Fantasy Football waiver advice, Week 16: Quarterbacks to target as the season comes to a close

Welcome to Week 16, the final week of importance in most fantasy football leagues. If you're reading this, there is a good chance you are currently playing for your league championship. Chances are you're not too happy with your starting quarterback, either. Perhaps you're sick of hoping for the good Eli Manning to show up each week, or perhaps you've given up on Matthew Stafford like the Detroit Lions have apparently given up on the season.

5. Kirk Cousins -- Own percent: 4%, Season: 33-for-48 passing, 466 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs

Obviously you will need to keep a sharp eye on the health status of Robert Griffin III this week. If RG3 is out, then Cousins could be very valuable. The 8-5 Washington Redskins are taking on a sorry Philadelphia Eagles team in a must-win game. Cousins played very well last week against the Cleveland Browns, passing for 329 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. If the Eagles continue to struggle against the run, however, Cousins may not throw the ball too often.

4. Ryan Tannehill -- Own percent: 9%, Season: 249-for-424 passing, 2,929 yards, 10 TDs, 12 INTs

Tannehill has been hit-or-miss as a fantasy option this season, but he is coming off one of the best performances of his career. He went 22-for-28 passing for 220 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Against a bad Buffalo Bills secondary (23 passing touchdowns given up) at home, the matchup is excellent. Tannehill could be a solid sleeper.

3. Sam Bradford -- Own percent: 22%, Season: 290-for-482 passing, 3,254 yards, 18 TDs, 11 INTs

Bradford is coming off his best fantasy performance of the season (377 yards passing, 3 TDs, 1 INT) and has another prime matchup this week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have given up more passing yards than any team this season, and more passing touchdowns than any team outside of the Redskins. Bradford has been a steady quarterback this year for the St. Louis Rams, albeit a quiet fantasy option. That said, if there is a week to start him, this is it.

2. Colin Kaepernick -- Own percent: 53%, Season: 101-for-154 passing, 1,668 total yards (379 rushing), 12 TDs (5 rushing), 2 INTs

Kaepernick was phenomenal against the New England Patriots in Week 14, passing for a career-high four touchdowns against the New England Patriots. The Seattle Seahawks defense is playing as well as any in the NFL at the moment, but if cornerback Richard Sherman loses his suspension appeal on Friday then Kaepernick will have a much easier time throwing the ball. The matchup is tough, but the sophomore quarterback is playing like a legitimate fantasy starter at the moment.

1. Russell Wilson -- Own percent: 35%, Season: 222-for-353 passing, 2,697 yards, 21 TDs, 9 INTs

Like Kaepernick, Wilson is saddled with a tough matchup this week. The San Francisco 49ers' pass defense has allowed just 14 passing touchdowns this year, and ranks fifth with just 2,826 yards given up through the air. They have been carved up by Tom Brady and Drew Brees in the last four weeks, however, and while Wilson isn't on the level of those two just yet, he has proven to be more capable than the average NFL starter. He is the best player available at the position this week, though if you opt to start Kaepernick or Bradford instead, no one would blame you. The difference between the three this week is negligible.