Look, the regular season is over. Your home league probably crowned a winner weeks ago. But if you’re playing in a "One and Done" playoff challenge, a DFS tournament, or a high-stakes divisional round re-draft, the waiver wire pickups NFL landscape just got weird. It’s not about finding the next Puka Nacua anymore. It’s about finding the guy who actually sees the field for more than ten snaps while the superstars are getting double-teamed into oblivion.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make in January is chasing last week's touchdowns. You see a random tight end catch a score in the Wild Card round and you burn your remaining FAAB. Bad move. In the playoffs, you bet on health and volume.
With the Divisional Round kicking off tomorrow, January 17, 2026, the injury reports are already shifting the betting lines. If you aren't looking at the Buffalo or Seattle situations right now, you're basically throwing money away.
The High-Stakes Waiver Wire Pickups NFL Strategy
Forget the "best available" list. You need to look at who is surviving the attrition. The 2026 postseason has been a brutal reminder that depth wins championships.
The Buffalo Wide Receiver Vacuum
The Bills are currently 13-5 and heading into a massive showdown against Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos. But there's a problem. Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed, yet his wide receiver room is a literal triage unit. They are dead last in wide receiver depth right now.
If you’re looking at the waiver wire, Brandin Cooks is the name. People think he’s washed. He isn't. He’s been forced into a primary role because the Bills have zero other options outside of Khalil Shakir. Cooks is seeing a target share that would have been unthinkable in September.
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The Seattle Oblique Scare
The Seahawks are hosting the 49ers on Saturday night, and things got spicy on Thursday. Sam Darnold popped up on the injury report with an oblique issue. He says he’s "near zero" percent likely to miss the game, but obliques are tricky for quarterbacks. One bad twist and Drew Lock is under center.
If you are in a deep Superflex playoff league, Lock is the ultimate "just in case" add. You don't want to be the person starting a zero because your QB1 couldn't finish the first quarter.
Jauan Jennings: The 49ers' Security Blanket
With George Kittle officially out for the season—a massive blow to the Niners' Super Bowl hopes—and Ricky Pearsall still limited with a knee injury, Jauan Jennings isn't just a "pickup" anymore. He’s a necessity.
Jennings is the kind of player who thrives in the "nothing-to-lose" playoff atmosphere. He’s physical. He blocks. Brock Purdy trusts him on third down. In PPR formats, he's a gold mine that most casual players ignore because he doesn't have the "sexy" name value of a Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk.
Why Volume Beats Talent in January
You’ve probably noticed that the waiver wire pickups NFL managers are targeting this week feel... underwhelming. Woody Marks. RJ Harvey. Jauan Jennings. These aren't the guys you were drafting in the first round.
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But here’s the reality: The elite guys are being taken away by defensive coordinators like Steve Spagnuolo or Mike Macdonald. They are going to bracket the stars. That leaves the "boring" players with massive cushions.
Take the Texans-Patriots matchup. Nico Collins is dealing with a concussion. If he can't go, Stefon Diggs (who is still technically on the roster and playing meaningful snaps in 2026) or even Tank Dell become the focal points. But the real sneaky add? Dalton Schultz. When C.J. Stroud gets pressured by that New England front, he's going to dump it off to the tight end. Every. Single. Time.
The "One and Done" Trap
If you’re in a "One and Done" league, the waiver wire pickups NFL strategy changes completely. You shouldn't be using Christian McCaffrey this week. Why? Because the 49ers are 9-point underdogs in some books. If they lose, you used your best player in a loss.
Instead, you look at the teams likely to lose and burn their stars.
- Bo Nix (Broncos): He’s had seven game-winning drives this year. If you think the Bills win, use Nix now.
- Courtland Sutton: Same logic. If Denver gets bounced, you didn't "waste" a slot for later.
What Most People Get Wrong About Injuries
Stop looking at "Questionable" as a 50/50 coin flip. In the playoffs, "Questionable" usually means "He's playing, but he's going to be a decoy."
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Look at Ty Johnson in Buffalo. He’s been limited with an ankle injury for weeks. He missed the Wild Card game. He’s "trending toward playing" against Denver, but James Cook is going to handle 80% of the touches regardless. Don't waste a waiver claim on a backup who is only playing because of a lack of bodies.
On the flip side, Charles Cross returning at left tackle for Seattle is huge. It doesn't give you fantasy points directly, but it makes Kenneth Walker III a much more viable play against a 49ers front that just got Trent Williams back on the other side of the ball.
Actionable Waiver Targets for Week 20 (Divisional Round)
| Player | Position | Team | Why You Need Him |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colton Loveland | TE | Bears | Caleb Williams loves him in the red zone; high floor. |
| Luther Burden III | WR | Bears | Monitor the injury, but if he's 100%, he's a game-changer. |
| Blake Corum | RB | Rams | Kyren Williams is the man, but Corum is getting the "closer" touches. |
| Hunter Henry | TE | Patriots | Drake Maye's favorite target in tight windows. |
Moving Forward: The Next Steps for Your Roster
The waiver wire is thin, but it’s not empty. You need to be aggressive now because by the Conference Championships, there won't be anyone left to pick up.
- Check the 49ers Safety Situation: Ji’Ayir Brown is out. If you’re playing a DFS showdown, Seattle’s deep threats (DK Metcalf/JSN) just got a massive bump.
- Stash the Backups: If you have an open bench spot, grab Zach Charbonnet or Ray Davis. One rolled ankle to a starter and these guys become the most valuable assets in the league overnight.
- Ignore the Projections: Sites like ESPN or Yahoo are using season-long averages. They don't account for the fact that Dalton Kincaid is playing through a knee injury or that Davante Adams is the only person Matthew Stafford wants to look at in the end zone.
The playoffs aren't about being right; they're about being the last one standing with a full lineup of starters. Don't overthink it. Grab the volume, ignore the names, and play the matchups.
Check your league's transaction deadline immediately. Most playoff formats lock rosters the second the first game kicks off on Saturday. If you’re waiting for the Sunday morning news to make a move, you’ve already lost. Focus on the Buffalo receiving corps and the Seattle QB health as your primary indicators for where to spend your remaining resources tonight.