This article gets pared down as we near the end of the fantasy season, and the focus will be much more on one-week additions as we head into must-win games.
There will be some talk about stashes this week for teams that earned a bye, but by and large, we are looking for plug-and-play options, which means there are just a lot fewer of those.
As for FAAB bidding, the answer is to spend whatever it takes to get the guy you want.
The good news is the bidding pool is smaller once the playoffs start, and it is easy to utilize the remaining FAAB pool of those other playoff teams to gauge how much you need to spend.
As a reminder, recommended adds are available in at least 60% of ESPN leagues, and the watch list consists of players worth monitoring.
The deep cuts section for running backs and receivers highlights players who are rostered in fewer than 5% of ESPN leagues, for all you “not in my league” degens.
Finally, I will not be ranking kickers and defenses because, frankly, I don’t care about them and would like to see them disappear from the game.
With those caveats out of the way, let’s get to it.
Contents
Best Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups: Quarterback
- Justin Fields
- Marcus Mariota
Best Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Back
- Chris Rodriguez
- Devin Singletary
- Jaylen Wright
- Blake Corum
Best Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups: Wide Receiver
- Darius Slayton
- Luther Burden
- Ryan Flournoy
- Andrei Iosivas
- Pat Bryant
Best Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups: Tight Ends
- Colby Parkinson
- Isaiah Likely
Quarterback Waiver Targets, Week 15
1. Justin Fields, Jets — Available in 73.9% of ESPN leagues
Hear me out. Fields missed last week because of an “injury,” though reading between the lines with some of the reports we have gotten suggests he might have been pushing back against some wildcat usage. With Tyrod Taylor leaving last week with a soft tissue injury, it seems like the Jets will have a decision to make about bringing Fields back or sending out Brady Cook, who predictably struggled in relief of Taylor against the Dolphins. Fields has not been good himself from a real-life perspective when he has been on the field, but he averaged over 40 rushing yards per game with 4 rushing touchdowns in nine starts. He is third among all quarterbacks in rushing fantasy points per game. That would make Fields a viable option in a good matchup against the Jaguars if he gets the start.
2. Marcus Mariota, Commanders — Available in 88.7% of ESPN leagues
Mariota will be the top streaming option if we find out that Jayden Daniels is not going to play this week. After the game, Dan Quinn said Daniels could have come back in against the Vikings after landing hard on his injured elbow, but he also did not commit to who would start in Week 15. It is certainly possible that Daniels once again leaving with an elbow issue prompts the Commanders to shut him down for the rest of the season or at least hold him out for another week. Mariota has been a solid fantasy option when starting this season, and he gets a good matchup against the Giants. New York has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and the third-most rushing yards.
Watch List: Riley Leonard would have at least been interesting because of his rushing ability, but it looks like he is also going to miss some time. Enter Philip Rivers, who is 44 and has not played since 2020. Will he start this week? I do not know. Should you play him if he does? Absolutely not. Is the Seahawks DST a league winner? Perhaps…I did not have the guts to make Tyler Shough a streaming option last week, but he was my “uncut gem” on the podcast. I thought he would get there more through passing in a trailing game script, but we will take 55 yards and 2 scores on the ground. Still, that is probably not something to chase in the first playoff week…J.J. McCarthy is coming off one of his better games and is facing the Cowboys. There is at least a case for him as a streaming option. Still, Dallas has gotten pressure all year (7th), and McCarthy has averaged 5.3 yards per attempt with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions against pressure this year…There is no way I am taking another ride on the Bryce Young roller coaster in the first week of the fantasy playoffs. Also, did you know, the Saints have allowed one 200-yard passer since Week 6. That list includes Young throwing for 124 yards against them in Week 10…Shedeur Sanders threw for 364 yards and 3 scores against the Titans. The matchup against the Bears is pretty good. It is a low total game, though, the Browns have a low implied team total, and we have seen that once from Sanders since taking over.
Running Back Waiver Targets, Week 15
1. Chris Rodriguez, Commanders — Available in 68.9% of ESPN leagues
The game script played out about as badly as possible for Rodriguez in Week 14, but he still led the backfield with 10 carries. More importantly, he had 100% of the backfield carries in the first half. This is Rodriguez's backfield, and assuming the Commanders do not get absolutely boat raced again this week, he has a great matchup against the Giants. He is a viable starting option even for playoff teams.
2. Devin Singletary, Giants — Available in 72.3% of ESPN leagues
Tyrone Tracy said he expects to be “fine” after suffering a hip injury in Week 13, and he had the entire bye week to recover. Even so, we at least have to leave open the possibility that he is not ready to face the Commanders on Sunday. If that is the case, Singletary should operate as the lead back. Singletary played all 12 snaps after Tracy left the game.
3. Jaylen Wright, Dolphins — Available in 98.2% of ESPN leagues
Even more than Tracy, I expect De'Von Achane to play in Week 15, especially with the Dolphins getting an extra day of rest. After the game, Mike McDaniel said Achane was available to come back in the second half, but the Dolphins had no reason to risk him in a blowout. With all of that said, we got some confirmation that Wright is the handcuff you want for Achane. Wright got 14 carries to 5 for Ollie Gordon in the second half and earned 2 targets. That said, the snap split was not as large as that usage split would suggest (19 to 11), and Gordon ended up with a touchdown on a goal-to-go carry. Wright did get a touchdown earlier in the game, but Gordon might be a better bet for those. Either way, Wright is the handcuff we want. That makes him an upside stash, especially for teams with a bye, and a desperation add for teams hoping for a miracle.
4. Blake Corum, Rams — Available in 77.9% of ESPN leagues
I added Corum to this list because I assume people will be looking for him after his performance on Sunday. Corum was an add for us last week because of the uncertainty with Kyren Williams‘ injury and the fact that he has played a lot of snaps in even or leading game scripts over recent weeks. He has also been one of the most explosive runners in the league this year. All of that was on display in the Rams' blowout win. Unfortunately, the Rams get the Lions and Seahawks the next two games. Those are not great matchups, and we cannot assume the right game script for Corum to get a ton of work. Even with his great season, Corum has 27.5% of the backfield carries when the Rams are trailing or leading by a touchdown or less.
Watch List: I want to fill my bench with high-upside handcuffs in the fantasy playoffs. Wright, Corum, Tyler Allgeier, Sean Tucker, Brian Robinson Jr, Bhayshul Tuten, Ray Davis, and Tank Bigsby fit the bill. Samaje Perine probably belongs in that list, as well…As mentioned above, the split between Wright and Ollie Gordon was not as wide as the box score suggests, and Gordon might be a better bet for goal-line work should it come to that. I am operating under the assumption that Achane is going to play, so it is a long shot, but desperate teams can add Gordon just to see what happens…I am not that interested in messing with the Arizona backfield in the fantasy playoffs, but it does not seem like Trey Benson will be coming off injured reserve this season. That should open up touches for Emari Demercado or Michael Carter (if Demercado remains out this week).
Deep Cuts: It should be a lot of Woody Marks, and the Texans just added Cody Schrader off waivers. Still, perhaps Dare Ogunbowale gets some run if Nick Chubb is forced to miss time…Keaton Mitchell‘s injury is reportedly minor, but it could open up even more touches for Rasheen Ali…Alvin Kamara could return soon, and Devin Neal has operated as the clear lead back. Still, it is worth knowing that Audric Estime got some run on Sunday.
Wide Receiver Waiver Targets, Week 15
1. Darius Slayton, Giants — Available in 80.1% of ESPN leagues
Mentioned Slayton last week, but it is not surprising his roster rate fell even further with him on bye. Slayton had returned to the No. 2 receiver spot before the bye, and he managed to go for 41 yards and a touchdown despite only 3 targets. Slayton has now been targeted on 19% of his routes with Jaxson Dart at quarterback, and he is averaging 15.4 yards per catch and 10.1 yards per target from the rookie. The Giants get the Commanders this week. Slayton is a viable play in all leagues.
2. Luther Burden, Bears — Available in 84% of ESPN leagues
It seems like Rome Odunze is going to miss some time, which opens the door even further for Burden. While he did not run as many routes as Olamide Zaccheaus against the Packers, which is something of a disappointment, he led the team with 6 targets. He has been targeted on 22.7% of his routes this season (28th among 105 receivers with at least 175 routes) and has averaged 2.24 yards per route (12th). The matchup this week against the Browns is not great, and the Bears are going to lean on the run whenever they can. Still, Burden has a real opportunity to stack routes as long as Odunze is out, and he has consistently earned targets when on the field.
3. Ryan Flournoy, Cowboys — Available in 99.6% of ESPN leagues
It seems like CeeDee Lamb is trending toward playing this week since he has extra time to recover from the concussion he suffered last Thursday, but nothing can be taken for granted with head injuries. Flournoy has proven to be the No. 2 option with Lamb off the field. He had an 89.7% route rate with Lamb out on Thursday night. In the last game Lamb missed, he was at a 73.5% route rate and commanded 6 targets. He had 9 targets the week before that. The matchup is not ideal against the Vikings, but I'll take the No. 2 receiver in this Dallas offense against any team, especially since it seems like Flournoy can play.
4. Andrei Iosivas, Bengals — Available in 93.8% of ESPN leagues
We will assume Tee Higgins misses more time after suffering another concussion, and it is fair to wonder if he gets shut down for the season. Iosivas has worked as the No. 2 receiver when one of the top guys is out. The last time it happened was Week 13 against the same Ravens he will face this week. He had a 95.9% route rate in that game, but he earned only 2 targets. That has been an area of concern throughout his career. Of course, he has usually been on the field with elite target earners during his career, but even with one of Higgins or Ja'Marr Chase off the field, Iosivas has been targeted on just 12.1% of his career routes. That number is 9.2% this year. Iosivas is a tough sell in a must-win environment, but he will be on the field.
5. Pat Bryant, Broncos — Available in 97.4% of ESPN leagues
Bryant is more of a stash for teams on bye or who have an extra bench spot than someone I want to force into lineups this week, but we have to take note of his playing time trend. For the second game in a row, he operated as the No. 2 behind Courtland Sutton, and he has now run a route on 71.4% of the dropbacks over the last two games. He is a rookie who appears to be getting more playing time late in the season. Those are two building blocks of a late-season breakout.
Watch List: Parker Washington looked close to playing last week, but it is fair to question his target share moving forward with Brian Thomas Jr. getting healthy and Jakobi Meyers establishing himself…I am not completely bailing on Devaughn Vele. He tied Chris Olave in targets on Sunday and led the team in receiving. I just don't know how many dropbacks we will see against the Panthers…Amon-Ra St. Brown will be even healthier this week, which means Isaac TeSlaa is back to being an upside stash…We had our yearly quote from Sean Payton about the need to get Marvin Mims more involved (we're all trying to find the guy who did this), but Bryant is the better stash given recent playing time.
Deep Cuts: Unfortunately, Dontayvion Wicks went right back to the bench with Jayden Reed healthy…Chasing the No. 3 option in the Las Vegas passing game probably does not make sense, but Jack Bech did run more routes than Tyler Lockett and led the team with 6 targets…Gabe Davis once again ran the most routes on the team, though it once again got him just 2 targets…Jalen Coker had his best game before the bye and has been a good bet for 4 targets since returning to the lineup…Olamide Zaccheaus was a big beneficiary of Odunze being out, running a route on 79.5% of the dropbacks and catching a touchdown. He was only targeted 3 times, but he should be on the field a lot while Odunze is sidelined.
Tight End Waiver Targets, Week 15
1. Colby Parkinson, Rams — Available in 93.8% of ESPN leagues
Parkinson has caught 4 touchdowns in his last 5 games, but he has not been a serious streaming option because his playing time has still been limited. That changed against the Cardinals, with Parkinson running a route on 71% of the dropbacks. He now has at least 4 targets in three consecutive games. The Lions are dealing with several injuries in their secondary, including a season-ending injury to Brian Branch on Thursday night that will put more pressure on the linebackers in coverage.
2. Isaiah Likely, Ravens — Available in 91.9% of ESPN leagues
Likely has a similar problem as Mike Gesicki, who I get into more in the watch list section. He is simply not on the field for a ton of dropbacks, which means his production is going to be volatile. This week, though, he gets a Bengals defense that has consistently been a streaming target for us. Last week, they allowed 41 yards and a touchdown to Dalton Kincaid and 93 yards to Dawson Knox. The week before that, Likely himself went for 95 yards against Cincinnati.
Watch List: I would bet Mike Gesicki is a popular name on the waiver wire this week, but he really feels like a landmine even if Tee Higgins misses a game. Gesicki is coming off a big game, but he ran a route on just 45.9% of dropbacks while Noah Fant, Drew Sample, and Tanner Hudson all played meaningful snaps. That is basically where he was back in Week 13 when he disappointed with Higgins out. His big game happened because he was targeted on 35.3% of his routes, which is likely unsustainable. The Ravens have also been very good against tight ends lately. They are first in yards per target allowed to the position over the last five games. It could certainly hit because Gesicki can make enough plays on limited opportunities and has a great quarterback, but his usage is a big concern…The Dolphins just are not throwing enough to put our trust into Darren Waller, which is disappointing…The matchup is not great, and the Colts' issues at quarterback could lead to under 20 dropbacks for the Seahawks. Still, the injury to Elijah Arroyo should lead to an even larger share of snaps for A.J. Barner.