Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
The Jets haven’t been winning, but Rodgers has been steady
behind center. In Week 14 he went 339-1-0 in a tight loss to the
Dolphins, and he threw 2 TDs in each of the prior two games (both
losses). Up next is a great matchup against a Jaguars team that
has been getting torched through the air, allowing the most points
to opposing QBs.
Ridder came in for an injured Aidan O’Connell, and completed
66% of his passes for 101 yards. This week he’ll get a Falcons
team that has given up the 4th-most points to QBs and just got
lit up by Sam Darnold for 5 passing TDs.
Winston will sling it around, throwing for 709-6-5 in the last
two games against two of the better pass defenses in the league
(Steelers and Broncos). He gets an easier task against the AFC-leading
Chiefs, who are great against the run but have been susceptible
to the pass. Look for Winston to air it out again as the Chiefs
should dominate from the start.
Russell Wilson, PIT vs CLE: Wilson had a steady performance in
a win over the Browns, going 158-2-0 through the air and adding
6-17-0. Up next is a tough challenge against their in-state rival
Eagles.
Aidan O’Connell,
LV @ TB: O’Connell got the start against the Bucs and it didn’t
go as planned, throwing an interception before being carted off
with a leg injury. It’s likely he’ll be out several games.
Will Levis, TEN vs JAX: Levis couldn’t unlock a dreadful
Jaguars defense, throwing for only 168-0-0 and rushing only once
for 3 yards. He seemed to aggravate his shoulder injury that had
him out for several games earlier in the season. Up next he gets
another plum matchup against the Bengals, if he’s healthy
enough to play.
Taylor came in for an injured Isaac Guerendo (foot), and rushed
for 7-25-1 while missing his only target. Playing on a short week,
it looks like Guerendo may miss this game, which would allow Taylor
to go up against a Rams defense that hasn’t given up many touchdowns,
but has given up the 8th-most rushing yards and 10th-most receiving
yards to RBs.
McCormick took over the backfield from Ameer Abdullah, out-touching
him 17-2 in a win over the Bucs. He went 15-78-0 rushing and even
saw more targets than Abdullah, going 3-2-11-0 through the air.
Up next he’ll get a much tougher test versus the Falcons, but
if he sees double-digit touches again, he should be serviceable.
Ford led the Browns RBs in touches in a loss to the Steelers,
rushing for 10-28-0 and catching 3 of 4 targets for 19 yards.
He appears to be the preferred back when the Browns are playing
catch-up, and that should continue this week against the Chiefs
who have the best rush defense but has been more forgiving through
the air.
Allen and Davis played since Breece Hall was out with a knee
injury and it’s unclear if Hall will be good to go this week.
Allen had 15 touches for 81 yards and Davis saw 16 opportunities
for 67 yards and a touchdown. If Hall sits again, both backs could
be useful against a Jags defense that has given up the 2nd-most
fantasy points to RBs.
Isaac Guerendo,
SF vs CHI: The rookie Guerendo rushed for 15-78-2 and caught both
targets for 50 yards before spraining his foot, so he might be
out this week. He’d get a good matchup against the Rams if he
can suit up.
Kimani Vidal,
LAC @ KC: Vidal was the clear RB2 behind Gus Edwards, going 8-34-0
on the ground and missing his only target. Up next will be a much
easier assignment against the Bucs at home.
Thielen caught 9 of 11 targets for 102 yards in a tight game
against the Eagles. Up next he gets a favorable matchup against
the Cowboys. Thielen has commanded 25 targets in his three games
since returning from injury, so he should be called upon again
this week.
Johnston and Palmer took more snaps with Ladd McConkey out with
a shoulder injury, seeing 7-5-48-1 and 9-6-78-0, respectively.
They could be called upon again to deliver against a Bucs defense
that has allowed the 8th-most points and 3rd-most receptions to
WRs.
Tillman has been out the last two weeks in the concussion protocol,
but he was seeing a healthy target share with Jameis Winston at
the helm, outscoring Jerry Jeudy as the WR16 from Weeks 7-12.
If he returns as expected, he’ll face a Chiefs defense that is
better against the run than the pass, and with Winston averaging
315 yards and 43 attempts in his six starts, the volume should
be there for Tillman to succeed.
Coleman sat out Week 14 with a wrist injury as the Bills lost
a shootout with the Rams. He should be back to take on the Lions
though, who have given up the 2nd-most receptions and yards to
WRs in the NFL.
Update: With Will Dissly
injuring his shoulder at the end of the first half, Stone Smartt
went on to record 3-3-54-0 after the break in a loss to the Chiefs.
It appears Dissly is looking at a multi-game injury, so Smartt
could be a decent fill-in. Up next will be a tantalizing matchup
against a Bucs team that has given up the 2nd-most yards and 6th-most
points to opposing TEs.
Ertz was on bye this week, but he’s scored in his last three
games and has 29 targets over his last four games. He should be
called upon again this week versus the Saints, who haven’t given
up many TDs but just gave up 5-45-0 to Daniel Bellinger.
Henry was also on bye this week, but he’s shown himself to be
a reliable target for Drake Maye, as he leads the team in targets,
yards, and receptions. He gets a tough matchup against the Cardinals
this week, but if the TE11 on the year was dropped in your league,
he should finish the year strong.
Parker
Washington, JAX @ TEN: Washington fell back down to earth
with Mac Jones behind center, going 2-2-15-0 in a win over the
Titans. He may lose more snaps with the Jaguars adding Josh Reynolds
late last week. This week is a tough matchup versus the Jets.
Romeo Doubs / Christian Watson, GB @ DET: Doubs was out again
against the Lions, as he couldn’t clear concussion protocol
on a short week. That left Watson as the clear WR1, and he delivered
a nice 7-4-114-0 stat line in a close loss to the Lions. Up next
he’ll face another playoff team, but the Seahawks are a
neutral matchup for WRs.
Update:Brandin
Cooks, DAL vs CIN: Cooks saved his fantasy day by spiking
a 3-yard touchdown on his lone reception in a loss to the Bengals
on Monday Night Football. He gets a tougher matchup against the
Panthers this week, but it’s tough to trust anyone other
than CeeDee Lamb with Cooper Rush at the helm.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, TEN vs JAX: Westbrook-Ikhine amazingly
failed to record a touchdown this week, as he’d scored in
7 of his last 8 games. With Will Levis clearly ailing from a sore
shoulder (that he re-injured at the end of the first half) and
spreading the ball around to 9 different pass catchers, NWI was
left with 2-1-19-0 receiving. He should bounce back against a
porous Bengals secondary this week.
Elijah Moore, CLE @ PIT: Moore got the start again with Cedric
Tillman out, and went 4-3-34-0 against a tough Steelers defense.
This week he should be called upon more against a Chiefs defense
that has been forgiving through the air.
Pat Freiermuth, PIT vs CLE: Freiermuth saved his fantasy day
by securing another touchdown and catching all 3 targets for 48
yards in a win over the Browns. Up next is a tougher task against
the Eagles.
Juwan Johnson, NO @ NYG: Johnson delivered a nice 5-4-50-1 receiving
line with Taysom Hill going on IR. Up next he gets another tough
matchup against the Commanders, but with Spencer Rattler likely
taking over for Derek Carr (broken hand), he could find his opportunities
limited.
Defense/ Special Teams
Commanders @ NO
The Commanders were on bye in Week 14, but up next they get a
Saints team that should be without Derek Carr and starting Spencer
Rattler. In their last game, they grabbed 2 turnovers and 2 sacks
in a rout of the Titans.
Cardinals vs NE
The Cardinals came up small against their division rivals, losing
to the Seahawks at home without getting a sack or turnover. Things
should be different against a visiting Patriots team that has
given up the 6th-most points to opposing defenses.
Bengals @ TEN
Update: The Bengals had a
solid day in a win over the Cowboys on Monday Night Football,
getting 3 sacks and 2 turnovers. Two weeks ago, they also had
a defensive TD against the Steelers. That could be on the table
again against a Titans team that has given up the most fantasy
points to defenses this year.
Other DST to consider: Falcons @ LV
Last week’s waiver adds:
Buccaneers vs LV: The Bucs got 2 turnovers and
2 sacks and held the Raiders to 13 points in a solid home win.
Up next is a much tougher assignment against a solid Chargers
team.
Jaguars vs TEN: The Jaguars only managed 2 sacks
but still held the Titans to 6 points in a road win over their
division rivals. They’ll face the Jets on the road in Week
15.
Saints vs NYG: The Saints held the Giants to
11 points, getting 2 sacks and a turnover (plus a blocked field
goal) in a much-needed road win. They’ll be at home against
a tough Commanders team this week.
