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The waiver wire in deep leagues is a wasteland full of low-upside quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends. Any player who booms will be picked up in even the shallowest of leagues, so we'll have to dive deep in these leagues. However, there are plenty of bench stashes that could be league-winners if an injury happens to a top running back or wideout. That said, it's time to pick up as many "handcuff" running backs and even wide receivers as possible. Remember, you don't have to have the starting guy on your roster to consider picking up their backup.
These fantasy football waiver wire pickup suggestions are for fantasy managers in deep leagues of 14-teams or more or a higher number of bench spots than traditional fantasy leagues. As always, chalky waiver wire pickups for shallow leagues like Deon Jackson, Zack Moss, K.J. Osborn, and Jahan Dotson won't be included. Each week sees this list shrink, as we are truly running out of options at this point in the season.
Without further ado, here are the top deeper league waiver wire targets for Week 16, including Alexander Mattison, James Cook, Joshua Kelley, Romeo Doubs, and Richie James.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets for Week 16
James Cook is still very much in a committee, but he's worth rostering after scoring another touchdown in primetime. He'll get a juicy matchup with the Chicago Bears in Week 16.
Gus Edwards has handled 20 rushes over the last two weeks, so even though J.K. Dobbins looks to be back as the primary running for Baltimore, he could have plenty of late-season upside if Lamar Jackson (knee) returns to health.
Richie James has 25 targets and three touchdowns over his last five games as the primary slot receiver since Wan'Dale Robinson tore his ACL. He's worth taking a look at after a few solid fantasy performances this season.
Royce Freeman became the primary ball-carrier for Houston in the absence of Dameon Pierce. He rushed 11 times for 51 yards, so it wasn't a great fantasy day. However, any production at running back could save fantasy managers in the fantasy football playoffs.
Khalil Herbert (hip) could return this week against the Buffalo Bills after a five-game absence on injured reserve, and who is to say Chicago won't make him the lead back moving forward? The Bears are already eliminated from playoff contention and David Montgomery is coming up on free agency, so this could be a prime spot for the Bears to evaluate the second-year running back.
Nico Collins missed Week 14 and 15 but he and Chris Moore will likely operate as the top-two wide receivers in the Texans' offense when Collins returns.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Skyy Moore are far from safe fantasy options in a crowded skill group for Kansas City, but MVS has boom-or-bust upside that can win weeks and Moore had a few solid games when JuJu Smith-Schuster missed time with a concussion. Both are top "handcuff" wideouts in an elite offense.
Jameson Williams and Josh Reynolds are likely behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and DJ Chark for the remainder of the season, but both have upside when called upon in a top-five Lions offense.
Romeo Doubs could have late-season value after the Green Bay Packers released Sammy Watkins. Christian Watson is the man for Aaron Rodgers moving forward, but it was Dobbs who he had chemistry with early in the year.
DeAndre Carter and Joshua Palmer are premier wide receiver handcuffs in the Justin Herbert-led offense. Mike Williams and Keenan Allen are finally back and making plays, but do we really trust them to stay healthy?
Quez Watkins is another top handcuff wide receiver, as any injury to either A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith would propel him to immediate fantasy relevance. Jalen Hurts is entering the group of elite passers, and Watkins can score double-digit fantasy points on one big play.
Ben Skowronek and Tutu Atwell combined for 17 targets in Baker Mayfield's first game as a Ram. Sure, Mayfield has largely been viewed as a bottom-of-the-barrel quarterback, but he's going to make the offense look more competent than John Wolford and Bryce Perkins could, so there could be some fantasy points to go around in the Sean McVay-led offense.
Chigoziem Okonkwo and Austin Hooper are seeing major roles in a weak pass-catching group for Ryan Tannehill. Hooper likely has the safer floor, but Okonkwo has a real upside as an athletic tight end. The rookie tight end has caught 15 of his 16 targets for 167 yards and a touchdown over the last three weeks. Treylon Burks (concussion protocol) coming back would make Hooper and Okonkwo more risky fantasy starters, but surely Tennessee will continue to keep them involved.
Running Back Handcuff Stashes For Weeks 16 and 17
These are pure handcuff running backs with very little value unless an injury happens to the starting running back
| Priority | Handcuff RB | Week 16 Matchup | Week 17 Matchup |
| 1 | Alexander Mattison, MIN | vs. NYG | @ GB |
| 2 | Samaje Perine, CIN | @ NE | vs. BUF |
| 3 | Joshua Kelley, LAC | @ IND | vs. LAR |
| 4 | Jordan Mason, SF | vs. WAS | @ LV |
| 5 | JaMycal Hasty, JAX | @ NYJ | @ HOU |
| 6 | Kenneth Gainwell/Boston Scott, PHI | @ DAL | vs. NO |
| 7 | Zamir White/Ameer Abdullah, LV | @ PIT | vs. SF |
| 8 | Jaylen Warren, PIT | vs. LV | @ BAL |
| 9 | Travis Homer, SEA | @ KC | vs. NYJ |
| 10 | Hassan Haskins, TEN | vs. HOU | vs. DAL |
| 11 | Darrynton Evans, CHI | vs. BUF | @ DET |
| 12 | Keaontay Ingram, ARI | vs. TB | @ ATL |
| 13 | Kyren Williams, LAR | @ GB | vs. DEN |
| 14 | Dwayne Washington, NO | @ CLE | @ PHI |
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