Top 4 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Quarterbacks (Week 16)

We will have you covered throughout the 2023 fantasy football season with our bevy of tools, including our Waiver Wire Assistant. Find the top available players and get detailed analysis on how potential waiver wire adds will impact your team. Of course, our team of analysts will also have written advice each week. Check out some of our top waiver wire targets for the week below. And here’s all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 16.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

QUARTERBACKS

Written by Bo McBrayer

Gardner Minshew (IND): 25% rostered

Next Opponents: @ATL, LV, HOU
True value: $4
Desperate need: $7
Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Ever the pleasant surprise, Minshew tossed three touchdown passes against the Steelers on Sunday. Top WR Michael Pittman left the game with a concussion in the first half, making Minshew’s exploits all the more impressive. The Falcons have a stout run defense, but they have struggled defending the pass this season. A one-week moonlighting role for a berth in the fantasy championship round is a perfect place to stream Minshew Mania.

Jake Browning (CIN): 47% rostered

Next Opponents: @PIT, @KC, CLE
True value: $3
Desperate need: $6
Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Until Sunday, I was ready to stream a different QB in Week 16, with T.J. Watt and the Steelers looming for the Bengals. But Browning has been prolific for three weeks running, while Pittsburgh has been embarrassed in three consecutive games. Browning put up a modest 14.98 fantasy points against the Steelers in Week 12, so the QB1 upside we’ve been enjoying might come to an end. But Browning has been a pretty reliable source of fantasy points since taking over for the injured Joe Burrow.

Joe Flacco (CLE): 24% rostered

Next Opponents: @HOU, NYJ, @CIN
True value: $2
Desperate need: $4
Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Even with three mind-numbing interceptions on Sunday, Flacco diced up the Bears defense for 374 yards and two touchdowns. It was his third start this season and his third game with 20 or more fantasy points. Houston has had an opportunistic defense under DeMeco Ryans, but the Texans are far from a bad matchup. Flacco has perhaps the safest floor of any Week 16 streaming option.

Derek Carr (NO): 39% rostered

Next Opponents: @LAR, @TB, ATL
True value: $1
Desperate need: $2
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: He finally did it. For the first time since Week 9 and fourth time this season, Carr surpassed 20 fantasy points on Sunday versus the Giants. He accomplished this without top WR Chris Olave, which bodes well for the Saints’ final three games this season. All three opponents have pass-funnel defenses, so Carr will likely need to drop back more often to keep his team in contention to win the NFC South.