2022 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Best Pickups for Week 16
If you are reading this you are probably still in the fantasy football playoffs, congratulations! The job is not finished though. Your team is probably pretty good considering you made it this far but exploring the waiver wire options is always a good idea. Here are the best waiver wire pickups for Week 16 of the 2022 fantasy football season.
*All of these players are available in more than half of ESPN leagues.*
Tyler Allgeier — 33.5%
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier is by far the best waiver wire option for Week 16. This is Allgeier’s second appearance on a waiver wire post as he was a solid option all the way back in Week 5. While he has not been great all year, he is in a good spot to put up points as the 2022 season closes.
In Week 15, Allgeier saw a season-high in 17 carries and put up 139 yards and a touchdown. That is his best fantasy performance of the season thus far.
The Falcons are in an interesting spot. Throughout 2022, the Falcons’ offense has been abysmal. Consequentially, Desmond Ridder became the starting quarterback while Marcus Mariota has allegedly quit on the team and is out of the picture. With Ridder under center, the Falcons will likely lean heavily on their run game. That is good news for Allgeier and his fantasy owners.
At a minimum, add Allgeier off waivers. He will be a solid player to have rostered for the remainder of the year.
Deon Jackson — 11.9%
The Indianapolis Colts backfield is wide open after Jonathan Taylor sprained his ankle which will keep him out for the remainder of the season. That instantly makes Deon Jackson and Zack Moss fantasy relevant. Now, do not get too excited about either guy. The Colts’ offense is terrible and they will likely split touches. However, if you opt to add either guy, Jackson is the way to go.
This may come as a surprise as Moss got more touches than Jackson in Week 15. At the end of the day, Moss finished with 24 carries for 82 yards while Jackson finished with 13 carries for 55 yards and a one-yard receiving touchdown. Now, Moss may get more carries, but in terms of future production, Jackson will get more catches. I expect the Colts to be trailing quite often which will lead to Jackson getting more opportunities in the passing game. If you are in a PPR league, Jackson is the player you want to add off of waivers.
Chigoziem Okonkwo- 14.5%
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigozien Okonkwo is the top waiver option at tight end. I do not like overreacting to tight end production in fantasy because it usually ends up being a short-lived flash rather than consistent production. In this case, Okonkwo has now put up three consecutive ten-point games in PPR formats.
Okonkwo has become more involved in the Titans’ offense in recent games. In the four games, he has received more than five targets in each game. Prior to that stretch, his season-high in targets was three.
The Titans are in desperate need of help in the passing game. If Okonkwo can help them improve in that realm he will continue to get targets. If you are in need of a waiver wire tight end, Okonkwo is your guy.
Jahan Dotson — 26.4%
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is a risky fantasy option if you are looking for points. Typically, Dotson is very touchdown dependent. On the bright side, when he finds the end zone, he puts up a lot of points. Week 15 was a great example of that as he put up four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Dotson is purely here if you are looking to play with fire in the playoffs. For example, if you are down big in a league that has a two-week aggregate score playoff system, Dotson is a high-upside flex option that could dig you out of a hole. At the same time, he could dig you into a deeper hole, just understand that is possible too. If you want to take the gamble, Dotson is your guy.
Khalil Herbert — 27.6%
Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert is coming off injured reserve and is set to play in Week 16. That means it is time to nab Herbert off waivers.
Prior to his injury, Herbert was having a great year for the Bears. The issue was that he was the clear running back two as he sat behind David Montgomery on the depth chart. In that role, Herbert has been limited to a handful of carries a game. However, Herbert was able to start a few games while Montgomery was out with an injury. In those games, he excelled.
Despite being a backup, Herbert is still a solid waiver wire add. At a minimum, he is one of the best handcuffs in the league. At best he leads you to a championship if he gets a solid workload in the Bears’ last three games. I think the ceiling is enough to claim him off waivers. He is certainly worth a roster spot.
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