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Week 15 Waiver Wire (and Wake Early Wednesday)
Below are the players I'm considering adding to my rosters before week 15 kicks off. All of these players are near or below 50% rostered in Yahoo leagues and therefore likely to be available in most leagues.
Important note: I'm typically pretty frugal with my waiver priority and FAAB, usually only spending on a player that can win me the week. In other words, if they're just "depth" adds and nice-to-haves that might not even see my lineup, then I'd rather wake up early on Wednesday morning and add them for "free" instead of using a waiver claim for them.
Obviously, keep your own scoring, settings, sizes and preferences in mind when considering next steps. This list is meant to give you ideas for additions; how and what you do with them is up to you.
Disclaimer: I'm writing this during the afternoon on Monday, meaning this has been written and possibly published before or during the Monday Night Football game. Keep players from that game in mind when considering your waiver wire activity.
Quarterback
As usual, there are no QBs that I'd recommend using priority or FAAB on this week. Here are a few streamers to consider after waivers clear if you're in a pinch:
Mike White - 20% rostered - After 2 games, Mike White has 42.26 fantasy points (24.8 in week 12 and 17.46 in week 13) on 684 passing yards (315 and 369), 3 passing TDs (week 12), 2 INTs (week 13) and 1 rushing TD (week 13). In week 15, he gets a possible high scoring affair against a league-worst Lions defense that entered week 14 allowing the most fantasy points per game to QBs even before Kirk Cousins dumped 425 yards and 2 TDs on them. Mike White is very much streamer viable in week 15.
Matt Ryan - 12% rostered - Over his last 6 games, Matt Ryan is averaging 15.28 fantasy points per game on 249.83 passing yards per game with 8 TDs, 6 INTs and 1 rushing TD. In week 15, he gets a possibly high scoring game against a Vikings defense that entered week 14 allowing the 7th most fantasy points per game to opposing QBs, including the most passing yards per game (and that was before Jared Goff dumped 330 passing yards and 3 TDs on them for 26.1 fantasy points in week 14).
Andy Dalton - 7% rostered - After 10 games, Andy Dalton is averaging 14.15 fantasy points per game on 225.2 passing yards per game with 15 TDs and 7 INTs. In week 15, his Saints have an implied total of 23.75 points—the 8th highest on the full 32 team slate—and Dalton will face a Falcons defense that entered week 14 allowing the 10th most fantasy points per game to enemy QBs, including the 8th most passing yards and 10th most passing TDs.
Brock Purdy - 10% rostered - Essentially 2 full games into his tenure as the 49ers QB 1, Brock Purdy has an astonishing 36 fantasy points on 395 passing yards, 4 passing TD, 1 INT and 1 rushing TD. He looked calm, in control and more than effective in his week 14 starting debut, compiling 21.7 fantasy points on 185 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs and 1 rushing TD. In week 15, his 49ers have an implied total of 23.5 points—the 10th most on the full 32 team slate—in a Thursday Night Football showdown with a Seahawks defense that entered week 14 allowing the 13th most fantasy points, passing yards and passing TDs per game to opposing QBs.
For the superflexers and 2QB leaguers:
Brett Rypien - 0% rostered - Russell Wilson is in the concussion protocol. If he can't get cleared in time, Brett Rypien gets a week 15 date with a Cardinals defense that entered week 14 allowing the 2nd most fantasy points per game to QBs, including the most TD passes.
Running Back
There are 2 running backs that are largely available that I would consider using claim priority and bidding dollars on this week:
Zonovan Knight (55% rostered) - Averaging 15.27 PPR points on 18.67 touches per game over the last 3, it's pretty clear Zonovan Knight is the preferred lead back in New York—at least for now. With the Lions, Jaguars and Seahawks on the menu to close the season, Knight should be rostered in a lot more than 55% of leagues.
Jerick McKinnon - 62% rostered - Jerick McKinnon went crazy in week 14, scoring 32.4 PPR points on 13 touches—including a whopping 7 catches on 9 targets—for 134 scrimmage yards and 2 TDs. Now averaging 5.7 targets per game over his last 6 contests and with a possible week 16 shootout with the Seahawks looming, McKinnon needs to be rostered in a lot more leagues than he is.
Beyond that, here are a few players to consider adding "for free" after waivers run.
Gus Edwards (49% rostered) - JK Dobbins stole the show in week 14, posting 18 PPR points on 15 carries for 120 yards and 1 TD. That said, Gus Edwards was more "passenger seat" than "backseat" with 13 carries of his own. He didn't find the end zone and his 66 yards paled in comparison to Dobbins' 120, but he's very-much involved in an offense that should remain as run-first as possible with Lamar Jackson—and possibly Tyler Huntley—on the shelf. In week 15, Baltimore gets a Browns' defense that entered week 14 allowing the 2nd most PPR points per game to RBs, including the 5th most scrimmage yards and most RB TDs. Week 16 and 17 dates with Atlanta (14th most) and Pittsburgh (13th fewest) aren't much to fear either.
Travis Homer (37% rostered) - Tony Jones got the "start" in week 14 but it was Travis Homer that paced the Seahawks in backfield touches with 11—including 2 catches on 3 targets. That said, he didn't do much with them, gaining just 34 scoreless scrimmage yards to end the afternoon with just 5.4 PPR points. All of that said, Ken Walker *could* be back and even if not, Homer would be a tough start against a 49ers defense that entered week 14 holding RBs to the fewest PPR points in football, including the fewest scrimmage yards and 2nd fewest RB TDs.
Jordan Mason - 12% rostered - As the clear backup behind workhorse Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason should be stashed on the bench if you have room for him as a possible league winner if something were to happen to CMC. The 49ers have gorgeous playoff matchups with the Seahawks and Raiders in weeks 15 and 17 of the fantasy football playoffs.
Alexander Mattison - 34% rostered - not a standalone option, but Mattison is a league-winning bench stash if something happens to Dalvin Cook.
Wide Receiver
There are not any wide receivers I'd use priority or FAAB on this week. That said, here are several WRs I'm considering adding after waivers clear:
Donovan Peoples-Jones - 58% rostered - In week 14, Donovan Peoples-Jones posted season highs in targets (12), catches (8), yards (114) and PPR points (19.4). Over his last 10, he's averaging 6.5 targets, 4.6 catches, 68.10 yards and 12.03 PPR points. Now with Deshaun Watson throwing him the ball and positive upcoming matchups with Baltimore, New Orleans and Washington (all three are in the top 15 in PPR points allowed to WRs), DPJ should be rostered in more than 58% of leagues.
Zay Jones - 51% rostered - Over his last 4 games, Zay Jones is averaging 16.4 PPR points per game on 10.75 targets, 7.25 catches and 76.5 yards with 1 TD. His remaining schedule is nasty against the Cowboys (14th fewest PPR points allowed to WRs), Jets (4th fewest) and Texans (3rd fewest), but Jacksonville could find themselves in a negative game script that forces them to throw against Dallas and maybe New York. We're grasping at straws here, but there's no way a guy averaging 10-11 targets per game should only be 51% rostered.
Elijah Moore - 27% rostered - After Corey Davis was knocked out—literally—with a concussion, Elijah Moore played 82% of the snaps—his most since week 5—and garnered 10 targets, catching 6 for 60 scoreless yards. If Davis misses week 15, Moore would likely be locked into the starting lineup, an exciting place to be in a possible high scoring affair with a Lions defense that entered week 14 allowing the 5th most PPR points per game to WRs even before Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and KJ Osborn dumped 67.6 collective points on them.
Chris Moore - 2% rostered - There have been two games this season where Chris Moore got the start with Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins inactive. In those two games, Moore has compiled totals of 16 targets (5 and 11), 14 catches (4 and 10), 167 yards (43 and 124) and 1 TD (week 9) for 36.9 PPR points (14.5 and 22.4). It's entirely possible that Cooks and/or Collins returns in week 15 but it's equally as possible that they don't. And if they don't, Moore is suddenly the de facto WR 1 in Houston with a glorious playoff schedule—and endless negative game script that leads to a pass heavy approach—against the Chiefs (4th most PPR points allowed to WRs), Titans (most PPR points allowed) and Jaguars (9th most).
DJ Chark - 40% rostered - Over his last 3 games, DJ Chark is averaging a strong 15.27 PPR points per game on 6 targets, 4.33 catches and 69.33 yards with 2 TDs. Locked in—for now—as the Lions' WR 2, Chark has played at least 73% of the snaps in each of the last 3 games. His playoff schedule doesn't inspire much confidence against the Jets (4th fewest PPR points per game allowed to WRs), Panthers (16th most) and Bears (11th fewest), but he's currently the #2 option in a high powered offense.
Jahan Dotson - 15% rostered - Watch out, y'all. Jahan Dotson played 79% of the Commanders' snaps in week 13, his highest clip since he played 87% of the snaps back in week 3. He used the opportunity to rack up 16.4 PPR points on 9 targets, 5 catches, 54 yards and 1 TD. Unfortunately, there's nothing special about his remaining schedule—he's on bye this week and finishes the fantasy season with the Giants, 49ers and Bears who are all top 16 defenses at defending WRs—but the natural-born TD scorer should be on rosters for those who need help at WR.
Josh Reynolds - 6% rostered - Playing 61% or more of the Lions' snaps over his last 2 games, Josh Reynolds has 21 PPR points on 10 targets, 8 catches, 70 yards and 1 TD. His playoff schedule doesn't inspire much confidence against the Jets (4th fewest PPR points per game allowed to WRs), Panthers (16th most) and Bears (11th fewest), but he's still running ahead of Jameson Williams as the Lions #3 option in a high powered offense.
Isaiah Hodgins - 1% rostered - Isaiah Hodgins has played 80% or more of the Giants' snaps in each of the last 2 weeks, racking up 29.2 PPR points on 12 targets, 9 catches, 82 yards and 2 TDs. In week 15 he faces a Washington defense that entered week 14 allowing the 15th most PPR points per game to WRs. Better yet, in week 16, Hodgins gets a Vikings defense that entered week 14 allowing the 2nd most PPR points per game to WRs before Detroit's wideouts dumped 65.9 PPR points on them.
Marquise Goodwin - 2% rostered - Marquise Goodwin smashed in week 14, scoring 20.3 PPR points on 5 catches (6 targets) for 95 yards and 1 TD. It was his 2nd 20+ point performance of the season (he scored 22.7 back in week 7). I'm admittedly mostly writing this because his Seahawks will likely be forced into a supremely pass-heavy approach in week 16 against a Chiefs defense that's allowing the 4th most PPR points to WRs, but it doesn't hurt that his week 15 opponent, the 49ers, allow the 11th most PPR points themselves.
Ben Skowronek - 3% rostered - Ben Skowronek made NFL history on Thursday Night Football in week 14, becoming the first ever wide receiver in NFL history that Baker Mayfield was able to get the ball to. He caught 7 of 8 targets for 89 scoreless yards (15.9 PPR points). There's nothing exciting about his playoff schedule (the Packers, Broncos and Chargers are all tougher than average on WRs)—or being on the Rams right now—but Skowronek was clearly Mayfield's favorite target in his Rams debut.
Trenton Irwin and Trent Taylor - 0% rostered - This one is for the deep leaguers...Tyler Boyd appears unlikely to play in week 15 and Tee Higgins...well...who the hell knows at this point...After Boyd was knocked out of week 14 and Higgins never actually saw the field despite being active (don't get me started), Trenton Irwin and Trent Taylor played 84% and 78% of the Bengals' snaps, respectively. Taylor had 4 targets while Irwin caught a long TD. On the off chance the Bengals are without both Higgins and Boyd in week 15, Irwin and Taylor would suddenly find themselves at or near full-time status in one of the NFL's best offenses.
Amari Rodgers (lol) - 0% rostered - Also for the deep leaguers...With Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins on the shelf, Amari Rodgers popped up for 4 catches (5 targets) for 57 yards and 1 TD (16 PPR points) on 55% of the snaps. It might go down as the best game of his career (lol), but if Cooks and Collins don't return, Rodgers has a glorious playoff schedule—and endless negative game script that leads to a pass heavy approach—against the Chiefs (4th most PPR points allowed to WRs), Titans (most PPR points allowed) and Jaguars (9th most).
Tight End
As usual, there are no tight ends I would use waiver priority on. Here's who I'd consider in a week 15 pinch however:
Greg Dulcich - 62% rostered - After 8 up and down career games, Greg Dulcich is averaging 5.63 targets, 3.5 catches and 45.13 yards per game with 1 TD on the season (8.76 PPR points per game). He has 4 games under 8 PPR points but also 4 games over 11. In week 15, he gets the best possible matchup that a 2022 TE can get against a Cardinals defense that entered week 14 allowing the most PPR points, catches, yards and TDs per game to opposing TEs. He'll be tougher to trust if it's Brett Rypien, not Russell Wilson, under center, but how many options do you have at this position?
Tyler Conklin - 26% rostered - In 2 games with Mike White at QB, Tyler Conklin has 15 total targets (7 in week 13 and 8 in week 14). He hasn't done much with them—7 catches for 37 scoreless yards (10.7 PPR points), but he might get another chance in week 15 in a possible high scoring matchup against a Lions defense that entered week 14 allowing the 3rd most PPR points per game to TEs, including the most TDs per game.
Evan Engram - 56% rostered - Well hello there, Evan Engram. Engram went absolutely crazy in week 14, producing 39.2 PPR points on 15 targets, 11 catches, 162 yards and 2 TDs. Unfortunately, he has a tough playoff schedule against the Cowboys, Jets and Texans, all of which are in the top half of the league when it comes to defending TEs. That said, 6.18 targets, 4.36 catches, 46.55 yards and 11.2 PPR points per game is awfully hard to come by at the tight end position in fantasy football.
Chigoziem Okonkwo - 14% rostered - Over his last 3 games, Chigoziem Okonkwo is averaging 5.33 targets, 4.33 catches and 49.33 yards per game with 1 TD (11.27 PPR points per game. In week 15, he'll catch a Chargers defense that entered week 14 allowing the 3rd most yards and 12th most PPR points to TEs.
Austin Hooper - 16% rostered - Over his last 5 games, Austin Hooper is averaging 5 targets, 4 catches and 39.4 yards with 2 TDs (10.3 PPR points per game). In week 15, he'll catch a Chargers defense that entered week 14 allowing the 3rd most yards and 12th most yards to TEs.
Team Defenses
I'll never use waiver priority on a defense, but there are several defenses I'd be looking to stream in week 15 if I can find them. Assuming I can't get the Bills (99% rostered), Eagles (95% rostered) or Chiefs (90% rostered), I'd be going for the:
Green Bay Packers - 35% rostered - their opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, opened the week with an implied total of just 16.25 points, the fewest on the entire 32 team slate.
Cleveland Browns - 20% rostered - their opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, might be starting "Anthony Brown" at QB, and they opened the week with an implied total of just 17.5 points, the 4th fewest on the entire 32 team slate.
Washington Commanders - 27% rostered - their opponent, the New York Giants, opened the week with an implied total of just 17.5 points, the 4th fewest on the entire 32 team slate.
Arizona Cardinals - 25% rostered - their opponent, the Denver Broncos, opened the week with an implied total of just 18 points, the 6th fewest on the entire 32 team slate.
Carolina Panthers - 7% rostered - their opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, opened the week with an implied total of just 18 points, the 6th fewest on the entire 32 team slate.
New Orleans Saints - 25% rostered - their opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, opened the week with an implied total of just 19.75 points, the 8th fewest on the entire 32 team slate.
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