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RotoBaller staff's fantasy football Week 16 waiver wire pickups for 2025. Expert advice for waiver wire RB, WR, TE, QB targets from Phil, Rob, Craig and Alex.
If you're still alive and heading into the fantasy football playoff semifinals, congratulations! You must have a solid team, but you should still be looking at the waiver wire to improve your depth, find a one-week fill-in, or at least block your opponents from adding potential boosts to their rosters. There's never a time to get complacent!
Pivoting when your players are injured or underperforming is always the name of the game in fantasy football, and we're here to guide your waiver-wire decisions. In this article, we won't cover some of the top chalk options, such as Trevor Lawrence, Blake Corum, and Michael Carter. Instead, we'll focus on some players deeper in the waiver wire rankings who can be more reasonably acquired.
Our RotoBaller experts Phil Clark, Alex Ciulla, Craig Rondinone, and Rob Lorge are here to help you identify the top RB, WR, TE, and QB targets ahead of Week 16.
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Running Backs Waiver Wire Week 16
Selections By Phil Clark
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders - 34% rostered
Rodriguez’s aforementioned rise into lead back duties for Washington propelled him to team highs in snap share (39.8%), attempts (54/10.8 per game), and rushing yards (253/50.6 per game) from Weeks 9-15. He also generated three touchdowns. Croskey-Merritt held a 28.7% share during that period, while Jeremy McNichols registered a 34.3% share. However, Rodriguez’s statistical momentum was halted in Week 15 due to his groin injury.
Croskey-Merritt’s performance is destined to keep him involved in the allocation of touches within the backfield after Rodriguez has resurfaced. However, Rodriguez could reclaim his recent role as the Commanders’ RB1. Touches within Washington’s backfield rotation have fluctuated on multiple occasions throughout the regular season.
The uncertainty that has now emerged surrounding Rodriguez’s health will enhance the challenge of determining whether to add Croskey-Merritt or Rodriguez at this critical juncture of the playoffs. If issues at the running back position have left you searching for a flex option, Rodriguez would be the preferred choice once he returns.
Jawhar Jordan, Houston Texans - 0 % rostered
Jordan had not registered a snap at the NFL level entering Week 15. However, he has now emerged as a potential starting option during Week 16 matchups if Woody Marks (ankle) and Nick Chubb (ribs) are unable to operate in Houston‘s backfield rotation.
Jawhar Jordan goes 50 yards in his first NFL game 💪
AZvsHOU on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/2oNLkO4cxB
— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2025
Jordan accumulated 1,943 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns with his 323 attempts during his final two collegiate seasons and was later selected in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL draft (205th overall) by Houston. Jordan had not been integrated into the Texans’ offense before Week 15, but he maximized his opportunity when Houston hosted Arizona.
Jordan secured a 44% snap share, carried 15 times, and eclipsed 100 rushing yards (101), while averaging 6.7 yards per attempt. Jordan also finished third overall in rush yards over expected (46) according to Next Gen Stats. The status of Marks and Chubb should be monitored as the week progresses. However, Jordan is an intriguing roster addition in advance of a favorable matchup with Las Vegas in Week 16. He will become an RB3/flex option if Marks and Chubb fail to recover from their collective injuries.
Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos - 1% rostered
RJ Harvey’s involvement in Denver’s backfield may have discouraged you from considering the addition of McLaughlin to your roster. However, McLaughlin’s adjacency to Harvey on Denver’s depth chart has positioned McLaughlin to secure an expanded workload if Harvey is forced to the sideline. That scenario could develop in Week 16, after Harvey sustained a rib injury during the Broncos’ Week 15 matchup with Green Bay.
McLaughlin had attained a 15.1% snap share from Weeks 11-14, while averaging 5.3 attempts/21.7 rushing yards per game. He also registered a 13.9% snap share in Week 15, while accumulating two carries and four rushing yards. While those numbers have prevented McLaughlin from reaching standalone value, it is his potential to operate with a significant workload during any absence by Harvey that elevates him among this week’s waiver wire options.
Updates regarding Harvey’s health should be monitored, but McLaughlin is now primed to function as the Broncos’ primary back during their next two matchups if Harvey is unavailable. Denver will host Jacksonville in Week 16, before traveling to Kansas City in Week 17.
Audric Estime / Evan Hull, New Orleans Saints - (Estime -0% rostered), (Hull - 0% rostered)
Devin Neal operated as the Saints’ RB1 from Weeks 12-14, in the aftermath of injuries (knee/ankle) that sidelined Alvin Kamara during those contests. Neal secured a 75.7% snap share while remaining entrenched atop a restructured depth chart that also contained Estime and Hull. That positioned Neal to retain temporary lead back duties during Kamara’s continued absence. However, Neal sustained a hamstring injury when New Orleans hosted Carolina in Week 15.
That elevated Estime and Hull into a rotation during the contest. Estime secured a 38.1% snap share, accumulated three attempts, and assembled 11 rushing yards. He also ran 15 routes, collected all three of his targets, and produced 39 yards as a receiver. Hull operated with a 30.1% snap share, carried four times, and generated 12 rushing yards. He also ran eight routes, but was not targeted by Tyler Shough.
The timeline for Kamara‘s return remains uncertain, and Neal's status for Week 16 is equally unclear. Estime and Hull can both be utilized as low-end flex options in deeper leagues if Kamara and Neal are unavailable for the Saints' upcoming matchups against the Jets and Titans.
Wide Receivers Waiver Wire Week 16
Selections By Alex Ciulla
Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans - 43% rostered
Jayden Higgins has become a mainstay in this column, and probably remains until either his roster percentage ticks up slightly more or he gives me reason not to feature him. As of yet, neither has come to fruition. The rookie had one of his worst outings of the campaign in Week 15 -- a one-catch, four-yard performance while his team doubled-up the Cardinals 40-20 at home. It was his fifth one-catch appearance this season, but the first in the last six weeks. For what it's worth, Nico Collins was the only Texans' wideout with more than two targets on the weekend.
It's fair to say Sunday's output was disastrous, although Higgins' playing time hasn't wavered one bit. For six games running, he's placed either first or second in snaps amongst his teammates, and racked up 28 more than the next-closest receiver in the lopsided victory (Xavier Hutchinson).
If the 23-year-old flames out again in Week 16, then that's on me, but he'll at least be afforded an excellent matchup against a Raiders' defense that had yielded the fifth-most fantasy points per game to WRs (36.71) heading into this past weekend.
Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers - 5% rostered
Quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers let one slip through their fingers in Week 15. Instead of sitting atop the NFC South with a one-game lead over Tampa Bay, they were dealt a 20-17 loss by the hosting Saints. Despite ultimately losing -- and a mediocre stat line -- Young made some nice throws, including a doozy of a touch pass to Jalen Coker.
The former UDFA connected on all four of his looks in this one, racking up 60 yards and a touchdown to lead the team in all categories. Coker now has at least four receptions in three of four outings, including a TD in back-to-back appearances, seemingly cementing himself as at least the No. 2 option in Carolina's offense.
I'll admit, it's mildly concerning that fellow second-year pro Xavier Legette out-snapped Coker for the second straight game after the reverse was true in the four matchups prior. Either way, the production speaks for itself, with Coker leading the way in receptions (22-13), yards (284-184), and targets (27-25) since Week 8.
Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets - 16% rostered
I'm willing to acknowledge when I'm wrong, and I grossly overestimated Garrett Wilson's (knee) health in last week's feature. Under the assumption that Wilson would return in Week 15, I chose to highlight John Metchie III again, supposing that he'd coexist better in an offense with the former than teammate Adonai Mitchell. We'll have to wait at least one more week to see if that hypothesis rings true, but in the meantime, I'm still holding onto the talent and opportunity.
Cook ➡️ Mitchell and then Mitchell ➡️ Cook pic.twitter.com/Dqp7IQxDGI
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 14, 2025
Mitchell continued his hot-and-cold streak with six catches for 58 yards and a score, nine targets in New York's 48-20 road loss to the Jaguars. Surprisingly, rookie QB Brady Cook didn't look nearly as bad as he did in his Jets' debut, showing a bit of scrambling/throw-on-the-run prowess. There's still work to be done, but the early returns were intriguing at the very least.
As of this past weekend, there's been no news insinuating that Wilson would rejoin the team in Week 16. In fact, head coach Aaron Glenn has shifted responsibility to the team doctors, offering little to no update on the star receiver's status. On the chance he's out again, Mitchell isn't a bad high-upside dart throw in a middle-of-the-road matchup with the Saints.
Tight Ends Waiver Wire Week 16
Selections By Craig Rondinone
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans - 49% rostered
Dalton Schultz continues to provide fantasy bang for the buck in PPR leagues. He has caught at least six passes in five of his past seven games heading into the pivotal Week 16. Schultz is fourth among tight ends in receptions, yet is somehow available in many leagues because he does not score enough (two TDs) and does not do enough with his catches (9.3 YPC).
This is balderdash to me. You know who Schultz plays this week? Home to the 2-12 Las Vegas Raiders, who have totally given up. You know who he plays in Week 18, a week that some fantasy leagues still consider important? The 31st-ranked pass defense of the reeling Indianapolis Colts.
Pick up Schultz, and at worst, he will provide four catches for 35 yards. That is the worst-case scenario, and that scenario will not lose you a fantasy playoff game. More likely, he will have six catches for 55 yards and possibly more, and possibly a score. He is my TE1 on waiver wires this week!
Theo Johnson, New York Giants - 46% rostered
The fantasy numbers keep coming for Theo Johnson. While starting wideouts Darius Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson each had 10 targets in Week 15, Theo Johnson outgained them with 72 yards on just four targets. And talk about a model of consistency! Johnson has had exactly three receptions in seven of his last eight games. If only he could catch four or five passes every week!
Quarterbacks Waiver Wire Week 16
Selections By Rob Lorge
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Since Week 5, Lawrence is averaging 21.9 PPG. Over this stretch, Lawrence is the QB3 behind only Josh Allen and Jaxson Dart. Over these 10 games, Lawrence has scored 19 or more points in 6 of them. This includes a 26.24 and this past weekend, a 44.3-point performance. Since their Week 8 bye, Lawrence has scored 15 or more points in six out of seven games and has been above 19 in four of them.
Lawrence is playing some of his best ball of the season. The acquisition of Jakobi Meyers has greatly helped, and Brian Thomas Jr. has seemingly returned to form. Lawrence can score points with his legs, an essential aspect of fantasy value. Lawrence has Denver in Week 16, which is a tough matchup, but he gets a solid matchup in Week 17 against the Colts. He scored 19.36 points against them in Week 14.
Other QB Options
- Jacoby Brisett, Arizona Cardinals
- Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
- J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here:
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Who Should I Pickup? Some common 2025 fantasy football waiver wire decisions are regarding players like Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jawhar Jordan, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Evan Hull, Jayden Higgins, Adonai Mitchell, Jalen Coker, Theo Johnson, Dalton Schultz. But not to worry, we are here to help make these waiver wire decisions and build winning teams in 2025. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups in 2025. Our free Who Should I Pickup? tool will help make your fantasy football waiver wire decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to pick up... all free! Make the right decisions.
2025 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jawhar Jordan, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Evan Hull, Jayden Higgins, Adonai Mitchell, Jalen Coker, Theo Johnson, Dalton Schultz. These are some common searches for 2025 fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
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Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jawhar Jordan, Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Evan Hull, Jayden Higgins, Adonai Mitchell, Jalen Coker, Theo Johnson, Dalton Schultz:
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