Top 10 waiver claims for Week 16

By foxsports
Published

Need a last-minute scoring boost at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, kicker or defense/special teams?

My previous recommendations who succeeded in Week 15 included quarterbacks Joe Flacco, David Garrard, Chad Henne, Alex Smith and Vince Young; running backs Ahmad Bradshaw, Michael Bush, Jamaal Charles, Quinton Ganther, Jerome Harrison, Fred Jackson, Laurence Maroney, Maurice Morris, Chris Wells, Cadillac Williams and Ricky Williams; wide receivers Miles Austin, Chris Chambers, Austin Collie, Lee Evans, Justin Gage, Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Wallace and Kevin Walter; tight ends Fred Davis, Jermichael Finley, Todd Heap and Heath Miller; and defense/special teams Arizona and New England.

Review the top 10 waiver claims who will be most likely be available and help fantasy squads in their championship game.

10. Shaun Suisham, K, Dallas


Dallas signed Suisham to replace Nick Folk, and it faces Washington next game. Washington has allowed the second-most field goals (27) and third-most field-goal attempts (32).

Of note, Dallas ranks in the top 11 for field-goal attempts (28), but has missed the league’s most field goals (10).

9. David Thomas, TE, New Orleans


If Jeremy Shockey is out again, look for his backup Thomas to effectively replace him for the second straight contest. Thomas caught a team-high eight passes for 77 yards last game.

New Orleans next meets Tampa Bay’s fourth-worst pass defense for allowing touchdowns (25).


8. San Francisco D/ST

San Francisco has forced the sixth-most turnovers (27), while Detroit has allowed the NFL’s most turnovers (33). The Lions have also permitted the league’s most interceptions (28).

Additionally, Detroit has scored the sixth-fewest points (16.6), while San Francisco has allowed the eighth-fewest points (19.2).

7. Demetrius Williams, WR, Baltimore

Mark Clayton caught seven passes for 129 yards against Pittsburgh in the Week 12 meeting. If Clayton misses his third straight game, his absence will provide more chances to post a solid fantasy day against the Steelers.

Additionally, if Kelley Washington misses his second straight contest, that will help boost the potential for Williams’ stats.

With both wideouts out with injuries, Williams recorded his season’s best fantasy day last game against Chicago, catching four passes for 71 yards and a score.

6. Chad Henne, QB, Miami


After passing for a career-high 349 yards last game, he’s thrown for at least 300 yards during two of the past three contests. He also passed for 335 yards and two scores against New England’s top 10 pass defense.

Henne already proved he can produce solid fantasy numbers against a top-rated pass defense, so he’ll have a chance to post strong stats against Houston’s 12th-ranked pass defense.

5. Michael Bush, RB, Oakland

He served as Oakland’s featured back against Denver and responded superbly by running for 133 yards and one score from 18 carries. He averaged a whopping 7.4 yards per carry.

Oakland next meets Cleveland’s fourth-worst rushing defense for yards (150) and top-10 worst for touchdowns (15).

4. Josh Morgan, WR, San Francisco


He caught a career-high seven passes for 61 yards and a score against Philadelphia’s tough defense last game. Morgan next meets Detroit’s worst-pass defense for yards (269) and touchdowns (31).

San Francisco finishes the regular season against St. Louis’ 11th- worst pass defense (233).

3. Jermichael Finley, TE, Green Bay


He caught a career-high nine catches for 74 yards and a score against Pittsburgh last game. He’s now had 28 catches during four of the past five contests, and has gained at least 70 receiving yards during the past three games. He’s also scored three touchdowns during two of the past three contests.

Finley next meets Seattle’s fourth-worst pass defense for yards (249) and third-worst for touchdowns (26).

2. Maurice Morris, RB, Detroit


Morris showed why he could be Detroit’s featured back instead of Kevin Smith when totaled 161 yards, five receptions and one touchdown against Arizona’s stout defense.

Though he meets San Francisco’s top-five run defense next, Morris could still have great success as he did against the Cardinals’ solid defense. Morris ran for 126 yards from 17 carries to average a superb 7.4 yards per carry. He flashed his big-play ability when he broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run.

He also faces Chicago’s bottom-quarter ranked run defense for the season finale.

1. Jerome Harrison, RB, Cleveland


He again proved he should be Cleveland’s featured back when he ran for a career-high 286 yards and three touchdowns against Kansas City.

The Browns next meet Oakland’s fifth-worst defense for rushing yards (149) and the worst for rushing touchdowns (20).