Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
How are you fantasy football owners feeling after Week 14? The first round of playoffs is in the books. Are you still in the tournament?
We saw a ton of action Week 14 and saw some productive fantasy outings from last week’s article that included Josh Allen, Derek Carr, Jaylen Samuels, Jeff Wilson, Curtis Samuel, Dante Pettis, and Ian Thomas.
Key Tips:
- Handcuffs, handcuffs, and more handcuffs. If you have learned anything this season, you need to make sure you have handcuffs for your stud running backs.
- It’s playoff time, which means it’s “do or die time”. Focus on the week at hand rather than prioritize future matchups.
Without further ado, here are your waiver wire targets for Week 15 fantasy playoffs!
Week 15 Waiver Wire QB Pickups
ESPN: Less than 17% owned
The QB1 overall over the past three weeks averaging 23.8 fantasy points per game, the Buffalo Bills QB has been straight balling! He just broke Mike Vick’s record for the most rushing yards over a three-game span. That rushing ability is exactly why Allen needs to be added and started this week in fantasy football. Allen is the better QB than Lamar Jackson right now. So should you buy into as your fantasy football playoffs continue? The Bills are playing the Lions at home in Week 15. The Lions allow 1.5 passing touchdowns per game on the road this season. The Lions will also be without Ezekiel Ansah and via Pro Football Focus have the third worst-graded pass-rush in the NFL
*Priority Order* FAAB Spend: 5% of the total budget
Week 15 Waiver Wire RB Pickups
ESPN: Less than 57% owned
Henry exploded on Thursday night!!! He rushed 17 times for 238 yards and four touchdowns. After being a huge disappointment all season Henry won fantasy owners matchups this week. He’s playing much better than Dion Lewis, and the coaches seem to think so as well. Henry as out-snapped Lewis in the past two weeks. If you have Henry or see him available on waivers he is worth a roster add. The Giants defense is weak against the run and can be exposed by the Titans and Henry. New York gives up the 8th most fantasy points to the RB position. With 27 carries over the last two weeks, seeing 13 plus carries seems fit for Henry in Week 15. The Giants at home allow on average 31 rushing attempts per game second most in the NFL. Since Week 10, outside of Adrian Peterson last week, every running back that has seen double-digit carries versus the Giants has rushed for at least 75 yards.
FAAB Spend: 10%
ESPN: Less than 44% owned
Jackson had seven carries for 12 yards and caught both of his targets for 23 yards in Week 14. Jackson did not live up to expectations taking a backseat to Austin Ekeler, who piled up 94 yards and a score on 17 touches (two receptions). However, there is some chance the rookie ends up with a larger role Thursday against the Chiefs, given that Ekeler and Melvin Gordon are no guarantee to be playing in the game due to injuries. Jackson will be a volume play in a high-powered offense in another great matchup. Kansas City gives up the 2nd most fantasy points to the RB position.
FAAB Spend: 5%
ESPN: Less than 12% owned
McGuire rushed 17 times for 60 yards and a touchdown while adding three catches for 23 yards on four targets in Week 14. McGuire saw the majority of work after Isaiah Crowell was forced out early by a foot injury. Backup Trenton Cannon scored the Jets’ first rushing touchdown, but McGuire scored later on in the game. If Crowell can’t go in Week 15, McGuire should see the majority of the snaps at RB for the Jets. It is pretty common to see that with teams out of contention at the end of the season, that they tend to work more of their younger guys in. Houston’s run defense is tough, but they do rank in the top 12 in terms of receptions and targets allowed to the RB position.
FAAB Spend: 5%
ESPN: Less than 3% owned
Coach John Harbaugh said he expects Dixon’s role to grow, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Spin: Gus Edwards has been solid when called upon, but does not catch passes and has scored just once. Dixon has 96 yards on 16 carries over the last two weeks. One goalline look which he converted for a 3-yard touchdown in Week 15. He is a more dynamic of a running back than that of Edwards. Still a timeshare nevertheless in Baltimore as always, but Dixon seems to offer the most upside across the board. The Buccaneers defense also gives up the 5th most fantasy points to the RB position and they allow over 122 rushing yards per game on the road this season.
FAAB Spend: 10%
ESPN: Less than 1% owned
Williams compiled 14 yards and one touchdown on eight carries, in addition to four catches for 16 yards and another receiving touchdown in Week 14. Williams saw a decent workload with Spencer Ware missing time due to him getting banged up during the game. Ware’s status needs attention entering Week 15, especially as Kansas City prepares for a Thursday Night game against the Chargers. Lingering injuries and a quick turnaround time could potentially lead to a miss for Ware, opening up consideration for Williams against the Chargers’ top 12 rush defense that has allowed 104 yards allowed per game. The Chargers’ defense also allows the fifth-most receptions, seventh-most targets, and fourth-most receiving yards to the RB position this season.
FAAB Spend: 3%
ESPN: Less than 23% owned
Smith had 11 carries for 60 yards and caught three of four targets for 14 yards in Week 14. The biggest thing to highlight with Smith is the fact that he has out-touched Tevin Coleman for a second-straight week. The rookie fourth-round pick has a solid matchup next week against a Cardinals defense that allows 140.9 rushing yards per game and 4.5 per carry. Coleman is an impending walking free agent so with the Falcons out of the playoff race, seeing what they have in Smith makes the most sense.
FAAB Spend: 3%
ESPN: Less than 55% owned
Thompson caught three of five targets for 15 yards and took three carries for 23 yards in Week 14.
Unfortunately, Thompson’s snap share dropped to 40 percent after he checked in at 64 percent the previous week, but that may have just been due to the game being a total blowout. However, from a PPR perspective, the Redskins will be under pressure constantly against the Jaguars. Quick throws to Thompson could be in serious consideration for Josh Johnson the new Washington QB. Over the past two weeks, the Jaguars have allowed the fifth-most receptions to the RB position.
FAAB Spend: 3%
Honorable Mentions: Chris Ivory BUF, Marcus Murphy BUF, Rod Smith DAL, Zach Zenner DET, John Kelly LAR, Boston Scott PHI, Stevan Ridley PIT
Week 15 Waiver Wire WR Pickups
ESPN: Less than 16% owned
Conley notched two grabs for 13 yards on three targets Sunday against the Ravens. With Sammy Watkins out and the potential for a limited Tyreek Hill for Thursday night, Conley becomes an immediate add for fantasy owners. Playing in an offense like the Chiefs just grants receivers value so Conley becomes an upside wide receiver as a potential top outside weapon in a Patrick Mahomes lead offense.
FAAB Spend: 5%
ESPN: Less than 13% owned
Samuel caught four of eight targets for a team-leading 80 yards in Week 14. Now it is worth noting that a large chunk of that yardage did come from a “fail mary” at the end of the second half. Still, Samuel has established himself as one of Cam Newton’s primary weapons. He has high upside and is increased involvement over the ineffective Devin Funchess has boosted his floor. The Saints over the past four weeks have allowed the most receptions, second-most targets, and fifth-most yards to the wide receivers position over the past four weeks.
FAAB Spend: 2%
ESPN: Less than 6% owned
A player that I was extremely high on last week (Tons of DraftKings shares), Hamilton rewarded owners that believed in him. He brought in seven of nine targets for 47 yards and a touchdown in the Broncos’ 20-14 loss to the 49ers on Sunday. Hamilton co-led the Broncos in receptions, helping them make up for the absence of Emmanuel Sanders (Achilles) in their first game without him. Case Keenum tends to play much better at home, so I like Hamilton again this week versus the Browns.
FAAB Spend: 5%
ESPN: Less than 20% owned
Pettis brought in three of seven targets for 49 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers’ 20-14 in Week 14 Pettis remained in the starting lineup despite the return to action of Marquise Goodwin and he rewarded fantasy owners with his fourth touchdown in his last three games. He has seven targets in each of his last games and he’s shown chemistry with rookie signal-caller Nick Mullens. Pettis figures to be a nice play against the Seahawks who just two weeks ago allowed Pettis to go for 129 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
FAAB Spend: 5%
ESPN: Less than 42% owned
Reynolds reeled in three of his seven targets for 36 yards Sunday in the Rams’ loss on Sunday night.
The Rams as an offense sucked all together, but I fully expect them to bounce back big at home against the Eagles. Over the past four weeks, the Eagles have allowed the third-most fantasy points to the wide receiver position.
FAAB Spend: 5%
Honorable Mentions: Kenny Stills MIA, Jamison Crowder WAS, Taywan Taylor TEN, Robby Anderson NYJ, Mike Williams LAC, Tyrell Williams LAC, Dede Westbrook JAC, Tim Patrick DEN, Michael Gallup DAL, John Ross CIN, Anthony Miller CHI, Robert Foster BUF, Randall Cobb GB, Anthony Miller CHI
Week 15 Waiver Wire TE Pickups
ESPN: Less than 26% owned
Thomas caught nine of 11 targets for 77 yards in Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the Browns. Thomas did nothing earlier this season when Greg Olsen was out with a foot injury, but the rookie tight end looked much better this time around. I’d say he is worth an add, but temper expectations against the Saints’ defense that has been elite versus the tight end allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to the TE position this season.
FAAB Spend: 1%
ESPN: Less than 5% owned
Davis caught each of his four targets for 31 yards in Sunday’s 40-16 loss to the Giants. Davis finished the afternoon with a season-high 49 snaps (79 percent) after Jordan Reed left with an injury. The 34-year-old looks to be headed to an every-down role Week 15 in Jacksonville, but it will be difficult to take advantage of the opportunity with Josh Johnson starting at quarterback.
FAAB Spend: 1%
ESPN: Less than 16% owned
Herndon had just one catch for 14 yards on two targets on Sunday. This was Herndon’s worst performance since Week 5. I think he will bounce back against the Texans in Week 15 because the matchup favors Herndon. Houston gives up the 8th most fantasy points to the TE position.
FAAB Spend: 1%
Honorable Mentions: Hunter Henry LAC, Dallas Goedert PHI,
C.J. Uzomah CIN, Matt LaCosse DEN, Gerald Everett LAR, Anthony Firkser TEN
Defense/Special Teams Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups
The Redskins are down to their fourth quarterback on the season and Jacksonville’s defense is much better at home. No team has allowed more fantasy points to the DEF position over the last four weeks.
ESPN: Less than 70% owned
Over the past two weeks, the Seattle defense has been feeling itself. 27 fantasy points combined over that time span and San Francisco gives up the 3rd most fantasy points to the DEF position.
ESPN: Less than 29% owned
Arizona gives up the 2nd most fantasy points to the DEF position.
ESPN: Less than 6% owned
– Andrew Erickson is a fantasy writer for Gridiron Experts. Follow me on Twitter: @AndrewErickson_
Best #WaiverWire add this week?
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) December 11, 2018
Thanks for Reading
Andrew is a Roger Williams University graduate where he majored in Marketing. While there he interned at a sports marketing agency where he had the opportunity to work with many professional athletes like Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.
After college, Andrew started to write his own fantasy blogs via WordPress.com to show his friends why he calls himself the Fantasy Football Master. He calls himself this because back in ’07 in his first ever fantasy football league he drafted the Bears defense in the 1st round. He then proceeded to win the entire league. #DefenseWinsChampionships
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