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 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 the fantasy football playoffs:
ADD
— QB Gardner Minshew, Eagles (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 1%): One of the most disappointing things that can happen in fantasy football is to earn a bye in the first round of the playoffs only to lose one of the players to injury during your off week who were primarily responsible for you earning said bye. For those who will likely be without Jalen Hurts this weekend (and possibly next), I feel your pain (I heavily invested in Hurts this season and have reaped the benefits). The good news (assuming you're an optimist, not a pessimist) is Minshew is capable of producing at a high level and helping you stave off disaster. He finished as the QB10 (Week 13) and QB17 (Week 18) in his two starts for the Eagles last season. In 2020, Minshew began the season as Jacksonville's starter and was the overall QB12 in fantasy through the first seven games before getting hurt himself.
— RB Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (ESPN: 34%; Yahoo: 37%): The rookie appears to be getting stronger as the year goes on. Allgeier is the overall RB29 in standard formats (RB33 in PPR) since Week 9 with 419 yards and a touchdown on 64 carries — 6.55 yards per carry (!) — in the last six games.
— WR Treylon Burks, Titans (ESPN: 46%; Yahoo: 49%): Burks missed the last two games as a result of a concussion he suffered in Week 13. There's a good chance he was dropped in your league because of the roster crunch that happens this time of year. He was finally looking the part of a WR1 with a TD in each of his last two games.
— RB Khalil Herbert, Bears (ESPN: 28%; Yahoo: 39%): Herbert missed the last four games with a hip injury, but will be activated this week. Chicago's backfield usage was essentially a 50-50 split between him and David Montgomery before the injury — Herbert was the more explosive and efficient option of the two. I actually picked him up a few weeks ago with an eye on potentially utilizing him as a flex Week 17 against the Lions.
— TE Juwan Johnson, Saints (ESPN: 16%; Yahoo: 21%): All Johnson does is score TDs (at least it seems that way). He has seven in the last seven games — Johnson is the overall TE3 in standard formats (TE7 in PPR) since Week 7.
— BONUS: WR Chris Moore, Texans (ESPN: 17%; Yahoo: 19%): As long as Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins are out, Moore will have WR3/flex upside — Cooks has a chance of returning against the Titans, but Collins hasn't even practiced the last few weeks. Moore has 14 receptions (20 targets) for 166 yards the last two games.
— BONUS: RB Deon Jackson, Colts (ESPN: 12%; Yahoo: 7%): Jonathan Taylor suffered a high-ankle sprain early against the Vikings on Sunday. Jackson has been productive when given an opportunity this season, including against Minnesota with 55 rushing yards and a receiving TD. Zack Moss (ESPN: 1%; Yahoo: 3%) produced 81 yards in a whopping 24 carries during Indy's historic meltdown, but I like Jackson more because of his usage in the pass game and his familiarity with the offense.
— BONUS: QB Zach Wilson, Jets (ESPN: 7%; Yahoo: 7%): I doubt Mike White's ribs will allow him to play on a short week. Wilson has actually surpassed 300 yards with two TDs in two of his last four games and the Jaguars are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
— BONUS: WR Rashid Shaheed, Saints (ESPN: 1%; Yahoo: 1%): Shaheed has 223 yards and a TD on nine receptions — 24.78 yards per reception (!) — in his last three games. Here you go if you're in need of a lottery ticket at flex during your semifinal matchup.
— BONUS: RB Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (ESPN: 26%; Yahoo: 39%): Hubbard has at least 65 total yards in three straight games and deserves flex consideration against the Lions this week.
— BONUS: TE Tyler Conklin, Jets (ESPN: 39%; Yahoo: 30%): CJ Uzomah cashed in on his two targets with two TDs and that's what everyone will remember, but Uzomah is Conklin's backup. Conklin topped Uzomah in snaps (47 to 32), routes (22 to 11) and tied him in targets. His next two games are against the Jaguars (25th in fantasy points allowed per game to tight ends) and Seahawks (31st).
— BONUS: QB Russell Wilson, Broncos (ESPN: 40%; Yahoo: 46%): If you lost Hurts and want to take a flier on a former elite option at QB like Wilson against the Rams this week, I suppose there are worse options out there, but I'm primarily focused on Championship Week when it comes to Ciara's husband. Wilson faces the Chiefs less than a month after he produced 247 yards (with 57 yards rushing) and three TDs against them — Kansas City is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
— BONUS: D/ST Chargers (ESPN: 18%; Yahoo: 24%): The Bolts face the Colts (last in fantasy points allowed per game to opposing defenses) and Rams (31st) the next two games following them playing their best two games of the season.
— BONUS: D/ST Titans (ESPN: 27%; Yahoo: 48%): Tennessee sacked Justin Herbert three times and intercepted him twice on Sunday. Only the Colts have committed more turnovers than the Texans this season.
— BONUS: D/ST Browns (ESPN: 25%; Yahoo: 26%): The 49ers are the only defense to produce more fantasy points the last four games. The Saints have scored only 37 points over the last three weeks and have committed the third-most turnovers this season.
DROP
— RB Jonathan Taylor, Colts: Taylor is likely done for the season after suffering a high-ankle sprain early against the Vikings.
— WR Tyler Lockett, Seahawks: Lockett will have surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand and hopes to return soon, but I can't imagine trusting him only a week removed from surgery.
— RB Dameon Pierce, Texans: Pierce suffered an ankle injury against the Cowboys in Week 14 and was replaced on injured reserve before the Chiefs game on Sunday.
— TE Foster Moreau, Raiders: Darren Waller returned to game action and scored a TD against the Patriots.
— RB Damien Harris, Patriots: Even if Harris is active (he's missed the last three games), Rhamondre Stevenson is the featured back now — Harris has only surpassed double-digit carries once since Week 4.
