RADIO
Welcome to Week 16 everyone. If you're still alive in your fantasy league, you're either in the semi-finals or playing for all the marbles in the fantasy championship. While we wouldn't recommend straying from the studs that got you this far, you might have a need to dig dipper.
Those that stashed Ezekiel Elliott through his six-game suspension and made it to the finals are sitting pretty. He's owned in 96% of Yahoo leagues, so double check to make sure his previous owner didn't dump him, if you haven't already. Owners that were lucky enough to advance despite the injuries to Antonio Brown (partially torn calf), Marqise Lee (ankle) and Davante Adams (concussion) may be looking for receiver upgrades off the wire. We're here to help!
Each FAAB auction price recommendation will be based on a $100 FAAB budget, and all players listed have less than 50 percent ownership on Yahoo.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Running Backs
James White (NE) - $10-15 (51% owned)
Rex Burkhead sprained his knee in the barnburner between the Pats and Steelers, and he's unlikely to return until the postseason. Dion Lewis remains the workhorse back for New England, but Burkhead's short-term absence will create more of a need to mix in White as the change-of-pace back. Mike Gillislee, who hasn't been active since late October, may also return to the flow.
You'll need to temper expectations, though, as White had no carries and only two catches for eight yards in the Week 15 win, even with Burkhead injured fairly early in the contest. There's no debating that White's fantasy value increases, though, and he'll at least be an RB3/flex consideration in deep PPR leagues this weekend against the Bills, who allow the most fantasy points per week (27.8) to running backs.
Tion Green (DET) - $5-10 (3% owned)
Detroit's backfield is a mess right now, but Green may be your best bet after he saw a team-high 10 carries for 35 yards in the Week 15 win over Chicago last Saturday. He also added three receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown.
Theo Riddick isn't healthy and Ameer Abdullah is in the doghouse, so there is short-term value for Green. The Bengals, Detroit's Week 16 matchup, are very forgiving on the ground, too. They allow 26.2 fantasy points per game to running backs, fourth-most in the NFL.
This weak three-headed monster attack is one to avoid, if at all possible, however. Green is a low-upside RB/3 flex for the most desperate owners in deep leagues this weekend.
Chris Ivory / T.J. Yeldon (JAC) - $5-10 (27%, 12% owned)
With rookie Leonard Fournette (quadriceps, ankle) sitting out in Week 15, this is a reminder that those that own him should look to handcuff Ivory or Yeldon to him to be safe. Fournette is expected to return for a great matchup with the Niners in Week 16.
However, if the Jags rest Fournette for a second straight week, Ivory and Yeldon would once again be in play as RB3/flex options. In the Week 15 drubbing of the Texans, Ivory led the backfield with 17 carries for 42 yards. Yeldon had seven carries and four receptions, but four-stringer Corey Grant stole the show with 10 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Ivory remains the primary between-the-tackles backup for Fournette, but Grant and Yeldon would likely continue to mix in if Fournette sits another one out. It's a messy scenario if it plays out for the second straight week.
Also Consider: Elijhaa Penny (ARI) - $3-5, Kapri Bibbs (WAS) - $3-5
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Wide Receivers
Martavis Bryant (PIT) - $10-15 (56% owned)
The Steelers were dealt a big blow in the tough-luck loss to the Patriots in Week 15, as Antonio Brown (calf) will likely miss the final two regular season games. As a result, Bryant had his second-best receiving effort of the season (four catches, 59 yards and a score).
With Brown out in Week 16, Bryant, as well as JuJu Smith-Schuster and Eli Rogers, will all have expanded roles in the passing game. That's especially good news since the Steelers will be facing an inept Houston Texans secondary. That'll make Bryant an option as a boom-or-bust WR3 in the fantasy finals.
Mike Wallace (BAL) - $10-15 (40% owned)
There was a time this year when fantasy owners wouldn't touch Wallace with a 10-foot pole. Now those in need of production in the fantasy playoffs may be welcoming him with open arms.
The 31-year-old veteran has double-digit targets in two of the last four weeks and has eclipsed 72 yards receiving in each of the last three weeks, with a 100-yard game mixed in.
With Jeremy Maclin fading and unhealthy, Wallace has clearly become the trusted go-to target for quarterback Joe Flacco, and Flacco has been elevating his game somewhat of late, too. The banged-up Colts secondary presents a nice opportunity for Wallace to keep it going, and he'll also have a great chance at his first touchdown since Nov. 19.
Kendall Wright (CHI) - $5-10 (4% owned)
Wright had seven catches Sept. 17 against the Bucs but then went 10 straight games without having more than five receptions for the Bears. In the last two weeks, however, he's caught 17 passes on 24 targets for 188 yards. It's safe to say he's passed Dontrelle Inman as the leading receiver in Chicago as rookie Mitch Trubisky's favorite weapon.
With that said, Chicago remains a run-first unit and may have positive game script in order to lean heavily on Jordan Howard in Week 16 at home against the winless Browns. Wright has appeal as a WR4/flex type in PPR leagues, but he could also fall off the map if the Bears ride the ground game.
Keelan Cole (JAC) - $5-10 (5% owned)
We listed Cole in this space several weeks ago, but he's even more of a fantasy option now with both Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns likely out in Week 16 against the Niners. Along with rookie Dede Westbrook, Cole will be the team's No. 2 wideout if both Lee and Hurns are inactive in Week 16.
The 24-year-old Cole has really produced in the last three weeks, as he's scored in three straight games and has had at least three grabs for 49 yards, culminating with a seven-catch, 186-yard performance in Week 15 in the blowout win over Houston. You could do much worse than Cole as a WR4/flex play with everything on the line.
Also Consider: Roger Lewis (NYG) - $3-5, Damiere Byrd (CAR) - $3-5, Cody Latimer (DEN) - $3-5, Jaydon Mickens (JAC) - $3-5
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Tight Ends
Benjamin Watson (BAL) - $5-10 (14% owned)
Watson has mostly been hit or miss in 2017 for a Ravens team that has been aerially-challenged for most of the season. He did, however, post four catches for 74 yards and his fourth touchdown in the Week 15 win over the Browns.
With Jeremy Maclin (knee) unlikely to play Saturday against the Colts, Watson will probably serve as quarterback Joe Flacco's No. 2 passing target behind Mike Wallace. It's no secret that Indy's defense can be walked all over, too, making Watson a touchdown-dependent low-end streamer.
Antonio Gates (LAC) - $5-10 (14% owned)
Hunter Henry suffered a lacerated kidney in Week 15 and may be a long shot to play in the final two games of the regular season. That means the Bolts may have to turn back the clock and go to the old faithful Gates to keep their playoff hopes alive in Week 16 against the Jets on the road.
The 37-year-old Gates hasn't been anywhere near the fantasy radar this year, as he hasn't topped three receptions or 32 yards in a single game in 2017. However, he did find paydirt for the second time against the Chiefs last weekend, and you could say quarterback Philip Rivers has a knack for finding Gates in the red zone in his career.
Also Consider: Trey Burton (PHI) - $3-5, Garrett Celek (SF) - $3-5, Jeff Heuerman (DEN) - $3-5
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco (BAL) - $10-15 (18% owned)
Flacco has been called all kinds of ugly names this year, including the worst starting quarterback in the NFL. It hasn't been unwarranted, but he's turned things around since and has at least become a viable consideration in two-QB leagues.
Against Cleveland in Week 15, Flacco went 26-for-42 for a season-high 288 yards and a score. He's also gone three straight games over 200 yards, although he has yet to reach the 300-yard mark in 2017. Becoming more comfortable with top target Mike Wallace, Joe Cool should once again be playable in two-QB leagues against the Colts' beat-up secondary on Saturday.
Also Consider: Drew Stanton (ARI) - $3-5
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Defense
Chicago Bears - $3-5 (25% owned)
With fantasy trophies across the country on the line, it only makes sense to look to the team facing the 0-14 Browns for help. Cleveland will be sticking with quarterback DeShone Kizer, whose questionable decision-making in his rookie year has led him to an NFL-high 19 interceptions, and he's also sporting an ugly 53.9 completion percentage and 5.85 yards per attempt.
It'll be tough for Cleveland to get much going in likely frigid temperatures this Sunday in Chicago against an underrated defense that ranks 15th in sacks (33.0), ninth in interceptions (12), seventh in recovered fumbles (nine) and 14th in total takeaways. As usual, the Browns lead the league with 36 giveaways.
Also Consider: Arizona Cardinals - $1, Washington Redskins - $1
