Fantasy Football 2019 Week 16: Waiver Wire Pickup Advice
Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? It’s championship week, so the list is short and comprised of only players you can comfortably start this week. All the players I list will be owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the ownership percentage coming from Yahoo.com
Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dolphins (25% Owned): Fitzpatrick continues to be useful enough in good matchups. Last week vs. the Giants, Fitzpatrick threw 41 times for 279 yards and two touchdowns, chipping in 33 rushing yards on four carries. This week he has a home date vs. the Bengals, and will likely post a similar line. It’s championship week, so you’re probably set, but if your guy has a brutal matchup then you can certainly look Fitz’s way and feel decent.
Drew Lock, Broncos (6% Owned): The Broncos showed a ton of faith in their rookie last week, as Drew Lock threw 40 passes for some reason in a blizzard. He was not good; Lock completed just 45% of his passes for 208 yards and an interception. But, if you really need a QB, that kind of volume will be helpful in better conditions this week vs. an anemic Detroit secondary. Lock should be able to light up the Lions with Courtland Sutton at his disposal, and in the prior two games Lock did throw five touchdown passes. This play has a low floor, but a fairly high ceiling too.
Running Backs
Boston Scott, Eagles (8% Owned): Scott is well behind Miles Sanders right now, but he clearly has a role here and can be trusted to not goose you if you’re desperate. He carried six times for 26 yards vs. the Redskins last week, and more importantly, was targeted seven times in the passing game. Scott showed two weeks ago he has major big play potential, and through two weeks has demonstrated a workable floor as long as Jordan Howard remains out.
Mike Boone, Vikings (4% Owned): Boone rushed 13 times for 56 yards and two scores in relief of Dalvin Cook, and is the pickup of the week if Cook can’t play Monday night. We don’t know the status of Cook or backup Alexander Mattison, so if any Cook owners out there survived that mid-game injury, Boone is a must-add. But don’t drop Mattison just yet either! The matchup with Green Bay is a golden one for whichever Viking gets the lion’s share, but the Monday Night matchup also makes this tricky.
Wide Receivers
Breshad Perriman, Buccaneers (12% Owned): Perriman exploded for 113 yards and three touchdowns against Detroit, and should be in for another high-volume game with Mike Evans, and now Chris Godwin out. Perriman will be Jameis Winston’s No. 1 receiver in this matchup, and he’ll get to work against a Houston defense that’s been extremely friendly to opposing pass offenses. Perriman’s been such a bust in his career so far that calling him safe is not something I’m willing to do. However, his situation and matchup are clearly exciting.
Tight Ends
Noah Fant, Broncos (31% Owned): Fant played hurt last week and did nothing in a snowy mess of a game. Ignore it. If Fant is out there, he’s a viable fantasy TE against the Lions, who can’t stop anyone this year. He continued to show his big play ability, even in the snow; 56 yards isn’t much, but it’s impressive on only two receptions. Fant has become the obvious No. 2 pass catcher in Denver behind Sutton.
O.J. Howard, Buccaneers, (41% Owned): Howard has been the worst roller coaster this year, but he has caught four or more passes in three straight games, and his role is increasing as Bucs receivers go down. He continues to possess big play ability, and he’s in the highest-volume passing offense in football. He’s due to find the end zone again, and the Texans are a plus matchup.