Brandon Allen (QB, DEN) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 2QB Leagues

OWNED IN: 3% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: Brandon Allen had a day to forget this past Sunday against Buffalo. That was against the third-best defense in the league against QBs, though, which keeps the hopes at least a bit alive for the rest of the season. Allen could only complete 10 passes for 82 yards and no scores while throwing an interception. I told you, it was ugly.

On the bright side of things, and why I think Allen is still rosterable in deeper leagues, is the fact that he has one of the softest fantasy playoffs schedules of any quarterback in the league. This week’s game won’t probably be good for him, as the Chargers rank sixth against QBs, but from weeks 14 to 16, Allen will face the 28th-, 22nd-, and 25th-best defenses in points per game allowed to quarterbacks. That is three of the worst eight teams in the NFL at it.

During the other two games, Allen has played in weeks 9 and 11 he was able to complete 19 combined passes for 433 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Those numbers weren’t mindblowing but translated to 19 and 17.8 fantasy points, more than enough for a QB2 in deeper leagues. Keep in mind Denver has two incredibly capable players on offense: TE Noah Fant and WR Courtland Sutton. Both of them are top-20 at their positions and with both RBs Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman their chances of performing are boosted as defenses must play honest to stop the rushing game.

Rostering and playing Allen will always be a risk, as it always is with rookies, but he’s shown enough stuff to keep him in mind if you don’t have more options and are aiming at the playoffs given his soft schedule. Not the best play for Week 13, but definitely someone to keep an eye on for the playoff run in 2QB leagues.