Week 15 Waiver Wire: Pickups for the Fantasy Playoffs

These free-agent pickups can help you advance to the fantasy football semi-finals.

If you’re reading this- congratulations! You made it to the fantasy playoffs!

You’re a savvy player, and no doubt you worked the waiver wire on your way to your postseason berth. Over the next few weeks, you should spend the rest of your FAAB, you can’t take it with you. I’m not including recommendations for how much to spend today. Every week is a must-win now, so bid accordingly.

It’s possible you could be without Justin Herbert (finger) and CJ Stroud (concussion) this week, but we have some options that could work out for you. After all, last week’s top passers at the position included Bailey Zappe, Jake Browning, Desmond Ridder, and Mitch Trubisky.

Isn’t this a fun game we play?

In addition, keep your eyes peeled for injury reports on Josh Jacobs, Justin Jefferson, Alexander Mattison, Brian Robinson, Jr., and Nico Collins. Grab some insurance for those players who likely helped you get to the fantasy playoffs.

Let’s win some championships.

Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford has a bevy of weapons on offense and looks to keep his hot streak going in Week 15.

Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

I listed Stafford as a quarterback I like for the fantasy playoffs, so hopefully you already have him stashed. The veteran signal-caller has now put up three consecutive games of 23 or more fantasy points and finished in the Top Ten each of those weeks- and Sunday, he did it vs. a very tough Ravens defense. Cooper Kupp looked like himself on Sunday, and Puka Nacua has a chance to break Justin Jefferson’s rookie receiving record. Throw in the return of Kyren Williams, and the arrow continues to point up for Stafford, who gets the Washington Commanders this week. No team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks than Washington this season.

Jake Browning, Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals

After a dominant overall QB4 performance in PrimeTime Week 13, Jake Browning looked amazing again vs. Indianapolis with three total touchdowns (one rushing) and 275 passing yards. Browning has elite weapons, and he seems calm under pressure. He has not given us any reason to doubt, and the matchup is favorable vs. Minnesota this weekend. Despite last week’s low-scoring affair, the Vikings have allowed an average of nearly 20 points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Ty Chandler, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings

Alexander Mattison left early in the third quarter on Sunday with an ankle injury. That leaves Ty Chandler as the next man up. He should get the volume, and the matchup with Cincinnati this week is good. The Bengals have allowed five rushing touchdowns across just the last four games played, along with an average of 110 rushing yards per game.

Odell Beckham, Jr, Wide Receiver, Baltimore Ravens

Odell Beckham Jr. looks to keep the momentum going in Week 15 after a dominant Week 14 outing.

Jessica Rapfogel/USA TODAY Sports

If OBJ is available, go get him! He put up another great line on Sunday with four catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, tying Zay Flowers for the team lead with ten targets. Beckham can fill the void of the veteran presence in the absence of Mark Andrews; we know he has been elite throughout his career, and his playoff schedule is very favorable. 

Zamir White, Running Back, Las Vegas Raiders

Josh Jacobs was seen limping off the field Sunday in one of the most anemic football matchups I’ve ever seen. Reports are that he hyper-extended his knee, and on a short week, fantasy managers should pick up his handcuff, Zamir White. The matchup is good vs. the Chargers, who have allowed an average of 116 rushing yards per game to opposing running backs across the last four contests.

Isaiah Likely, Tight End, Baltimore Ravens

Likely has taken over the Mark Andrews role in Baltimore, playing 75% of the snaps, and he has favorable matchups for the fantasy playoffs. He had five catches for 81 yards and a score last Sunday vs. the Rams in a favorable matchup.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon, Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs

Both running backs are worth a roster spot as long as Isiah Pacheco is out. Edwards-Helaire handled the early down snaps on Sunday, but McKinnon had the more helpful fantasy day, scoring a touchdown. McKinnon will be in the game more on passing plays, and depending on the game script, either back could be useful.

Joe Flacco, Quarterback, Cleveland Browns

After tossing three touchdowns in Week 14, it appears Joe Flacco has found the fountain of youth in Cleveland.

Scott Galvin/USA TODAY Sports

If you want to win your league with a guy “straight off the couch,” 38-year-old Joe Flacco can help you earn those bragging rights. Flacco made this list last week and rewarded those who took the risk with a three-touchdown, 311-yard performance vs. the Jaguars. Flacco has been the most impressive passer for the Browns this year, who will be sticking with the veteran this weekend vs. Chicago.

Chase Brown, Running Back, Cincinnati Bengals

I started Brown this week in a league where I lost Jonathan Taylor, and he was a difference-maker. Brown and Mixon have been instrumental in Jake Browning’s two successful starts, and he should be rostered in all leagues. Not only is he the handcuff for Mixon, who has been an absolute beast lately, but he also has some standalone value. Brown has fresh legs that could help you down the stretch, and he’s a good receiver, too.

D’Onta Foreman, Running Back, Chicago Bears

This was the first game all season where all three starters were active for the Bears, and Foreman was the clear lead in the committee. It’s a tough matchup with Cleveland this week, but Foreman should not remain on the wire.

Keaton Mitchell, Running Back, Baltimore Ravens

Mitchell still looks like the best back in Baltimore, though it remains a three-person committee.

Antonio Gibson, Running Back, Washington Commanders

Brian Robinson, Jr. left the game on Sunday before the bye with an ankle injury, and Gibson took over lead duties. Gibson is only a start in PPR leagues.

Zay Jones, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars

With no Christian Kirk, Jones led all Jacksonville receivers with 14 targets. Though Evan Engram had the much bigger day, and Parker Washington had the only touchdown among the wide receiver group, I’m still interested in Jones, who has shown a previous connection with Lawrence when healthy. This was a tough matchup vs. the Browns, and the Ravens aren’t a lot easier, but we did see three Rams receivers log double-digit fantasy points vs. Baltimore last Sunday. Week 16’s matchup is a dream for Jones as the Jaguars face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

KJ Osborne, Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson left the game on Sunday and went immediately to the hospital with a potential rib and organ injury. Though he was released, we should expect him to miss some more time. Osborne should be in line for more work, though there are still questions about who will be throwing him the ball.

Quentin Johnston, Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers rookie led his team in yards in Week 14.

Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

The Chargers will likely be without Justin Herbert this week- and possibly for the rest of the season- so perhaps there is no reason to rush back Joshua Palmer. If Palmer remains out, the Chargers should continue to try to see what they have in the rookie receiver who led the Chargers with 91 receiving yards on Sunday.

Michael Wilson, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals

Wilson has missed multiple weeks with a shoulder injury but has been productive when healthy. Hollywood Brown suffered a heel injury before the bye, and Wilson could take over top duties on the outside for the Cardinals this Sunday vs. San Francisco- who has been surprisingly generous to wideouts across their last seven games, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the position.

Hunter Henry, Tight End, New England Patriots

Henry has played the eighth-most snaps at the position this season, and he’s run more routes than George Kittle, Dalton Schultz, and Cole Kmet. Bailey Zappe found him twice in the end zone on Thursday night, bringing his touchdown total to five for the season. Henry is a nice bet at the position with limited pass-catching options in New England. The Patriots play the Broncos in Week 16, and no team has allowed more points to the position than Denver.

Gerald Everett, Tight End, Los Angeles Chargers

Everett was targeted eight times in Sunday’s matchup with Denver, and he will see them again in Week 17 of the fantasy playoffs.

Other Players To Pickup

QB: Derek Carr, Zach Wilson

RB: TyJae Spears, Rico Dowdle

WR: Noah Brown, Curtis Samuel, Romeo Doubs, Jonathan Mingo, Rasheed Shahid

TE: Michael Mayer, Chigoziem Okonkwo 

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