Fantasy Football 2018: Top 10 waiver wire Week 16 pickups

CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 07: The Dolphins logo is displayed on the back of the helmet of Miami Dolphins Running Back Kalen Ballage (27) during an NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals on October 7, 2018, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 16: Jordy Nelson #82 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Oakland Raiders WR Jordy Nelson

It took some time for former superstar wide receiver Jordy Nelson to emerge as the true No. 1 target for the Oakland Raiders following Amari Cooper’s trade to the Dallas Cowboys, but it looks like Nelson is finally operating as Derek Carr’s weapon of choice.

Last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, Nelson picked up 88 receiving yards on six receptions, which was his third highest total of the season. Nelson is currently riding a streak of three straight games with six receptions, and this is coming from a player who had a handful of games with three or fewer receptions in the first half of the 2018 season.

Three weeks ago against the Kansas City Chiefs, Nelson hauled in 10 passes for 97 yards, and this was his only game of 2018 with more than six receptions. Granted, Nelson once turned six catches into 173 yards and a touchdown earlier this year, but that’s unlikely to happen again.

Emerging as a solid fantasy option again, the 33-year-old looks more like the wide receiver the Raiders thought they were signing this offseason. Nelson isn’t the playmaker he used to be, but he’s starting to get back on track and could be an above-average option in Week 16 against the Denver Broncos for owners in need of starting wide receiver.

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