Waiver Wire Week 14

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Waiver Wire Week 14

What a way to end the fantasy regular season. The Steelers lost to a team with no name, Russ couldn’t cook up buttered toast against the Giants, Carson Wentz was finally benched and Baker Mayfield looked like vintage Tom Brady. Cam Akers, Keke Coutee, Collin Johnson, and Gabriel Davis were included in last week’s article and had good games making them adds once again if available. With the fantasy playoffs now here, let’s take our first look into who can help you get out of the first round with a win below.

Jalen Hurts

Quarterback 1.4% rostered

Eagles fans have been pleading for it to happen for weeks and their wishes were finally granted. Jalen Hurts replaced Carson Wentz in the mid-third quarter and went on to throw for 109 yards with one touchdown and interception each, while adding 29 yards on the ground. Hurts looked a little overwhelmed in his first few snaps but he got into a groove and made plays with his legs capped off by a beautiful touchdown pass to Jalen Reagor in the back of the end-zone. I believe the job is now his, but a matchup against the stout Saints defense is up next in Week 14. Still, Hurts rushing ability and a fully healthy supporting cast should keep him afloat as a QB2 in that one. An easier matchup awaits him in Week 15 against, the Cardinals though.

Ty Johnson

Running Back 0.3% rostered

If we’ve learned anything recently, it’s that the NFL is taking concussion protocols very seriously. Because of this, I expect Frank Gore to miss next week’s matchup against the Seahawks, leaving Ty Johnson to serve as the lead ball-carrier in that plus matchup. Johnson was mentioned briefly in my Week 12 waiver wire article and looked great on Sunday after Gore went down, posting a 22-104-1 line to go along with two catches. Josh Adams was also involved with a respectable 8-74 line, so for those of you in deeper leagues it might be worth a shot, but Johnson looks like the clear leader.

JD McKissic

Running Back 60.9% rostered

McKissic should already be owned in most competitive PPR leagues, but if he isn’t, he should be after starter Antonio Gibson went down with an injury and did not return. Peyton Barber saw the majority of rushing attempts but to no one’s surprise, he did nothing with them. If you are in an extremely deep league, I’m talking 16 teams +, then I am good with adding Barber because of the volume he should see. Otherwise,  McKissic is the guy you want as he was already a respectable PPR option before Gibson’s injury and will now receive an added workload.

TY Hilton

Wide Receiver 47% rostered

Is Hilton officially back? After his good game last week, I was skeptical as he only reached double-digit PPR points in one other game this season. But he followed it up with another good game, catching eight of eleven targets for 110 yards and a touchdown. His next two matchups are positive ones, with the Raiders in Week 14 and the Texans on deck for Week 15. So if you are in a receiver bind heading into the playoffs, while it could still be risky, the former stud receiver could be rounding back into form just in time to help you win a championship.

Tim Patrick

Wide Receiver 15.5% rostered

Before Kendall Hinton’s stint as the emergency quarterback in Week 12, Patrick had double-digit PPR points in six of seven games and with Drew Lock returning, he did it again in Week 13 with four catches for 44 yards and two touchdowns. With that kind of consistency, it is pretty hard to believe that he is available in about 85% of leagues. In Week 14, the Broncos get a positive matchup against the Panthers, so Patrick will be in the WR3 discussion as a safe floor play with touchdown upside.

Logan Thomas

Tight End 24.9% rostered

Thomas has earned himself a spot in a few of my articles throughout the season, whether it be featured or in my quick hits section as a suggested streamer. Well against the top tight end defense in the league on Monday, Thomas torched the Steelers for nine catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. Next week he draws the 49ers who are also top of the league against tight ends, but Thomas showed that he can still produce regardless of matchup and outside of the top five or so tight ends, it’s a crapshoot on who to start at the position. As a result, I can see Thomas returning Top 12 value next week with upside for more, especially if Gibson misses time which will force Smith to pass a little more with Barber as incompetent as they come as a runner.

Quick Hits

• Kirk Cousins has quietly put together three straight 300 yard and 3 touchdown games with the help of superstar rookie receiver Justin Jefferson and company. Next, he gets the Buccaneers who are fresh off a bye but have been struggling in recent weeks. Available in about 55% of leagues, Cousins could be a nice streamer for week 14.
• Jeffery Wilson Jr. is a name to consider for those of you in deeper leagues. He has been the #2 rusher for the run-heavy Niners and has a great schedule in Weeks 15&16 after a tough matchup against the stout Redskins front in Week 14. He could be worth adding to your bench now ahead of those matchups just in case you fall into some running back problems if you advance past this week.
• Alfred Morris is another guy worth looking at in deeper leagues only as he looks to have a goal-line role moving forward coming off a two-touchdown game. Gallman is the man to own and will be the yard getter, but Morris could turn into a useful touchdown vulture for some owners.
• In a surprising move, the Texans demoted Chad Hansen back to the practice squad after leading the team in snaps to the tune of five catches for 101 yards. I cant see this sticking and wouldn’t be surprised to see him activated ahead of their Week 14 game against Chicago where he can again be a big part of their offensive plan. Dynasty players should take notice as Hansen should be widely available and showed great chemistry with Watson.
• Other wide receivers to look at are Corey Davis, Jalen Reagor, Rashard Higgins, Denzel Mims, and Breshad Perriman.
• In two games with Brandon Allen, Drew Sample has seen 12 targets, catching 11 of them for 89 yards. In such a shallow position, that volume can be counted on if your in need of a tight end, just don’t expect a very high ceiling.