🖥 CYBER WEEK - TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE CYBER
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

Deeper Sleepers for Fantasy Football (Week 16)

Deeper waiver wire sleepers and pickups to add for Week 16 of the NFL season. Justin Carter finds lightly owned players for fantasy football owners to target.

It's (probably) your championship week and you might have some issues if, for instance, you're an Antonio Brown owner in a deep league. That's why Rotoballer is here: to help you through this final week of your fantasy season.

Because so many of our readers are done after this week, none of these targets take Week 17 into consideration. I know there are a few of you that have Week 17 championships, so I'll be back here next week to help y'all out. Also, though, stop having Week 17 championships, because the randomness involved in those is not indicative of your fantasy team's strengths and weaknesses.

Anyway, let's look at deeper waiver wire targets and sleepers for Week 16, players whose ownership is currently under 20% and are likely available in many of your leagues. Note: All ownership percentages are for Yahoo leagues.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Deeper Waiver Wire Targets for Week 16

QUARTERBACKS

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens - 18% owned

Flacco makes this list for a second consecutive week, which surprises me a little because he was 14% owned coming into this past weekend and was playing Cleveland, so I expected him to be streamed a little more than he was. If you're still in need of a quarterback for this upcoming week, check out Flacco, who has three strong fantasy games in a row and a match-up with a Colts defense that's allowed the ninth-most points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks. A knee injury to wide receiver Jeremy Maclin could hurt his upside a little bit, but he's worth a shot.

Mitch Trubisky, Chicago Bears - 6% owned

How desperate are you? Trubisky has a good match-up on paper against the Cleveland Browns (i.e. the team that Flacco put up big numbers against in Week 15), but he's a little scary to trust because of the Jordan Howard factor. Howard could see almost thirty carries against a bad Browns defense, which obviously limits Trubisky's upside, but if the game stays close or Chicago gets behind, there's an exploitable Browns secondary for Trubisky to carve up. He's a risk, but if for some reason you're in need of a starting quarterback this week and he's there, don't be too afraid.

 

RUNNING BACKS

Wayne Gallman, New York Giants - 5% owned

Running back is kind of a wasteland this week, but there a couple of reasonable dart throws. Wayne Gallman looked immensely better than Orleans Darkwa in New York's loss to the Eagles, rushing eight times for 39 yards to Darkwa's nine carries for seven yards, though Darkwa did find the end zone. Gallman was also a factor in the passing game, hauling in six catches for 40 yards. The Arizona Cardinals have a good run defense, but if you have a spot on your bench and need a running back then Gallman is worth a grab. Monitor reports out of New York over the course of the week and see if anything gets said about Gallman starting over Darkwa. If he does, he's got flex consideration in deeper leagues.

Tion Green, Detroit Lions - 3% owned

I really like Tion Green this week for a few reasons. First, he's overtaken Ameer Abdullah on the depth chart. Second, he's a better option in short yardage situations than Theo Riddick. Finally, THE BENGALS RUN DEFENSE. Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon combined for 100 yards this past week, and Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen combined for over 200 rushing yards in Week 14. If Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict (concussion) is out again, the Lions could actually have a good day on the ground. Really!

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars  - 5% owned

There is a whole lot to like about Keelan Cole this week. He's got a touchdown in three straight games, he's playing against the 49ers passing defense, and Marqise Lee (ankle) is expected to be out in Week 16, allowing Cole to claim an even larger role in the offense. If you lost Antonio Brown and don't have receiver depth, Cole gives you a reasonable shot at finding the end zone. He's definitely worth a look for receiver-needy fantasy owners.

Kendall Wright, Chicago Bears  - 4% owned

I'm a big believer in tracking targets, because they can be good predictors of future success. Wright's targets over the past two games? 11 in Week 14 (10 catches for 107 yards) and 12 in Week 15 (7 catches for 81 yards). As mentioned above, the Bears get to play a weak Browns defense. He's a good option in deeper formats this week, though there's always some bust potential with Bears wide outs--remember when Dontrelle Inman was the next big thing? Still, if the usage holds up then Wright is a solid floor play in a week where you might need someone who can be that person, especially if you're trying to replace any injured receivers.

Damiere Byrd, Carolina Panthers  - 0% owned

Byrd found the end zone twice in Week 15. The Panthers are thin at wide receiver right now and Devin Funchess doesn't appear to be at 100%. The reemergence of tight end Greg Olsen hurts Byrd's upside, but this past week proved that Cam Newton isn't afraid to look his way with the ball near the goal line. He's risky, but at this point most players still on waivers are risky.

 

TIGHT ENDS

Benjamin Watson, Baltimore Ravens - 14% owned

I suggested Flacco above and I'm going to suggest his tight end here. The tight end position has been hard to predict this year, so if you're looking for a deep league streamer this week you could do worse than Watson against the Colts. He's found the end zone in two of Baltimore's last three games, though that other game is worrisome--no catches in the Ravens high-scoring loss to the Steelers. But if you're willing to ride out the potential bust factor, Watson could have a strong day against an Indianapolis defense allowing the 11th-most points to fantasy tight ends this season.

 

More Weekly Lineup Prep

 




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

Nathan Walker

Out for Eight Weeks
Lian Bichsel

to Sit Out 6-8 Weeks
Viktor Arvidsson

Activated From Injured Reserve
Warren Foegele

Remains Out Tuesday
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Probable for Wednesday
Valeri Nichushkin

Available After Eight-Game Absence
Gabriel Landeskog

Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog Cleared for Tuesday
Jamal Murray

Questionable for Wednesday
Tyson Foerster

to Miss 2-3 Months
CFB

D.J. Durkin Staying at Auburn Under Alex Golesh
Alexandre Sarr

Out of Action Again on Tuesday
Zion Williamson

Sidelined at Least Three Weeks
CFB

Charlie Weis Jr. Permitted to Coach Ole Miss Offense in College Football Playoff
Khris Middleton

Will Not Play Tuesday
Kyshawn George

Is Questionable Against the 76ers
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Says he's Fine After Suffering Hip Contusion
Trey Murphy III

Will Return Tuesday Night
Omarion Hampton

Likely to Return in Week 14
Yves Missi

Uncertain to Play Tuesday Against the Timberwolves
Zion Williamson

Questionable Against Minnesota
Neemias Queta

Set to Return on Tuesday
Derrick White

Will Play Tuesday Against New York
Quentin Grimes

Downgraded to Questionable on Tuesday
CFB

Five-Star Quarterback Jared Curtis Flips Commitment From Georgia to Vanderbilt
CFB

Florida Hiring Brad White as Defensive Coordinator
Kyle Schwarber

Giants Have Checked in on Kyle Schwarber
Willson Contreras

Willing to Waive his Full No-Trade Clause?
Brandon Aiyuk

49ers "Hopeful" Brandon Aiyuk Will Play in 2025
Brayden Point

Without Timetable for Return
Jake Walman

Still Out Tuesday
Mason Appleton

Misses Tuesday's Contest
Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Good to Go Tuesday
Conor Garland

Out on Tuesday
Petr Mrazek

Considered Day-to-Day
Tyson Foerster

Hurt in Monday's Loss
Trey Murphy III

May Skip Another Game Tuesday
Zion Williamson

Back in Pelicans Lineup Tuesday
Draymond Green

Probable for Tuesday Night
Jimmy Butler III

Questionable to Play Tuesday
Derrick White

Likely Available Tuesday
Paul George

Listed as Questionable for Tuesday
Joel Embiid

Won't Play Against Wizards
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Carted Off With Hip Injury on Monday Night
Edwin Díaz

Mets Still Interested in Re-Signing Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Mets
Cole Ragans

Red Sox Targeting Cole Ragans in a Trade?
CFB

Kentucky Hires Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein As Head Coach
Davante Adams

Not Dealing With a Serious Injury
Brandon Miller

Unavailable on Monday
Kyler Murray

Surgery Not on the Table for Kyler Murray
Duncan Robinson

Absent Against Atlanta
Marvin Harrison Jr.

in Danger of Missing Week 14?
Danila Yurov

Won't Play on Tuesday
David Pastrnak

to Remain Out Tuesday
Adam Gaudette

Iffy for Monday
CFB

Kalani Sitake the Top Target for Penn State Coaching Job
Logan Cooley

a Game-Time Decision Monday
Josh Norris

Available Monday
Neal Pionk

Remains Out Monday
Jimmy Snuggerud

to Miss Six Weeks After Wrist Surgery
Justin Herbert

Having Hand Surgery on Monday
Kyler Murray

Cardinals Won't Open Kyler Murray's Practice Window This Week
Sauce Gardner

Not a Candidate to Go on Injured Reserve
Jayden Daniels

Not Cleared for Contact, Decision on Week 14 Status Delayed
CFB

Josh Heupel Says He's Not a Candidate for Penn State Head Coach Job
Trey Hendrickson

Doubtful to Return in Week 14
Tee Higgins

Still in the Concussion Protocol
Drake London

"has a Chance" to Play in Week 14
J.J. McCarthy

in Line to Start in Week 14?
Aaron Jones Sr.

Not Dealing With Serious Shoulder Injury, Likely Day-to-Day
Sam Darnold

Dealing With Ankle Injury, "Should be Good" for Week 14
CFB

Will Stein, Brian Hartline the Top Candidates for Kentucky Job?
CFB

Nebraska Fires Defensive Coordinator John Butler After One Season
CFB

UCLA Expected to Hire Bob Chesney as Next Head Coach
Sauce Gardner

Officially Week-to-Week with Strained Calf
CFB

Lane Kiffin to Make $13 Million Salary, Ties Kirby Smart
CFB

Buster Faulkner, Joey Halzle Candidates for Florida Offensive Coordinator Job?
CFB

Kentucky Officially Fires Mark Stoops
Justin Herbert

Has Metacarpal Fracture in Left Hand
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Week 14 Availability Up in the Air
Zach Ertz

Leads Washington in Receiving in Overtime Loss
CFB

Lane Kiffin to be Introduced as LSU's Next Head Coach on Monday
CFB

Florida Poised to Land Jon Sumrall as Next Head Coach
CFB

Alex Golesh Taking Over Auburn Head-Coaching Job
CFB

Arkansas Expected to Hire Ryan Silverfield as Next Head Coach
Zack Wheeler

Likely to Return in May
Ryan Helsley

Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Orioles
Dylan Cease

Agrees With Blue Jays on Seven-Year, $210 Million Deal

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP