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For those who survived the first round of the playoffs, congratulations! Those who enjoyed a bye, hopefully you spent it wisely as advised. Now it is time to turn the page to Week 15 and another must-win situation. A reminder that a mention in this column isn't a recommendation to add if possible, it's simply a comprehensive list of all realistic options in priority order.
Working the waiver wire is more important this season than ever before. The players suggested here should be your top priorities for early-week waiver claims but we will also list others as possible stash options. As always, check our NFL news feed for the latest injury updates. This column will also be updated through mid-week.
Players listed include only those rostered in approximately 50% or fewer Yahoo leagues. For a deeper look at each position, check out our separate weekly waiver wire columns at QB, RB, WR, and TE.
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Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Lynn Bowden Jr., Miami Dolphins - 4% rostered
The rare player that qualifies at multiple positions, at least in Yahoo leagues, Bowden is a slot receiver that you can plug in at running back. This makes him a high-end RB3 already but especially given the Dolphins' injury situation. Bowden caught seven of nine targets for 82 yards in Week 14 and has seen his role in the Miami offense grow immensely over the last couple of weeks. The connection with Tua Tagovailoa is very encouraging and places Bowden among the top overall waiver-wire options this week.
Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers - 11% rostered
If there's any team that insists on feeding multiple backs, it's San Fran. Wilson has carved out a prominent role, however, and he is the player who gets the red-zone work. It led to a touchdown in Week 14, his sixth in nine games this year. He isn't used in the passing game, so the floor is dangerously low in PPR leagues if he doesn't reach the end zone. He's got a good shot against Dallas, though. If Raheem Mostert is still less than 100% with his ankle sprain then we could keep seeing Wilson get the ball.
DeAndre Washington, Miami Dolphins - 25% rostered
The Dolphins keep playing running back roulette because they can't keep one healthy for very long. Myles Gaskin was a late addition to the COVID list and ruled out for Week 14 while Matt Breida remains out and Salvon Ahmed is not recovered from a shoulder injury. He only managed 35 rushing yards and another 17 through the air despite an abundance of opportunity. The running game was facing negative game script throughout the second half, so he's excused to some extent. There's a good chance Washington is still the lead back in Week 15, this time with a better matchup against the Patriots' mediocre run defense. With nary a receiver to throw to, it's possible the Fins lean on him more. Of course, if Myles Gaskin is ready to return then Washington is not worth rostering.
Ito Smith, Atlanta Falcons - 4% rostered
It's interesting that Smith saw more touches than Todd Gurley in Week 14, even though Gurley was declared good to go and was supposed to see a bigger role. Either his knee is bothering him or he is wearing down through the second half of a losing season. Either way, Smith out-touched Gurley 12-8 on the day and was more effective on the ground. It's speculation at this point, but if Gurley is held out next week or beyond, Smith has value as the lead back. The downside is a tough matchup with Tampa Bay in Week 15, limiting his value to deep leagues.
Trayveon Williams, Cincinnati Bengals - 1% rostered
Giovani Bernard fumbled at the beginning of the Dallas game and was scarcely seen after that point. It might be long overdue that the team tries out its younger options at the position anyway since Bernard has done very little since the bye week after two solid games in Week 7-8. After the turnover, Bernard was barely seen again, getting work in one series early in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Trayveon Williams came in to lead the backfield with 12 carries for 49 yards while catching three balls for 19 yards. It's still a committee with Samaje Perine also cutting into the touches and the matchup with Pittsburgh makes all of them non-options for Week 15. The play here is for Week 16 when they face the Texans' porous run defense in the event that the team decides to give Williams extended work.
Buddy Howell, Houston Texans - 0% rostered
Week 14 and it was finally Buddy Howell time. You know, Buddy Howell! With David Johnson on IR, the Texans tried out the undrafted free agent out of FAU as lead back. He delivered 42 yards on 11 carries in a game where Houston was behind the scoreboard all day long and couldn't commit to the run. He possesses 4.6 speed, an unremarkable athletic profile, and didn't have a prolific college career. There's little to be interested in but if the team commits to him as the lead runner again, he may have very deep league value out of sheer volume. The ailing Texans will run into the buzzsaw that is the Colts, who have won four of the last five games so the matchup isn't favorable either.
Frank Gore, New York Jets - 28% rostered
The Inconvenient Truth is still here and ever-present. A concussion last week and a fumble this week couldn't keep Gore off the field, as he led the team with __ carries and __ rushing yards. As we feared, Ty Johnson's 100-yard game meant absolutely nothing to Adam Gase. Gore is and always will be. You shouldn't start him against the Rams unless you really have no better options though.
Others to consider: Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos (44% rostered); Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (32% rostered); Carlos Hyde, Seattle Seahawks (27% rostered); Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys (21% rostered); Peyton Barber, Washington Football Team (9% rostered)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Keke Coutee, Houston Texans - 45% rostered
There's no good reason for Coutee to be available in your league unless it's an eight-teamer. He didn't go nuts in Week 14, catching just three passes for 24 yards, but he did reach the end zone. Coutee is going to be a viable WR3 going forward.
Nelson Agholor, Las Vegas Raiders - 35% rostered
Another big game for Agholor, who cashed in on his second 100-yard game of the year and scored his seventh touchdown. The Raiders lost for the third time in four games, mainly due to their horrendous defense of late. This led to the firing of coordinator Paul Guenther immediately after the game. As is often the case, a bad defense leads to more opportunities for the passing offense to succeed, even if it is in garbage time. It could be a high-scoring affair in a matchup of two struggling defenses next week when the new L.A. team (Chargers) meets the old one on Thursday night. Agholor isn't guaranteed to pull off a big play but he's seen 35 targets over the past four games with an average of five receptions per game, so the floor isn't too low either.
Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons - 11% rostered
The best play Gage made in Week 14 wasn't a catch but a 39-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley. Gage also happened to catch five passes for 82 yards, making for a nice fantasy day of 20 points in typical PPR formats. With Julio Jones out, Ridley is the clear target hog but Gage comes in at No. 2. Conventional wisdom is that the Falcons should shut down Julio Jones for the remainder of the season, but it's not guaranteed to happen. If it does, Gage has WR3 ROS upside.
Kendrick Bourne, San Francisco 49ers - 3% rostered
Another Deebo Samuel injury (hamstring) forced him to leave in the first half of Sunday's contest with Washington. It's very possible he misses the game in Week 15, possibly more. Bourne then becomes the WR2 in San Francisco again in a smash spot against the Cowboys. Bourne has had his moments, notably Week 8 where he posted an eight-catch, 81-yard line.
Keelan Cole Sr., Jacksonville Jaguars - 24% rostered
The move back to Gardner Minshew, which we can only assume will continue for the remainder of the season, will benefit Cole and relegates Collin Johnson back to a non-factor. Cole had already been much better with Minshew at QB over the first 12 games of the season and his six-catch, 67-yard performance in Week 14 reinforces that.
Cole's 12 targets led the way with Laviska Shenault coming in second with 11. The volume of passes thrown in Week 14 won't keep up since they are unlikely to face such a huge deficit again. Although we are talking about a team in play for the top pick in the NFL Draft, so who knows.
James Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers - 5% rostered
Diontae Johnson keeps dropping passes, so he's been dropped from the receiver rotation, at least temporarily. It's unclear whether he'll be reinserted as a starter for Week 15 but James Washington could see an increased role as he did on Sunday night. He's scored in consecutive games and has big-play ability, making him a streamer to consider in a choice matchup with Cincinnati.
Chad Hansen, Houston Texans - 5% rostered
Is the former Jets draft pick who was out of the NFL the last couple of years now the WR1 in Houston? He well outperformed Keke Coutee in Week 14 with seven catches for 56 yards, compared to three catches for 24 yards for Coutee. He was the leading target for the team, catching all seven balls thrown his way. It was a rough day for the offense in general as the Bears were fired up but he will face an Indianapolis team that he put up his career-best 101 yards on just two weeks ago.
Mack Hollins, Miami Dolphins - 0% rostered
The Dolphins didn't just lose to Kansas City (as expected), they also lost receivers DeVante Parker and Jakeem Grant, not to mention tight end Mike Gesicki, to injury. Hollins played a big role in the comeback effort against Kansas City, catching five passes for 66 yards and tying for the team-high with nine targets. It's hard to envision Hollins in a starting fantasy lineup opposite the Patriots secondary in Week 15 but a Week 16 matchup with the Raiders would be palatable if Parker is out for multiple games.
K.J. Hamler, Denver Broncos - 3% rostered
While Tim Patrick is still the lead receiver in this offense, he may not be available in 14+ team leagues. Hamler had mostly disappeared from the offense before his two-touchdown performance in Week 14. The Broncos are likely to be in pass-first mode when they take on Buffalo next week, so Hamler is a boom-bust play worth considering.
Tyron Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers - 0% rostered
Aside from the touchdown he scored versus Atlanta, Johnson should receive interest in fantasy because Mike Williams exited early with a back injury and will be questionable heading to Week 15. Johnson finished with six receptions and 55 yards, his fifth game over 50 yards on the season. Even as the WR2 for the Bolts, he'll be a clear fourth at best in target share behind Keenan Allen, Hunter Henry, and Austin Ekeler but this is an offense that is third in passing attempts per game, so there is enough action to keep him relevant.
Others to consider: Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers (38% rostered); Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos (28% rostered); Laviska Shenault Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (16% rostered); Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills (7% rostered)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings - 6% rostered
With Kyle Rudolph out and Smith finally healthy enough to play, he showed some of the receiving potential that made him a second-round pick last year. Smith led the Vikings with 63 receiving yards on four receptions with a touchdown to boot, outproducing Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen on the day. It won't be a regular occurrence but Smith has the ability to be a productive receiver when targeted.
Jordan Reed, San Francisco 49ers - 24% rostered
It was another low output for Reed in Week 14 with 13 yards on two receptions. I guess we should let this whole "revenge game" narrative die at some point... While it's hard to trust Reed, he still possesses upside based on the upcoming matchup with Dallas and the fact that Deebo Samuel could be out.
Dan Arnold, Arizona Cardinals - 1% rostered
Make it back-to-back games with a score for the converted receiver turned tight end. In fact, Arnold now has four touchdowns over the last four games. You won't get a consistent target volume out of a TE in the Air Raid but Arnold isn't a typical tight end. Finding someone with high touchdown upside is as much as you can ask for out of a streamer at this position.
Adam Shaheen, Miami Dolphins - 0% rostered
If Mike Gesicki's arm injury keeps him out of action for Week 15, Shaheen becomes the starting tight end and one of the top end-zone targets for Miami. He's been involved throughout the year, scoring three touchdowns on the season and almost coming away with another this past week. Durham Smythe will share snaps with him but Shaheen is the more natural receiver of the two and should be the preferred option.
Others to consider: Trey Burton, Indianapolis Colts (36% rostered); Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (6% rostered)
Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders - 47% rostered
Carr has fully shaken off his terrible game in Atlanta with a 381-yard, three-TD game and a 316-yard, two-TD game since. The first came against the Jets but this latest one was against a stout Colts Defense. He's back on track as a solid streamer and should be a high-end QB2 against the Chargers.
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles - 17% rostered
It's safe to say the move to Hurts as starting QB worked out pretty well and was long overdue. Hurts showed maturity and moxie in an upset victory over a Saints team that came in with a 10-2 record and the fourth-ranked team defense in the NFL. He moved the ball consistently all day, especially on the ground. While he only threw for 167 yards and one touchdown, he ran for 106. His rushing ability will keep the floor high in a road contest with Arizona. He still carries risk in single-QB leagues but the upside is tangible.
Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers - 32% rostered
It's hardly to know what to expect from Bridgewater when we aren't sure whether Christian McCaffrey or D.J. Moore will be available next week. The optimistic approach would be to assume that Bridgewater will have all his weapons and will be throwing the ball plenty to keep pace with Aaron Rodgers and company. The worst-case scenario would be that C-Mac takes advantage of the Packers' weak run defense and the offense plays more conservatively as a whole. He can be viewed as a solid QB2 but isn't near the top of the streaming conversation in single-QB leagues.
Mitch Trubisky, Chicago Bears - 10% rostered
It's unlikely that the Trubsiky haters will back off but the stats show a QB who has improved greatly since his early-season benching. He took advantage of a Houston Texans Defense that was without top CB Bradley Roby and threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns. The yardage was a repeat of the previous week's output and seems to be what he'll deliver even in smash spots. It's also the second time in three games that he's tossed three TD passes. The matchup is still good next week when they travel to Minnesota, so Trubisky can faithfully be deployed in Superflex formats.
Others to consider: Drew Lock, Denver Broncos (11% rostered); Nick Mullens, San Francisco 49ers (5% rostered)
Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options
Miami Dolphins Defense - 62% rostered
There's a small chance the Fins DST is available in competitive leagues but it appears they were dropped heavily in advance of a matchup with the Chiefs. They still forced four turnovers, picking off Pat Mahomes three times and sacking him three times. With the way Cam Newton has played lately, this could be the top-scoring defense of Week 15 and is a must-start unit.
Cleveland Browns Defense - 49% rostered
This defense was looking formidable in the middle portion of the season but injuries to players like Denzel Ward have softened things up in the secondary. Fortunately, they'll face the Giants in Week 15 and should have little problem getting a hold of the fifth most-sacked QB in the league.
New England Patriots Defense - 48% rostered
The offense is at best inconsistent but the defense has largely been reliable. They're usually good for an INT per game and are allowing an average of 21 points per game, which ranks in the top-10. What this unit hasn't done is force turnovers in bunches or get to the quarterback at a high rate. In formats where sacks are prioritized, there are better options like Philadelphia or Washington. They are facing a rookie QB in Tua Tagovailoa, but he's been great at limiting turnovers with just one interception and one fumble in six NFL starts. They shouldn't give up many points but also shouldn't be in store for a huge game based on turnovers.
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