December 18, 2018

Kyle Richardson's recommended fantasy football wide receiver waiver wire pickups for Week 16. These are your free agent fantasy WRs to add, and potential PPR sleepers to stash in 2018.

It is Week 16 of the NFL season and if you are still setting a fantasy football lineup this week, it means you are more than likely playing for a championship! If you are not, you should be because Week 17 fantasy football championships should be against the law. Either way, congrats if you are still worried about matchups and the waiver wire this week.

Even this deep into the season, you should have your eye on waivers for anyone that presents a good matchup. Don’t sit your studs for any of these players, but if you have been patching together a lineup due to injuries, one of the guys below could offer the potential to help take your team to a win next week.

Not all options are the same. Some players may be better in PPR or deeper leagues, so it’s not a one size fits all comparison. Use your best judgment when deciding which of these players is the right fit for your roster.

Check here for a complete list of our Waiver Wire Adds for Week 16 for help at all the skill positions. As always, RotoBaller has you covered!

Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds

Robert Foster, BUF - 13% owned

The Buffalo Bills will head to New England in Week 16 to face a Patriots fresh off an irritating loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over the last four weeks, the Patriots have allowed 23.80 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, 15^th most in the league during that span. The opportunity for Robert Foster to offer some fantasy value will absolutely be there.

Over his last five games, Foster has averaged 3.4 receptions on 4.6 targets for 87.6 receiving yards. During that time, Foster is also averaging an absurd 25.76 yards per reception as well. He has settled in as Josh Allen’s favorite target and will again have big-play upside in Week 16. Those looking for a WR3 fill-in could do a lot worse.

Robby Anderson, NYJ - 26% owned

A guy I completely wrote off at the beginning of the season has started making his way back over the last couple of weeks and now puts himself in a position to help you close out the 2018 season on a strong note. Robby Anderson may have become Sam Darnold’s favorite target while Quincy Enunwa continues to miss time.

Since Anderson missed the Lets Week 10 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, he has averaged 7.5 targets per game and has seen his receiving yards climb each week after finishing with 96 yards against the Houston Texans in Week 15. Anderson also has back to back games with touchdowns now as well and considering the Jets don’t have much talent at wide receiver right now, he will have more than enough chances to secure a few more before the season is over.

The Jets will now get the Green Bay Packers in Week 16 at home. The Packers have given up the third most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers this season with 27.51 and considering the Jets pass defense isn’t much better (fourth with 27.28 points allowed per game) this could be a high scoring game that offers plenty of upside for Anderson. Since he is barely owned in a quarter of fantasy leagues, you could nab a guy with WR2 upside in Week 16 for free at the perfect moment.

Jordy Nelson, OAK - 47% owned

Jordy Nelson was one of my favorite, under-the-radar plays in Week 15 and while his performance wasn’t out of this world, it was his third straight solid performance for owners who just needed a play that would provide points. The Oakland Raiders roster is void of pass catchers outside of Jared Cook and Jalen Richard, so Nelson is going to have a safe floor in Week 16.

The Raiders will get the Denver Broncos at home in Week 16 in another matchup that should afford fantasy owners another shot at a WR3 performance. The Broncos are giving up 24.08 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks to opposing wide receivers. All that is missing right now for Nelson over the last three games are the touchdowns. Outside of that, Nelson continues to pack the box score averaging 7.3 receptions on 8.6 targets and 77.6 receiving yards per game since Week 12. Expect similar numbers in Week 16, but finger crossed Nelson can also find the end zone and really step up the point total.

Tim Patrick, DEN - 3% owned

After the Emmanuel Sanders injury, everyone flocked to Courtland Sutton as the new WR1 in Denver. However, a man by the name of Tim Patrick said “not so fast” in his best Lee Corso impression and has outperformed Sutton during the last two games. So, is Patrick the guy to own in Week 16, when the Broncos travel to Oakland who are giving up the 13^th most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers this season?

The last two weeks combined, Patrick has 12 receptions on 18 targets for 150 receiving yards and a touchdown. Getting to face Oakland provides another matchup that offers the potential for a similar stat line, but can you trust him in your championship game? I would be willing to start any of the guys above before Patrick, but if you play in a deeper league or one with expanded rosters, it may be worth at least grabbing Patrick early in the week in case we see guys sitting or nursing injuries in Week 16.

Antonio Callaway, CLE - 16% owned

This is a dangerous game I am playing right now and honestly, considering I even included his name in this article, you should just avoid Antonio Callaway in Week 16. It hasn’t failed this season; whenever I include a write up about Callaway, he seems to be a huge dud the following week. Callaway has a nice matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16 though, so let’s give this another shot.

Callaway has been a roller coaster all season with a really low floor and a decent ceiling due to his big play ability. He either hits or he doesn’t though, and that makes him difficult to trust on a daily basis. The last time Cleveland played Cincinnati, Callaway had 62 receiving yards and a touchdown, so the opportunity to replicate is there. The Bengals allow the 15^th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, and you can expect the Browns to show up again, ready to throw some points in the face of their former coach.

More Waiver Wire Analysis