Footballguys Fantasy Football Show – Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups (2025)

Hosts: Alfredo Brown & Dave Kluge
Date: December 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into Week 16 waiver wire pickups, focusing on late-season roster strategies and the thin options available for fantasy playoff contenders. With classic banter and sharp analysis, Alfredo and Dave sort through the best (and least risky) waiver adds, break down shifting backfields, and debate who’s worth a desperate start in the fantasy semifinals. The show’s tone is fun and self-aware, with the hosts both lamenting and laughing over the brutal reality of “grim” late-season waiver prospects.

Main Themes

• Managing Late-Season Fantasy Rosters: Navigating unpredictable injuries and depth chart chaos in desperate playoff weeks.
• Realistic Outlook: “At this point, you’re not finding hidden gems—everyone is chasing opportunity from injuries.” (06:05, Dave)
• Tiered Waiver Wire Recommendations: Prioritizing additions based on positional need, upside, and the current playoff landscape.
• Process Over Hindsight: Looking back at season-long decisions, understanding variance, and refusing to let hindsight dictate value.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Should-Have, Would-Have Draft Debate

• Jameson Williams: Open with a tongue-in-cheek discussion of early-season criticism vs. his late surge.
  • "On the year, though, J is the wide receiver 9. He's cracked the top 10 even with a handful. Like, slow start to the year. A couple of zeros in there and he's still wide receiver 9." (00:34, Alfredo)
• Injury Fallout: The guys reflect on how quick judgments (“see, Trey Benson’s terrible!”) often miss context, especially with injuries derailing seasons. (02:16)

2. Trades in Hindsight

• Both hosts recount questionable trades that, thanks to late surges or injuries, now look smarter (or less disastrous) than expected.
  • "I couldn't care less what happened from weeks four through 15. I'm in the playoffs now—a win is a win." (02:37, Alfredo)

3. Late-Season Waiver Realities

• “This Week is Ugly”—No Hidden RV1s: Most waiver hopefuls are injury fill-ins; don’t expect magic.
  • "We've made it through four months of the season. You're not just going to find this hidden gem." (06:05, Dave)
• League Dynamics: With most teams eliminated, mid-December rostership percentages are volatile and irrelevant—only a handful are really left fighting. (08:21, Dave)

Top Waiver Wire Pickup Tiers

Tier 1 – Priority Adds

1. Luther Burden (WR, Chicago Bears)

• Why: With potential shutdown of top target Roma Odunze, Burden’s route share and opportunity are elite. Sixth in the league in yards per route run (09:03).
• Quote: "Any wide receiver who can be the lead target earner for a Ben Johnson offense, I’m with it. Number one, absolutely." (10:20, Alfredo)
• Caveat: Monitor injury updates for both Burden and Odunze.

2. Jaden Reed (WR, Green Bay Packers)

• Increased opportunity due to Christian Watson’s injury. Not a big target earner, but dangerous after the catch and in the red zone.
• Quote: "If Watson isn’t out there, Jaden Reed comfortably moves into that wide receiver two area." (12:41, Dave)

3. Michael Carter (RB, Arizona Cardinals)

• Volume play—lead back signs were there last week, but real risk Amari DiMercado reclaims touches with health.
• Disagreement between hosts about the security of Carter’s role.
  • "There is a shot that he gets the lion’s share of the workload—I’ll take that chance." (15:30, Alfredo)
  • "Carter feels a little bit like a trap to me." (17:10, Dave)

Tier 2 – Next-Best Options (Mainly RBs with Uncertain Roles)

4. La’Quint Allen (RB, Jacksonville Jaguars)

   • Most valuable as a speculative stash (especially if Etienne gets hurt). Some standalone value with Bashal Tution out, but likely more valuable in PPR for his passing-down work.
   • Quote: "If something were to happen to Travis Etienne, I know La’Quint Allen is getting the workload." (18:46, Dave)

5. Amari DiMercado (RB, Arizona Cardinals)

   • Contingent play, especially if health is trending up—could overtake Carter quickly.

6. Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt (RB, Washington Commanders)

   • Only valuable if Chris Rodriguez misses more time. Backfield is a mess; upside tied to “what if they just want to see the rookie.”

7. Colby Parkinson (TE, LA Rams)

   • Red-hot, with six TDs in last seven games; most red zone targets after (potentially) Devante Adams being out.
   • Quote: "He’s the tight end 4 since Week 10...I’d go with him over basically everybody in these last two tiers." (27:22, Dave)
   • If you’re streaming TE or have a risky starter, Parkinson’s a strong play.

Tier 3 – Deep League/Desperate Options

8. Jalen Coker (WR, Carolina Panthers)
   • TD-variant dependent, mildly viable in really deep leagues due to a soft upcoming matchup (vs Tampa Bay).
   • Panthers QB Bryce Young always seems to heat up at the end of the season: "Last year, he was the fantasy QB one over the final month of the season!" (29:49, Alfredo)

9/10. Saints RBs: Audric Estime & Evan Hull - Both incredibly risky; Estime has marginally more upside due to targets last week. - Quote: "My goodness, you would need some pretty strong will to put either of these guys in your Week 16 lineup." (31:47, Dave) - Consensus: Only plug in if you're out of all other options.

Tier 4 – Mega Longshots

• Matthew Golden (WR, Packers), Jawhar Jordan (RB, Saints), Malik Davis (RB, Cowboys)
  • Even the hosts joke about “not being able to live with themselves” if a fantasy loss comes from starting these guys.
    • "I could not live with myself for the next eight months if I lost a fantasy matchup because I started Matthew Golden." (35:00, Dave)

Additional Insights and Notable Quotes

• On Late-Season Strategy:
  "Once you get to the fantasy playoffs, just throw out everything else that’s happened throughout the year. It does not matter." (27:22, Alfredo)
• On Streaming TEs:
  "Colby Parkinson... should be the primary addition. He's the tight end 4 since Week 10 and sure, a lot of that's inflated by touchdowns, but... I think I’d prefer Kobe Parkinson ahead of Dallas Goedert this week." (27:22, Dave)
• On Playoff-Eligible Managers Claiming Waivers:
  Both largely agree that, unless there's a payout or punishment for the consolation bracket, eliminated teams should not claim players, "Just go down magnanimously. Let the people who are still fighting be the ones to put their bids in." (28:22, Dave)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–02:30: Season-long hindsight chat (Jameson Williams, injuries, and regrets)
• 06:05: The “no hidden gems” rant—why waiver wires are so messy now (Dave)
• 07:43–10:20: Tier 1 waivers discussion begins (Burden, Reed, Carter)
• 15:30–17:10: Debate: Michael Carter or DiMercado (risk tolerance)
• 18:46–22:40: Tier 2—La'Quint Allen hype and Jags backfield breakdown
• 24:51: Colby Parkinson’s weekly case as fantasy’s best late TE add
• 27:22: Streaming in playoffs, TE priorities: Parkinson > everyone else in the “desperation” tiers
• 29:44–33:04: Deep league flexes: Saints RBs, Jalen Coker, late-season TD chases
• 34:23–36:32: Why rolling the dice on “nothing” WRs feels bad…and might actually be necessary

Final Key Takeaways

• Injuries define late-season value: Every top add is slotting in due to someone else’s absence.
• Stream with courage: Don’t be afraid to bench disappointing "locks" for hot, healthy, or emerging options like Colby Parkinson.
• Don’t chase pure optimism: Even in desperation, focus on players with some plausible path to volume.
• Keep perspective: If you’re starting players outside the top tiers, you’re not alone—everyone is just “going down swinging.”

Hosts' Recommended Top Priorities by Need

• WR: Luther Burden, Jaden Reed
• RB: Michael Carter (with risk), La’Quint Allen (stash), Amari DiMercado (if healthy soon)
• TE: Colby Parkinson (clear waiver leader)
• Deep desperation: Jalen Coker, Saints RBs (Estime, Hull)—only in most desperate scenarios

Closing Words

“Congrats on your upcoming championship, everybody. Bam. Bam. Bam.” (36:35, Alfredo)

Best of luck—set your lineups (on Saturday!), bid strategically, and may your waiver dart throws be fruitful!