Waiver Wire Workout, Week 16

Because league formats vary, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to your waiver wire. That's why I break possible free agent adds into three categories. Follow me on Twitter for the latest on possible additions to your fantasy roster.

Addable In All Leagues

Christine Michael, RB, Seahawks (owned in 10% of Yahoo leagues). Yup, we've been down this road before. On Sunday, C-Mike had 84 yards on 16 carries compared to 43 yards on nine carries for Bryce Brown. But don't be fooled: this was basically an even split: Michael played 23 snaps while Brown played 22. Nor was there any kind of bias toward Michael later in the game, except on a final clock-killing drive when Tarvaris Jackson was under center. So it would be a mistake to say Michael is a must-start this week against the Rams. But Seattle's offense is humming, and if you're desperate in your fantasy finals, I could see an argument for using either Michael or Brown.

Karlos Williams and Mike Gillislee, RBs, Bills (31% and 1% owned, respectively). As of this writing, LeSean McCoy hadn't been ruled out for Week 16 against the Cowboys, but come on. That was a nasty-looking injury, and Shady probably isn't playing again this year. If he's out, it's not a simple equation for the Bills. Until a few weeks ago, we'd have said Williams was a sure-fire fantasy starter, but after the guy I like to call "Williams Karlos Williams" missed a couple games with a shoulder problem, Gillislee jumped in and impressed. He also ran for a 60-yard TD Sunday. This is probably another committee; I think I prefer Williams as the better overall talent in terms of size and speed, but I doubt he'll dominate snaps over Gillislee.

Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Panthers (7% owned). Mike Tolbert actually handled Carolina's first series in Jonathan Stewart's absence Sunday, but after that rookie C.A.P. was the main man: he played 31 snaps and had 16 touches, compared to 26 snaps and four touches for Fozzy Whittaker. If Stew Beef misses Week 16 against Atlanta, Artis-Payne is the Panthers RB with the most upside—though any squad with Cam Newton at QB isn't likely to produce a ton of running back touchdowns.

Rueben Randle, WR, Giants (35% owned). If Odell Beckham's suspension stands, Randle will be Eli Manning's No. 1 wideout Sunday night against the Vikings. Randle has made a habit of punting such opportunities away, so there's no way he should be ranked remotely close to where ODB would be among receivers. But in some leagues, Randle might be the best Beckham replacement you can find.

Raiders Defense (4% owned). The Chargers put up 30 points against a woeful Dolphins team last week, but let's not forget that they managed only three points in each of their two previous games. The Raiders held up fairly well against Aaron Rodgers Sunday, and I'll take almost any D that gets to face that terrible San Diego offensive line. Remember, when these teams squared off in Week 7, the Raiders led 37-6 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in all leagues: Bryce Brown, RB, Seahawks (49%); Charles Sims, RB, TB (29%); Duke Johnson, RB, CLE (42%); Theo Riddick, RB, DET (30%); Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, TEN (23%); DeVante Parker, WR, MIA (35%); Zach Miller, TE, Bears (34%).

Speculative Adds

Bilal Powell, RB, Jets (21% owned). I'm not a huge believer in Powell as any kind of special talent, but I can't deny he's been productive lately: he's scored a touchdown in three straight games and hasn't been below 79 total yards in any of those contests. The box score is doing a bit of lying here. Powell is a regular garbage-time and end-of-half beneficiary; eight of his 15 touches came in two-minute drills last week. But hey, those count, too! I'd be a bit reluctant to start Powell in my championship, but I do tend to err on the conservative side when it comes to my fantasy lineup.

Markus Wheaton, WR, Steelers (30% owned). There's no denying that the Steelers passing offense has been hot, and Wheaton has been a part of that. He had that one massive game Week 12 in Seattle: 201 yards on nine grabs. But even in the three games since then, Wheaton has reached at least 50 yards receiving and scored two touchdowns. The problem with using him as a fill-in for someone like Odell Beckham or Alshon Jeffery is that Wheaton is probably fourth or fifth in Pittsburgh's offensive pecking order, so you could stumble into one of those games where he gets two passes thrown his way.

Alfred Blue, RB, Texans (36% owned). Blue was active for Week 14 against the Patriots but didn't play a single snap because of a back injury. This week, in Houston's first-ever win in Indianapolis, he played 32 snaps, which was 12 more than any other Texans running back. Obviously, nobody can guarantee that primary workload will continue, but Blue looked legitimately spry and good against the Colts.

Dwayne Harris, WR, Giants (18% owned). As I mentioned with Rueben Randle, if Odell Beckham is out, everyone bumps up one spot on the depth chart. Harris has caught 10 passes combined the past four weeks and isn't a direct analog to ODB, because he plays out of the slot. But the Giants don't really have another strong outside receiver, so Harris could sneak up on us.

Steven Jackson and Joey Iosefa, RBs, Patriots (1% and 0% owned, respectively). Iosefa parlayed 14 carries in his first NFL game into folk-hero status by trucking Cody Sensabaugh into oblivion, and laying claim to the title of New England's big-back replacement for LeGarrette Blount. Still, Iosefa isn't an impressive talent—think Matt Asiata—and James White was solid in the receiving game. Now we might be able to add Jackson to the mix: He signed with the Patriots on Monday. Whether he'll see any game action is completely up in the air, plus he was pretty cooked last week with the Falcons. But you know that any running back who sees significant playing time with the Pats has fantasy value.

Jermaine Kearse, WR, Seahawks (6% owned). While Doug Baldwin just keeps scoring touchdowns (two more Sunday, on just four catches), Kearse has been doing the dirty work in Seattle's resurgent passing game. He had seven catches on eight targets on Sunday, a few them far downfield and of the circus variety. He now has 14 grabs in two games. Baldwin and Tyler Lockett are sexier, but Kearse could absolutely make a big play against the Rams in Week 16.

Travaris Cadet, RB, 49ers (0% owned). Shaun Draughn injured a knee at the end of the first quarter Sunday and never returned. As of Tuesday morning he was awaiting MRI results. That doesn't sound good. Cadet is kind of a Draughn clone: bigger than you think but not really powerful; okay speed, good receiver. He was next man up after Draughn went down, though Kendall Gaskins also got looks and it wouldn't be a shock to see the Niners activate Aussie Jarryd Hayne from the practice squad in advance of Week 16 against the Lions.

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Vikings (3% owned). Adrian Peterson temporarily left Sunday's game with a sprained ankle, but he appears to have avoided serious injury. Matt Asiata would certainly be involved if AP can't play Sunday night against the Giants, but I'd rather take a higher-upside shot with the smaller, more dynamic McKinnon.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still speculative adds: Kirk Cousins, QB, WAS (24%); Jay Cutler, QB, CHI (41%); Jameis Winston, QB, TB (43%); Brock Osweiler, QB, DEN (19%); Peyton Manning, QB, EN (48%); Jay Ajayi, RB, MIA (12%); Joique Bell, RB, DET (24%); Fozzy Whittaker, RB, CAR (23%); Robert Turbin, RB, DAL (4%); Dontrelle Inman, WR, SD (8%); Keshawn Martin, WR, Patriots (6%); Malcom Floyd, WR, SD (22%); Jacob Tamme, TE, ATL (31%); Heath Miller, TE, PIT (35%).

Deep-League Adds

Terrance West, RB, Ravens (1% owned). Buck Allen was benched after losing a fumble in the first quarter Sunday, and West took over as Baltimore's primary back. Of course, he didn't do a lot with the job, and John Harbaugh claims he won't penalize Allen any further. But if you're desperate, you could look West-ward, and hope Allen's fumbling continues.

Derrick Coleman, RB, Seahawks (0% owned). Coleman actually started Sunday's game for Seattle and got work on their first offensive drive. But he quickly ceded touches to Christine Michael and Bryce Brown. He's a big dude, though, so a couple goal-line chances against the Rams aren't out of the question.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in deep leagues: A.J. McCarron, QB, CIN (9%); Fred Jackson, RB, SEA (10%); Jonathan Grimes, RB, HOU (2%); Chris Polk, RB, HOU (6%); Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB, PIT (0%); Jordan Todman, RB, PIT (1%); Dan Herron, RB, IND (4%); Javontee Herndon, WR, SD (1%); Will Tye, TE, NYG (9%); Vance McDonald, TE, SF (6%); Luke Willson, TE, SEA (2%).

Christopher Harris (@HarrisFootball) is a six-time Fantasy Sports Writing Association award winner. He hosts the Harris Football Podcast every weekday. Find it on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn and most other podcast apps, as well as at www.HarrisFootball.com.