Dynasty Waiver Wire: Week 16

Addison Hayes

We are winding down to a close on the 2020 fantasy season, as crazy, wild, strange, and fun as it has been. I hope everyone reading this has at least one championship to play for, and if not, there is always 2021, as well as all the amazing things the NFL off-season brings, especially for dynasty! I also hope everyone has an amazing Christmas, please stay safe and enjoy the holidays with your loved ones, however you are deciding to spend the weekend. Anyhow, you aren’t even reading this, I know.

In case you are reading this, there is one bit of information to know before you start reading names. New to this year’s series and the DLF site is player rostership percentages, courtesy of dynasty rosters from SafeLeagues and the great Scott Fish. Using that data, I developed an app to view rostership data from over 400 SafeLeagues dynasty leagues, all using the same format and scoring (2 PPR tight end premium). While this may not be entirely accurate for every individual league, it is very reflective of how managers view who is worthy or not of a roster spot. Now that that is covered, let’s dive into the waiver wire after week 15!

Players to double-check availability and immediately add:

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Marcus Mariota, QB LV

I was honestly surprised to see Mariota available in over 20% of leagues, especially since these leagues feeding my data are superflex. Mariota had a great showing over three quarters in place of Derek Carr this week, including 88 rushing yards and a touchdown through the air and on the ground. Carr’s injury is expected to keep him sidelined for at least next week, if not the remainder of the season. That gives any Carr managers who made it to the championship and need a spot starter could luck out with Mariota off the waivers. Additionally, Mariota signed a glorified one-year contract (two-year deal with team opt-out), so he could audition himself into another starting role, a la Teddy Bridgewater, in 2021.

Tyron Johnson, WR LAC and Jalen Guyton, WR LAC

Both Chargers wide receivers performed well in the stead of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (it’s still sore for me too, I’m sorry). Guyton went 4-91-0 on six targets, while Johnson went 3-61-1 on five targets. Both players are nothing special for fantasy when the Chargers have their way, but injuries over the course of a season can definitely change that. These two remind me of Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson of the Chiefs in terms of usability, potential explosiveness, and unpredictability. They are worth roster stashes with spot-startability like we saw this week, while also being easy cuts as we enter the 2021 off-season.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR CLE

Peoples-Jones has shown out on a couple of plays in two straight weeks now, leading to 29 fantasy points in that stretch. Like Johnson and Guyton, Peoples-Jones is a highly unpredictable, but explosive receiver. When I wrote about Rashard Higgins a couple weeks ago, I mentioned that it’s likely Odell Beckham is not a Brown in 2021, as this offense, and Baker Mayfield in particular, seem to perform much better when they are not force-feeding OBJ. If OBJ is gone, Peoples-Jones could slot in nicely into a WR3 role.

COVID-19 Opt Outs:

Since we are rapidly heading into the 2021 off-season, I also wanted to highlight players who we might have forgotten about due to COVID-19 opt-outs in the summer. It is entirely possible some of these guys were dropped at some point in the year and could be available for you now for free.

Damien Williams, RB KC

Clyde Edwards-Helaire is having a polarizing rookie season with many believing he just needs work, while others say he isn’t doing enough to get work. Regardless, the Chiefs brought in Le’Veon Bell mid-season to add another presence into the backfield that they lost when Williams opted out. I do not believe Bell is a Chief in 2021 and Williams could return to this backfield and maintain a semi-committee. I love me some backup running backs, especially when they have shown they can perform by themselves, should anything happen to the lead back. That’s Williams, and he could be on your waivers.

Geronimo Allison, WR DET

Allison signed a one-year deal with Detroit last off-season but then opted out in August. He is a free agent in 2021 or could return to the Lions. What makes Allison interesting is if he does return to Detroit and Kenny Golladay does not. Allison could stumble upon a WR3 role or better for Matthew Stafford next year, or maybe give you a free 2022 third or fourth-round pick for your waiver wire FAAB.

Devin Funchess, WR GB

In Geronimo Allison fashion, Funchess did the exact same thing to Allison’s former team, the Green Bay Packers. Funchess also signed a one-year deal, so it is very possible that he is on a different team in 2021, but should Funchess remain in Green Bay, he also could find himself in a WR3 role or better, especially given Green Bay’s history of negligence at wide receiver in the NFL Draft. A former 1,000-yard receiver, with a possible foot in the door with being the WR2 for Aaron Rodgers across from Davante Adams has potential for fantasy production. Even if you don’t think so, someone in your league might.

Deep stashes:

addison hayes