Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups 2022: Fantasy Football Players You Need to Add for Playoffs (RB Injuries in Full Swing)

The fantasy football playoffs are in full swing, and if you were lucky enough to survive the opening round, it's now time for the semifinals. Teams still alive in the fantasy playoffs are likely less reliant on hammering the waiver wire, but you never know with an untimely injury or poor matchup. If you do need to head to the waiver, there are a few players that can help you advance into the next round of the playoffs.

Fantasy Football Playoffs Advice

Here are the top waiver wire pickups heading into Week 16 of the 2022 season and fantasy football playoffs.

Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

Note: Only players rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo! fantasy football leagues are eligible for this list.

1. Zack Moss, RB, Indianapolis Colts (3% Rostered)

Colts franchise cornerstone Jonathan Taylor went down with an ankle sprain in Week 15 and it's already been reported his season may be done (especially with Indianapolis out of playoff contention). Taylor left Week 15 after just two plays, giving fantasy managers a clear picture of the Colts' RB pecking order in his absence. It was Zack Moss who led the way, taking 24 carries compared to Deon Jackson's 13 and ending the day with 81 rushing yards. While the 3.4 yards per carry average doesn't blow us away, getting an RB1 workload provides a very safe floor for a player rostered in less than 5% of leagues.

2. Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons (37% Rostered)

Running back injuries were plentiful in Week 15. Caleb Huntley suffered an ankle injury that turned into a season-ending Achilles ailment. Tyler Allgeier already operates as the RB1 in this crowded Falcons backfield, but 16.6% of the rushing share is now up for grabs. Considering Marcus Mariota, who finally lost his starting job to Desmond Ridder, also has 18.6% of the rushing share, there are a lot of attempts up for grabs right now. Allgeier is the main beneficiary, which was evident on Sunday when he finished as RB8 thanks to 17 carries for 139 rushing yards and 1 touchdown.

3. Royce Freeman, RB, Houston Texans (0% Rostered)

Dameon Pierce was placed on the IR, creating another injury-driven grab for opportunities in the Houston Texans' backfield. Royce Freeman was the biggest beneficiary on Sunday, pacing the Texans' backfield with 11 carries and a solid 4.6 yards per attempt. Dare Ogunbowale also saw snaps, rushing eight times for a measly 14 yards. It's not the most enticing waiver wire pickup, but if you're desperate for an RB with huge upside from an opportunity standpoint, look no further.

4. Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans (49% Rostered)

After missing back-to-back weeks with a concussion, Treylon Burks should be cleared to return in Week 16. He steps into a wide receiver room that's completely wide open. And, more importantly, he'd been showing signs of fantasy life before the injury. From Weeks 10-12, Burks averaged 6.7 targets, 4.7 receptions and 68.3 receiving yards per game. A lack of TDs prevented him from bigger fantasy outputs, but that was still good enough for WR30 volume. The volume will be there in Week 16, especially if you're hurting at wideout.

5. Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints (20% Rostered)

Tight ends can be frustrating, but we can't ignore Juwan Johnson as a legit TE1 any longer. He ranks as TE9 on the year and TE5 since Week 6, when he began a full-time starting gig. The volume is there, as Johnson's been averaging 4.5 targets, 3.1 receptions and 35.9 receiving yards per game in that span. He's also been on a TD tear, catching 7 touchdowns in his last eight games. Tight end touchdowns are a true gamble, but Johnson's been a safe fantasy option for two months now.

Adam Taylor McKillop is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Adam Taylor also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username atmckillop. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.