Unfortunately, Covid-19 is having a very big impact on the NFL in this final stretch. Whether with important players losing games or with teams with little training having to prioritize gameplans unusual, but this is the reality of today’s pandemic world. Adding this to new injuries, we have a waiver wire much more crowded than usual in week 16 of fantasy football, which because of game delays in week 15 will only run on Thursday morning (12/23).
With most leagues having their semi-finals this week, paying close attention to the waiver now could be the factor in winning a match that looks like there’s no way to win.
Therefore, the The Playoffs is here to help you and list interesting additions options for all tastes.
Anyway, here’s the warning to be careful who you give up to make it possible to add a player via waivers, as placing a particular athlete on the market can mean the undesired improvement of an opposing squad. To be eligible for this list, players must be on a maximum of 60% of the NFL.com Fantasy Football squads, which is the most popular and famous platform among Brazilians. Therefore, it is possible that the names mentioned here are in a greater or lesser percentage of casts in other apps, such as Yahoo, ESPN and Sleeper, although the trend is that the average is similar.
Remembering that we used the PPR score as a parameter (when there are points computed by reception), again because it is the standard and most famous model of the game, having stolen the “crown” of the old Standard (or non-PPR) in recent years.
So let’s get to the tips waiver wire for this week.
(Photo: Reproduction Kansas City Chiefs Official Website)
RUNNING BACKS
Le’Veon Bell – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7,8% rostered*)
The 9-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints brought many repercussions to the Buccaneers. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette all had injuries so the Bucs acted fast and signed Le’Veon Bell. The Tampa team should present a very different attack in the final stretch of the regular season. Antonio Brown is coming back from suspension and should be the main WR with Evans and Godwin injured. The question that remains is who will lead the backfield – a factor that has been important to Brady’s production this year. The options are Bell and Ronald Jones. My bet is on Bell, who played with Brown in the past, as RoJo was not effective at any point during the season.
Justin Jackson – Los Angeles Chargers (1,3% rostered)
There is a doubt about Austin Ekeler’s condition for the next game. The first reports indicated that Ekeler would be placed on the Covid-19 list, but the official transaction did not take place. This is not to say that Ekeler will not be placed – it is very likely that they are waiting for a second test to confirm whether or not it will be necessary. Should Ekeler fail to play, Jackson will likely lead the backfield in a relatively easy showdown against the Houston Texans.
Other RB options: Ronald Jones – TB (26,3%), Jeff Wilson – SF (24%), Craig Reynolds – DET (13,9%), Duke Johnson – MIA (25,8%), Samaje Perine – CIN (1,5%)
*Percentage of teams in official NFL Fantasy leagues that have this athlete on the roster
WIDE RECEIVERS
Amon-Ra St. Brown – Detroit Lions (20,1% rostered)
St. Brown had 11 targets in week 15, surprisingly this was his lowest number of targets in the last three weeks. The rookie has become a productive target in Detroit and is undoubtedly the team’s primary WR. He has what it takes to have a WR2 value in the remaining weeks this year and should be an important part of the Lions team for some time to come.
Gabriel Davis – Buffalo Bills (5,2% rostered)
Davis has returned to some fantasy relevance in recent weeks. He passed the 10-point mark in the last three games and had eight and seven targets in the games of weeks 14 and 15, respectively. With Cole Beasley out of the next game – for having tested positive for covid-19 and not being vaccinated, Beasley is forced to stay out for 10 days – Davis will have even more opportunities against the Patriots, even though it’s a tough match.
Other WR options: Russell Gage – ATL (42,9%), Mecole Hardman – KC (20,7%), Tyler Boyd – CIN (57,6%), DeVante Parker – MIA (42,1%), Donovan Peoples-Jones (7,9%), Tyler Johnson – TB (0,2%)
TIGHT ENDS
Noah Gray – Kansas City Chiefs (0% rostered)
Travis Kelce and Blake Bell both tested positive for Covid-19 and their participation in this weekend’s Steelers game is questionable. If both are out of the match – as Tyreek Hill can – Noah Gray should be one of Patrick Mahomes’ top targets this week alongside Mecole Hardman. Gray had very few targets this season, but it’s hard to imagine Mahomes not using his TE in the match.
Hunter Henry – New England Patriots (46,3% rostered)
The game against the Colts didn’t go the way the Patriots would have liked, but Henry proved to be one of Mac Jones’ best targets, having eight targets that translated into six receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns. The New England team will always try to run with the ball so Jones doesn’t have to pass the ball too many times, but in the air plays that are called, Henry will always be a realistic option.
Other TE options: Albert Okwuegbunam – DEN (2.7%), Cole Kmet – CHI (21.2%), Gerald Everett – SEA (25.1%), CJ Uzomah – CIN (16.8%), Pat Freiermuth – PIT (55 , 3%)
QUARTERBACKS
Tyler Huntley – Baltimore Ravens (1,1% rostered)
We don’t know if Lamar Jackson will be able to play for the Week 16 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, what we do know is that Tyler Huntley did an excellent job of taking the Ravens offense against the Packers without the Baltimore team having to change the game. your playbook – which is always very complicated. Should Lamar lose another game, Huntley offers a lot of high scoring possibility in fantasy passing the ball well and being a danger with his legs.
Other QB options: Matt Ryan – ATL (28,9%), Jimmy Garoppolo – SF (29,0%), Justin Fields – CHI (22,3%), Mac Jones – NE (29,3%), Drew Lock – DEN (0,2%)
