Fantasy Football ‘24: Waiver Wire, Week 15 (playoffs) edition

Wading into the free agent pool for roster help

Welcome to the Fantasy Playoffs, and the Fantasy Football Waiver Wire for Week 15. If you’re reading this, you probably made the playoffs. Congrats! Now let’s win it all.

I’m going to go with a slightly different approach for this column over the next three weeks. The NFL Byes are over, so we don’t have to deal with that. If you made the playoffs, it’s safe to assume your roster is pretty strong and your goal now is simply to advance. Stashing players is less of a concern or priority at this point, other than for playing keep-away (see below). That said, if you’ve been streaming at PK and/or D/ST (or even QB or TE), I advise looking ahead to Weeks 16 and 17 and getting what you want in advance. My focus throughout the fantasy playoffs is mainly going to be on players who can help you right away (or who have enough value to hold).

One thing to remember at this time of year is that playing the Waiver Wire during the playoffs isn’t just about improving your own team. It’s also about keeping your opponent’s filthy paws off of players who could help him/her against you this week or in the next two weeks. Think about that (and check FAAB budgets, if applicable) as you size up your options.

Note that I’m writing this column BEFORE the Week 14 Monday night game (CIN@DAL).

Some players discussed won’t be available in your league. I try to list players who are available in more than 50% of leagues. But what does that even mean? A 10-team league with six bench spots will have a much larger Free Agent pool than a 14-team league with eight. Most leagues fall somewhere in between. This isn’t “one size fits all.” By way of example, I won’t list Bo Nix, Drake Maye, Zach Charbonnet, Braelon Allen, or Gus Edwards, among others who probably aren’t available in any of your leagues. All are priority pickups if available.

WEEK 15 BYES: NONE

Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images

Week 15 Waiver Wire

Quarterback: There isn’t a lot to offer this week, beyond Maye (@ARI) and Nix (vs. IND), who are great choices if they’re available.

The 3-10 Jets have been officially (and mercifully) eliminated. It’s over for them, and I wonder if Aaron Rodgers, the enigma himself, is suddenly going to have some sort of mysterious injury that pushes him to the sidelines. We’ll see. Assuming he’s still starting, he should make for a decent play this week (@JAC), and especially coming off his first 300-yard passing day since (checks notes) December, 2021.

If you’re desperate in a Superflex, you can also consider Aidan O’Connell (vs. ATL, which just gave up five passing TDs to Sam Darnold) or Bryce Young (vs. DAL). Jameis Winston has a tough matchup this week (vs. KC), but an easier one in Week 16 (@CIN), if you’re looking ahead. And if you want to get cute and stash Michael Penix, Jr., go for it. Kirk Cousins has a 0-8 TD/INT ratio over the last four games, all losses. The Falcons face the Raiders, Giants, and Commanders the next three weeks. Great, right? But I wouldn’t trust Cousins right now if he remains the starter.

Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

Running Back:

Sincere McCormick. He got scooped up in a lot of leagues last week, but if he’s available in yours he’s definitely worth adding. He handled every running back touch for the Raiders on Sunday until the final drive, and has looked pretty good in limited action the last three weeks. Even if/when Alexander Mattison and/or Zamir White return, I think it makes sense for the Raiders to continue to give him a longer look.

Patrick Taylor. Isaac Guerendo was the flavor of the week last week, and like the 49er he is, he promptly got hurt and forced out of action (but not until he scored two TDs and had more than 125 yards from scrimmage in the blowout win over Chicago). The 49ers play on Thursday, meaning there’s a decent chance Guerendo (foot) won’t suit up. Taylor is technically the fifth-stringer (yes, you read that right), but he’s the next man up and if we’ve learned anything in the Kyle Shanahan era, it’s that any running back getting meaningful run in this offense must not only be rostered, but started if you can find room. Taylor came into Sunday’s game late and scored a rushing TD (of course he did).

Tank Bigsby. He got the lion’s share of the carries against the Titans in Week 14, while Travis Etienne got most of the receiving work. While he didn’t do a ton with it, he did find the end zone. We’ll see if the Jets keep playing hard this week. Bigsby is worth a roster spot for sure.

Isaiah Davis. He got about 50% of the work, with Breece Hall out. If Hall misses this week’s game (@JAC), Davis would warrant Flex consideration in a plus-matchup, if you’re stuck, so he’s worth an add.

Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez. Austin Ekeler is on IR, so both of these players should be rostered through the playoffs.

Others: Here is my updated weekly list of RBs to grab if you need depth with upside (and I like them more or less in this order): Tyler Allgeier, Jaleel McLaughlin, Ray Davis, Jr., Blake Corum, Kendre Miller, Tyjae Spears, Jaylen Wright, and Trey Benson. I think Bucky Irving will be back this week, but you can also think about Sean Tucker.

Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images

Wide Receiver:

Adam Thielen. His line over the last three weeks is 20-258-1. We saw this kind of production from him early last season, but now Bryce Young is playing a lot better. The team is often trailing, which helps. Xavier Legette (who dropped a potential game-winning TD on Sunday) is worth considering too, if you can’t get Thielen.

Quentin Johnston. It sounds like Ladd McConkey was close to playing on Sunday night, and Johnston (who caught five passes and scored) has been maddeningly inconsistent this season. Still, the Chargers have a very nice matchup this week (vs. TB). Even if McConkey plays, Johnston isn’t a bad dart throw as your WR3 or Flex.

Tim Patrick. There are so many weapons in the Lions’ offense, so he’s a tough lineup plug-in if you’re in need at WR. But he did score twice this week and I’d rather have him on my roster than my opponent’s. Detroit faces Buffalo at home this week, which has major shootout potential.

Others to consider: Brandin Cooks, Demario Douglas, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman, Devaughn Vele, Noah Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, and Ray Ray McCloud.

Tight End:

Hunter Henry. He’s a borderline Top-10 tight end for the season. If he got dropped in your league, he’s worth consideration.

Grant Calcaterra. He scored his first TD of the season on Sunday and should continue to see increased opportunities with Dallas Goedert on IR for the duration of the fantasy playoffs.

Zach Ertz. He’s a borderline TE1 for the season, and has had fairly steady production. You could do worse.

Others: Noah Gray and Juwan Johnson. I’d feel a lot better about Johnson if Derek Carr didn’t get hurt again.

PK and D/ST Streamers, Week 15 (ranked outside the Top-12 for the season):

PK: W. Lutz (vs. IND), J. Myers (vs. GB), N. Folk (vs. CIN), E. Pineiro (vs. DAL).

D/ST: BAL (@NYG), WAS (@NOS), NYJ (@JAC).

That’s all I’ve got. Good luck with your waiver claims, and in Round 1 of your fantasy playoffs!

***This column appears each Monday right here at Big Blue View. Each Thursday, my weekly fantasy preview with my rides, fades and sleepers (start/sit) appears here, and on Fridays you can find my weekly Giants Props of the week, also right here. ***