Daily Newsletter: NFL Week 16 Waiver Wire Targets (Dec. 17th)
Welcome to our daily newsletter! As we head into Week 16 of the fantasy football season, injuries from Week 15 have left many rosters in flux, with semi-final weekend on the horizon. With key players potentially missing time, it's crucial to stay on top of the latest updates and make savvy waiver wire moves. In today's edition, we’ll highlight some key injury fallout and offer some valuable waiver wire targets to help boost your team for the final stretch of the season.
Week 15 Injury Fallout
David Montgomery- It was announced on Monday that Montgomery tore his MCL and this has huge fantasy implications. Jahmyr Gibbs becomes one of the best overall players in fantasy with the semi-finals and championship weekend on the horizon.
Patrick Mahomes- Mahomes is expected to miss the Chiefs next game after getting hurt vs the Browns and this is massive with it being semi-final weekend. He's being listed week to week with a high ankle sprain but it remains to be seen what pass catchers will emerge for back-up Carson Wentz.
Geno Smith- Geno Smith left Sunday night's game due to a knee injury but is reportedly "okay". This would have huge implications for the receivers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba who has emerged as a dominant fantasy asset.
Alvin Kamara- Kamara suffered a groin injury in Sunday’s game and the test results were reportedly “inconclusive”. I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up getting shut down for the season and that would be another huge blow for an already thin Saints team. Kendre Miller would become stratable in all formats for the rest of the season.
Tony Pollard- Pollard left Sunday’s game but later returned after reaggravating his ankle injury. He barely practiced last week, and was a GTD for the game which I think is what we will likely see again this week. Tyjae Spears put up a huge receiving game and with Mason Rudolph now at QB he would be a nice start in the play-offs should Pollard miss.
Week 16 Waiver Wire Targets
Jalen McMillan
McMillan received the post-bye rookie bump and has been operating as one of Baker Mayfield’s favorite targets as of late. He’s coming off back-to-back 20+ point fantasy outings and has seen over 20% of Mayfield’s targets in each of the last two games. They’re creating ways to get the ball into his hands, and he has taken full advantage of the opportunity. Tampa faces off with Dallas this week in a good match-up with a high total. He is a start for me in all leagues that I can get him.
Jerome Ford
Ford is owned in significantly more leagues than McMillan – but he still falls below my 45% threshold to qualify for this column. He ripped off a 60+ yard TD run on Sunday and the path is clear for him to ride out the season in a big role with Nick Chubb once again injured. The overall offense is getting a downgrade by benching Jameis Winston, but Ford should handle well over 50% of the work in a good on paper match-up against the Bengals this weekend.
Kendre Miller
As I noted above, Miller will step into a much bigger role with Alvin Kamara likely out this week. We’ve already seen him find the end zone this season playing behind Kamara, and he provides much more juice at this point than the aging Jamaal Williams. Miller was the only player to receive a carry once Kamara left on Sunday and he is the primary receiving back on this team with Kamara down as well.
Written by Ben Hossler