Beat the Waiver Wire: Week 16

There are no more bye weeks, and we are in the fantasy playoffs! Fantasy managers should approach waivers differently now - your first consideration is to win this week, not stash for next week. With no guarantees, target first those players who will help you win now.

Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. Remember that your roster can constantly improve, and even if you don’t need a player, you still want to prevent them from being picked up by another manager. 

Good luck out there!

Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers

In most leagues, these guys aren't available. But if you're fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.

RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns (73% rostered on Sleeper)

Ford has been having a solid year on his own, but now, with the news of Nick Chubb breaking his foot, we know Ford will be the RB1 in Cleveland for the remainder of the year. It was announced that the Browns would be starting Dorian Thompson-Robinson for this week's game, which means fewer passing attempts and possibly more rushing volume. Ford has two decent matchups with the Bengals and Dolphins, and at this point in the fantasy season, a starting running back on a team is worth alot.

Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets (41% rostered on Sleeper)

You can respect your elders after Rodgers’ last two weeks. He has been the QB10 and QB4 over the previous two weeks and has thrown a combined four touchdowns. If you snuck into the playoffs or have been streaming quarterbacks for whatever reason, Rodgers deserves a look. The Jets have a decent matchup against the Rams in Week 16.

Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers  (52% rostered on Sleeper)

If you are in a league playing in Week 18, Pittsburgh has a great matchup against the Bengals, who are giving up over three fantasy points over expectation to opposing quarterbacks. Wilson has a challenging game against Baltimore this week, but with the many injuries to starting quarterbacks, he still needs to be on your radar.

Cooper Rush, Dallas Cowboys (12% rostered on Sleeper)

I have mentioned Rush before, and he is startable in a pinch. He threw three touchdowns last week and now gets to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that has given up the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Bo Nix (71%)