FAAB Waiver Wire Bidding - Fantasy Football Pickups to Target for Week 16 (2025)

December 16, 2025

Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 16 (2025) -- how many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.

Anyone who still has FAAB remaining is going to feel like royalty as our playoff slate unfolds. Even those without any funds left should be putting in $0 bids where available, as you never know who is sleeping instead of prioritizing our silly little game! No matter how many dollars or teams you have remaining, we're all here to win together with our famous waiver wire pickups list and our fantasy football waiver wire columns by position -- specially tailored for leagues using FAAB.

Do note how these FAAB prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for, as every league's FAAB landscape is chaotically different with Week 16 approaching, so adjust for how much is left for your live competitors. Make sure each roster slot available to you has a clear purpose, and that your weaknesses are properly addressed with upside and/or depth. Do not get cute with championship-week stashes when Week 16 needs your attention now.

As always, I cannot know your specific league outlook, so please try to leverage historical data and personal knowledge of the remaining opponents whenever possible. We still cap the rostered rate at 40% on Yahoo!, but you can adjust if someone is dropped or remains on the wire above that threshold. We've learned by now that you can never have too many RB handcuffs, but we'll try to focus on newer names who have appeared on our radars!

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks

*Jacoby Brissett is only 60% rostered, gets Atlanta next, and would be worth 10%+ bids.
*C.J. Stroud at 48% rostered with Las Vegas on deck for a 5-10% FAAB range.

J.J. McCarthy (QB, MIN) - 34% rostered

FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-10%

McCarthy’s Sunday night effort against the Cowboys started ominously, with a batted ball falling into Quinnen Williams’ lap for an interception. But he buckled down and showed out with a career-best 250 yards, another two touchdown throws, and a third score on the ground.

On dropbacks longer than 2.5 seconds, J.J. McCarthy completed 10 of 14 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown, producing positive EPA for the first time in his career.

McCarthy's +17.3 EPA on those dropbacks were the 8th-most by any QB in a game this season.

Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/cBj6yaIr9u

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 15, 2025

All told, it’s a second straight top-10 finish for JJM, who continues to make good on a friendly span of schedule. That run continues in Week 16 with a road matchup against a horrid Giants defense, though it comes outdoors at MetLife Stadium.

Perhaps all of the points left on the table with missed connections to Justin Jefferson can be actualized there! That’s likely too little, too late for JJettas teams, but not the McCarthy streamer-truthers. Then he draws another top-10 matchup with Detroit’s beleaguered secondary in Week 17, which could decide many a fantasy title. The rug-pull threat is high with a volatile young QB, but the ceiling case is now evident.

Bryce Young (QB, CAR) - 17% rostered

FAAB Bid: 2-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-5%

Young and the Panthers head into an effective must-win against Tampa Bay’s woeful secondary, which just got lit up by Kirk Cousins last Thursday. Carolina couldn’t drag themselves past New Orleans, though Young did uncork a season-high seven rushes for 49 yards.

Only 163 pass yards with one TD limited his appeal, and he’s back to averaging 180 yards through the air since that magical 448-yard performance against the Falcons. However, the Bucs will be the most generous secondary that Young has faced since Week 6 against Dallas, when he threw for three TDs. And 16 carries for 87 yards over his last three games surpasses his totals from the first 10 games, so deep-leaguers can cling to reasonable hope.

Tyler Shough (QB, NO) - 9% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-4%

Shough is here to party, that much is clear. Many will harp on the late slide that drew a pivotal personal foul penalty, which set up the game-winning field goal. But the real story, for us at least, is that he turned in another eight carries (32 yards) while completing 75% of his 32 pass attempts for 272 yards and a TD.

The rookie will now host a Jets team that Trevor Lawrence just dismantled in broad daylight before traveling to the Titans in our championship week. With an average of seven rushes over his last four games, and neither Alvin Kamara (ankle/knee) nor Devin Neal (hamstring) healthy, this could all be on Shough’s shoulders.

*Marcus Mariota (10% rostered) is an option at home against Philly, as Terry McLaurin’s return has helped that offense’s ceiling.
*Kirk Cousins (8%) is the next man up to pick on Arizona’s generous defense after lambasting Tampa.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs

*Blake Corum is right at 40% rostered and faces a tough Seattle D, though he's been hot. Line him up wisely.
*Tyler Allgeier (38% rostered) saw little usage in Week 15, but Arizona is a top-five fantasy RB draw.

Michael Carter (RB, ARI) - % rostered 

FAAB Bid: 50-60%
Aggressive Bid: 60-75%
Desperation Bid: 75-100%

Carter had to run up against a stout Houston front seven after Bam Knight suffered a bad ankle sprain. While Emari Demercado was back, he only saw three touches and may still be affected by his own high-ankle sprain.

Michael Carter Week 15

- 79% snaps
- 14 carries, 56 yards
- 29 routes, 4 targets, 4 rec, 38 yds
- 13.4 fantasy points

Bam Knight was carted off with an ankle injury

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) December 14, 2025

We saw Carter turn in a helpful 18-51-1 rushing line with five catches for 22 yards back in Week 5, and he is part of this juggernaut Jacoby Brissett-led offense. As the pass-catcher, he provides a decent PPR floor with 40 or more pass attempts in six straight games.

The Cards now get Atlanta and Cincinnati, who can provide shootout scripts without strong rush defenses to oppose Carter. Knight is already described as highly unlikely to play in Week 16, so let’s see if Carter can be our hero.

Audric Estime (RB, NO) - 0% rostered
Evan Hull (RB, NO) - 0% rostered

FAAB Bid: 15-20%
Aggressive Bid: 20-25%
Desperation Bid: 25-35%

Devin Neal scored against Carolina early, but was then sidelined by a hamstring injury that could take him out beyond last week. With Alvin Kamara already dealing with ankle and knee injuries, this leaves a combo of Hull and Estime to handle RB duties ahead of two prime matchups.

Hull rushed four times for 12 yards, while Estime turned three carries into 11 yards. But it was Estime who handled the passing downs, catching a trio of targets for 39 yards. Estime’s Week 15 box score looks friendlier, but perhaps Hull would lay a stronger claim on goal-line carries next week against the Jets.

Estime is 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds, while Hull is 5-foot-10 and checks in at 209. It seems short-sighted to pigeonhole one or the other as the true between-the-tackles option, though Estime is clearly the PPR lean. The Jets have room for both to be fantasy viable, of course.

Jaleel McLaughlin (RB, DEN) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 12-16%
Aggressive Bid: 16-20%
Desperation Bid: 20-25%

McLaughlin could step into Denver’s starting role if RJ Harvey’s fourth-quarter rib injury proves to be serious. He only wound up with two rushes for four yards in the win over Green Bay, so most aren’t sniffing around here.

Denver attempted three passes after Harvey exited and turned the ball over on downs. He did receive a carry on first down when they got it back at 2:28 remaining, and then we saw last-minute kneeldowns. Now, dates with Jacksonville and Kansas City run defenses aren’t desirable, but a starting role (with Tyler Badie as the spell back) is valuable.

Malik Davis (RB, DAL) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-15%

Davis stepped up with 37 total yards and a TD on 10 touches as Javonte Williams nursed a shoulder injury. Though Williams was able to return in the second half, they gave Davis and Hunter Luepke more work alongside him.

With Dallas all but mathematically eliminated, perhaps they don’t push Williams, who could suffer a midweek setback as well. Do note that Williams isn’t signed beyond this year, having signed a one-year, $3 million contract last offseason.

Jawhar Jordan (RB, HOU) - 0% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-15%

The Texans were already without Nick Chubb (ribs) before Woody Marks left due to an ankle injury. This elevated Jawhar Jordan, who had zero NFL touches since being a sixth-round pick last year, to the field.

He parlayed 17 touches into 118 yards against a beatable Arizona team that was on its back foot. Dare Ogunbowale garnered eight touches (34 yards), but was just the change-of-pace passing back.

However, head coach DeMeco Ryans said that Marks could’ve re-entered the game if the game were closer, and then reiterated that he’d be fine on Tuesday. Marks seems to have a standing date with the medical tent, and Week 16’s game against Las Vegas could easily get out of hand, leading to more Jordan work.

Still, most of you can’t rely on this with the playoffs on the line. If Marks doesn’t rebound this week at practice and Chubb remains out, then Jordan could smash.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers

Luther Burden III (WR, CHI) - 17% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 18-25%
Aggressive Bid: 25-30%
Desperation Bid: 30-40%

Burden led the Bears with 84 yards on six receptions (seven targets), but did emerge from the win with an ankle injury. The rookie is currently day-to-day, though it’s worth noting Chicago plays on Saturday night, so that’s one less recovery day.

Rome Odunze’s last-minute scratch (foot) and week-to-week designation put more weight on Burden’s status. He’s electric with the football in his hands, and the Bears should need all available playmakers on deck in a home date with the Packers that holds massive playoff implications.

Adonai Mitchell (WR, NYJ) - 16% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 10-15%
Aggressive Bid: 15-22%
Desperation Bid: 22-30%

Mitchell’s hot-and-cold act continued with a 6-58-1 receiving line on nine targets against the Jags on Sunday. He snagged a nine-yard seed from Brady Cook for a well-designed TD to help punctuate the bounceback from last week’s ugly one-catch day.

You can pick a massive bone with the QB play, but Mitchell is now one of 12 WRs with 40 or more targets over the last five weeks. Finding this athletic profile and usage is rare, even with the accompanying low floor. Whether it’s Cook, Tyrod Taylor (groin), or Justin Fields (knee), Mitchell will get a dome game against the Saints next week.

Jalen Coker (WR, CAR) - 5% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 6-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-15%
Desperation Bid: 15-20%

Now with a touchdown in two straight games, Coker will take a surging role and production profile into a plus game with Tampa Bay’s defense. The Bucs have been carved up lately, and they also just placed starting cornerback Zyon McCollum on the IR due to a hip injury.

Coker’s recent 4-74-1 and 4-60-1 lines jump out, but he’s also seen at least four targets in each of his last five games. Those of us who had preseason dreams of this being how 2025 would go can at least use this stretch as a crutch going into 2026, eh?

Jalen Coker had the best pictures and plays yesterday

These are so good (credit to Bryce Young too) pic.twitter.com/fj4K77fAyk

— Edgar Salmingo, Jr. ✌🏽 (@PanthersAnalyst) December 15, 2025

He’s outsnapping and outearning Xavier Legette, and while Tetairoa McMillan continues to struggle with drops, Jalen Coker isn’t charted with any on the unofficial stat tallies. Carolina’s offense doesn’t boast a volume threat at tight end either, so let’s see if Coker can keep it going in a promising spot against the Bucs.

Matthew Golden (WR, GB) - 32% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 6-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-15%
Desperation Bid: 15-20%

Don’t look now, but Green Bay may have remembered they spent a first-round pick on Golden! Unfortunately, this was tied to Christian Watson suffering a chest injury that required treatment at a Denver hospital, though he was promptly released. His injury is said not to be serious, but that doesn’t clear the path for readiness by Saturday in Chicago.

Meanwhile, Golden hauled in a crucial 27-yard catch in the fourth quarter and wound up with 55 yards on three catches. Fantasy managers should prioritize Jayden Reed (41% rostered, full FAAB scenario if available), and Romeo Doubs remains a reliable piece for Jordan Love, but Golden looks to have the leg up on Dontayvion Wicks, whose ankle issue may still be limiting him.

Tre' Harris (WR, LAC) - 2% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-10%
Desperation Bid: 10-15%

The Chargers needed their rookie with Quentin Johnston (groin) unavailable. Harris delivered 49 yards, more than either Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen, though it was fellow Year 1 wideout Keandre Lambert-Smith who scored.

We’ll side with Harris’s five targets over KLS’s one, though it was nice to see each of them succeed. Kansas City was fighting for its playoff life and put loads of pressure on Justin Herbert, but he should have more time this week in Dallas. Harris would be on the flex radar in one of the best WR matchups available if Johnston cannot go.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends

*Darren Waller (38% rostered) thrilled with a 7-66-2 line and faces Cincy’s TE red carpet next before Tampa. He’s a full wallet send if you don’t have a top-six option in place.

*Oronde Gadsden (49%) regained a healthy role with Quentin Johnston out. If QJ misses the game at Dallas next week, then Gadsden is in play.
*Dalton Schultz (also 49%) has seen eight or more targets in five of his last seven games.

Colby Parkinson (TE, LAR) - 3% rostered
Terrance Ferguson (TE, LAR) - 0% rostered

FAAB Bid: 20-25% / 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 25-35% / 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 35-50% / 6-10%

Setting aside the strange addition to “What Is A Catch?” on his first touchdown of the day, Parkinson made waves with five catches for 75 yards and two scores on seven targets. All of those are season-high marks, and it gives him six TDs in his last six games.

The Rams have been no strangers to using TE-heavy sets, but Davante Adams’ hamstring injury now puts more emphasis on them in the red zone. With Tyler Higbee on injured reserve, this party starts with Parkinson.

Ferguson only had a six-yard catch, but Matthew Stafford missed him on a would-be TD, and the rookie quietly led the Rams with 29 routes run. The answer to who steps up with Adams out on Thursday at Seattle may not be Jordan Whittington or Tutu Atwell, but these TEs. Sprinkle a little revenge narrative on your playoff meeting.

Colby Parkinson is going to EAT on Thursday night vs. his former team in Seattle https://t.co/4JgxQnAsNJ

— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) December 15, 2025

AJ Barner (TE, SEA) - 12% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-10%

Barner only caught three balls for 27 yards on six targets against the Colts, but Seattle struggled to move the ball throughout the 18-16 win, and now must face the Rams. Gamescripts aren’t identical, but Barner accrued 10 catches for 70 yards the last time they played.

We’d expect some adjustments to be made, and Rashid Shaheed is getting more involved in the offense, but Barner also no longer has Elijah Arroyo vying for snaps. It’s been nine straight games without a TD for Barner, but Seattle’s ground game is wildly ineffective at this time, and they’ll need Sam Darnold & Co. to perform.

Mike Gesicki (TE, CIN) - 4% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-8%

Gesicki only had one catch for 11 yards as Cincinnati was held scoreless by Baltimore, but now the Bengals have stellar back-to-back TE matchups. Miami has allowed seven TEs to hit five or more catches, with a 68-yard average as a top-three figure.

Then they take on the Cardinals, who aren’t far behind at 64 yards per game. It’s reasonable to be cautious around the team’s motivation following such a horrid performance, but some of you can’t be choosy.

*No clear TE starter for Washington. Ben Sinnott ran 10 routes, John Bates ran 13, but each only saw one target.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense (D/ST)

New Orleans Saints Defense (vs. NYJ) - 16% rostered

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-10%

The Saints held strong with 17 points allowed against Carolina, which matches the average amount allowed over its last five games, and now they’ll face the Jets at home. The big draw of that is facing Brady Cook, who just threw three interceptions in a second straight game, but even Tyrod Taylor or Justin Fields would be a viable streaming opponent.

Neither would seem to be 100% at this point. You may see one combined sack over NO’s last two games, but they had seven in the prior two against less mobile QBs. And the Saints then face the Titans in Tennessee for Week 17 championships, making them a premier add going into the home stretch.

Minnesota Vikings Defense (at NYG) - 35% rostered

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-8%

Minnesota holding a strong Dallas offense to just 26 points is a relative win, and now they’ll face Jaxson Dart’s Giants as road favorites. Those of you who are buying into McCarthy as a streamer can double down on the Minny stack here with a defense whose QB Hurry rate ranks in the top three.

The Vikings recently blanked the Commanders, alongside two sacks and three turnovers, and the Giants have surrendered DST scores in consecutive games. Dart is also a perpetual exit risk due to head injury, sadly enough. Roll the dice if you need to!

Week 17 Stashes:
1) New England Patriots (47% rostered, at NYJ)
2) New York Giants (5% rostered, at LV)
3) Tennessee Titans (18%, vs. NO)

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