Who Should I Pickup for Fantasy Football Week 16? Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Blake Corum, Jayden Reed, Emari Demercado, Michael Carter, Jawhar Jordan, T.J. Hockenson, Troy Franklin, C.J. Stroud

Washington Commanders rookie running back out of Arizona, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, is officially back on the fantasy football radar as Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) was a game-time decision in Week 15 and was eventually ruled out shortly before the game. Croskey-Merritt, aka Bill, earned 18 carries, which he turned into 98 yards (5.33 yards per tote) and a touchdown in the Commanders' 29-21 win over the New York Giants. JCM looked good running the football, and his score came from 16 yards out.
 
All of a sudden, this Commanders backfield gets a bit shaky after it had finally cleared up for us the past few weeks, with Rodriguez being the only one worth rostering. After JCM's performance in Week 15, the Commanders may want to give JCM some more run after an impressive performance, so if Rodriguez Jr., who had been playing well, returns in Week 16, all of a sudden, we are back to the three-running-back committee of Rodriguez, JCM, and Jeremy McNichols. All of which would become desperate plays in Week 16 of the fantasy football season. Regardless, JCM would be worth a waiver-wire pickup in case Rodriguez can't suit up in Week 16.

Los Angeles Rams second-year back out of Michigan, Blake Corum, continued to impress in Week 15, as he scored for a third straight week and had 11 carries for 71 yards (6.45 YPC) and one touchdown. Corum has now rushed for a ridiculous 280 yards and four touchdowns over the past three weeks. More impressively, he has done it on 30 carries, which is suitable for a 9.33 YPC. Corum is still the clear backup to Kyren Williams, who had 15 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns in Week 15.
 
Still, the Rams offense, led by MVP candidate Matthew Stafford, is potent enough to score so much that both running backs have fantasy value as we move into the final weeks of the season. At this point, Corum is the top handcuff option in fantasy football and has standalone RB3/flex value even with Williams taking a majority of the carries. The Rams will face stiff competition in Week 16 on Thursday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed recorded five catches for 55 yards on six targets in his team's Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos. In his second game back after missing nearly three months due to collarbone and foot injuries, Reed saw his snap share increase from 47% of Green Bay's offensive snaps in Week 14 to 65% in Week 15. The 25-year-old's playing time outlook was also improved by an injury to Packers wideout Christian Watson (chest), who left the game early with a chest injury.
 
Watson has reportedly avoided a long-term injury, but his status is in question for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Chicago Bears. If Watson is sidelined, Reed could operate as the team's top target-earner in Week 16. Even if Watson can play, Reed has upside as he works his way back to full health and gets re-integrated into the Green Bay offense. In fantasy leagues where he remains available, Reed is a must-add waiver wire target heading into Week 16.

After missing three games with an ankle injury, Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado returned to the lineup in Week 15 against the Houston Texans. The 26-year-old played a minimal role against Houston, recording one scrimmage yard on three touches. However, Cardinals running back Bam Knight (ankle) suffered an ankle injury that knocked him out of the game and required him to be carted off the field.
 
If Knight misses further time, Demercado could step into a more prominent role in the Arizona backfield alongside Michael Carter, who led the team with 18 touches in Week 15. Across 10 games this season, Demercado has racked up 306 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 42 touches. Before suffering the ankle injury, he had out-snapped Carter in two consecutive games. The Cardinals' backfield remains one of the league's more difficult lineup situations to parse. Still, Demercado could be a player to target on the waiver wire heading into his Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Arizona Cardinals' running back room got a little thinner after their 40-20 Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, as running back Bam Knight (ankle) was carted off the field and did not return. Michael Carter stepped up as the team's primary running back, and after Knight's departure, he had 78% of the backfield carry share, a 10% target share, and got the only carry inside the 10-yard line.
 
He finished the contest with 14 carries for 56 yards (4.0 YPC) and hauled in all four of his targets for an additional 38 yards, and will have fantasy value moving forward, as he appears to be their No. 1 running back option if Knight misses any extra time and would become a must-add off the waiver wire. The Cardinals take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. It will be important to monitor Knight's status, as that will determine Carter's overall value moving forward. Still, Trey Benson (knee) was not activated from the IR on December 10, and because of that, his season is over, leaving Carter as the only healthy option at this time.

Heading into Week 15, Houston Texans running back Jawhar Jordan had yet to record his first NFL carry. However, the 26-year-old got his opportunity in Week 15 and delivered, logging 118 scrimmage yards on 17 touches against the Arizona Cardinals. The Texans entered the game without veteran running back Nick Chubb (ribs) and lost RB1 Woody Marks (ankle) to an ankle injury, opening up the door for Jordan. Neither injury is expected to lead to a long-term absence, so Jordan's surge to the top of the depth chart may be short-lived.
 
However, if Chubb and Marks are sidelined for Houston's Week 16 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Jordan could see another week of high-volume touches. Particularly in deeper fantasy leagues, Jordan may be worth targeting on the waiver wire and holding until more information is released around the status of Marks and Chubb for Week 16.

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson caught four passes on five targets for 66 yards, which led the way for his team in a 34-26 victory against the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran tight end appears to be developing a rapport with young quarterback J.J. McCarthy, with whom he connected for a touchdown the week prior.
 
As the Vikings have struggled massively throughout portions of the season, Hockenson has been a fantasy disappointment who still ranks outside the top-20 PPR tight ends. But with Minnesota prioritizing its running game and tight ends in recent weeks, Hockenson will look to continue his strong finish in Week 16 at the New York Giants.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin provided an efficient day in the Week 15 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers. With Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (hamstring) out this week, Franklin was able to reestablish himself as a force in the offense with six catches on six targets for 85 yards and a touchdown.
 
The catches and yardage were second best on the team, trailing only Courtland Sutton. After seeing a dip in production and all-around involvement since the Broncos' bye week, this could be the game he needed to pry his way back onto the field. Keep an eye on Bryant's availability for Week 16, but Franklin could be a WR2 again against the Jacksonville Jaguars after this efficient performance.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was surgical in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals, completing 22 of 29 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns while adding six carries for 10 yards on the ground. Stroud threw a 57-yard touchdown to wide receiver Nico Collins on his first throw of the game and continued to operate efficiently for the rest of the game.
 
The 24-year-old signal-caller has played well since returning in Week 13 from a multi-game absence due to a concussion. He's totalled 738 passing yards, four touchdowns, and one interception over that time. Stroud will look to continue his strong stretch of production in a plus Week 16 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.