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Andy breaks down his must add fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season. Add these players now off the waiver wire and win more.
RotoBaller drops our top 2025 fantasy football Week 16 waiver wire pickups for RB, WR, TE, and QB. This week, we will spotlight a running back in Arizona who is poised for a larger role due to the numerous injuries on the roster, and two tight ends who are reaching must-start status.
This week's must-add fantasy football free agents are hand-picked to ensure you make the right picks to prepare you for the second week of the fantasy football playoffs. These are waiver wire winners heading into Week 16 for running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, and quarterbacks. Win more in 2025 with RotoBaller!
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2025 Fantasy Football: Week 16 Waiver Wire Adds
Michael Carter, RB, Arizona Cardinals
The top running back to target on the waiver wire this week is Michael Carter of the Cardinals. Carter initially had fantasy value this season when Trey Benson (knee) hit the IR. However, Bam Knight eventually took over the backfield, which pushed Carter to a depth role.
During their Week 15 contest against the Texans, Knight was carted off with an ankle injury and is in serious danger of missing Week 16 and potentially the remainder of the season. With Benson and James Conner (ankle) shut down for the season, Carter will only have Emari Demercado challenging him for snaps.
In Week 15, Carter immediately claimed the lead role, following Knight's early exit as he took 79% of the snaps, to Demercado's 11%. Carter logged 14 attempts for 56 yards and brought in all four of his targets for 38 yards. Given his three-down upside, Carter holds low-end RB2 value in a Week 16 tilt against an Atlanta defense.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders
The other running back who saw his fantasy stock soar was seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. With Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) unable to suit up, Croskey-Merritt reclaimed the lead role in their victory over the Giants and did not disappoint. In this contest, Croskey-Merritt logged 18 carries for 96 yards and a score.
This was the second-highest total of his season, trailing his 111-yard showing back in Week 5. While Rodriguez has led this backfield recently, if he continues to miss time, Croskey-Merritt would hold low-end RB2 upside in a tilt against the Eagles. Managers should keep a close eye on Rodriguez's status. If he misses another game, Croskey-Merritt holds legit RB2 upside in the fantasy semifinals.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Back on the Fantasy Radar in Week 16? https://t.co/ylMPcDIzrx
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 15, 2025
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
The final running back to target this week is Blake Corum of the Rams. While Corum has typically been deployed as a pure No. 2 option behind Kyren Williams, the Michigan product has begun to carve out a standalone role in this offense. Since Week 13, Corum has averaged a promising 17.8 PPR points per game, making him a top option on a weekly basis.
During this stretch, he has taken 10.0 attempts per game and punched in four touchdowns. More importantly, during their victory over the Lions on Sunday, Corum logged 46% of the snaps, which is a season-high and just behind Williams' 56%. While Corum remains a top handcuff, he is beginning to produce high-end RB2 upside on a weekly basis, making him a must-roster going forward.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
Since returning from his extended absence on the IR, Jayden Reed has immediately taken on a significant target share in the offense. Through two games back in action, Reed has averaged 5.0 targets per game and tallied 43.0 yards per game. However, Reed could see his fantasy stock soar over the final two weeks of the fantasy season with the injury to Christian Watson (chest).
Watson has been taken to the hospital following their Week 15 loss and is in serious danger of missing substantial time down the stretch. Reed has a path to operate as the top WR in Green Bay for the final weeks of the season.
Jayden Reed Could See Expanded Role in Green Bay https://t.co/ZFLkc8CQVV
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 15, 2025
Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears
The other WR to target on waivers is Luther Burden III of the Bears. The rookie wideout has seen his role in the offense continue to increase and is emerging as a weekly fantasy contributor. Since Week 13, Burden has seen at least six targets in each game. In Week 15, Burden saw a season-high seven targets and tallied a season-best 84 yards.
Even though he left this game with an ankle injury, managers needing a WR should look to pick him up this week. With Rome Odunze (foot) still dealing with his injury and potentially at risk of being shut down, Burden should continue to see a key role in this offense and carries weekly high-end WR3 upside.
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
The other Bears' pass catcher target to attack is Colston Loveland. Like his fellow rookie WR, Loveland has seen his workload increase over the past month. Since Week 12, Loveland has seen at least five targets in each game and has averaged 10.9 PPR points during this stretch.
As noted above, with Oduzne in serious danger of missing the final weeks and now Burden banged up with an ankle injury, there is an outcome in which Loveland operates as the team's No. 2 pass catcher alongside DJ Moore in Week 16.
Colby Parkinson, TE, Los Angeles Rams
The final player to consider picking up off the waiver wire is Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson. With Tyler Higbee (ankle) on the IR, Parkinson has emerged as he primary pass-catching TE in one of the sport's most potent offenses. From Weeks 10 through 14, Parkinson found the back of the end zone four times and averaged a strong 11.3 PPR points per game.
In Week 15, he enjoyed his best outing of the season, bringing in five of his seven targets for 75 yards and two scores. In this contest, Davante Adams (hamstring) exited with an injury and is in real danger of missing their Week 16 contest against the Seahawks as he was deemed "week to week."
This should push Parkinson up to the No. 2 role in the offense alongside Puka Nacua, and given his nose of the end zone, he carries mid-end TE1 value and plug-and-play upside for tight-end needy teams in Week 16.
Two-Touchdown Performance Makes Colby Parkinson a Priority Waiver-Wire Addition https://t.co/YxoQWJV7dL
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 15, 2025
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...
Who Should I Pickup? Some common 2025 fantasy football waiver wire decisions are regarding players like Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Michael Carter, Blake Corum, Luther Burden III, Jayden Reed, Colston Loveland, and Colby Parkinson. But not to worry, we are here to help make these waiver wire decisions and build winning teams in 2025. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups in 2025. Our free Who Should I Pickup? tool will help make your fantasy football waiver wire decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to pick up... all free! Make the right decisions.
2025 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Michael Carter, Blake Corum, Luther Burden III, Jayden Reed, Colston Loveland, and Colby Parkinson. These are some common searches for 2025 fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy football rankings, projections, and more.
Recent Improvements For Who Should I Pickup? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Pickup? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2025. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, stats, projections, strength of schedule, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Popular Waiver Wire Searches. Curious to see some tough waiver wire decisions for 2025? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Pickup? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Michael Carter, Blake Corum, Luther Burden III, Jayden Reed, Colston Loveland, and Colby Parkinson:
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