Never count out one late addition being the difference between a fantasy football championship and a disappointing second place.
Most teams that are still alive at this point have strong rosters, although injuries and other factors always create holes. Don’t be afraid to target some players who can explode for a strong performance in Week 16 and help you bring home the trophy.
For those already out of contention in keeper and dynasty leagues, the waiver wire could still be useful to help set yourself up for next season. Here is a look at options for those in both situations as well as players you shouldn’t be afraid to drop at this late stage of the year.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins
There are still questions about whether Kirk Cousins can be a franchise quarterback for the Washington Redskins, but all you need to worry about in fantasy is him producing this week. Based on what we have seen recently, there should be little doubt.
The quarterback has thrown at least one touchdown pass in every game this season and now has a rushing touchdown in three of the last four games. Cousins has topped 20 fantasy points in standard leagues three times in his last four games, while his 35 total points Sunday were a new season high.
Jason Reid of ESPN gave credit to the head coach who made the quarterback decision few expected him to make at the start of the year:
Cousins has plenty of weapons around him in Jordan Reed, DeSean Jackson and others, all of which have a favorable matchup against the struggling Philadelphia Eagles secondary. Although he might not crack 30 points again, he should definitely be one of the top scorers of the week and worthy of an immediate start.
Christine Michael, RB, Seattle Seahawks
No one ever doubted Christine Michael’s talent as an NFL running back. The former second-round pick has all the tools to be a starter but never quite took advantage of his opportunity. This could change after failing to latch on with a few different teams this season.
Head coach Pete Carroll explained the difference in the player’s mentality, per Gregg Bell of the Seattle News Tribune:
This mindset helped contribute to the best game of Michael’s career, totaling 84 rushing yards on 16 carries against the Cleveland Browns. Getting this many touches on a team that knows how to run and will provide plenty of opportunities to score is great for his fantasy outlook.
One holdup might be the presence of Bryce Brown, who will supposedly continue to share touches in Week 16, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com. Although Brown also played well Sunday, he had only nine carries compared to 16 for Michael, which says a lot about who the team trusts to carry the ball.
Although no committee is ideal in fantasy, there should be enough chances for Michael to have a strong game.
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Tennessee Titans
Like Michael, Dorial Green-Beckham is another player with plenty of talent who just needs to put it all together. He looked like he did that Sunday against the New England Patriots, totaling six catches for 113 receiving yards on a team-high nine targets.
This was the second 100-yard receiving game in the past three weeks after finishing with 119 yards in Week 13.
Green-Beckham has struggled with consistency this year, but he certainly looked good against a tough defense this past weekend. Nerdy Football’s Cian Fahey had high praise for the rookie:
Although he didn’t finish with zero drops—and that still remains an issue—he is clearly the most talented receiver on the Titans and will continue getting work as the year comes to a close. Even with Zach Mettenberger under center, the coaching staff will do what it can to get the ball to Green-Beckham.
Even if some production ends up coming in garbage time, it all counts the same in fantasy.
While there are some duplicates from this week’s list, these are players who will be much better in future seasons in the NFL.
Jay Ajayi has shown a lot of potential and could definitely take over as the Miami Dolphins’ starting running back if Lamar Miller leaves in free agency. Considering his light workload this year, it might be best for him to move on.
At receiver, Kevin White is certainly an intriguing option despite not playing a single game this year. The first-round pick has tons of physical ability, and before the draft, many thought he had more upside than even Amari Cooper. The Chicago Bears really could have used him this year, but he has a chance to come through next year.
Maxx Williams is another high-upside pick who could show what he can do over the next few weeks with Crockett Gillmore landing on injured reserve, per the Ravens’ official site. If he can make some plays in Weeks 16 and 17, he could be a nice fantasy player next year when Joe Flacco returns.
None of these players are sure things, but any of them could help out your team next season before your draft takes place.
Note: All players are available in over 50 percent of ESPN leagues.
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