It’s Week 15 and the fantasy football playoffs are off to a good start for many. 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 Dak Prescott, Derrick Henry, Damien Williams, Kenny Stills, Dede Westbrook, and Cameron Brate. If you had these six in your starting lineup, you likely won your Week 14 match-up. For Week 15, Jordan Reed, Austin Ekeler, Melvin Gordon, and Jalen Richard, 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 Dolphins Brandon Bolden and the Chiefs Damien Williams had great fantasy football games last week. However, neither is a featured running back on their respective teams and will likely be out-touched by the team’s primary running back this week.
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 Dak Prescott, Cowboys
2 Josh Allen, Bills
3 Nick Mullens, 49ers
4 Jeff Driskel, Raiders
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.
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. Prescott had his best game of the season last time throwing for 455 yards and three touchdowns. Adding Amari Cooper has brought the Cowboys passing game alive. He’s got a solid schedule for the remainder of the season including this week against the Colts.
Josh Allen continues to surprise. He followed up a 231 yard passing, 135 yard rushing, and two touchdown performance with 206 yards passing, 101 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown performance. This week, he faces a good but beatable Lions defense. He’s still a desperation pick-up and play for most, and a better option in two quarterback leagues, but if you need the help, give him a go.
The Bengals Jeff Driskel is a QB2 option against a Raiders pass defense that has struggled most of the season.
RUNNING BACKS
1 Justin Jackson, Chargers
2 Jeff Wilson, 49ers
3 Derrick Henry, Titans
4 Doug Martin, Raiders
5 Elijah McGuire, Jets
6 Kenneth Dixon, Ravens
7 Frank Gore, Dolphins
8 Stevan Ridley, Steelers
This week, there’s a little of everything on the waiver wire for fantasy football team owners.
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.
With Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler likely to miss Week 15, Justin Jackson will be the Chargers workhorse running back this week. He is this week’s top add and should be in line for 100 all-purpose yards and a score.
The takeaway from Derrick Henry’s breakout game is not to expect that he’ll perform that way each week, but that he has earned more touches in the Titans offense. Because of that, Henry makes for an RB2 start against a beatable Giants rush defense.
Doug Martin should get a heavy workload with Jalen Richard expected to miss this week’s game against the Bengals worst in fantasy football rush defense.
With Isaiah Crowell trending toward missing Week 15, Elijah McGuire will be the Jets workhorse running back and likely exceed last week’s 20 touches.
Kenneth Dixon took 9 touches for 80 APY and a score. He’ll likely get similar work against the Buccaneers whose rush defense is among the top five worst in fantasy football.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1 Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
2 Keke Coutee, Texans
3 Dante Pettis, 49ers
4 Zay Jones, Bills
5 Curtis Samuel, Panthers
6 Kenny Stills, Dolphins
7 Dede Westbrook, Jaguars
8 Tim Patrick, Broncos
9 Robert Foster, Bills
10 Robby Anderson, Jets
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 and O.J. Howard out, Chris Godwin posted 101 yards and a score in Week 13 and was targeted 10 times last week. He’s the Buccaneers number two receiving option and still available in a third of leagues.
Keke Coutee is expected back this week and should step back in as the team’s number two wide-out.
Even with Marquis Goodwin back, Dante Pettis continued to produce in Week 13. In the past three games, he’s been targeted seven times per game and totaled 12 receptions for 255 yards and four touchdowns. The 49ers have a challenging schedule to close the season but they’ll likely continue to lean on the pass.
Zay Jones remains an intriguing add and has totaled 188 yards and three touchdowns on 15-of-29 receiving in three of his last four games. He’s been Allen’s go-to guy as of late and it should be expected to continue.
Tim Patrick and Robert Foster are options in deeper leagues. Both have come on as of late and had their fair share of targets.
TIGHT ENDS
1 Cameron Brate, Buccaneers
2 Vernon Davis, Redskins
3 Evan Engram, Giants
4 Ian Thomas, Panthers
5 Kyle Rudolph, Vikings
With all the injuries to the position over the last few weeks, there are options at tight end.
Cameron Brate is the top tight end if available in your league. Vernon Davis will likely be the Redskins top tight end with Jordan Reed likely set to miss the rest of the season.
Evan Engram and Ian Thomas are being targeted well on their team’s respective offenses.
Kyle Rudolph is a match-up based play this week.
DEFENSES
Bills (v. Lions)
Ravens (v. Buccaneers)
Lions (at Bills)
Jaguars (v. Redskins)
Redskins (at Jaguars)
Seahawks (at 49ers)
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 15 Injury Report