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The fantasy football waiver-wire is where seasons are won and lost, especially late in the year. Here are a few players that could help you in Week 16.
You did it. You’re in the finals and you want to see if there’s any important players on the waiver-wire worth picking up in your final game of the season. Either that or you’re fantasy football failure reading an article that doesn’t apply to you written by a guy who lives in his parents basement. A basement that has no heat and constantly has spiders crawling on the walls and ceiling.
What were we talking about again? Oh yeah fantasy football. Like I said, you did it (I hope). Now let’s finish the season right with one more win. For these purposes, we will being using Yahoo! Fantasy Football as a guideline. Any player that is 50 percent owned or less is eligible.
Here are the players you should be targeting on the fantasy football waiver-wire for Week 16.
Dec 4, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon (88) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Redskins 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
5. Pierre Garcon, WR – Washington Redskins (46% Owned)
Oh, Pierre how you continue to get unnoticed and very little recognition in the fantasy football world. Even if a game where Kirk Cousins was dreadful on Monday Night Football, Garcon still managed to finish with seven receptions for 78 yards on 11 targets. After that performance, he now has 78 receiving yards and/or a touchdown in five out his last six games.
Before Week 13, Garcon never had seven receptions in a single game this season. Now, he’s managed to do it twice over the last three games. The reason is because Jordan Reed has been limited with a shoulder injury and, after watching him on Monday Night Football, it appears he’s nowhere close to being 100 percent healthy.
This week, the Redskins will play the Chicago Bears who have been below average when it comes to stopping the pass. Garcon has led the team in targets for three straight games and will continue to provide a safe floor for owners as a FLEX/WR3 option.
Dec 18, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) passes the ball to running back Shaun Draughn (24) against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the 49ers 41-13. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
4. Colin Kaepernick, QB – San Francisco 49ers (33% Owned)
Yes, I know you are probably tired of me recommending Kaepernick every week, but he’s still under 50 percent owned, so I’m going to continue to do it.
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Since his dazzling performance in Week 12, Kaepernick has come back down to earth with some mediocre stats. Over the last two weeks he has managed to score 11 and 17 fantasy points, respectively. I know that doesn’t sound great, but it’s been better than a lot of other big name quarterbacks owners continue to start.
In each of the last two weeks he has outscored quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Derek Carr, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota.
This week he takes on a Los Angeles Rams defense that has given up three touchdown passes in back-to-back weeks and has given up three-plus touchdown passes in three out the last four weeks. Another benefit Kaepernick has over some quarterbacks this weekend is he gets to play in gorgeous Los Angeles where the weather conditions should be great. As we have seen over the last few weeks, weather conditions involving heavy snow, rain and wind can seriously limit a quarterback’s fantasy production.
Dec 18, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon (30) reacts after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
3. Kenneth Dixon, RB – Baltimore Ravens (49% Owned)
On Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, Dixon finished with nine carries, 36 yards and one touchdown. From a fantasy perspective, it wasn’t a bad day because he found the end zone. Yet, without that touchdown, it would have been disastrous.
Two weeks ago against the New England Patriots, Dixon finished with 19 touches, 81 yards and a touchdown. His teammate and the other member of the Ravens running back committee, Terrance West, finished with six touches for 26 yards. It appeared as if the Ravens finally made the transition of making the rookie head of the Ravens backfield. However, it now appears it might have been more about game script than anything else.
In that game against the Patriots, the Ravens were trailing and were forced to throw the ball a lot to get back into the game. That’s why Dixon out-snapped and out-touched West 19-6. On Sunday against the Eagles, the Ravens were in a tight game where the led for majority of it. As a result, West out-touched Dixon 17-9.
With the Ravens playing against the Steelers on Saturday it’s hard to predict how the touches will be divided up. If the Ravens are in a tight game, Dixon should still see around 10 touches. If the Ravens are trailing, look for that number to increase.
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver J.J. Nelson (14) catches a touchdown pass in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
2. J.J. Nelson, WR – Arizona Cardinals (27% Owned)
Last week, the Cardinals waived wide receiver Michael Floyd due to an off-the-field incident. As a result, J.J. Nelson was promoted into the starting lineup. He finished last week’s game with 11 targets, five receptions, 38 receiving yards and one touchdown. His number of targets and receptions were the second most he’s had in any game this season.
With his touchdown on Sunday, Nelson now has a touchdown in three-straight games and four total in that span. Sadly, Nelson could have (and should have) had another touchdown, but he dropped a 50+ yard touchdown pass in last week’s game. Although that play is slightly disheartening, it shouldn’t deter owners from picking up Nelson on the waiver-wire. Instead, they should be encouraged by the fact he led the team in targets.
This week the Cardinals will take on the Seattle Seahawks and their secondary. On paper and by reputation, this isn’t a great matchup. However, as we saw two weeks ago against the Green Bay Packers, this secondary isn’t the same without Earl Thomas. In fact, they should have been burned for a couple touchdown passes against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. However, due to that team’s questionable talent, they were not able to cash in on easy opportunities.
Nelson will make for a high-ceiling WR3/FLEX player in the fantasy football finals.
Dec 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) runs the ball as Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib (21) attempts to make the tackle during the first half at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
1. Dion Lewis, RB – New England Patriots (49% Owned)
When Dion Lewis returned from injury back in Week 11, a lot of owners were expecting him to immediately be a big part of the offense. Instead, he’s been slowly integrated into the offense. In his first four games of 2016 he has had double-digit touches only once and, in Week 14, his four touches was a season low. I guess that’s why his sudden increase in usage in Week 15 was so shocking.
On Sunday against the Denver Broncos, Lewis finished with 20 touches for 104 yards. Interestingly, only two of the receiving back’s 20 touches were receptions.
With the Patriots coaching staff giving Lewis this many touches in a single game, it would be a little shocking to see them to go back only giving him a handful of touches a game. Yet, as we all know the Patriots like to zig when we all expect them to zag. Just when it looks like we have their offense and their game plan’s figured out, they do something unexpected (kind of like giving Lewis 20 touches last week).
Lewis still makes for an interesting RB2/3 next week against the New York Jets and gets a slight bump in PPR leagues. If you’re desperate for a RB2, Lewis makes sense. With that said, proceed with caution because the Patriots and their offense are hard to predict on a week-to-week basis.
Nov 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Dontrelle Inman (15) scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Other Receiving Votes
Here are a few more names you want to consider when you go through your fantasy football waiver wire.
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Dontrelle Inman (36% Owned) – After last week, Inman now has a touchdown and/or 68+ receiving yards in four-straight games. The Chargers like to throw a lot and if Melvin Gordon isn’t able to suit up this week, so look for that to continue.
Green Bay Packers running back Christine Michael (35% Owned) – In Sunday’s game, it was RB/WR Ty Montgomery who stole the show in the Packers backfield and in the fantasy world. Don’t forget, Michael finished with 45 yards and a touchdown as well. In the two games before that, he had 19 total carries. He doesn’t belong in lineups in 10-team leagues, but makes sense for desperate owners in bigger leagues.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Cameron Meredith (33% Owned) – With the great play of Jordan Howard and the return of Alshon Jeffery last week, it’s easy to overlook what Meredith has done. He has 15 receptions and 178 yards over his last two games and will flirt with double-digit targets for the last two games of the season.
Green Bay Packers tight end Jared Cook (17% Owned) – Cook finished last week’s game with six receptions for 85 yards. He’s more of a TE2 but with the tight end group being so hard to predict this year, he makes sense for owners who stream tight ends. After all, he has one of the best quarterbacks in the league throwing him the ball.
New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson (7% Owned) – He’s basically the No. 1 wide receiver on the Jets as long as Bryce Petty is throwing the ball. He has a touchdown and/or 99 yards in three straight games.
