Prime Fantasy Soccer Waiver Wire Targets for Week 16: Michael Carter and Jayden Reed

Each Monday in the course of the season, Justin Boone breaks down the really helpful fantasy soccer waiver-wire pickups.

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Roster percentages are generated from Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Finances (FAB) quantities are primarily based on a $100 wage cap. Solely gamers rostered in lower than 50% of leagues are thought-about.

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Key accidents to think about

• Patrick Mahomes (ACL, season-ending)

• Javonte Williams (shoulder)

• Davante Adams (hamstring)

• Luther Burden III (ankle)

• Xavier Worthy (concussion)

Pickups by place

Week 16’s top-10 total pickups

1. Blake Corum, Rams
2. Michael Carter, Cardinals
3. Jayden Reed, Packers
4. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders
5. Audric Estime, Saints
6. Colby Parkinson, Rams
7. Jawhar Jordan, Texans
8. Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos
9. Dalton Schultz, Texans
10. Colston Loveland, Bears

Quarterbacks

J.J. McCarthy, Vikings

McCarthy will get the featured quarterback spot on this column but once more, however it’s effectively deserved.

Regardless of an extremely disappointing season total, the sophomore passer is lastly exhibiting some indicators of life down the stretch due to simple matchups with the Commanders and Cowboys the previous two weeks.

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McCarthy has produced six whole touchdowns throughout these video games (5 passing, one speeding) and completed as a top-10 fantasy QB on each events.

He’ll have one other delicate opponent to assault in Week 16. The Giants protection is likely one of the 5 best matchups for fantasy QBs on the 12 months.

As I stated final week, McCarthy is much from a must-start, however he’s seemingly the perfect waiver wire quarterback choice for determined managers.

C.J. Stroud is 48% rostered however could be the No. 1 QB add if out there.

Dangerous streaming choices

• Tyler Shough vs. NYJ (9% rostered)

• Bryce Younger vs. TB (18% rostered)

Desperation streaming choices

• Tua Tagovailoa vs. CIN (18% rostered)

• Kirk Cousins at ARI (8% rostered)

• Marcus Mariota vs. PHI (10% rostered)

• Aaron Rodgers at DET (27% rostered)

• Gardner Minshew at TEN (0% rostered)

• Philip Rivers vs. SF (6% rostered)

• Cam Ward vs. KC (8% rostered)

Desperation streaming choices (if wholesome)

• Tyrod Taylor at NO (8% rostered)

Working Backs

Michael Carter/Emari Demercado, Cardinals

Bam Knight was carted off with an ankle harm that’s more likely to preserve him out of the lineup the remainder of the fantasy season.

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Sadly for him, the Cardinals have a really favorable schedule with the Falcons and Bengals over the subsequent two weeks. On prime of being winnable video games that might characteristic constructive recreation scripts, each Atlanta and Cincinnati are pleasant opponents for fantasy working backs.

Even with Demercado again within the lineup, Carter was the clear alternative for Knight, enjoying 80% of the snaps in Week 15 and delivering 94 scrimmage and 4 receptions on 18 whole touches versus a tricky Texans protection.

That makes Carter a prime precedence for fantasy managers in want of a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 shifting ahead.

In the meantime, Demercado turns into an intriguing upside flex play.

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Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders

With Chris Rodriguez Jr. being a late scratch attributable to a groin harm, Croskey-Merritt stepped into the lead again position for the Commanders, dealing with 18 touches en path to 96 yards and a rating.

Rodriguez was in a position to get in a restricted apply final week, so we’ll want to watch his availability. Nonetheless, it’s attainable Washington might proceed to roll with JCM down the stretch of a misplaced season, in an effort to see what they’ve within the rookie.

The matchup with the Eagles shall be way more tough than what he confronted on Sunday, however Croskey-Merritt has the potential to be an upside RB3 if he will get one other begin.

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Audric Estime/Evan Hull, Saints

Devin Neal left with a hamstring harm on Sunday, which may pressure him to the sidelines for Week 16 and probably past.

In his absence, Estime noticed extra work however Hull was closely concerned in what amounted to a close to 55-45 cut up.

Estime turned six touches into 50 scrimmage yards within the recreation, most of which got here via the air. Hull had simply 12 yards on 4 carries.

What makes this extra engaging is their matchup within the fantasy semifinals in opposition to a Jets protection that’s given up 13 touchdowns to working backs of their final 5 video games.

Estime needs to be added as an RB3 with RB2 upside if he can discover the tip zone. In the meantime, Hull is a dangerous flex play.

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Jawhar Jordan, Texans

Woody Marks is day-to-day after struggling an ankle harm over the weekend. His regular backup Nick Chubb was held to only one restricted apply final week attributable to a rib situation and was in the end dominated out previous to Week 15.

Now, fantasy managers shall be hitting the refresh button as they search for updates on this backfield all through the week.

If Marks can play, then he’ll stay a low-end fantasy RB2, however a workforce with Tremendous Bowl aspirations may not need to threat their younger again.

That may put Chubb in line to start out, if he can return to apply and show he’s able to contribute. In that state of affairs, the veteran could be a TD-or-bust RB3 versus the Eagles.

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Nonetheless, if each gamers are inactive then Jordan could be essentially the most useful fantasy asset on Houston’s RB depth chart. The 26-year-old racked up 118 scrimmage yards on 17 touches within the win over the Cardinals this week and might be a sneaky RB3 with upside in Week 16.

Blake Corum is 40% rostered however could be the No. 1 RB add if out there.

RB3/flex (if starter is out)

• Jaleel McLaughlin vs. JAX (1% rostered)

Dangerous flex choices

• Devin Singletary vs. MIN (30% rostered)

• Tyler Allgeier at ARI (38% rostered)

• Jaylen Wright vs. CIN (25% rostered)

Dangerous flex choices (if wholesome)

• Samaje Perine at MIA (4% rostered)

• Ollie Gordon II vs. CIN (8% rostered)

Dart-throw flex choices

• Malik Davis vs. LAC (1% rostered)

• Sean Tucker at CAR (22% rostered)

• Brian Robinson Jr. at IND (33% rostered)

• Emanuel Wilson at CHI (34% rostered)

• Tyjae Spears vs. KC (27% rostered)

• Isaiah Davis at NO (3% rostered)

• Keaton Mitchell vs. NE (3% rostered)

• Ameer Abdullah vs. SF (0% rostered)

• Jeremy McNichols vs. PHI (2% rostered)

• Rasheen Ali vs. NE (0% rostered)

• Ty Johnson at CLE (2% rostered)

Dart-throw flex choices (if wholesome)

• Dylan Sampson vs. BUF (11% rostered)

Dart-throw flex choices (if starter is out)

• Tyler Badie vs. JAX (0% rostered)

• Dare Ogunbowale vs. LV (1% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster

• Tank Bigsby at WAS (17% rostered)

Broad Receivers

Jayden Reed, Packers

As at all times, there are many flex choices that you would decide up off the waiver wire and slot into your lineup for those who’re determined. However fantasy groups with actual title hopes are on the lookout for extra.

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Reed is the highest receiver pickup this week after Christian Watson suffered a chest harm that doesn’t look like critical, however threatens his availability for Week 16.

The Packers are likely to take a cautious method with accidents, so Watson lacking a recreation appears to be the most certainly end result.

Even with Watson within the lineup for many of the previous two video games, Reed has been productive with 108 scrimmage yards throughout that span.

The Packers insistence on a committee method at receiver makes it exhausting to venture huge stat traces for any of their wideouts, however Reed has proven us a high quality fantasy ceiling previously.

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Going again to his rookie 12 months, Reed completed because the WR23, scoring 10 whole touchdowns and including 119 yards on the bottom regardless of solely seeing the sector for 56% of the Packers’ snaps.

In 2024, he averaged WR14 fantasy stats via the primary 9 video games whereas seeing a rise in enjoying time as much as 66% of the snaps. However after the Packers’ Week 10 bye, his numbers fell off dramatically, topping 50 yards simply as soon as within the second half of the season and being the WR62 throughout that closing eight-game pattern.

There aren’t many gamers on the waiver wire together with his sort of upside as a WR3/flex with top-20 potential if all the things goes his method.

Troy Franklin is 51% rostered however could be the No. 2 WR add behind Jayden Reed — if out there.

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Rashid Shaheed is 53% rostered however could be the No. 3 WR add behind Jayden Reed and Troy Franklin — if out there.

WR4/flex choices

• Adonai Mitchell at NO (16% rostered)

WR4/Flex choices (if wholesome)

• Luther Burden III vs. GB (17% rostered)

Flex choices

• Jayden Higgins vs. LV (43% rostered)

• Jalen Coker vs. TB (5% rostered)

Dangerous flex choices

• Darius Slayton vs. MIN (41% rostered)

• Jalen Nailor at NYG (2% rostered)

Dangerous flex choices (if starter is out)

• Matthew Golden at CHI (32% rostered)

• Olamide Zaccheaus vs. GB (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex choices

• Cooper Kupp vs. LAR (41% rostered)

• Josh Downs vs. SF (43% rostered)

• Chimere Dike vs. KC (16% rostered)

• John Metchie III at NO (7% rostered)

• David Sills V at ARI (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex choices (if wholesome)

• Pat Bryant vs. JAX (3% rostered)

• Devaughn Vele vs. NYJ (14% rostered)

Tight Ends

Colby Parkinson, Rams

Since Week 10, Parkinson is the fourth-highest scoring fantasy tight finish on a per recreation foundation thanks largely to 6 touchdowns in his final six outings.

Parkinson reached his highest level of the season on Sunday with 5 receptions, 75-yards and two TDs.

Now, he will get to face his former membership the Seahawks on Thursday night time. Seattle’s protection is superb, however does have a delicate spot in the case of fantasy tight ends.

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Don’t be shocked if Parkinson, who caught a TD in opposition to the Seahawks in Week 11, pops up for an additional robust fantasy outing this week.

Dalton Schultz is 49% rostered however could be the No. 2 TE add if out there.

Colston Loveland is 40% rostered however could be the No. 3 TE add if out there.

Streaming choices

• Darren Waller vs. CIN (36% rostered)

• Theo Johnson vs. MIN (46% rostered)

Dangerous streaming choices

• Oronde Gadsden II at DAL (49% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming choices

• Gunnar Helm vs. KC (0% rostered)

• Dawson Knox at CLE (3% rostered)

• Luke Musgrave at CHI (2% rostered)

• Isaiah Doubtless vs. NE (19% rostered)

• Chig Okonkwo vs. KC (16% rostered)

• AJ Barner vs. LAR (12% rostered)

• Mike Gesicki at MIA (5% rostered)

• Pat Freiermuth at DET (11% rostered)

Defenses

Payments D/ST is 54% rostered however could be the No. 1 D/ST add if out there.

Chiefs D/ST is 57% rostered however could be the No. 2 D/ST add if out there.

Week 17 stashes

• Patriots D/ST at NYJ (47% rostered)

• Saints D/ST at TEN (17% rostered)

• Cowboys D/ST at WAS (35% rostered)

• Giants D/ST at LV (5% rostered)

Kickers