NFL fantasy football waiver wire, Week 16: RB Jerome Ford, WR Jalen McMillan among top targets

ROSTERED: 39%

For all their defensive problems this season, the Ravens held Wilson to a season-low 6.3 fantasy points back in Week 11, when the Steelers won the rivalry game, 18-16, thanks to six field goals. Can Zach Orr's group repeat that kind of performance in the rematch this coming Saturday? Baltimore's D has been one of the friendliest to fantasy QBs this season. I like the unit's chances a lot more if Pittsburgh WR1 George Pickens misses a third straight game with his hamstring injury, so keep an eye on his status. To give you an idea of the ceiling, Wilson has two games with 24-plus points on his résumé this season, and the Ravens have allowed a top-12 fantasy quarterback in eight of 14 games. If you don’t have a clear answer at QB already, the matchup for Wilson might be too good to pass up.

ROSTERED: 28%

Rodgers is not going quietly into an uncertain offseason. He posted a season-high 30.06 fantasy points on Sunday, throwing for 289 yards and three touchdowns against the lowly Jaguars. Rodgers has racked up 628 pass yards in the last two weeks, fourth-most of any QB in that span. That will play! Now, he’ll have a tougher matchup in Week 16 against a Rams team battling for a playoff spot, but in two-QB leagues, the Jets’ QB1 is back on the radar with his late-season rally.

ROSTERED: 3%

The Patriots keep losing, but Maye continues to post solid production. The rookie has scored 17-plus points in three of his last four games. He ran and threw for a TD against the Cardinals on Sunday. I’m not sure Maye has a huge statistical day in him this season, given the limitations of New England’s offense, but he’s worth rostering as a fantasy QB2. He’ll next face the Bills, who have allowed a top-eight fantasy QB in each of the last two weeks.

ROSTERED: 40%

Spears managed just 5 yards rushing on four carries on Sunday, but he ran for a score and had another TD on one of his six catches for 87 yards. That was enough to make him the fantasy RB3 (27.2 fantasy points) of the week. Now, he remains the RB2 in Tennessee behind Tony Pollard, but Pollard does not appear to be 100 percent as he deals with an ankle injury. With a matchup against the poor Colts run defense up next, Spears is at least a flex play in a lot of leagues.

ROSTERED: 21%

With Nick Chubb suffering a broken foot, the path is clear for Ford to return to RB1 duties in Cleveland. Ford put up 18.4 points on Sunday against the Chiefs, rushing for a season-high 84 yards and showing his explosiveness on a 62-yard TD run. It won’t be a surprise if he provides similar production against a porous Bengals defense in Week 16. Let’s not forget Ford scored 15-plus fantasy points in two games early this season while filling in for Chubb, who was making his way back from a knee injury at the time. Ford is certainly in play as a flex and could be an RB2 if you have a void to fill at the position.

ROSTERED: 1%

We’ll have to monitor Alvin Kamara’s status this week after he suffered a groin injury in the fourth quarter on Sunday. If Kamara's ultimately due to miss time, Miller is a must-roster guy for any RB-needy fantasy manager. The second-year back led the Saints with nine carries for 46 yards (5.1 per) against the Commanders. Miller doesn’t have Kamara’s explosiveness or dual-threat ability, but he’s a big back with the potential to do damage in goal-line situations.

ROSTERED: 45%

Coleman had only one reception in his return from a wrist injury on Sunday, but he made it count, catching a deep ball from Josh Allen for a gain of 64 yards. It was a little disappointing to see Coleman targeted just twice all game, but he did lead all Bills wide receivers in snaps. I’m still bullish on the rookie’s potential, particularly with a game against the Patriots’ WR-friendly defense on tap.

ROSTERED: 29%

Welcome back, Romeo! He returned from his two-week absence due to a concussion and made his presence felt right away against the Seahawks. Doubs had two TD grabs, including a highly impressive pluck on a throw that he kept from scraping the turf. I know it’s been a maddening year to roster Packers receivers -- with a deep rotation where the star spotlight seems to rotate with each week -- but Green Bay has a matchup to exploit this week against the Saints, who have been highly generous to fantasy WRs this year. Doubs has seen at least five targets in five of his last six games, so Jordan Love is going to look his way when he’s on the field.

ROSTERED: 20%

Even with Ladd McConkey and Josh Palmer active, Johnston was targeted 10 times on Sunday, with the Chargers chasing points against the Buccaneers. He caught a TD pass for the fifth time in his last seven games and has now scored 15-plus fantasy points in back-to-back weeks. We’re not too far removed from his ice-cold fortnight in Weeks 12 and 13, when Johnston was held to a total of 3.2 points, so keep that in mind. Also, the Chargers have a short week with the Broncos bringing their tough defense to town, but Denver is a bit banged up at cornerback right now. Johnston's a risky play, but I wouldn’t overlook him if your WR depth chart isn’t looking so hot.

ROSTERED: 14%

Hey, it’s another boom-or-bust fantasy receiver! I wish I had safer options for you, but we’re talking about the waiver wire here and it is Week 16. The pickings are not abundant. It’s been an all-or-nothing type of season for Bateman, who has scored 15 or more fantasy points four times and 7.3 points or fewer six times. He was on the good side of that dichotomy in a big way on Sunday, racking up a season-high 23 fantasy points with two TDs against the Giants. Baltimore's Week 16 opponent, Pittsburgh, is one of the teams that kept Bateman in check, holding him to five points in Week 11. There is upside for a big-play weapon in a Lamar Jackson-led offense, but beware the bust factor here. 

ROSTERED: 2%

The rookie appears to be turning a corner. McMillan has put up 18-plus fantasy points in each of the last two games, scoring three TDs in that span and posting his two highest yardage totals of the season in consecutive weeks. He was targeted 13 times in that stretch, and with a favorable matchup against the Cowboys defense awaiting him, McMillan has a chance to help carry you to the championship game in your fantasy league.

ROSTERED: 0.1%

Completing the trifecta of rookie WRs in this space is Coker. He went undrafted in April, but he’s playing like a guy who deserved to be picked, returning from injury on Sunday to rack up a season-high 21 fantasy points, with an 83-yard TD being the highlight of his afternoon. He now has three double-digit games on his ledger -- and has a chance to make it four against the Cardinals this week. Bryce Young has targeted Coker six or more times in three of their last four games together, and we know Carolina is often chasing points. He’s a potential flex option in deep leagues.

ROSTERED: 2%

With Evan Engram out for the season, it’s Strange time in Jacksonville. He led all tight ends in Week 15 with 12 targets and 11 catches. The second-year pro is averaging a very respectable six targets and 10.9 fantasy points per game in contests without Engram this season. Strange next draws the Raiders defense, which has been among the league’s worst at stopping tight ends in 2024. He could be the answer to your tight end problem (if you have one).

ROSTERED: 2%

Okonkwo is coming off a season-high eight catches on 10 targets. Now now he has a matchup against a Colts defense that has been one of the league’s worst against fantasy tight ends. He’s only recorded more than 9.5 fantasy points twice all season, but both of those games have come within the last four weeks. Chig is not a bad Plan B this week if you miss out on Strange.

ROSTERED: 0.3%

I know Smartt is still a relative unknown, but if Will Dissly misses another game with his shoulder injury and Hayden Hurst isn’t activated off injured reserve, Smartt will be in line for plenty of playing time. How can you not be intrigued by his trajectory? After seeing his most extensive game action yet in Week 14, when he made three catches on three targets for 54 yards, the former college quarterback/wide receiver made five catches on six targets for 50 yards on Sunday. The Chargers next will face the Broncos, who have been a middle-of-the-pack defense against fantasy tight ends, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see Smartt drop double-digit points on Denver if he’s Los Angeles’ TE1 again.

ROSTERED: 50%

Green Bay’s D/ST has now put up 12 or more fantasy points in two of the last four weeks, averaging 9.3 FPPG in that span. Next up, the Packers host a Saints team that is operating at far from full strength on offense right now. With 13 sacks in the last three games, Green Bay's D is playing too well to pass up if you’re streaming.

ROSTERED: 45%

It’s been a horrific year for Cincinnati's defense, but perhaps Lou Anarumo's group can finish 2024 on a high note. The Bengals' D provided a season-high 19 fantasy points thanks to a four-INT day against the Titans and next will face the Browns, who are mulling a quarterback change because of Jameis Winston’s turnover woes. This is a high-risk, high-reward play.

ROSTERED: 11%

If you’re streaming defenses, the Falcons should be under consideration this week. In Week 16, they host the Giants, who have allowed a top-eight fantasy defense in three of the last four weeks. Whether it’s Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock starting at QB for Big Blue, Atlanta is in play.

ROSTERED: 6%

I know the Colts do not resemble a juggernaut on defense, but in Week 16, they draw the Titans, who have been the most generous team to fantasy defenses this season, and they catch a punchless Giants offense in Week 17. Indianapolis’ inclusion here is all about those matchups. It’s not clear whether Will Levis or Mason Rudolph will be starting for Tennessee this week, but even if the giveaway-prone Levis is benched, let’s not forget that the defenses playing the Titans finished in the top seven in two of Rudolph’s three starts earlier this season.