It’s Week 14 and the beginning of the fantasy football playoffs for most leagues. I hope you won’t need to turn to the waiver wire if you’re playing in the championship bracket. If you’re in the consolation bracket, do the championship bracket a favor and hold off adding players from the waiver wire until the following day after waivers process. It’s a common courtesy and respectful for those teams playing for a championship.
Last week’s top lineup would have included Josh Allen, Chase Edmonds, Justin Jackson, Dante Pettis, Zay Jones, and Anthony Firkser. If you had these six in your starting lineup, you likely won your Week 12 match-up. For Week 14, Mitch Trubisky, Chris Carson, and Gus Edwards, among others, may not be available this week for fantasy football team owners. Your fantasy football waiver wire should still be filled with some quality players if you need the help.
Be cautious to add players unless you really must. For instance, the Cardinals Chase Edmonds and the Seahawks Rashad Penny had great fantasy football games last week. However, each was out-touched by the team’s primary running back.
If you’re looking to add a player, it’s because of a significant injury or because your player is underperforming or because a team is going in a different direction in using its personnel. We’ll list extra players you can consider if your waiver wire is thin.
Don’t add a player to your fantasy football team if you don’t need one.
QUARTERBACKS
1 Jameis Winston, Buccaneers
2 Baker Mayfield, Browns
3 Lamar Jackson, Ravens
3 Dak Prescott, Cowboys
5 Derek Carr, Raiders
6 Josh Allen, Bills
There are plenty of options at quarterback for fantasy football team owners as these quarterbacks are available in over half or near all of leagues.
Jameis Winston had a good game throwing for 249 yards and two touchdowns on 20 for 30 passing. The Buccaneers play the Saints this week at home.
Rookie Baker Mayfield threw multiple interceptions on his way to 397 yards passing and one touchdown. It was his first game in the past six he did not throw multiple touchdowns. Mayfield gets the Panthers in Weeks 14 and the Bengals in Week 16.
The Cowboys Dak Prescott is doing a good enough job to be a viable option on quarterback needy teams deep at other positions or in deeper leagues. He’s got a solid schedule for the remainder of the season including this week against the Eagles.
Ravens Lamar Jackson had a top ten finish going 12 for 21 for 125 yards passing and tacked on 75 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown. He could get another start this week against a Chiefs defense that has allowed 302 yards passing and 3 touchdowns per game to quarterbacks over their last three games.
After four average to below average games, Derek Carr broke out against the Chiefs defense for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He’s got another decent match-up against the Steelers where he must likely pass the football.
Josh Allen had his best game of the season throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns on 18-for-33 passing. He added 135 yards rushing. This week, he faces a Jets defense which has struggled of late. He’s a desperation pick-up and play for most, and a better option in two quarterback leagues if you need the help.
RUNNING BACKS
1 Gus Edwards*, Ravens
2 Josh Adams, Eagles
3 Jeff Wilson, 49ers
4 Justin Jackson, Chargers
5 Jaylen Edwards, Steelers
6 Austin Ekeler, Chargers
7 Peyton Barber, Buccaneers
8 Doug Martin, Raiders
9 Jalen Richard, Raiders
10 Derrick Henry, Titans
11 Nyheim Hines, Colts
12 Stevan Ridley, Steelers
13 Chase Edmonds, Cardinals
14 Ty Montgomery, Ravens
15 Malcolm Brown, Rams
This week, there’s a little of everything on the waiver wire for fantasy football team owners. There are starters like Gus Edwards and Josh Adams still available in about a quarter of leagues, injury replacements like Jeff Wilson and Jaylen Edwards, and handcuffs like Malcolm Brown, Jaylen Edwards, and Justin Jackson.
With the fantasy football playoffs beginning in a week for most, you shouldn’t be in the mix for a running back off the waiver wire unless you are desperate or have room on your bench to take a chance on a player. Give these running backs a look if you need help. The running backs with a longer view or higher touch rate are ranked higher.
The Eagles Josh Adams and the Ravens Gus Edwards are your top waiver adds if available as they are in a quarter of leagues.
With Melvin Gordon likely to miss Week 14, Justin Jackson and Austin Ekeler will form a platoon. Jackson was solid as a rusher rushing eight times for 63 yards and a score. He’ll likely continue to fill that role this week.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1 Adam Humphries, Buccaneers
2 Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
3 Courtland Sutton, Broncos
4 Dante Pettis, 49ers
5 Zay Jones, Bills
6 Jordy Nelson, Raiders
7 Christian Kirk, Cardinals
8 Curtis Samuel, Panthers
9 Bruce Ellington, Lions
This is another good week to add a wide receiver who will serve as a WR3 or flex-play depending on the size of your league. .
With DeSean Jackson out until further notice and O.J. Howard on injured reserve, receivers Adam Humphries and Chris Godwin must be rostered in all leagues. Both are available in half the leagues. Humphries has been a touchdown hawk, with five in the past five games. Godwin broke out as a TFG deep sleeper last week with five receptions on six targets for 101 yards and one touchdown.
Courtland Sutton is available in half the leagues and yet he’s the Broncos number two receiver. Sutton broke out for 85 yards and a score on seven targets. The Broncos have a favorable passing schedule to close out the season.
With Marquis Goodwin and Pierre Garcon out, Dante Pettis continued to produce. In the past two games, he’s been targeted seven times per game and totaled 9 receptions for 206 yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers have a challenging schedule to close the season but they’ll likely continue to lean on the pass.
Zay Jones is an intriguing add. Jones has totaled 160 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-20 receiving in two of his last three games. He’s been Allen’s go-to guy as of late and it should be expected to continue.
Bruce Ellington is 19 of 26 for 115 yards over his first three games with his new team, the Lions. With Marvin Jones out for the season, Ellington becomes the team’s new No. 2 wide receiver. The big plays and scores will come.
TIGHT ENDS
1 Vance McDonald, Steelers
2 Chris Herndon, Jets
3 Jonnu Smith, Titans
4 CJ Uzomah, Bengals
5 Rhett Ellison, Giants
6 Ian Thomas, Panthers
7 Jordan Thomas, Texans
With all the injuries to the position over the last few weeks, there are options at tight end.
DEFENSES
Giants (at Redskins)
Patriots (at Dolphins)
Browns (v. Panthers)
Cardinals (v. Lions)
Bills (v. Jets)
Jets (at Bills)
Most of this week’s waiver wire adds highlight good defenses with favorable fantasy football match-ups.
Each defense noted above faces an offense in this week’s top ten of most fantasy football points allowed to opposing defenses.
Week 14 Injury Report