We are now in the fantasy football semi-finals. At this point, every move you make must be targeted toward improving your chances of winning your next matchup. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top Week 16 waiver wire targets and pickups that fantasy managers should consider adding to their rosters.
As always, all players are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
I eliminated FAAB recommendations last year, as there are too many variables to account for. Instead, I replaced them with my opinion on how aggressive fantasy managers should pursue the player on a scale of 1-10.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
Rostered: 18%
Quarterbacks in fantasy don’t get much less reliable than Tua Tagovailoa. He’s exceeded 12.8 fantasy points just once since Week 6. That includes some very favorable matchups against bad pass defenses.
The hope with Tagovailoa is that this is one of those weeks he can take advantage of a weak Cincinnati Bengals defense.
If you lost Patrick Mahomes and somehow advanced (or had a bye), you can do worse than Tua.
Aggressiveness Rating: Weekly streamer
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Rostered: 40%
The Rams continue to dominate and score a lot of points. As a result, both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum have gotten enough opportunities to thrive.
For the third straight week, Corum found the end zone. He now has four touchdowns in his last three games.
Against a very good Lions run defense, Corum ran it 11 times for 71 yards and the aforementioned score.
Of course, the risk with Corum is what happens if he doesn’t score. But he’s seeing enough work to be a viable option if you need him.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.0
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders
Rostered: 48%
Chris Rodriguez came into this week dealing with a groin injury. He got in two limited practices, suggesting he wasn’t too far away from playing. But when he tested the groin in pregame warmups, he wasn’t quite up to playing.
Jeremy McNichols started, but it was Jacory Croskey-Merritt serving as the lead back. The rookie carried the ball 18 times for 96 yards and a touchdown. It was easily his best performance in two months.
Bullet Bill 💨
📺 #WASvsNYG FOX pic.twitter.com/VZodTUyXZ4
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 14, 2025
Given JCM’s improved play, we really have no idea what to expect from this backfield if Rodriguez returns next week. But if he doesn’t, it will be Bill as the lead back in an average matchup against the Eagles. He is worth a speculative add.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
Michael Carter, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Rostered: 5%
Bam Knight left last week’s game in the first quarter with an ankle injury. He did not return. This has all the makings of a multi-week injury.
Emari Demercado returned from an ankle injury of his own this week. So, we get a full game of seeing what this backfield looks like with only Michael Carter and Demercado. It was Carter leading the way with 18 touches, which he turned into a very respectable 94 yards against the best defense in football.
READ MORE:Â 2026 3-Round NFL Mock Draft: Browns Build Around Shedeur Sanders, While 4 Ohio State Stars Go Early
The Cardinals get the Falcons next week and the Bengals in Week 17. We could be looking at Carter in a heavy-volume role over the final two weeks. He is a high-priority add.
Aggressiveness Rating: 9.0
Jawhar Jordan, RB, Houston Texans
Rostered: 0%
Woody Marks was going to have a massive game. Unfortunately, he hurt his ankle and did not return.
With Nick Chubb out and Dare Ogunbowale purely a satellite back, the Texans turned to 2024 UDFA Jahwar Jordan, who did not play an NFL snap last season. Jordan carried the ball 15 times for 101 yards, while catching both of his targets for 17 yards.
Of course, the matchup helped. But it’s not like things will be overly difficult next week against the Raiders.
It remains to be seen whether Chubb will return, and if the Texans will even reinstall him as the lead back (they shouldn’t). But we’ve got two weeks left, and even the potential of Jordan in a lead-back role makes him worth adding.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.0
Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets
Rostered: 16%
Over the last three weeks, Adonai Mitchell has posted games of 24.2, 3.4, and 17.4. Therein lies the issue with ever starting Mitchell. He’s highly volatile. But he’s seeing targets. Mitchell has earned 27 of them over that span.
The Jets close out the fantasy season against the Saints and Patriots. The former has been surprisingly good against wide receivers, but isn’t the type of team to run them out of the building. The latter will, but they are also a pass funnel. Mitchell could be usable.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears
Rostered: 17%
The most important thing to know is that Luther Burden III injured his ankle and did not return. At this point, it seems unlikely that he will play next week. Obviously, if we get any sort of negative report by Tuesday night, don’t bother.
Before getting hurt, though, Burden looked like the Bears’ WR1. He caught six of seven targets for 84 yards.
The matchup isn’t great next week against the Packers, but Burden did have four catches for 67 yards in their first meeting. He will absolutely be startable if he can play.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.0
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Rostered: 41%
It wasn’t a huge game for Darius Slayton. He only caught four passes for 53 yards. However, he did see 10 targets.
The bad news is the Giants get the Vikings next week, who are one of the best defenses against wide receivers. But volume is king, and Slayton is on the field and earning volume. He can be a desperation option, but certainly not a recommended one.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos
Rostered: 49%
After two weeks of being relegated to part-time duty, Pat Bryant’s injury thrust Troy Franklin back into the WR2 role. He excelled, catching all six of his targets for 85 yards and a touchdown.
While Franklin’s numbers certainly warrant discussion, it’s hard to call him someone fantasy managers can trust in Week 16. His usage has been too erratic.
If Bryant is out again, Franklin would be a desperation Flex option. But if you don’t plan on using him next week, don’t bother adding him.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
Rostered: 5%
The preseason quad injury delayed Jalen Coker’s start, but he’s arrived and now appears to firmly be the Panthers’ WR2. Coker caught all four of his targets for 60 yards and Bryce Young’s lone touchdown on Sunday. He’s now hit double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four.
Coker’s production has certainly been viable for fantasy, but it’s not exactly sustainable. The problem remains a lack of volume, which is not entirely a Coker issue but is nonetheless an issue.
The Panthers do not want to throw the ball. Coker has seen exactly four targets in four of his last five. There’s only so much he can do if he doesn’t score.
If you need someone to plug in who won’t get you zero, Coker is an option, but the floor is very low.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
Rostered: 40%
We have a talented rookie tight end who is noticeably improving each week. Yet, he remains available in more than 50% of leagues. Make it make sense.
Colston Loveland has now hit double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four. While the target count isn’t where it needs to be, the Bears may be without Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet next week. That would thrust Loveland into a much more prominent role. He is a priority add for anyone in need of a tight end.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.0
Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Rostered: 4%
This isn’t your classic 11-personnel Los Angeles Rams team. The new Rams utilize their tight ends; all of them.
With Tyler Higbee done for the season, it hasn’t been rookie Terrance Ferguson or veteran Davis Allen as the primary tight end. It’s been Colby Parkinson.
The Rams’ new TE1 has scored a touchdown in five of his last six games. He caught two against the Lions in Week 15.
Davante Adams aggravated his hamstring injury and left the game. There’s simply no chance he will be ready to go on a short week. The primary beneficiary won’t be any other wide receiver. It will be Parkinson. If you need a tight end, he is your man.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.0
Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans
Rostered: 49%
This was the week for Dalton Schultz. Facing the notoriously bad-against-tight-ends Arizona Cardinals, the Houston Texans TE caught eight of nine targets for 76 yards and a touchdown.
This is not a time to chase the points. The Texans get the Las Vegas Raiders next week, who are top three at defending the tight end. They close out the fantasy season against the Chargers, who are top 10. There won’t be another week to use Schultz. Leave him on the waiver wire.
Aggressiveness Rating: 0.0
