Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business,
but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious
selections to help your team from week to week while you strive
to collect fantasy wins, reach your league playoffs, and win the
elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp. While
I’m a big proponent of making trades to bolster your roster,
the waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes
to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll
highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players who can
help your squad and may still be available in your league. I’ll
also provide a brief update on the players I covered the previous
week.
Tua Tagovailoa,
MIA – Tua (40% rostered) has struggled in 2021 but faces
the Jets in Week 15, when he should be able to muster 20 or more
fantasy points against a team that’s banged up and shouldn’t offer
much resistance. Coming off his team’s Week 14 bye, he’s an excellent
option who could be available in more than a few leagues.
Justin
Fields, CHI – The rookie QB had
the best fantasy performance of his career with 224-2-2 and 74
rushing yards (plus a lost fumble) in Sunday night’s 45-30 loss
to Green Bay. Fields (15-20% owned) is definitely in play for
Week 15, as the Vikings have been one of the worst passing defenses
this season.
Taysom
Hill, NO – Hill (now about 55-60%
rostered) completed 15 of 21 passes for 175 yards while rushing
11 times for 73 yards and two TDs in Sunday’s 30-9 drubbing of
the Jets. Hill's upside as a passer is limited, but he should
be able to use his legs to be a low-end QB1 or decent QB2 in a
Week 15 matchup against the Bucs.
Baker
Mayfield, CLE – Mayfield (25% owned)
completed 22 of 32 passes for 190-2-1 in the win over the Ravens.
He may have to throw even more in weeks 15 and 16 (LV, @GB) and
makes sense as a high-end QB2.
Ben
Roethlisberger, PIT – Big Ben ended
up with a solid fantasy line (308-3-1) after a slow start and
faces the Titans defense in Week 14 – a unit coming off a good
week against Jacksonville but often lacking against the pass.
Jimmy
Garoppolo, SF – Garoppolo had 296-2-0
in Sunday's 26-23 overtime win over the Bengals, who came back
to make it a game in the second half. The veteran QB led his team
on a TD drive capped by a 12-yard score to Brandon Aiyuk, and
that momentum should help him in Week 15 against a bad Falcons
D.
Zach
Wilson, NYJ – Wilson completed just
19 of 42 passes for 202 yards, adding 33 rushing yards on four
attempts in the loss to the Saints. He didn't have a score or
a turnover, and devoid any real offensive weapons, doesn’t make
much sense as a streaming option in Week 15 against the hot Dolphins
defense.
Running Backs
Rashaad
Penny, SEA – Penny started the week
out around 1-2% and was highlighted in my RBs to consider for Week
14 before we knew the depth chart. He vaulted to the top of the
food chain (and 5-6% ownership) over the course of the week and
ended up having a monster day with 137 yards and two TDs on 16 carries,
adding a 1-yard catch in Sunday’s 33-13 win over the Texans. He
should be the Seahawks’ No. 1 RB moving forward and the team can
finally move on from the injuries an ineffectiveness they’ve suffered
from Chris Carson, Alex Collins and the other backs. He’s the top
fantasy addition of the week at any position.
Craig
Reynolds, DET – With D’Andre Swift
and Jamaal Williams unavailable and Jermar Jefferson missing practice
much of the week due to a non-COVID illness, the Lions scrambled
to establish a running game with Godwin Igwebuike and Reynolds,
who was promoted from the practice squad Saturday and carried
the ball 11 times for 83 yards (2-16-0 receiving) in the loss
to the Broncos. If Swift and Williams miss more time, Reynolds
could be relevant for Week 15 and beyond.
Corey
Clement, DAL –UPDATE:
Clement could be worth a look in deep leagues since it’s obvious
that Ezekiel Elliott is still hurting and there’s no guarantee
that Tony Pollard (foot) can play vs. the Giants. The former Eagles
RB (who also played for the Giants) ran for 44 yards on 13 carries,
adding one catch for 2 yards in Week 13.
Royce
Freeman, HOU – David Johnson was
out this week (COVID protocols) and Rex Burkhead was forced from
the game with a groin injury, leaving Freeman to handle most of
the RB duties. Freeman rushed 11 times for 15 yards and caught
six of eight targets for 51 yards in the loss to the Seahawks
but could have some PPR value if both Johnson and Burkhead miss
Week 15.
D’Onta
Foreman, TEN – Foreman had 13 carries
for 47 yards and a TD on Sunday, adding two receptions on two
targets for 15 yards. He’s still available in about 40% of ESPN
leagues.
Kenneth
Gainwell, PHI – The Eagles were
on a bye in Week 13, and I’m not touching their RB situation.
Samaje
Perine, CIN – Though Joe Mixon was
active on Sunday, Perine finished with four carries for 11 rushing
yards and 4-22-0 receiving in the OT loss to the 49ers.
Jeff
Wilson/JaMycal
Hasty, SF – Wilson carried the ball 13 times for
56 yards in Sunday's 26-23 overtime win over the Bengals, while
Hasty had just 3-10-0 receiving and no carries. Elijah Mitchell
(concussion) could be back for Week 15, but still has some protocol
hurdles to clear.
Travis
Homer/Adrian
Peterson SEA – Lead back duties in Seattle are now
in the capable hands of Penny. Neither Homer (calf, hamstring)
or Peterson (nursing a lower back injury and on the practice squad)
were active for Week 14 vs. Houston.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Allen Lazard,
GB – The Packers fell behind early then kicked into high
gear with the passing offense, and Lazard was a big part of it,
hauling in 6-75-1 on seven targets and adding a 14-yard carry in
his best fantasy performance of 2021. The Packers WR is only about
5% rostered and heads into Week 15’s matchup against Baltimore with
oodles of confidence.
Gabriel
Davis, BUF – Davis was in my “WRs
to consider” and he paid off handsomely, hauling in 5-43-1 on
a season-high eight targets in the exciting OT game vs. the Bucs.
He’s fewer than 3% owned to start out the week and hopefully some
of you took advantage of the matchup in Week 14. If not, Week
15 could yield similar results as he becomes more involved in
the Bills offense.
UPDATE: Emmanuel Sanders will
miss Week 15, so that means more offensive snaps for Davis.
Jalen
Guyton, LAC – Another WR to consider
from this past week, Guyton had his second consecutive solid game
with 3-87-1, catching all three balls thrown to him by Justin
Herbert. Although Keenan Allen should be back for Thursday against
the Chiefs, Guyton is a risky boom-or-bust option for deeper formats
and he’s still under 15% ownership in ESPN leagues.
UPDATE: The Chargers are a little
banged up after Sunday, so Guyton could remain heavily involved
even when Allen returns.
K.J.
Osborn, MIN – That makes three WRs
who had excellent fantasy games last week that were listed in
WRs to consider. With Adam Thielen on the shelf, Osborn (25-30%
owned) went for 3-83-1 on nine targets and could be busy again
facing the Bears in Week 15.
TE Austin
Hooper, CLE – Hooper (35-40% rostered) caught five
of seven targets for 30 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 24-22
win over the Ravens, and could haver another opportunity for a
big game against the Raiders in Week 15.
Elijah
Moore, NYJ – Moore developed a mid-week
quad injury that saw him miss practice and then end up on IR by
Saturday. The Jets offense is a mess.
Josh
Reynolds, DET – Reynolds caught
three of five targets for 52 yards in Sunday's 38-10 loss to the
Broncos.
Amon-Ra
St. Brown, DET – St. Brown caught
eight of 12 targets for 73 yards in the loss to the Broncos and
now has an 18-159-1 line on 24 targets over the last two games.
The talented WR could be busy again in Week 15 against the Cardinals
in a negative game script.
TE Tyler
Conklin, MIN – Conklin was quiet on Thursday night
(2-20-0 on two targets), which may have been because the offense
centered around Dalvin Cook – something we didn’t expect at the
outset of the short week.
Jakeem
Grant, CHI – Grant had a wild game
on Sunday night, catching just one of three targets for 46 yards
(a score) and returning three punts for 131 yards (one of which
was another TD) in Sunday’s 45-30 loss to the Packers. It’ll be
hard to repeat, but I told you to play him this week!!
Laquon
Treadwell, JAC – Treadwell finished
Sunday’s 20-0 loss to the Titans with 4-68-0 on six targets. He’s
still worth a look in 12-team leagues as a low-end WR3/4.
Deonte
Harris, NO – He’s suspended and
cannot return until Week 17 vs. CAR.
