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Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings - Fantasy Football Pickups Include Zamir White, Curtis Samuel, Hunter Henry, Trey Sermon, more

Jameson Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, Draft Sleepers

Fantasy football waiver wire rankings for Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season. Top free agent options to add off waivers, and our rankings will help you prioritize.

For most leagues it's time for the second round of the fantasy football playoffs, and today we're back with our Week 16 fantasy football waiver wire rankings to help you make the right moves this week on the waiver wire. The grind never stops.

Week 16 will be an interesting one -- with new injuries popping up yet again, there are likely going to be fill-ins and backups to emerge as viable fantasy options. Be sure to follow the news closely and be ready to strike. Each year players always rise during the fantasy playoffs to become difference makers and help win championships. Is Joshua Palmer here to stay and can be trusted down the stretch after a big week? Can we trust Noah Brown again after putting up back-to-back duds? Is Zamir White in line for another large workload with Jacobs injured?

Our waiver wire rankings will help answer these questions -- they've been a staple in the fantasy industry for years, providing a quick-hit list of player names that goes deep into the free agent options each week. For those unfamiliar, one of the industry's sharpest fantasy football minds, Nick Mariano, brings you his weekly waiver wire rankings and priority adds for the top 60 potential options.

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

 

Week 16 Waiver Wire Articles

Before diving into the Week 16 rankings, let's look at some other free waiver wire resources available at RotoBaller.

Each week, our NFL team puts out a complete array of fantasy football waiver wire articles to compliment our slick new Who Should I Pickup? Waiver wire player comparison tool. Bookmark it!

In addition, here is a quick rundown of our other waiver wire articles. First up is our overall Week 16 fantasy football waiver wire pickups (all positions) article by Robert Lorge and the famous Week 16 waiver wire express article compliments of Nick Mariano. These give a nice overview of the waiver wire pickup options each week. Then, we also look at FAAB waiver wire bidding recommendations from Nick Mariano. We also dig deeper for each position with individual waiver wire articles:

 

Who To Pickup for Fantasy Football Week 16?

Finally, below, you'll see our weekly rankings for the relevant waiver wire pickup options, including how to prioritize them for your league (depending on the league size). Quarterbacks and Defenses (D/ST) are grouped together at the bottom of the list:

Rank Player Name Pos. % Ros. Baller Move
1 Ty Chandler RB 52 Add in All Leagues
2 Noah Brown WR 40 Add in All Leagues
3 Curtis Samuel WR 37 Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues
4 Romeo Doubs WR 58 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
5 Joshua Palmer WR 29 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
6 Roschon Johnson RB 21 Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues
7 Dontayvion Wicks WR 3 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
8 Jerry Jeudy WR 54 Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues
9 Jameson Williams WR 22 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
10 Tyler Boyd WR 49 Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues
11 Hunter Henry TE 24 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
12 Demario Douglas WR 22 Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues
13 Quentin Johnston WR 21 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
14 Kenneth Gainwell RB 28 Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues
15 Jerick McKinnon RB 41 Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues
16 Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB 40 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
17 Zamir White RB 15 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
18 Tyjae Spears RB 45 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
19 Rico Dowdle RB 11 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
20 Tucker Kraft TE 10 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
21 Rashid Shaheed WR 47 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
22 Treylon Burks WR 11 Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues
23 Parker Washington WR 5 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
24 Greg Dortch WR 5 Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues
25 Gerald Everett TE 44 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
26 Chase Brown RB 20 Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues
27 Justice Hill RB 13 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
28 Jonathan Mingo WR 14 Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues
29 Robert Woods WR 6 Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues
30 Demarcus Robinson WR 8 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
31 Tre Tucker WR 0 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
32 Latavius Murray RB 15 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
33 Jamaal Williams RB 15 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
34 Trey Sermon RB 0 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
35 Juwan Johnson TE 12 Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues
36 Jamal Agnew WR 0 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
37 Tyler Higbee TE 39 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
38 Cedric Tillman WR 0 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
39 D.J. Montgomery WR 0 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
40 Tanner Hudson TE 4 Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues
41 Jordan Mason RB 3 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
42 Isaiah Spiller RB 0 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
43 Darius Slayton WR 2 Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues
44 Michael Mayer TE 7 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
45 Chris Rodriguez Jr. RB 3 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
46 Ameer Abdullah RB 1 Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues
47 David Moore WR 0 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
48 Trenton Irwin WR 1 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
49 Baker Mayfield QB 54 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
50 Jake Browning QB 47 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
51 Gardner Minshew QB 25 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
52 Joe Flacco QB 24 Add in 14+ Team Leagues
53 Derek Carr QB 39 Add in 2QB Leagues
54 Nick Mullens QB 4 Add in 2QB Leagues
55 Aidan O'Connell QB 5 Add in 2QB Leagues
56 Denver Broncos DST 47 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
57 Green Bay Packers DST 47 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
58 Chicago Bears DST 14 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
59 Cincinnati Bengals DST 48 Add in 12+ Team Leagues
60 Los Angeles Rams DST 21 Add in 12+ Team Leagues

Some of the top names include Zamir White, Curtis Samuel, Hunter Henry, Trey Sermon, and Noah Brown. We recap why these players rostered under 55% in Yahoo! leagues should be on your radar when scrolling through the waiver wire for Week 15.

Noah Brown, WR, Houston Texans (40% Rostered)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings: 2

After sitting out Weeks 11 and 12 with a knee injury, Houston Texans wide receiver Noah Brown (knee) was cleared to play Sunday against the Titans. He rebounded in Week 15 after posting donuts in the last two games. The 27-year-old caught eight of 11 targets for 82 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Titans.

Brown is Houston's No. 1 wide receiver with Nico Collins (calf) sidelined. His fantasy stock will rise if rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) returns in Week 16 after missing a game due to a concussion. Fantasy managers should add Brown in all league formats with the expanded role as the Texans' top target.

Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (15% Rostered)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings: 17

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (quad) was ruled out for last Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Zamir White drew the start and posted a solid line in the Raiders' 63-21 win over the Chargers. White rushed 17 times for 69 yards and a touchdown while catching three of four targets for 16 yards. The 24-year-old outpaced Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden 17-6-2 in Week 16.

If Jacobs cannot suit up for Sunday's upcoming contest against the Kansas City Chiefs, White would remain the Raiders' lead back and have an expanded role in the second game of the fantasy postseason. Fantasy managers, especially Jacobs ones, and those searching for running back help should look to add White in all league formats.

Trey Sermon, RB, Indianapolis Colts (0% Rostered)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings: 34

Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss (arm) exited Saturday's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers with an arm injury and did not return. Trey Sermon filled in for Moss and rushed for 88 yards on 17 attempts in the Week 15 win. Sermon would have an expanded role and be the Colts' lead back if Moss and Jonathan Taylor (thumb) remain sidelined.

However, Taylor is feeling good and could return after missing the previous three games with a thumb issue. The severity of Moss' injury is unknown, but he did have his x-rays come back negative. Sermon's fantasy value all depends on the health of both Taylor and Moss, making him an add in most leagues, but especially for any Moss or Taylor managers. 

Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots (24% Rostered)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings: 11

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (knee) is dealing with a knee  and was initially injured during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 29-year-old caught seven of nine targets for 66 yards and one touchdown in the Week 15 loss. Over the last two games with Bailey Zappe under center, Henry has caught 10 of 12 targets for 106 yards and three touchdowns.

Fantasy managers should monitor Henry's practice status throughout the week. If Henry doesn't miss any time, he is an excellent streaming option for the fantasy playoffs in a plus matchup against the Broncos. Denver has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Managers searching for tight-end help can add and stream Henry in Week 16.

Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders (37% Rostered)

Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings: 3

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin's monster performance overshadowed teammate Curtis Samuel but he still had a productive fantasy day in Week 15. Samuel caught five of nine targets for 41 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 28-20 loss to the Rams. The 27-year-old has hauled in 18 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns over his last three games.

Samuel has played well recently but draws a tough matchup against a tough Jets secondary in Week 16. The Jets allowed the least number of fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in 2023. Fantasy managers searching for wide receiver help or an option in deep leagues can look to add and start Samuel this week. It gets more challenging for the Commander's schedule with the 49ers on deck after the Jets, making Samuel a flex option at best in the upcoming weeks.

 

Running Backs - Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings
Pickups are in priority order:

Player Name
Ty Chandler
Roschon Johnson
Kenneth Gainwell
Jerick McKinnon
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Zamir White
Tyjae Spears
Rico Dowdle
Chase Brown
Justice Hill
Latavius Murray
Jamaal Williams
Trey Sermon
Jordan Mason
Isaiah Spiller
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Ameer Abdullah

Wide Receivers - Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings

Pickups are in priority order:

Player Name
Noah Brown
Curtis Samuel
Romeo Doubs
Joshua Palmer
Dontayvion Wicks
Jerry Jeudy
Jameson Williams
Tyler Boyd
Demario Douglas
Quentin Johnston
Rashid Shaheed
Treylon Burks
Parker Washington
Greg Dortch
Jonathan Mingo
Robert Woods
Demarcus Robinson
Tre Tucker
Jamal Agnew
Cedric Tillman
D.J. Montgomery
Darius Slayton
David Moore
Trenton Irwin

 

Tight Ends - Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings

Pickups are in priority order:

Player Name
Hunter Henry
Tucker Kraft
Gerald Everett
Juwan Johnson
Tyler Higbee
Tanner Hudson
Michael Mayer

 

Quarterbacks - Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings

Pickups are in priority order, with emphasis on Week 16:

Player Name
Baker Mayfield
Jake Browning
Gardner Minshew
Joe Flacco
Derek Carr
Nick Mullens
Aidan O'Connell

 

Defenses (D/ST) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Rankings

Pickups are in priority order, with emphasis on Week 16:

Player Name
Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers
Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals
Los Angeles Rams



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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




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