Here’s an early look at the fantasy players you’ll be targeting off the waiver wire this week. None of these players are rostered in more than 60% of Yahoo! leagues. The actual Yahoo! ownership percentage is included in parentheses. Players are listed from the most owned to the least owned after Sunday’s games. Be sure to check out Jen Piacenti’s expanded list of waiver-wire players every Tuesday!
Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers (54%)
Mayfield went off against the Packers, scoring 29 points on the strength of his 381 passing yards (that’s a season high) and four touchdown passes. He’s now scored 20-plus fantasy points in two straight games, and an upcoming matchup against the Jaguars in Week 16 is favorable based on the numbers. With so many “less-valued” quarterbacks putting up solid fantasy totals lately, Mayfield is worth a look.
Ty Chandler, RB, Vikings (52%)
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Chandler, listed in this article last week, went off for 132 rushing yards, a touchdown and 24.7 fantasy points in a loss to the Bengals. He proved that he’s the best back in the Vikings’ offense and Chandler could keep that starting job even if Alexander Mattison returns from an injured ankle. While an upcoming matchup against the Lions isn’t great on paper, Chandler is at worst a flex starter.
Jake Browning, QB, Bengals (47%)
Browning is putting up Joe Burrow numbers, scoring 19-plus points in each of his last three games. That includes a 19-point effort against what’s been a tough Vikings defense last week. With backup quarterbacks putting up good totals for fantasy managers lately, Browning needs to be trusted (and rostered) in leagues. He’ll face a Steelers team that’s lost three straight games next on the slate.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs (40%)
Edwards-Helaire had a stinker in the stat sheets last week, which caused him to get dropped in some leagues even with starter Isiah Pacheco out. If Pacheco remains on the sidelines, CEH will become a flex starter against the Raiders. He proved he can be a productive option against the Patriots, posting 101 scrimmage yards, a touchdown and over 20 points. Edwards-Helaire is worth a look.
Noah Brown, WR, Texans (40%)
Brown’s ownership percentage actually went down compared to last week, which is surprising since the Texans are without Tank Dell and Nico Collins. He showed why he was on this list last week, catching eight passes for 82 yards with a touchdown against the Titans. If Collins remains on the sidelines, Brown would be a viable flex option even in a tough matchup vs. his namesake team, the Browns.
Joshua Palmer, WR, Chargers (29%)
The Chargers offense is an absolute mess of injuries, but that benefited the value of Palmer. That showed last week, as he scored a touchdown and 21.3 points in a loss to the Raiders. If Keenan Allen remains out of action, Palmer would be the top wide receiver in the offense for Easton Stick against the Bills. While I don’t think he will duplicate his Week 15 totals, Palmer would still be a viable flex.
Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots (24%)
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Henry scored a touchdown and produced 19.6 points in a loss to the Chiefs, and he’s now scored three times and a combined 38.6 points in his last two games. The veteran also has a plus matchup against the Broncos next on the schedule, but that assumes he’s available. Henry did ding his knee and was forced out of Sunday’s game, so be sure to keep tabs on his status before adding him.
Zamir White, RB, Raiders (15%)
White was surprisingly solid for fantasy managers last week, rushing 17 times for 69 yards with one touchdown in a blowout win over the Chargers. If he’s forced into a featured role once again with Josh Jacobs ailing, White would be a flex starter against the Chiefs. He’s a free agent in a ton of leagues, so put in claims.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Packers (10%)
Tight end is a thin position, so Kraft is worth a look. He found the end zone and scored 15.7 points in a loss to the Buccaneers, and he’s now scored at least nine points in three of his last four games. A tough matchup against the Panthers is next on the schedule, but Kraft is still a worthwhile add for those who are in need.
Trey Sermon, RB, Colts (0%)
Sermon was thrust into a bigger role in the absence of Zack Moss, and he looked good with 88 yards on 17 carries against the Steelers. If Moss is out and Jonathan Taylor is unable to return for Week 16, Sermon would likely be the top back in a committee with Tyler Goodson against the Falcons. Be sure to keep tabs on the statuses of both Taylor and Moss, but Sermon should be on your list this week.
Other Notables: Jerick McKinnon, RB, Chiefs (41%), Curtis Samuel, WR, Commanders (37%), Joe Flacco, QB, Browns (24%), Demarcus Robinson, WR, Rams (8%), Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Packers (3%)
