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Congratulations on making it this far, RotoBallers. It seems the holiday weekend brought you the joys of advancing another round and now jolly ol' Saint Nick is here with waiver presents. As always, joining our famous waiver wire pickups list and our weekly fantasy football waiver wire columns by position, this column focuses on suggested waiver wire bidding percentages for fantasy football owners in leagues using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB).
As a caveat, these prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for. Each league values players differently and will continue to do so. These values provide a baseline or priority order to understand roughly how much you should be looking to spend on a particular player, but we've now added different categories of bids to reflect team-need situations.
Your FAAB bids will hinge on your resources, with your competitors' coffers being arguably just as important. Let it fly, because this is likely the last matchup for most of you! With that in mind, here are my median FAAB bid ranges and adds going into Week 17.
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FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks
QB streaming is a risky proposition and you'll want to prioritize RB/WR over this lot, most likely. If QB is a primary need then here is the order I'd attack the group:
Derek Carr (QB, NO at TB) - 39% rostered
Gardner Minshew (QB, IND vs. LV) - 33% rostered
Joe Flacco (QB, CLE vs. NYJ) - 33% rostered
Jake Browning (QB, CIN at KC) - 45% rostered
Taylor Heinicke (QB, ATL at CHI) - 6% rostered
Tyrod Taylor (QB, NYG vs. LAR) - 0% rostered
Bryce Young (QB, CAR at JAX) - 12% rostered
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, KC) - 36% rostered
FAAB Bid: 100%
The Chiefs lost Isiah Pacheco to a concussion in Week 16 after placing Jerick McKinnon on the IR earlier in the week. If Pacheco can’t return by next week then it should be the CEH show alongside Patrick Mahomes in the backfield.
He’s still a middling rusher but caught three balls for 42 yards. The Chiefs have lost three of their last four games, and host a Bengals team that got roasted by Ty Chandler for over 150 total yards in Week 15 before Najee Harris posted a 19-78-1 line of his own.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire really about to win people a fantasy championship next weekend in a smash matchup vs. the Bengals
Remember, Jerick McKinnon was just placed on IR so he’s already out https://t.co/OItM505cJ7
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) December 25, 2023
Khalil Herbert (RB, CHI) - 45% rostered
FAAB Bid: 40-60%
Aggressive Bid: 60-75%
Desperation Bid: 75-100%
Herbert saw an enhanced role with D'Onta Foreman inactive (personal), turning 21 touches into 121 total yards and a score. Roschon Johnson had 12 touches for 53 yards, which makes Herbert’s 1A workload more emphatic going forward.
This was perfect timing as Chicago facing Arizona’s bottom-three RB defense was their only premium matchup of the last month. That includes a Week 17 date with Atlanta’s stingy D, but any RB getting ~20 touches becomes an automatic add. However, Herbert’s between-the-tackles experience may have given him the lean against soft Arizona, so be prepared for the hot hand to rotate.
Zamir White (RB, LV) - 30% rostered
FAAB Bid: 40-60%
Aggressive Bid: 60-75%
Desperation Bid: 75-100%
Josh Jacobs missed another game, which left White as the alpha RB to the tune of 22 carries for 145 yards. Nearly half of that came on their final, clock-killing drive, but points are points! White remains a viable add with Indy’s bottom-five RB defense coming in Week 17 alongside Jacobs’ uncertainty.
Leonard Fournette (RB, BUF) - 5% rostered
FAAB Bid: 8-15%
Aggressive Bid: 15-25%
Desperation Bid: 25-40%
Fournette immediately stepped into the spellback role for Buffalo upon his activation. James Cook still carried the mail with 20 totes, but Latavius Murray went without a touch while Ty Johnson was out with a shoulder injury. This led to Playoff Lenny firing up with five carries for 20 yards against the Chargers.
Fournette and the Bills will look to avenge their Week 7 loss to the Patriots next. Cook lost another fumble this week and could cede additional work to Fournette down the stretch. It would’ve been nice to see Lenny get a target in the passing game, but few saw action there outside of Gabe Davis. Those hunting five to ten touches in a premium offense can round out their bench here.
James Cook has as many fumbles tonight as Leonard Fournette has on 1,144 touches since 2018pic.twitter.com/MlRJ7AttwA
— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) December 24, 2023
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB, WAS) - 3% rostered
FAAB Bid: 5-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-20%
Desperation Bid: 20-40%
Rodriguez split carries with Antonio Gibson as Brian Robinson Jr. missed another game with his hamstring injury. The rookie gashed the Jets for 58 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, with a seven-yard catch thrown in for kicks. Gibson gained 32 yards with a TD on his 10 touches.
Unfortunately, Rodriguez injured his foot along the way and was seen in a walking boot after the game. Monitor his status, as well as Robinson’s practice progress, before a date with San Francisco’s stout defense in Week 17. Volume is volume, but that’s for desperate plays only.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers
Demario Douglas (WR, NE) - 21% rostered
FAAB Bid: 40-60%
Aggressive Bid: 60-80%
Desperation Bid: 80-100%
Douglas resumed his role as New England’s go-to man with eight targets and a 5-74-0 line in Week 16. He and DeVante Parker were Bailey Zappe’s big men, especially with Hunter Henry on the shelf. Their next date comes at Buffalo, who let Douglas tally 74 total yards back in Week 7. His PPR appeal remains steady here.
Rashid Shaheed (WR, NO) - 44% rostered
FAAB Bid: 30-50%
Aggressive Bid: 50-60%
Desperation Bid: 60-75%
Shaheed’s big-play ability flashed with a 5-70-1 line as he scored his first touchdown since Week 8. He’s a hit-or-miss downfield option who operates behind Chris Olave and gets a dynamite matchup with Tampa Bay’s secondary in Week 17. The Bucs just allowed a 6-90-2 line to Calvin Ridley and remain as vulnerable as ever. Fire up the jets!
Derek Carr & Rashid Shaheed (45-yd TD) 📽️
Shaheed reached a top speed of 20.48 mph, his 7th play of 20+ mph as a ball carrier this season, 2nd in the NFL (Tyreek Hill, 17).
The @Saints' playoff probability rose from 26% to 33% as a result of the TD.
📺: https://t.co/1OMRlplD2C pic.twitter.com/hVkis7KHif
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 22, 2023
K.J. Osborn (WR, MIN) - 16% rostered
FAAB Bid: 30-50%
Aggressive Bid: 50-60%
Desperation Bid: 60-75%
Osborn’s role grew with Jordan Addison exiting with an ankle injury during the second quarter. T.J. Hockenson would also suffer a knee injury. Justin Jefferson can consume the entire target pool but Osborn could be the No. 2 option against Green Bay now.
It’s unlikely that Josh Oliver or Johnny Mundt can step into much of Hock’s receiving role, which leaves more to split between JJ, Osborn, and Brandon Powell (for you deep-leaguers). The Pack just got laced by Carolina’s passing game, of all units, so give Osborn (and Powell) a long look.
Demarcus Robinson (WR, LAR) - 10% rostered
FAAB Bid: 20-35%
Aggressive Bid: 35-50%
Desperation Bid: 50-75%
Robinson has emerged as the Rams’ No. 3 WR with a touchdown in four consecutive games. He was Matthew Stafford’s early go-to target en route to a 6-82-1 line, even though Puka Nacua’s 164-yard day stole the show. Tutu Atwell was active but DRob looks comfortably ahead of Atwell going into a road date with the Giants.
Greg Dortch (WR, ARI) - 5% rostered
FAAB Bid: 10-15%
Aggressive Bid: 15-25%
Desperation Bid: 25-40%
Dortch is Arizona’s best receiver with Michael Wilson going catchless for a second straight game after missing three games due to injury. Wilson is unreliable at best even with Marquise Brown on the bench. Rondale Moore has 50 total yards in their last three games.
Dortch has 182 receiving yards over their last five, with a pair of TDs, going into Arizona’s Week 17 battle with Philadelphia’s defense. On paper, that might sound scary. In reality, Philly has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing WRs in 2023. There are worse darts to throw!
Greg Dortch broke ankles and scored the TD!
📺: #AZvsCHI on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/UIg1XAk0MB pic.twitter.com/XcxPXm2c5a— NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2023
D.J. Chark Jr. (WR, CAR) - 7% rostered
FAAB Bid: 8-12%
Aggressive Bid: 12-16%
Desperation Bid: 16-25%
Chark was the preferred deep threat for Bryce Young against Green Bay, as far as deep shots go in this offense. Chark tallied 98 yards and a pair of TDs on six catches (eight targets) while Jonathan Mingo only saw one target on the day. Adam Thielen reappeared with his own 6-94-0 line. Revenge-game backers will attempt to double down on Chark against his old Jacksonville team, which just allowed a 7-86-2 line to Mike Evans.
Marvin Mims Jr. (WR, DEN) - 8% rostered
FAAB Bid: 6-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-15%
Desperation Bid: 15-20%
Mims paced Denver’s receivers with 63 yards but lost a costly fumble on a kickoff return. The early-season electricity that peaked with 123 yards and a score in Week 2 had completely fizzled out before Week 16. But Courtland Sutton suffered a concussion, which opened the door for Mims and Brandon Johnson (3-47-1) to get more looks.
Mims’ elite speed makes him the more exciting play for ceilings, but Johnson does have four TDs on 11 catches and has red-zone trust. The floor is low everywhere, but if Sutton is out then someone will get involved next to Jerry Jeudy against a horrid Chargers defense.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends
Tucker Kraft (TE, GB) - 19% rostered
FAAB Bid: 20-40%
Aggressive Bid: 40-60%
Desperation Bid: 60-100%
Kraft continues to earn looks with a litany of injuries around him, gaining 60 yards on four catches (six targets) with Christian Watson and Jayden Reed missing Week 16. Luke Musgrave’s practice window has been opened as he works back from a lacerated kidney, so monitor that news.
His return would render Kraft untrustable from a volume standpoint. For now, he’s GB’s starter in Week 17 in Minnesota’s dome. For what it’s worth, Musgrave is only 12% rostered on Yahoo and makes a nice stash.
#Packers coach Matt LaFleur gushing over rookie tight end Tucker Kraft:
“I can’t say enough great things about Tucker Kraft… just making critical plays, man. He’s brought so much to our offense” pic.twitter.com/GbygPvfFKV
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) December 25, 2023
Juwan Johnson (TE, NO) - 12% rostered
FAAB Bid: 25-35%
Aggressive Bid: 35-50%
Desperation Bid: 50-70%
Johnson found paydirt in his second straight game, which also came alongside a season-high 48 yards. The Saints targeted Johnson seven times against a Rams defense that has been a bottom-five unit against TEs. We’ll hope for a similar attack strategy against a Tampa Bay defense that is similarly weak versus TEs. The Bucs let the aforementioned Kraft score in Week 15 and just yielded a 10-95-0 line to Evan Engram.
Gerald Everett (TE, LAC) - 42% rostered
FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-14%
Everett has seen eight targets in three consecutive games, with at least five catches and 39 yards in each of those contests. Easton Stick can’t provide a high ceiling or TD equity, but Everett does draw a Denver defense that is the worst against TEs in ‘23 (and just allowed a score to Mike Gesicki).
Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE, TEN) - 32% rostered
FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-12%
Okonkwo stepped up by catching all six of his targets for a season-high 63 yards and his first touchdown of 2023. He was the automatic checkdown for Ryan Tannehill when Seattle’s line created pressure. Okonkwo now gets a top-10 TE matchup at Houston, though he only produced a 3-36-0 line against them in Week 15.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams
Again, you know what you need to do and what resources you have to do it with. This is how I'd prioritize them:
Jacksonville Jaguars Defense (vs. CAR) - 41% rostered
Bryce Young and Carolina finally put it together on offense, scoring 30 points against Green Bay. But we can’t suddenly forget they failed to eclipse 10 points in four of their previous five games. The Jags did just serve up 30 points of their own to Tampa Bay and have been vulnerable over the last month.
Houston Texans Defense (vs. TEN) - 39% rostered
The Texans connected for seven sacks against Tennessee back in Week 15 and have six or more sacks in three of their last four games. The only game they didn’t reach that mark was against Miami, which is forgivable.
Seattle Seahawks Defense (vs. PIT) - 24% rostered
Seattle had a scheduling gauntlet between Weeks 11-15 but finally got a plus matchup against Tennessee last week. They rewarded the faithful with six sacks ahead of a home game versus the Steelers. Pittsburgh ripped off big plays against Cincinnati with Mason Rudolph, but one can’t bank on Rudolph showing up again. It’ll either be him or a rusty Kenny Pickett, which puts Seattle on the fringe of the streaming radar.
Los Angeles Rams Defense (at NYG) - 20% rostered
The Rams don’t have much going for them, but still have multiple sacks in nine of their last 10 games, including an interception in four straight. But for some of you, the Giants matchup is enough to make them viable.
Las Vegas Raiders Defense (at IND) - 12% rostered
Antonio Pierce has this defense thriving, with two defensive scores in back-to-back weeks and 12 sacks over their last three games combined. The Colts just surrendered six sacks to Atlanta and missed Michael Pittman Jr. (concussion) on the perimeter. Let’s see how healthy the Colts are for this matchup.
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