Doing your weekly waivers in fantasy football can be more stressful than performing life-saving surgery on a loved one without any professional tools or medical knowledge. While that might be a slight exaggeration, deciding which players to add off the waiver wire each week can be stressful.
Finding and adding the right guys in shallow leagues is simple, as there are plenty of appealing options, and the waiver wire is full of talent. Unfortunately, making your waiver wire claims in deeper leagues can be a massive pain in the neck.
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However, I’m here to help by giving fantasy players six waiver wire targets they should add in deeper leagues in Week 16.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 16
All the players in this article are rostered in fewer than 20% of ESPN leagues.
Drake Maye (QB – NE): 15.9% Rostered
Drake Maye has played well since taking over as the starting quarterback, averaging 16.4 fantasy points per game. The former UNC star has scored 17.5+ fantasy points in 55.6% of his starts, hitting that total in three of the past four games, including back-to-back contests. The rookie has completed at least 80% of his passes in back-to-back games. He has completed 74% or more of his passes in three of his past four outings.
Furthermore, Maye has had a meaningful role in the run game. The rookie has averaged 38.6 rushing yards per game in his nine starts, averaging 5.2 fantasy points per contest with his legs. In Week 15, he had 14 rushing yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals. More importantly, Maye faces the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers over the next two weeks — two solid fantasy matchups for the rookie quarterback.
Blake Corum (RB – LAR): 14.7% Rostered
Hopefully, fantasy players have already added their running backs’ handcuffs before the playoffs started. However, it’s better late than never. Moreover, you should add your league mate’s handcuffs. Blake Corum has had limited value this season, ranking as the RB71 for the year, averaging 1.9 half-PPR fantasy points per game. Yet, the rookie has had eight rushing attempts in two of the past three games, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt in those contests.
While fantasy players should never root for injuries, they should prepare for them. Kyren Williams has 310 touches in 15 games this year, averaging 20.7 per contest. He has had a season-high 29 rushing attempts in back-to-back games. If Williams misses time to end the year, Corum could be a league winner. The Rams face the New York Jets in Week 16 and the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17, two susceptible run defenses.
Kendre Miller (RB – NO): 7.9% Rostered
Unfortunately, Alvin Kamara left the Saints’ Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders with a groin injury. While the Saints didn’t provide an update on the star running back after the game, fantasy players must wonder if the veteran will play again this season. New Orleans hasn’t mathematically been eliminated from the playoffs, but their postseason chances are extremely low. Therefore, the team could shut down Kamara for the rest of the year.
The veteran running back signed a contract extension with the Saints in October, tying him to the team through the 2026 season. Rather than risking the older running back to further injury, New Orleans could turn to Kendre Miller. The second-year pro has struggled to stay healthy, playing in only four contests this season. However, he has played well in limited action, averaging 4.6 yards and 0.67 half-PPR fantasy points per rushing attempt.
Jalen McMillan (WR – TB): 10.2% Rostered
Tampa Bay earned an impressive 40-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15. Mike Evans was outstanding, totaling nine receptions on 11 targets for 159 receiving yards, two touchdowns and 32.4 half-PPR fantasy points, setting season-highs in nearly every category. Jalen McMillan also shined for the second consecutive week. The rookie wide receiver finished with five receptions on six targets for 75 receiving yards, a touchdown and 16 fantasy points in the win.
More importantly, the former Washington star has had six or more targets in four of his past six games, including back-to-back contests. McMillan has recorded nine receptions on 13 targets for 134 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 35.9 fantasy points over the past two weeks. He has replaced Cade Otton as Baker Mayfield‘s No. 2 option in the passing game. The rookie has two solid matchups to finish up the fantasy football playoffs.
Calvin Austin III (WR – PIT): 3.2% Rostered
George Pickens missed his second consecutive game in Week 15 because of a hamstring injury. While the Steelers’ passing attack hasn’t been outstanding without the star wide receiver, they have been productive. Calvin Austin has stepped up as the No. 2 wide receiver lately, averaging 3.5 targets and 8.8 half-PPR fantasy points per game over the past month, totaling nine or more in three out of the past four contests while scoring two receiving touchdowns.
In Week 15, he caught all five targets for 65 receiving yards against a talented Philadelphia Eagles defense. More importantly, Austin has three fantasy-friendly matchups to end the season. Pittsburgh faces the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17 and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18. Austin has WR3 value in standard-size leagues this week if Pickens misses his third consecutive game with the hamstring injury.
Stone Smartt (TE – LAC): 2.4% Rostered
While Stone Smartt didn’t have a massive fantasy performance in Week 15, the young tight end had a solid outing. He had five receptions on six targets for 50 receiving yards, totaling 5.5 half-PPR fantasy points after losing a fumble. The third-year pro has played well in back-to-back games, totaling eight receptions on nine targets for 104 receiving yards and 12.4 fantasy points. Furthermore, Smartt should continue to have fantasy value in deeper leagues.
The Chargers placed Hayden Hurst on injured reserve (IR) a few weeks ago with a hip injury. Meanwhile, Will Dissly missed Sunday’s blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 14. Meanwhile, Los Angeles plays the Denver Broncos on Thursday night in a massive AFC West division matchup. Therefore, Dissly is unlikely to play, giving Smartt at least one more week as Justin Herbert‘s starting tight end.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.