The finals ... are here.
We spent all offseason grinding tape, poring over draft boards and mock drafting to prepare for this moment: the fantasy football championship!
You've made it this far -- even if you're playing in a consolation bracket where there are stakes; we always admire people who play the whole season out -- on the strength of some combination of strong drafting and in-season roster management. Most likely, you don't need to do much right now to get ready for the final.
But our mindset is to never stop improving, and in the event that your roster needs a minor tweak here or there, we're here to help out.
Here is the Week 16 ESPN Fantasy waiver-wire column.
Note: All players in this list are available in more than 50% of leagues on ESPN.com.
Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles (31.9%): What. A. Player. Hurts already looks like the real deal in Philadelphia, as the rookie second-round pick amassed four total touchdowns en route to the top scoring effort from any quarterback in Week 15. He has incredible rushing upside and is simply a playmaker. There is a ton to like about Hurts' fantasy value now and going forward. It's rare to suggest adding a quarterback and starting him in the finals, but Hurts fits the bill.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, San Francisco 49ers (50.0%): While the 49ers' backfield has spent much of this season as a committee, an injury during Week 15 to Raheem Mostert led to Wilson becoming the primary back. Wilson found the end zone and had a team-high 16 carries, good for 60 yards. We'll see whether Mostert is good to go in Week 16, but a nagging ankle injury has his status at least in doubt -- and if he sits, Wilson should be considered a solid RB2 option.
Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys (21.8%): With Ezekiel Elliott as a late scratch for the Cowboys in Week 15, Pollard had a chance to show what he's capable of. He handled 12 carries for 69 yards and added two touchdowns, while catching six passes for 63 yards on nine targets. Not bad. It's way too soon to tell whether Elliott will be ready to go this week, but there's little doubt that Pollard carries plenty of value in the event Zeke does sit.
Salvon Ahmed, RB, Miami Dolphins (23.4%): Ahmed had a glorious Week 15, running for 122 yards and scoring a touchdown as well. He looked the part, and normally I'd tell you he's a no-brainer to see significant work going forward, but it is worth noting that Miami could see Myles Gaskin return to the lineup in Week 16. However, in the event that Gaskin is not ready to play this week, Ahmed should be in line to rank as a top-20 running back play. He is a must-add.
Benny Snell Jr., RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (26.8%): After James Conner (quad) was inactive in Week 15, Snell had another opportunity to step into a starting role. He handled it nicely, rushing 18 times for 84 yards and a score while chipping in three more catches on four targets. As of this writing, we don't know whether Conner will be available in Week 16, but if he is out once again, Snell has value, likely as a flex play, in a key matchup against the Colts that has major playoff implications.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland Browns (27.3%): Mayfield has been red-hot the past four weeks, throwing 10 touchdowns and ranking third among all quarterbacks in fantasy points during that stretch. He now faces off against a Jets defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, forecasting another solid day for the Browns' signal-caller. The question becomes this: Is your regular quarterback in a difficult enough spot that you want to make a change, and do you have the confidence in Mayfield, who has been playing great lately but also has been inconsistent at times during his career?
Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons (21.3%): Julio Jones missed his fifth game due to a hamstring injury in Week 15, paving the way for others to once again step up and contribute. Among those who did was Gage, who finished with five catches and a touchdown. We'll see whether Jones is available in Week 16, but Gage's sample size is now large enough that he can be a rock-solid contributor in your lineup. To wit, he has three straight games of double-digit scoring and 25 targets during that stretch.
Sony Michel, RB, New England Patriots (15.4%): It's too soon to tell whether Damien Harris will be available for the Patriots in Week 16, but we do know that the team's next man up in the backfield is Michel. He handled 10 carries in Week 15 and has some of the same limitations that Harris does, as he's largely a volume- and touchdown-dependent player. That being said, with running backs always being a challenge to find, Michel is an add in a deeper league.
Emmanuel Sanders, WR, New Orleans Saints (49.8%): The Saints will be without Michael Thomas for the final two games of the regular season, with Sanders counted on to play an even larger role in his absence. In five games without Thomas on the field, Sanders is averaging double-digit fantasy points, including a 11.6-point outing in Week 15. Sanders should stay busy down the stretch for New Orleans.