Thomason: Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 16
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) It's championship week!
Congratulations to all that have advanced to this point, and good luck this coming weekend. I'm going to attempt to help you here with some quality players who can have a large impact on this week's outcomes.
Once again, a couple big-name running backs went down with an injury, and your top fiver rushing leaders for Week 15 were David Johnson, Alfred Blue, Rashad Jennings, Darren McFadden and Cam Newton. Just like everyone expected on draft day, right?
On another note, in the wake of the Odell Beckham Jr. suspension news, Dwayne Harris should be considered as a sneaky add and start with the Giants playing for their playoff lives. Harris won't make my top 10 but is someone worth considering later in the week if the ruling is upheld (assuming Beckham Jr will appeal).
Here are my top 10 waiver adds for 10- and 12-member leagues.
1. Bilal Powell (RB, New York Jets) – Over the last five weeks, Powell has outsnapped Chris Ivory 49 percent to 47 percent. More glaringly two of the last three weeks, Powell has had more than 50 percent of the snaps to Ivory's 39 percent or fewer. In half-point PPR leagues, Powell has been the RB9 in points per game average. The Patriots rank 20th in pass DVOA to running backs, and that's where Powell makes his money. Couple that with the Jets likely being home underdogs, and the game script should work in favor of Powell.
2. James White (RB, New England Patriots) – White has been the RB8 since Week 11. He has led the Patriots' backfield in snap percentage with 41 percent over that span, but what you never know is when the "passing" back will get left out of the picture. I wouldn't expect that this week, as the Patriots' leading rusher against the Jets in Week 7 was Tom Brady. White will continue to have his solidified role, while the "big back" picture is more confusing with Brandon Bolden, Joey Iosefa and the newly signed Steven Jackson involved.
3. Karlos Williams (RB, Buffalo Bills) – We don't have any clarifying news on LeSean McCoy's injured knee at this point, but the Bills have been eliminated from playoff contention. I would be shocked if they trot McCoy out there unless he's completely healthy. Williams was a beast earlier in the season, scoring seven times in his first six games, and he's averaging 5.7 yards per carry on the year. I believe he will get the nod if McCoy can't go. Mike Gillislee hit a long touchdown run last week and will likely mix in for work behind Williams, but Williams should see the volume against a Cowboys team that ranked 24th in run DVOA coming into Week 15. It's worth noting that Gillislee played six more snaps than Williams on Sunday.
4. Christine Michael (RB, Seattle Seahawks) – Michael has played on three teams this year, including the Seahawks twice, but maybe the light bulb has finally gone off? His teammates seem to think something has changed since he left Seattle via trade earlier this year, and his production on the field showed. Michael outcarried Bryce Brown, 18-9, on Sunday and totaled 84 yards. Both numbers were career-highs for him, and while the Seahawks are riding the arm of Russell Wilson, they aren't going to stop running the football.
5. Reuben Randle (WR, New York Giants) – This is strictly due to the Beckham suspension news, and I still don't feel comfortable putting him in over a guy like Dorial Green-Beckham, but there is big opportunity here. The Vikings are dealing with a slew of injuries to defensive studs, and they rank 17th in pass DVOA, 16th to WR1s and 25th to WR2s. If Beckham's appeal is upheld, Randle will be the primary option for Eli Manning as they fight to stay alive for the playoffs. After Week 3, Randle has just four game with more than 50 yards receiving and none over 68, but he does have a touchdown in four of the last six games. Keep an eye on Harris too; he'sa sneaky option if Beckham sits out.
6. Ted Ginn Jr. (WR, Carolina Panthers) – While everyone is talking about Doug Baldwin and his multi-game touchdown streak being up to four, Ginn's flying under the radar with three straight. He continues to beat single coverage with his blazing speed, and Cam Newton is dropping dimes. Ginn gets the same Atlanta team that he thrashed for 120 yards and two touchdowns earlier this season, albeit on two receptions.
7. Markus Wheaton (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers) – There isn't a hotter offense in the league right now than the Steelers, and while many of us thought Wheaton would be an afterthought coming off his monster game against the Seahawks, he's been a WR2. Since the Seattle showdown, he has hit at least 50 yards in all three games and has two touchdowns. There's no reason to expect that to stop with a matchup against Baltimore's porous secondary.
8. Cameron Artis-Payne (RB, Carolina Panthers) – He entered Week 15 as the back up to Fozzy Whittaker but was far and away the dominant back in Jonathan Stewart's absence. Artis-Payne totaled 93 yards on 16 touches and played 40 percent of the snaps, but Whittaker only touched the ball four times. Pay attention to the news around Stewart, but I would think that it's likely he sits this game as well.
9. Willie Snead (WR, New Orleans Saints) – After dealing with injuries through the middle stretch of the season, Snead looks to be back and healthy. On Monday night, he had 10 receptions for 76 yards on 12 targets. In the two prior weeks, he combined for 11 receptions and 172 yards on 15 targets. He's a WR3 at minimum and has shown ability to pop any Sunday. Snead will face off against a sad Jacksonville secondary in Week 16. The Saints are also at home, Drew Brees usually plays better New Orleans.
10. Will Tye (TE, New York Giants) – Since Week 10, Tye has been the Giants' primary tight end and has averaged 6.4 targets and 54.6 receiving yards. He has also added in two scores, both coming in the last two weeks. With Beckham suspended for one game, there's a good chance Tye's workload rises, and Minnesota isn't good against opposing tight ends. The Vikings ranked 24th in pass DVOA to tight ends coming into Week 15.
Just missed: Kirk Cousins, Mike Gillislee, Bryce Brown, Dorial Green-Beckham, Dwayne Harris, Keshawn Martin, Jermaine Kearse and Zach Miller.
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert and co-host of "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today," which can be heard every Sunday during football season from 8-9 a.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter@jthomason77 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.