If Bam Knight is out this week, “Get Carter” should be the action call for RB-needy fantasy managers. Alex Slitz / Imagn Images
Between the injuries and huge scores, there were quite a few developments that gave us waiver wire options for Week 16. It’s rare to find someone this late who can start in your fantasy football playoff lineup, but there might be a few, given some needs. From quarterbacks replacing Patrick Mahomes to new starting running backs and wide receiver lottery tickets, I have all the names you need to continue your playoff run.
Waiver Wire Running BacksIn groups because of differing needs, potential injuries, etc.
Potential replacements with anywhere from fringe RB2/3 value to pure Hail Mary plays.
Michael Carter and Emari Demercado, ARI — Assuming Bam Knight is out, Carter steps up to lead the backfield. Given the matchup — Falcons at home — Carter can enter the RB3 conversation. If the Cardinals were trailing and pass-happy, we would expect more of a 50/50 split with Demercado, who would absorb the lead in passing down opportunities.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols, WAS — If Chris Rodriguez returns, he’s an RB3. If out, I’d expect more of a split given the Eagles matchup, possibly resulting in McNichols having the higher score.
Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN — If RJ Harvey is out, McLaughlin would lead, and while I wouldn’t want to start him (would be in RB3 range), you also want to block your opponents just in case.
Jawhar Jordan, HOU — It sounds as though Woody Marks is okay, and Nick Chubb could return, but if both were out, Jordan — a Jerick McKinnon/Antonio Gibson type with good speed — would be in the RB3 conversation and possibly a bit more … similar to Devin Neal when healthy.
Evan Hull and Audric Estime, NO — If Devin Neal is out, I wouldn’t chase either of these two — not even to block opponents. I’d rather stash an Emanuel Wilson or Samaje Perine. But, if you’re in a 16-team, I-enjoy-the-misery league, Hull looked to be a bit more in the lead and effective.
Backup with deep, Flex-starting, value.
Blake Corum, LAR 🫡
Tyler Allgeier, ATL 🫡
Brian Robinson, SF 🫡
Deeper waivers with notes on how they might be worthy of a gamble.
Devin Singletary, NYG — Since Week 10 (week after Cam Skattebo’s injury), Singletary has RBTouch% marks of 55.6, 42.3, 42.5, 37.8, 57.7 and 25.0, respectively. The 57.7% was in a blowout. Singletary is touchdown or bust, but with 10 goal-line carries to two for Tyrone Tracy in that stretch. So, he’s a Hail Mary RB4.
Samaje Perine, CIN — Since Week 6 and in Perine’s healthy games, he has a 39.6 RBTouch% and 91.3% of 3rd/4th downs (Week 15 was the first time that mark wasn’t 100% — it was 71.4%).
Sean Tucker, TB — Turns out it’s Tucker who the Buccaneers prefer near the goal line, despite how good Bucky Irving looks. It’s no more than a desperation, touchdown-reliant (or blowout) play like with Tyler Allgeier.
LeQuint Allen, JAX — A bit down the backup ranks, but Bhayshul Tuten is out for the season. Allen is not startable, but he needs a call-out.
Bait Loot
(Leave them on waivers)
Isaiah Davis, NYJ — Offense barely supports two players, so Davis would need to leapfrog Breece Hall down the stretch. Even then, he’d be a fringe RB2 like Neal, and that’s assuming the Jets “shelved” Hall for 2025. Fine to super deep stash.
Purely Next Man Up Ranks
(If an injury ahead of them)
Brian Robinson, SF
Kyle Monangai, CHI
Blake Corum, LAR
Tyler Allgeier, ATL
Chuba Hubbard, CAR
Zach Charbonnet, SEA
Jordan Mason, MIN
Kenneth Gainwell, PIT
Emanuel Wilson, GB
Rhamondre Stevenson, NE
Samaje Perine, CIN
Ray Davis, BUF
Jaylen Wright, MIA
Tank Bigsby, PHI
Sean Tucker, TB
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, WAS
Isaiah Davis, NYJ
LeQuint Allen, JAX
Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN
Keaton Mitchell, BAL
Tyjae Spears, TEN
Raheem Mostert, LV
Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
Luther Burden and Olamide Zaccheaus, CHI — If he plays, Burden is a WR4 with everyone else out there. If Rome Odunze is out again (yes, I’m as mad as you are about that 12:56 pm ET news), Burden would be solidly inside the WR3 convo, and as a note, DJ Moore would be a near must-start even against the Packers. If there’s no Odunze and Burden, Zaccheaus would become a WR4/5 lottery ticket (boost Colston Loveland too).
Jayden Reed, GB — Second in routes and first in TmTGT% (16.9) the past two games, and whether or not Christian Watson plays, Reed is a WR4 with upside for more.
Devaughn Vele, NO — Banged up, but if okay, Vele is a WR4/5 and has even more upside in Week 17 against the Titans.
Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant, DEN — If Bryant returns, he had been the No. 2 since the Broncos’ bye. It would cloud the usability of both, but Bryant would be in the WR4 conversation. If Bryant is out, Franklin takes his spot, but with a bit more risk given the Broncos’ wideout rotation/use.
Matthew Golden, GB — If Watson is out, Golden would be my target over Dontayvion Wicks. They essentially rotated in the Watson void, but Jordan Love looked more intent on throwing to Golden, and they head to Chicago — Saturday! — and the weather doesn’t seem to be an issue.
Adonai Mitchell, NYJ — Turns out Brady Cook doesn’t only see John Metchie when under center. Mitchell is still a boom/bust WR4/5, but if Tyrod Taylor returns, he’d be back to WR3-plus value.
Rashid Shaheed, SEA — Slightly edged out Cooper Kupp in routes, and over the past two games, Shaheed has more targets, receptions and yards. Still, the floor is rather low with this boom/bust play.
Darnell Mooney and David Sills, ATL — These are certainly desperation plays, and only if Drake London doesn’t return.
Jalen Coker, CAR — Same route involvement as Xavier Legette but has been producing a bit more with his opportunities. Panthers face the Bucs’ pass-funnel defense this week.
Darius Slayton, NYG — Boom/bust. You already know.
Kayshon Boutte, NE — Patriots’ Slayton.
Andrei Iosivas and Mitch Tinsley, CIN — Apparently, Joe Burrow is finishing out the season, so Iosivas and Tinsley are lottery tickets with solid Dolphins and Cardinals matchups to close things out.
Isaiah Bond, CLE — Lots of if’s this week, but if Cedric Tillman doesn’t return, Bond is essentially the Kayshon Boutte of the Browns.
Jack Bech, LV — You can be the top wideout on a team and it not matter … when your quarterback averages just 4.1 AirYD/Att and 2.6 YD/Att.
Bait Loot
(Leave them on waivers)
Jalen Nailor, MIN — Justin Jefferson has to be seething as much as his fantasy managers are.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey, DEN — Broncos rotation mess, as Sean Payton loves to do.
Reserve Heroes: Deployed
(Streaming Section)Streaming Quarterbacks
Jacoby Brissett, ARI vs ATL
J.J. McCarthy, MIN at NYG
C.J. Stroud, HOU vs LV
Sam Darnold, SEA vs LAR
Tyler Shough, NO vs NYJ
Bryce Young, CAR vs TB
Tua Tagovailoa, MIA vs CIN
Streaming Tight Ends
Colby Parkinson, LAR (bet he’s gonna top 10% now — had him as a TE1, and he’ll be even higher this week)
Darren Waller, MIA
Dalton Schultz, HOU
Colston Loveland, CHI (see: Burden and Bears situation above)
Oronde Gadsden, LAC (as long as Quentin Johnston is out)
Isaiah Likely (yes, going back to him — covered him on the pod)
Playoff DSTs(Top 10 ranked for each week, rostership regardless)Week 16
HOU vs LV
BUF at CLE
PHI at WAS
NO vs NYJ
SF at IND
DEN vs JAX
KC at TEN
DET vs PIT
TB at CAR
MIN at NYG
Week 17
HOU at LAC
PIT at CLE
LAR at ATL
CLE vs PIT
DET at MIN
DEN at KC
SEA at CAR
NE at NYJ
JAX at IND
NO at TEN
All In Speed Run Podcast
(Hey, listen! 🧚 it’s mine 👀)Apple
Spotify
Manual: Rules of Play
Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo.
Listed in order of preference: I’ll regularly prioritize potential upside over immediate replacement production.
No FAB suggestions: Varies wildly by league tendencies and needs.
Streaming QB, TE, DST order might change in the ranks with more news and projections.
Emojis for brevity:
😏 = mentioned multiple times, multiple weeks — either you want him or don’t
🫡 = Next Man Up, but with deeper startability