Fantasy Football Waiver Wire (Week 16-Playoff Edition)

Joseph McLaughlin
4 minutes ago
3 min read

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn-Images.

How was the first round of the Postseason? If you win, you'll feel great and be gearing up for round two. If you lost, that is okay; you still have a lot to play for to avoid whatever cruel punishment your kind and generous fantasy league manager conjured up during the draft. Ideally, your team is healthy at this point in the season, but in case it is not, here are some names to look for to help you out.

Quarterback

J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings) - Week 15 saw a lot of key injuries, most notably the loss of Patrick Mahomes with a torn ACL on Sunday. Minnesota’s quarterback can be a good replacement in a pinch. The Vikings have been glad to have McCarthy back in their lineup after a 26-0 shutout loss to the Seattle Seahawks. In the past two games, McCarthy has boomed, hitting over projected point values by an average of seven points. This time, he faces the Giants and is projected for a 17-point performance.

Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers) - Another solid option is Young. The Panthers’ quarterback slightly exceeded his projected numbers against the Saints on Sunday. This coming week, the Panthers square off against the Buccaneers in what could be the deciding factor in the NFC South race. I expect Young to bring his A game against the Bucs’ defense and should put on a show regardless of the outcome.

Running Back

Michael Carter (Arizona Cardinals) - Carter came in midway through Sunday’s game against the Texans after Bam Knight went out with an ankle injury. During his time in the backfield, Carter ran the ball 14 times for 56 yards with four catches and 38 receiving yards as well. He will be the lead back against the Falcons this week, and I expect him to produce a lot of yards.

Blake Corum (Los Angeles Rams) - Another solid option is Corum. The Rams’ running back has been on my list for the past couple of weeks for his playmaking ability and his toughness. Corum had a down week against a tougher Lions defense, but still hit over 13 points with 71 yards and a touchdown. This week will be even tougher with the Rams facing Seattle this Thursday.

Wide Receiver

Jayden Reed (Green Bay Packers) - With Christian Watson leaving Sunday’s game with a chest/shoulder injury, players like Reed had to step up to help the Packers’ offense. Reed hit his projected points and will get more targets this coming weekend against the Chicago Bears. I expect him to hit over his projected total of 11.17 points, so Reed should be a worthwhile pickup.

Adonai Mitchell (New York Jets) - In two of the last three games with the Jets, Mitchell has scored 17+ points. The Jets receiver had a great performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, catching six passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. Mitchell can be boom or bust, but is projected to score 10 points against the Saints, which I believe he will exceed.

Tight End

Dalton Schultz (Houston Texans) - If Schultz is available in your league, pick him up immediately. After booming for 21.6 points against the Cardinals on Sunday, the Texans' tight end has become a key part of Houston’s passing game. The Texans face the Raiders this weekend, and all signs point to another breakout performance from Schultz. I expect him to get a lot of targets in the rotation of passing options for C.J. Stroud.

Darren Waller (Miami Dolphins) - Waller was another tight end who boomed on Sunday. Against the Steelers, the Dolphins' tight end caught seven of eight passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns. What makes Waller so valuable is his offensive production in the red zone. With the Dolphins playing Cincinnati this weekend, Waller is a solid option to fill the tight end spot.

Defense/Special Teams

New Orleans Saints D/ST - Despite the Saints' season going the way it has, New Orleans’ defense is not terrible. They held the Panthers to 17 points Sunday, getting a fumble recovery and a sack. This week, they are projected to score over seven points at home against the Jets. I expect them to perform well against a struggling Jets offense.

Buffalo Bills D/ST - The Bills' defense stepped up during Buffalo’s second-half comeback against the New England Patriots on Sunday. This week, they have an easier opponent to face in the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have been one of the worst offenses in the league this season, and the Bills’ defense is ranked in the top ten with 18 takeaways, 31 sacks, and three touchdowns. I expect them to have a big day in Cleveland on Sunday.