Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: WR - Week 16

December 23, 2009 @ 17:30:00

By Nicholas Minnix and Bryce McRae
Edited by Bryce McRae and Tim Heaney

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT

If you are serious about winning your fantasy league football championship, stay on top of your fantasy football team throughout the year.

Each week during the NFL fantasy football season, KFFL brings you its Fantasy Football Waiver Wire, which breaks down players to pick up. Be aggressive when picking up fantasy football free agents. Even if you do not need a player, you can tuck him away for depth or block others from adding him to their fantasy football team.

Note: Percentage of polled leagues in which player is available in parentheses

Fantasy football free agents: Look to acquire

The following players will have greater significance in deep fantasy football leagues. In shallow fantasy football leagues, they are not as high of a priority but should be considered based on your fantasy football team's needs.

Hank Baskett, Indianapolis Colts (99 percent)

The third incarnation of Hank Baskett could be a sneaky pickup if the Colts do indeed rest their starters (no guarantee if they decide to go for 16-0). A 2006 Philadelphia Eagles draft pick, Baskett has suited up for eight games this year with Indy but has just one reception for five yards to show for it. Still, Pierre Garcon (hand) was hurt in Week 15, and the Colts might not want to risk Reggie Wayne. Baskett could benefit with his most extensive work against the New York Jets (Week 16) and Buffalo Bills (Week 17).

Devin Aromashodu, Chicago Bears (94 percent)

Devin Hester (calf) has missed Chicago's last two contests. Aromashodu has been the biggest beneficiary, with a pair of starts and 22 targets (10 catches, 86 yards). Inside word was, in training camp, Aromashodu was noticeably a favorite target of quarterback Jay Cutler, but the staff wasn't as in tune with the Bears' tallest receiver. Nothing is stopping them now, perhaps not even Hester's status. Next up: Minnesota's vulnerable secondary at Soldier Field.

Deion Branch and Deon Butler, Seattle Seahawks (92 percent, 99 percent)

Starter Nate Burleson (ankle) suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 14 and couldn't practice at all last week. Such injuries typically take more than two weeks to heal. His eight-plus looks per game had to go somewhere; this past weekend, Branch jumped to 10, and Butler, to eight. Branch isn't explosive but has quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's trust and is a safe flier in point-per-reception formats. Butler, a raw freshman, is a burner with serious moves who's intriguing in any format but riskier. If Hass gets protection, the Packers can be beaten through the air.

Fantasy football free agents: One-week plays

The following fantasy football pickups are for those who need injury or bye week replacements. They are not players you immediately acquire - unless your team is in dire straights. Some have, however, shown some life and should be followed in case they materialize as options beyond their temporary use.

Josh Morgan, San Francisco 49ers (86 percent)

Morgan has (relatively) quietly made strides in the last month; he has 22 receptions for 174 yards and two scores in that time. His targets: eight, nine, five and eight, respectively, dating back to Week 12. That coincides almost with when the Niners started going to more of a spread offense. They aren't expected to abandon that approach the rest of the way, at least its increased use, and it could help them against the Detroit Lions, who more resemble a kitty cat than the King of the Jungle when it comes to pass defense. Detroit is giving up 12.17 receptions, 202.0 receiving yards and 1.50 receiving touchdowns per game to this position since Week 9.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT

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Nicholas Minnix

KFFL's baseball editor plays in LABR and Tout Wars and won the FSWA Baseball Industry Insiders League in 2010.

The University of Delaware alum is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow him on Twitter.

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Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.

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