👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Beating the Waiver Wire - Speculative Stashes for Week 16

It's Wednesday morning. You dropped a player last night expecting to make some moves on the waiver wire, only to wake up and find out you weren't able to get anyone you put a claim in for. What now?

If you've got an open roster spot, its always a good idea to plan ahead for the future. There are plenty of players in the NFL ripe for a breakout game that will fly up the waiver wire in the following week. This column is here to help you anticipate who that's going to be, and stay a week ahead of your competition.

Usually, we look at guys with upside down the line in this column, but this week we'll look at a few guys who could help you next week. These players should help you beat the waiver wire ahead of Week 16, and give you a leg up should you be playing in championship week.

Featured Promo: Looking for some more fantasy football action? Adopt a dynasty orphan team over at FFPC. Sign up today and get $25 off any FFPC league. Sign Up Now!

 

Waiver Wire Stashes and Fliers for Week 16

Joe Flacco (QB, BAL) - 18% owned

After 12 weeks of being a fantasy afterthought, Joe Flacco is starting to look like a top streaming option in deeper leagues. Flacco has exactly 269 yards and two touchdowns in each of his last two games. The Ravens face Cleveland this week and Indianapolis next week. Flacco is starting to put up decent numbers at the perfect time. A week schedule and a relatively high floor make Flacco a consideration for streamers not satisfied with their current quarterback.

Nick Foles (QB, PHI) - 25% owned

With MVP candidate Carson Wentz done for the year, Nick Foles takes over as the starter in Philadelphia. Foles has a fairly loaded offense around him: a stable of good running backs and a solid receiving core around him. It was just four years ago that Foles threw for 27 touchdowns and two interceptions in a season. He could emerge as unlikely QB1 for a Week 16 matchup with Oakland if he plays well this week. Foles started just one game in Kansas City last year and was very underwhelming. He was a major disappointment for the Rams in 2015, but if 2017 has proven anything its that we can't trust what we saw from a quarterback playing for Jeff Fisher. Foles has been a legitimate fantasy option in the past. It isn't ridiculous to imagine him doing it once again.

Kerwynn Williams (RB, AZ) - 27% owned

The hardest thing for a running back to come by is volume. With Adrian Peterson being placed on the IR in Arizona, Kerwynn Williams is locked and loaded as the lead back for the Cardinals. Williams has played fairly well in his two starts for Arizona, running for 97 and 73 yards respectively. He already has FLEX appeal in deep leagues. A big performance in Week 15 will make him the top waiver option in leagues he is available. This is a guy I'd grab before he goes on waivers for Week 16.

Randall Cobb (WR, GB) - 52% owned

With Aaron Rodgers finally back in the lineup, everybody gets a boost. Jordy Nelson is back as a top fantasy option, DeVante Adams remains in the WR2 discussion, and Randall Cobb is once again a fantasy asset. Cobb has a proven connection with Rodgers and had some fantasy value early in the year with Rodgers under center. With just two games left in the fantasy season, Cobb is about as good of a stash as you could get. He could be in FLEX consideration for championship week.

Chicago Defense - 24% owned

Cleveland's opponent in Week 16 is Chicago, a defense who has put up quite a few solid performances this season. While Chicago is clearly the top streaming option for Week 16, this matchup screams trap game to me. Cleveland is going to be desperate for a win if they lose to Baltimore this week and Chicago simply isn't that good. It could finally be the week the Browns score a victory. Still, the odds are in favor of the Bears winning and putting up a solid fantasy day. They are a top streaming option and owners set at defense might want to pick them up now just to block the rest of the league.

Washington Defense - 30% owned

Washington faces off against a struggling Denver offense that may be starting Brock Osweiler in Week 16. The unit has been hard to trust this year, but has actually had a solid fantasy outing in two of their last three games. The Broncos offense should not scare anyone. For owners who haven't planned ahead on their defense for championship week, Washington is a solid play.

 

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Wan'Dale Robinson

the Clear No. 1 Target in Tennessee?
Brock Purdy

Supporting Cast Gets an Upgrade for 2026
Jalen McMillan

Headed for a Bigger Role in 2026
Ashton Jeanty

Poised to Break Out with Improved Offense and Protection?
Justin Jefferson

Poised to Re-Emerge as an Elite Dynasty Wide Receiver in 2026
J.J. McCarthy

Dynasty Value is Fading Heading into 2026
NFL

Brenen Thompson May Struggle to Consistently Earn Targets in the NFL
Drake Maye

Can Drake Maye Overcome Questionable Supporting Cast in New England?
Garrett Wilson

Will Garrett Wilson Have a More Stable Environment Around Him in New York Going Forward?
NFL

Omar Cooper Jr.'s Stock is Rising as Draft Day Approaches
J.J. Spaun

Needs the Putter to Cooperate in San Antonio
Thorbjorn Olesen

Trending Up in San Antonio
Denny McCarthy

Carrying Momentum into San Antonio
Matt Grzelcyk

Unavailable for Reminder of Season
Artyom Levshunov

Ruled Out for Rest of Season
Mathieu Olivier

to Miss Couple of Weeks
Evan Rodrigues

to Have Season-Ending Surgery
Sam Reinhart

Won't Return This Season
Carter Yakemchuk

Injured in Tuesday's Loss
Aaron Ekblad

Hand Injury "Doesn't Look Good"
Cameron Johnson

Available Against Jazz
Aaron Gordon

Likely to Play Wednesday Night
Malik Monk

Suiting Up Wednesday
DeMar DeRozan

Cleared to Face Raptors
Andrew Wiggins

Questionable Against Celtics
Norman Powell

Won't Play Wednesday
Danny Wolf

Without Timeline for Return
Jose Fernandez

Launches Two Home Runs in Historic MLB Debut
Chase DeLauter

Exits Tuesday's Game with Foot Injury, X-Rays Come Back Negative
Odell Beckham Jr.

Meets with John Harbaugh About Giants Reunion
Chris Kirk

Has Course History on His Side in San Antonio
Billy Horschel

a Volatile Option at the Valero Texas Open
Joe Highsmith

Still Searching for Form in San Antonio
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks to Find Form at the Valero Texas Open
Dalton Kincaid

Load Management a Possibility for Dalton Kincaid
J.K. Dobbins

is Fully Healthy for 2026
Jauan Jennings

49ers Acknowledge Jauan Jennings Won't Return
LeBron James

Set to Play in Cleveland Matchup
Jayson Tatum

Cleared to Play Wednesday
Neemias Queta

Returns Against Miami
De'Anthony Melton

Ruled Out Against Spurs
Kristaps Porzingis

Ruled Out Wednesday
Pascal Siakam

Expected to Suit Up Wednesday
Andrew Nembhard

Sitting Out Wednesday
Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Off Injury Report Wednesday
Ty Jerome

to Miss Fifth Straight Game
Caris LeVert

Available Tuesday Against Raptors
Miles McBride

to Suit up on Tuesday
Collin Murray-Boyles

Cleared to Play Tuesday
Marcus Sasser

is Available on Tuesday
Brandon Ingram

Returns Vs. Detroit
Seiya Suzuki

to Begin a Rehab Assignment Soon
Simon Holmstrom

Misses Tuesday's Action
Alexandre Carrier

Out 2-4 Weeks With Upper-Body Injury
Jordan Spieth

a Horse for Course History at TPC San Antonio
Mason Lohrei

Misses Second Consecutive Game Tuesday
Tyler Myers

Unavailable Against Bruins
Robert MacIntyre

Has One Flaw to Overcome at Valero Texas Open to be a Must-Play
Michael Bunting

to Sit Out Tuesday's Game
Maverick McNealy

In Exceptional Form This Season
Michael Thorbjornsen

Playing Well But Still Searching For A Win
Hideki Matsuyama

Playing Well Heading to the Valero Texas Open
Si Woo Kim

Heads to Valero Texas Open For Final Tune-Up Before Masters
Nikita Kucherov

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Evgeni Malkin

Ready for Action Tuesday
Sam Bennett

Rejoins Panthers Lineup Tuesday
Cody Ponce

Diagnosed With ACL Sprain, to Miss "Significant Time"
Tank Dell

Uncertain for OTAs, But Expected to Play in 2026
Alvin Kamara

Saints Still Want to Address Alvin Kamara's Contract
George Pickens

Cowboys Have "Long-Term Plans" for George Pickens
Kyle Pitts Sr.

Falcons Not Ruling Out Potential Kyle Pitts Sr. Trade
Jordan James

the "Front-Runner" to be Top Backup RB
A.J. Brown

Patriots Still Not Ruling Out an A.J. Brown Trade
Aaron Rodgers

Planning to Re-Sign With Steelers?
Collin Morikawa

Withdraws From Valero Texas Open
PGA

Stephan Jaegar Still Looking For Consistency at Valero Texas Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

is Red-Hot Coming to TPC San Antonio
Tony Finau

a Risky Proposition at Valero Texas Open
Ludvig Aberg

Looks to Shake Off Collapse at Valero Texas Open
Jacob deGrom

Cleared for Season Debut on Tuesday
Colt Emerson

Signs an Eight-Year Extension with Mariners
William Nylander

Records Four Points Against Ducks
Macklin Celebrini

Becomes Sixth Teenager With 100-Point Season
Jaden Schwartz

Could Return Tuesday
Jordan Greenway

Available Tuesday
Jake Sanderson

Remains Out Tuesday
Cutter Gauthier

Exits Early Against Maple Leafs
Patrick Rodgers

Needs to Make More Birdies in San Antonio
Sepp Straka

Seeks Opportunity in San Antonio This Weekend
Nick Taylor

Could Again Struggle at the Valero Texas Open
Jose Altuve

Tallies Four Hits, Two Homers in Big Night
Miguel Vargas

Hits Grand Slam, Drives in Six in Win Over Miami
Tanner Bibee

to Start on Tuesday Against Dodgers
Chase Elliott

Takes Advantage of Pit Strategies for Second Career Martinsville Win
Denny Hamlin

Dominates but Finishes Second at Martinsville
Joey Logano

Bounces Back with Third-Place Finish at Martinsville
Ty Gibbs

Gains his Fourth Top-Five Finish of the Season at Martinsville
William Byron

Scores Another Top-Five Finish at Martinsville
Joe Pyfer

Extends His Winning Streak
Israel Adesanya

Loses Fourth Consecutive Fight
Maycee Barber

Suffers Her First Knockout Loss
Alexa Grasso

Scores Highlight-Reel Knockout
Niko Price

Retires After UFC Seattle Loss
Michael Chiesa

Victorious In His Retirement Fight
Julian Erosa

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Lerryan Douglas

Scores First-Round Knockout Win In His UFC Debut
Alex Bregman

Clobbers First Two Homers in Sunday's Loss at Wrigley
Yandy Díaz

Yandy Diaz Records Five Hits, Drives in Four in Win Over Cardinals
Kyle Larson

Is Likely to Pay Off for DFS at Martinsville
Christopher Bell

Could Have Another Top-10 Performance At Martinsville
William Byron

Is A Threat to Win Again at Martinsville
Chase Elliott

is A Solid DFS Option for Martinsville Lineups
Chase Briscoe

has Plenty of Upside for DFS Lineups at Martinsville
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Unlikely to See High-Leverage Opportunities in Near Future
Jacob deGrom

Feels "Much Better," Hopeful he Can Start This Week
Ty Gibbs

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Ty Gibbs at Martinsville?
Ryan Preece

Is A Solid DFS Option for Martinsville Lineups
Josh Berry

Could Josh Berry Pay Off for Tournament DFS Lineups At Martinsville?
Carson Hocevar

May be Too Inconsistent to Start in Martinsville DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Is Austin Cindric Worth Rostering for DFS At Martinsville?
Denny Hamlin

the Favorite to Win at Martinsville
Ryan Blaney

Should Contend at Martinsville
Tyler Reddick

Should Come Back Down to Earth at Martinsville
Joey Logano

Will Be Strong at Martinsville
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Looking to Rebound at Martinsville
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Showing Progress, Qualifies Fifth at Martinsville
Dylan Cease

Fans 12 in Blue Jays Debut on Saturday
Andrew Vaughn

Needs Hand Surgery, Expected to be Out 4-6 Weeks
Jacob deGrom

"Confident" he Will Make his Next Start
Jacob deGrom

Scratched From Saturday's Start Due to Neck Stiffness
Jeferson Quero

Brewers Calling Up Catching Prospect Jeferson Quero
Deyvison De Los Santos

Marlins Promote Deyvison De Los Santos to Major Leagues
Shea Langeliers

Hits Two Home Runs on Opening Day
Kevin Gausman

Picks Up No-Decision But Strikes Out 11 on Opening Day
Joe Pyfer

Set For UFC Seattle Main Event
Israel Adesanya

Returns At UFC Seattle
Maycee Barber

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak To Eight
Alexa Grasso

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Niko Price

In Dire Need Of Victory
Michael Chiesa

Set For Retirement Fight
Lerryan Douglas

Set For His UFC Debut
Julian Erosa

Looks To Bounce Back
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF