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5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 16

By Mike Phillips

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 19: Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals goes for the tackle on Craig Reynolds #46 of the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Ford Field on December 19, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 19: Budda Baker #3 of the Arizona Cardinals goes for the tackle on Craig Reynolds #46 of the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Ford Field on December 19, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) /
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 16: Uchenna Nwosu #42 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates his interception against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on December 16, 2021, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 16: Uchenna Nwosu #42 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates his interception against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on December 16, 2021, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

A pair of Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars’ wide receiver Laquon Treadwell are among the top fantasy football pickups ahead of Week 16.

The fantasy football playoffs are in full swing and trying to win a championship has never been harder. COVID wreaked havoc ahead of the first week of the playoffs (or final week of the regular season for those crazy enough to play their championship games in Week 18), forcing fantasy owners to be nimble as they adapt to the possibility of losing key players like Jaylen Waddle or Tyler Lockett to the COVID list.

The NFL’s new COVID policy could help keep more players on the field going forward but the situation requires prudence from fantasy owners, who should be rostering backups for key positions and handcuffs for elite running backs. There are also pickups to be made to help if you need a boost in Week 16, which we will go over below, with all rostered percentages provided courtesy of Yahoo Sports.

5. Top fantasy football pickups for Week 16 – Los Angeles Chargers D/ST

Streaming defenses can be the difference between winning and losing a playoff matchup so keeping an eye on the waiver wire for matchups to exploit is often a key strategy. The best defense to grab off the wire in Week 16 is the Los Angeles Chargers, who are rostered in just 50 percent of Yahoo leagues at this point.

Most owners in win-now situations either benched or dropped the Chargers in Week 15 ahead of a matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, which was a prudent move since Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce exploded against them. The matchup is much friendlier in Week 16 as the Chargers take on the Houston Texans, who have been one of the league’s worst offenses all season long.

Plugging and playing the Chargers defense should pay dividends in the form of multiple sacks and turnovers against Texans’ rookie quarterback Davis Mills. Los Angeles will be a priority pickup for anyone whose defense has a tough Week 16 matchup or a strategic waiver block if your opponent has a need on defense.

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