For one last time this year, it’s time to dive into the players you should be picking up right now ahead of the games in Week 16. Grabbing these waiver wire heroes now saves you the stress of the typical waiver runs when everyone is making claims. It might not feel pretty when you’re thinking about players to start in Week 17, but it’s been a long old season and the injuries, they just keep coming. All of these players are currently rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues, and if you can’t find any of these players available, feel free to harass me on Twitter or in the FantasyPros Discord and we’ll make sure we find you a player fit for a Championship roster.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Stashes Ahead of Week 17
J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN) – 41% Rostered
The jury is still firmly out on whether J.J. McCarthy has what it takes to be an NFL quarterback but for fantasy the uptick has been there in recent games thanks to a cupcake schedule. McCarthy has been over 20 fantasy points in consecutive games and faces the Giants this weekend, who allow the fourth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to quarterbacks before playing the Lions next weekend who allow the fifth-most. Since Week 11, the Lions have allowed a league-high 302.4 passing yards per game, as well 16 completions of 20+ yards which is five more than any other team. McCarthy will probably make some brutal mistakes, but for fantasy this is a recipe we can work with.
No quarterback in NFL history has thrown for multiple touchdowns and had at least one rushing touchdown in 3 of their first 8 starts except for JJ McCarthy. pic.twitter.com/krCQ5w5q3R
— Vikings Central (@VikesCentral) December 17, 2025
Tyler Shough (QB – NO) – 12% Rostered
If you’re at this point ahead of championship weekend, my condolences, but you’re likely stacked elsewhere. More likely you’re desperately trying to avoid a last placed punishment and in that case, Tyler Shough is the man to save your bacon. Since the start of Week 11, Tyler Shough is the QB11 in fantasy points per game; it’s true, and he’s had just a single game below 18 points. In Week 17, Shough and the Saints play the Titans who have allowed ten passing touchdowns in their last four games and given up 27 points and 34 points to quarterbacks in their last two games.
Michael Carter (RB – ARI) – 37% Rostered
This is your last chance to acquire the Cardinals starting running back for the rest of the season. Bam Knight is on injured reserve and Michael Carter is the last man standing. Last week Carter had a 78% opportunity share in the Cardinals backfield and now he faces the Falcons in Week 16 before a glorious Week 17 matchup with the down and out Bengals. The Falcons allow the tenth-most fantasy points to the position and the Bengals allow the second-most, we really don’t need to overthink this one.
Flexing Michael Carter in the semifinals because you lost Davante Adams and Rashee Rice in the same week pic.twitter.com/wvfaoS6YdH
— Paul Patterson (@paulpattersonff) December 17, 2025
Audric Estime (RB – NO) – 17% Rostered
The running back injuries have hit in New Orleans as well with Devin Neal following Kendre Miller to the treatment room, leaving Audric Estime as the only choice. Estime hasn’t been great in limited work, I’m not going to lie to you, after all he’s had 11 yards on three carries in back to back weeks. However he is an accomplished pass catcher and had 39 receiving yards last week. In Week 16, he takes on the Jets, who have allowed the most receiving touchdowns to running backs (8) and the sixth-highest yards per target. In Week 17, Estime plays the Titans, and if you’re desperate, he’s at least going to see volume.
Tre Tucker (WR – LV) – 41% Rostered
Things have been bleak for the Raiders this season, and it’s not often they can go into a matchup where it’s even debatable about which team is the worst one in the game, but that’s what we’ll get with them taking on the Giants in Week 17. The Giants rank 24th against the pass in EPA allowed and they’ve struggled against deep passes to outside wide receivers all year long, thanks to injuries and poor play. Tucker has finished as a top-36 WR in six games this year and seen five or more targets in eight games. It’s not great, but it’s not awful.
Adonai Mitchell (WR – NYJ) – 19% Rostered
The Jets don’t have much to cling to this season, in an all too familiar feeling for them, but they do have some hope that AD Mitchell can be a competent WR2 alongside Garrett Wilson. Sadly, we won’t see that duo together this year with Wilson not playing again, but that frees Mitchell up to continue his solid start to his Jets career. Mitchell has been a top-15 WR in two of his last three games and caught six of his nine targets from Brady Cook in Week 15, along with a touchdown. The Jets aren’t blessed with options, and Mitchell is the best of a bad bunch.
Jalen Coker (WR – CAR) – 13% Rostered
The Carolina Panthers are on the verge of the playoffs, and while that’s not going to help your fantasy teams, the fact that they have something to play for just might. In Week 16, Jalen Coker gets a matchup with the Bucs who haven’t stopped anyone through the air lately and allow the 12th most fantasy points to the position. Coker has been over 50 yards in three of his last four games and, after finishing 2024 strong, has a chance to do the same in 2025.
Dave Canales: “How do you know when a receiver is good? When you throw it to them and they catch it. And that’s what Jalen Coker does” pic.twitter.com/omVc9jm2UZ
— вʟᴀɴᴅᴇ (@JustBlande) December 17, 2025
Colston Loveland (TE – CHI) – 43% Rostered
Since the start of November, Colston Loveland leads all rookies in receiving yardage with 382. 40 more than the next nearest rookie. What’s more impressive is that Loveland is doing all this while still finding himself in a committee with Cole Kmet. Loveland, though, has made the most of his opportunities whenever they have come his way, resulting in a TE3 finish in Week 12 and TE9 in Week 14. In Week 17, Loveland and the Bears face the 49ers who’ve allowed the 11th most fantasy points to the position and allowed six TE touchdowns since Week 9. Loveland has a great opportunity to finish the season strongly.
