Pigskin Papers Waiver Wire - Week 15
See a Penny, Pick it Up…
(Posted December 13, 2021)
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Welcome to Week 15, and for conventional season-long fantasy leagues, to the fantasy football playoffs. If you’re here looking for waiver wire help, then you’re probably still playing for something - so congratulations! Good job. Or maybe you’re trying to avoid a last place penalty where you have to do something like eating 24 waffles in 24 hours. Either way, happy to have you aboard.
For the first time in a long time, all 32 NFL teams are in action this week - the Byes are over. But injuries and COVID continue to wreak havoc, so the waiver wire is still very relevant. This week, I want to talk a little more about strategy (a favorite topic here at the Pigskin Papers) and a little less about specific names, because the approach and mindset around free agents changes once the playoffs start. Here are 3 things to bear in mind:
1. Don’t stare at the Horizon. You’re no longer looking for a combination of short- and long-term help for your roster - focus only on specific players that can bolster your chances of winning for this week and possibly 2 more weeks, max. That means that focusing on matchups this week (and potentially, the next 2 weeks if you need true replacements for lost players) takes on added importance when assessing free agents. I’ll try to highlight that.
2. Cut the Fat. It’s time to get rid of fringe players you aren’t going to need, or who aren’t likely to get back on the field in the next 2-3 weeks - there are a variety of things you might be looking for as replacements, but one good use of those roster spots is to grab any handcuff or backup RBs that could be a measure of protection for one of your starting RBs - or even for someone else’s. If someone like Mark Ingram, Benny Snell or Marlon Mack is available, and you can make the space, grab him.
3. Stream! If you don’t have a clear top starter at either PK or DST, streaming to take advantage of specific matchups can be the difference between advancing or going home (I know you’re already home - it’s a saying). Avoid getting too cute, but if you can get a decent DST that’s going up against the Jaguars, Texans, Lions or Jets (and maybe some other teams), you should be interested. As for PKs, not only matchups but the weather can be a big factor in December, so watch for that also if you’re thinking of streaming. Dome games at this time of year are always a plus.
QB: If you’re stuck, need a potential injury replacement for Lamar or someone else, or are in a 2-QB league, you might need QB help this week.
Don’t Sleep on Jimmy G
I’m assuming Taysom Hill isn’t available in most leagues - if he is for some reason, grab him.
For this week, Tua is a decent option as Miami has the Jets at home (they’ve allowed the 9th most fantasy points to QBs).
Another streamer I like is Jimmy G, at home against the Falcons (who’ve allowed the 2nd most fantasy points to QBs). Not only that but both Tua (@Saints, @Titans) and Jimmy G (@Titans, vs. Texans) have favorable schedules in weeks 16 and 17 as well.
Finally, Justin Fields is a thrill ride - good and bad. But he gets rushing yards and the Bears are finally opening things up for him. And the fantasy playoff schedule is a pretty good one - vs. Min, @Sea, vs. NYG.
RB:
Rashaad Penny is your priority pickup for this week. Yes, it was against the Texans, but he went off, easily led the backfield in touches, and is finally healthy. No, I’m not particularly worried about AP or Alex Collins. Seattle’s next 3: @Rams, then home for the Bears and Lions. Overall it’s a pretty good playoff schedule.
Rhamondre Stevenson shouldn’t be on many, or any, waiver wires, but if Damien Harris can’t go on Saturday then Stevenson would be in line for a lot of early-down work - the matchup at Indianapolis isn’t great but starting RBs are hard to find.
Speaking of which, Jeff Wilson, Jr. is another name to consider. Elijah Mitchell missed Week 14 with 2 separate ailments, so there’s no assurance that he’ll be back this week. Wilson hasn’t done a lot with his 2 starts when Mitchell’s been out, but he’s getting volume, and against the Falcons this week, he’d be a decent Flex/low-end RB2 option.
The rest of the RB names I’ve got are mostly just depth and help, but also players that could see an expanded role depending on how things break: Ameer Abdullah and Carlos Hyde are worth considering, as are Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley (in that order) pending news on Austin Ekeler’s injury. All 3 of the Dolphins top RBs are in the COVID protocol, but as of this writing it’s not clear who could be lining up at RB for Miami if none of those 3 is available by Sunday. The opponent is the Jets, so it’s the matchup you want. Options include Malcolm Brown (eligible to return from IR), Duke Johnson (practice squad), Gerrid Doaks (practice squad), and anyone the team signs.
WR:
K.J. Can help You
We’ve got a few decent leftovers from recent weeks, if they’re still available: Russell Gage, Devante Parker, K.J. Osborn, Jamison Crowder, Allen Lazard, Rashod Bateman, Josh Reynolds, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, as well as Jaylen Guyton, especially if Keenan Allen isn’t able to clear the COVID protocol and return this week.
And a few new names to think about: Gabriel Davis has come on in recent weeks, just saw a season-high in targets with 8, and with Emmanuel Sanders getting hurt, is worth consideration. Nico Collins is probably a desperation play, but he did have 10 targets on Sunday and turned them into 5 catches for 69 yards. The Texans figure to allow Davis Mills to turn it loose over the final few weeks so Collins could see decent target volume as the Texans’ #2.
TE: Gerald Everett is getting consistent goal line looks and given the overall weakness at the position, he’s worth a look. Austin Hooper is only worth considering if neither of the Browns’ other 2 tight ends can get off the COVID list this week. The rest of the free agents at this position are all low-confidence dart throws, where you’d mostly just be hoping for a TD: Cole Kmet, Ricky Seals-Jones, Tyler Conklin and Josiah Deguara.
Good luck this week - make sure to check out my Rides and Fades column on Thursday.
DH
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