Fantasy football waiver wire: Robert Woods can be a title-winning pickup
The fantasy football teams good enough to make it all the way to championship week have done so with a combination of outstanding starters and, when needed, productive bench players.
However, injuries can derail even the most expertly constructed rosters. So if you're without the services of Antonio Brown, Rex Burkhead or Aaron Rodgers, you may have to start someone you add off this week's waiver wire.
Even if all your players are healthy, you can still pick up injury replacements to keep your opponent from getting them. Yeah, it’s mean but … all’s fair in love and fantasy football.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams. After missing three games with a shoulder injury, Woods returned to the field in Week 15 and caught six passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. He was Jared Goff's favorite target before the injury and the league's highest-scoring offense has a tasty matchup at Tennessee on tap.
Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers. With Brown out several weeks due to a partially torn calf muscle, Bryant will be targeted much more often. He caught four passes for 59 yards and a score on Sunday. While he's still the No. 2 receiver behind Juju Smith-Schuster, both should be able to succeed against the Houston Texans' struggling cornerbacks.
Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars. We try not to list a player two weeks in a row, but Cole's seven catches for 186 yards and a touchdown make him impossible to ignore. He has now scored in three consecutive games -- and with teammate Marqise Lee likely out with an ankle injury, Cole's share of the targets from red-hot Blake Bortles could increase even more. The Jaguars also have the benefit of a plus matchup at San Francisco.
Damiere Byrd, Carolina Panthers. In deep leagues, Byrd may be the only one in this group still available. He had a pair of touchdown receptions in Week 15 among his three catches for 25 yards. This week, the Panthers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are the NFL's worst against the pass.
QUARTERBACKS
Fantasy owners who rode Rodgers' three TD passes in his return from a broken collarbone have been left holding the proverbial bag in Week 16. The Packers have been eliminated from playoff contention, so there's no real reason for Rodgers to risk reinjury by playing any more this season. He was put on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon.
If you didn't manage to pick up Nick Foles or Blake Bortles for an emergency start last week, they're probably not available anymore. Which leaves ...
Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens. Let's face it. Flacco isn't an elite fantasy quarterback. But he has been consistently solid recently, with two touchdowns in each of the past three weeks (his second TD on Sunday was a rushing one).
The Ravens are at home in Week 16 against an Indianapolis Colts defense that just gave up three touchdowns and 25 fantasy points to Brock Osweiler.
RUNNING BACKS
Fantasy owners will miss Burkhead's red-zone presence, but his absence will open up touches for others.
James White, New England Patriots. Dion Lewis is clearly the Pats' primary backfield option, but White should see a nice uptick in usage. He doesn't have a single rushing attempt the past two weeks, but has more than double the passing targets of any other Patriots back. He also has three receiving touchdowns and will face a Buffalo Bills team that allows the most fantasy points to running backs in the league.
Javorius Allen/Danny Woodhead, Baltimore Ravens. The matchup vs. Indianapolis may be too good to pass up, especially if your fantasy team needs a long shot to come through. Alex Collins is still the go-to running back, but Allen and Woodhead could see more action if the game gets out of hand.
TIGHT ENDS
Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers. Perhaps there's a remote chance Olsen was cut after catching a total of one pass for 10 yards since returning from a broken foot. However, he played almost every snap on Sunday, catching nine passes for 116 yards and a TD. It's worth a five-second check to see if he's available. (While you're at it, take five more seconds to see if back-from-suspension Ezekiel Elliott is there.)
Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers. You know he'll be more careful to secure the ball and survive the ground the next time he catches a pass near the goal line. And he could see more targets with Brown sidelined.
Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions. Yes, he's been maddeningly inconsistent, but you just need one good game. Ebron has averaged nine targets and 7.5 receptions over the past two games -- and he did score last week. The Lions should thrive against a deflated Cincinnati Bengals team in Week 16.
STREAMING DEFENSE
Chicago Bears. It's not uncommon for a fantasy team to stream defenses each week and still reach the championship round of the playoffs. The Bears are this week's click to pick, playing at home against the winless Cleveland Browns. QB DeShone Kizer has thrown an NFL-high 19 interceptions
Defenses matched up against the Browns rank first in fantasy points, with an average of 12.8 per week.