panthers in Week 16, a defense that has been stingy against the run. However, in their last five games, they have allowed two 100+ rushing yard performances and four rushing touchdowns. If Barber is expected to receive the bulk of the carries, the volume alone makes him a viable flex play this week for fantasy owners who can use the help.

Others to consider: Mike Davis – Seahawks, Dion Lewis – Patriots

Wide Receiver


Dede Westbrook – Jaguars: Westbrook is still available in 69 percent of ESPN leagues and that should not be the case. He has scored double-digit fantasy points in all but two of his five games and gets a really nice matchup in Week 16 against a weak 49ers defense. Prior to his last game where he received just two targets, Westbrook was peppered with 34 targets in his previous four games. Marqise Lee is not expected to play this week, which will move Westbrook into the No. 1 wide receiver duties for the Jaguars.

Martavis Bryant – Steelers: Antonio Brown is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season which should create an expanded role for Bryant and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Both make for strong additions off of the waivers, but chances are Smith-Schuster is already on a roster in your league. That said, Bryant remains available in 68 percent of ESPN leagues. The Steelers faces the Texans in Week 16 and Browns in Week 17, two favorable matchups for wide receivers. Bryant has displayed some major upside in the past and now becomes the top deep threat on this potent offense.

Others to consider: Randall Cobb – Packers, Keelan Cole – Jaguars, Mike Wallace – Ravens, Robert Woods – Rams, Adam Humphries - Buccaneers

Tight End


Eric Ebron – Lions: Ebron looks to end the season on a high note. He has had back-to-back productive games and has a nice matchup ahead of him. In the last two games, he has caught 15 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. During that stretch he has been peppered with 18 targets and appears to have reemerged as an offensive weapon for the Lions. In Week 16, he faces off against the Bengals who have allowed a touchdown in back-to-back games to opposing tight ends.

Others to consider: Benjamin Watson - Ravens

For any questions, feel free to reach out to me on the Twitter machine @Armando_Marsal. Best of luck to all.