Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.
Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.
Here’s my NFL Week 16 waiver wire cheat sheet for all league sizes and formats, with players you need to add, drop and stream in your fantasy football league:
ADD
RB Ty Chandler, Vikings (ESPN: 46%; Yahoo: 53%): Alexander Mattison was sidelined by an ankle injury against the Bengals and Chandler took full advantage of his absence, running for 132 yards and a touchdown. Chandler’s rushing total was the best by a running back for Minnesota in a game this season. Mattison could return this week, but head coach Kevin O’Connell already said Chandler “is going to see a featured role” in the Vikings offense.
WR Noah Brown, Texans (ESPN: 40%; Yahoo: 41%): Brown had eight receptions on 11 targets for 82 yards and a TD against the Titans with Case Keenum throwing him es. Both CJ Stroud (concussion) and Nico Collins (calf) were out. Stroud will likely be back this week, which will only enhance Brown’s value. Even if Collins returns, Brown will see a healthy target share and will face Tennessee again in two weeks.
QB Jake Browning, Bengals (ESPN: 37%; Yahoo: 47%): Only Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey have scored more fantasy points than Browning the last three weeks. He’s averaging 317.7 ing yards since Week 13, with a rushing TD in two of three games.
WR Curtis Samuel, Commanders (ESPN: 42%; Yahoo: 37%): There’s an argument to be made that Samuel has been Washington’s most relevant receiver in fantasy when healthy. It’s been indisputable the last three games, where he is the overall WR23 in PPR formats with 18 receptions (26 targets) for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
TE Hunter Henry, Patriots (ESPN: 18%; Yahoo: 24%): Henry is averaging five receptions and 53 receiving yards while scoring three touchdowns the last two weeks. He’ll face the Broncos on Christmas Eve, who are allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
BONUS: TE Isaiah Likely, Ravens (ESPN: 53%; Yahoo: 62%): Likely is the TE4 in standard formats since Mark Andrews went down. Only Sam LaPorta, Evan Engram, David Njoku and Trey McBride are averaging more PPR points in that span at tight end. His ownership percentage should be north of 90 percent.
BONUS: QB Joe Flacco, Browns (ESPN: 11%; Yahoo: 25%): Flacco is the overall QB6 in his three starts this season, throwing for 939 yards and seven touchdowns the last three weeks. The veteran QB faces the Texans this week, who have allowed opposing signal-callers to sur 20 fantasy points in five of the last six games.
BONUS: WR Joshua Palmer, Chargers (ESPN: 20%; Yahoo: 29%): Palmer managed 113 yards and TD in his first game back, an embarrassing loss to the Raiders. He won’t have an elite quarterback throwing him the ball for the rest of this season, but Easton Stick appears to be competent enough, and Palmer could be the top target if Keenan Allen misses more time.
BONUS: RB Tyjae Spears, Titans (ESPN: 40%; Yahoo: 45%): The dynamic rookie is averaging 14.3 touches per game in the last three weeks and faces the Seahawks, who are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs this season.
BONUS: TE Tucker Kraft, Packers (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 10%): Kraft is the overall TE7 in standard formats (TE8 in PPR) since taking over for the injured Luke Musgrave on Thanksgiving.
BONUS: RB Chase Brown, Bengals (ESPN: 8%; Yahoo: 20%): The rookie running back is averaging 10 touches and 72 total yards in the last three games as an explosive compliment to Joe Mixon. Brown could have flex appeal in deeper leagues in the fantasy playoffs, but I continue to include him here for those of you who participate in dynasty formats. With Tee Higgins facing free agency and Ja’Marr Chase due a massive extension, Mixon could become a cap casualty this offseason. Brown could slide into a very lucrative role as soon as next season.
BONUS: QB Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (ESPN: 49%; Yahoo: 54%): Mayfield has produced seven total touchdowns the last two weeks and faces the Jaguars at home, who are allowing the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
BONUS: RB Zamir White, Raiders (ESPN: 7%; Yahoo: 16%): Josh Jacobs suffered a quad injury against the Vikings and missed Vegas’ destruction of the Chargers. White, a physical between-the-tackles runner, finished with 20 touches for 85 total yards and a TD. It sounds like Jacobs might return for a Christmas Day matchup with the Chiefs. White will lose his flex appeal if that happens, but you might want to still block a Jacobs manager from grabbing his handcuff if there’s a chance you play them in your championship game.
BONUS: D/ST Colts (ESPN: 37%; Yahoo: 46%): Indianapolis remains the top defense in fantasy since Week 9, averaging 15.2 points per game, and fourth overall this season. They face quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Aidan O’Connell the next two weeks. I’m honestly perplexed on why the roster percentage remains so low.
BONUS: D/ST Broncos (ESPN: 15%; Yahoo: 47%): Denver’s defense had a terrible showing in Detroit, but it’s still averaging 9.6 fantasy points over its last seven games. The Broncos face quarterbacks Bailey Zappe and Easton Stick the next two weeks.
BONUS: D/ST Commanders (ESPN: 15%; Yahoo: 15%): Washington is a bad defense in real life, but this is fantasy and if you’re desperate, the Jets are tied for allowing the most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season. Their quarterbacks have thrown more interceptions (13) than TD es (9) this season and have taken 61 sacks.
DROP
RB Keaton Mitchell, Ravens: The dynamic playmaker will miss the rest of his rookie season after suffering a torn ACL against the Jaguars on Sunday night.
WR Christian Watson, Packers: Even if Watson returns this week or next, are you going to trust him in the fantasy playoffs with his history of hamstring issues?
RB Zack Moss, Colts: Moss hasn’t been very good the past three weeks and now he’s dealing with an arm injury with his status for the Falcons game up in the air. Plus, Jonathan Taylor could return this week.
WR Jahan Dotson, Commanders: Dotson only has eight receptions on 12 targets for 87 yards in his last three games, and appears to be the third-wheel at wide receiver for Washington behind Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel when Samuel is healthy.
RB Alexander Mattison, Vikings: Mattison could return this week, but I don’t see him dominating touches the way he did before his ankle injury. It’s just as likely he takes a back seat to the more explosive Ty Chandler.
