If you’re reading this, then, odds are, you’re competing in your league’s fantasy football playoffs. First of all, congratulations! There is still a ways to go on this road starting with Week 15. You will want to start your studs, but if you need a fill-in or want to keep your roster strong over the next few weeks, then make sure your waiver wire claims are in order.
Each player’s value is different. Some are one-week plug-and-play guys for Week 15 while others are pieces to add for a playoff run. Below, we’ll look at players at each position, who are on 50% or less of most fantasy football rosters, that could be considered on the Week 15 waiver wire. I’m happy to discuss players further, especially as it applies to your league’s specifics, on Twitter @Colin_McT! Your decisions on the Week 15 waiver wire could make or break your chances at a title.
Week 15 Waiver Wire By Position
Running Back
Zonovan Knight, New York Jets
Zonovan Knight isn’t on enough fantasy football rosters. If you’re competing in Week 15 in the opening round of the fantasy football playoffs, Knight is a top add off of the waiver wire. Even if you do not need to plug him into your lineup, don’t let anyone else in your league add him. He’s averaging just under 19 opportunities per game in the last three weeks. As a result, Knight has scored an average of 15.26 points in that same span. He is the clear-cut lead back on the Jets with a fantasy-friendly schedule.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Even with D’Onta Foreman logging an average 0f 23 touches per game in his last two, Hubbard has exactly 17 each in those games, as well. In Week 14, he totaled 99 yards and found the end zone in a surprising win over the Seattle Seahawks. The Panthers will return home in Week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’ve allowed nearly one touchdown per game to the running back position. Hubbard remains behind Foreman in snap count but is still seeing enough volume as of late to warrant adding on the Week 15 waiver wire at the very least.
Other Running Backs to Consider:
Gus Edwards is a must-add if he’s still available on your league’s waiver wire. Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley are both likely to miss Week 15 with injuries. I’m expecting the Ravens to continue leaning on the run, specifically in their backfield. Edwards and J.K. Dobbins should both see 13 or more carries each as they did in Week 14, if not more. Their opponent, the Cleveland Browns, are allowing the third-most points to the position. That’s in part to allowing the seventh-most rushing yards and second-most rushing touchdowns.
Travis Homer is likely to lead the Seattle Seahawks backfield in touches, despite what anyone says, even NFL insider, Adam Schefter. Homer absolutely dominated the snaps in Week 14 playing 49 to Tony Jones Jr.’s five. Though it didn’t result in a ton of fantasy production, the usage is encouraging, especially as a Week 15 waiver wire add. The Seahawks are playing on a short week with a home bout against the San Francisco 49ers. Homer should remain the top option in their backfield with upside as a pass catcher. I doubt Kenneth Walker or Deejay Dallas will be back for this one.
Tyler Allgeier has played the most snaps out of the Atlanta Falcons in eight in 10 applicable games since Week 4. To start Week 15, the Falcons released Damien Williams, too. One can assume Allgeier will remain a key piece to the Falcons backfield. With Desmond Ridder set to make his first NFL start, I have no interest in starting Allgeier in fantasy until we see this offense with Ridder under center. There is a chance he sees more opportunities, on top of his already high snap count, which makes him a deeper league waiver wire add.
Pierre Strong has the edge over Kevin Harris in the New England Patriots backfield if Rhamondre Stevenson’s injury from Week 14 Monday Night Football holds him out of Week 15. On just five carries, Strong rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown adding an additional 20 yards on two catches. Harris found the end zone himself on five carries but was not targeted. There’s a chance, too, that Damien Harris is able to return in Week 15, but he has a hard time staying healthy. If you need running back depth in deeper leagues or want insurance for Rhamondre Stevenson, then I’m suggesting Strong on the Week 15 waiver wire. The Las Vegas Raiders allow the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs.
Any and All Handcuffs are going to be important to roster during the back half of the fantasy football season. Injuries to lead running backs can strike at any time. Make sure you’re cuffing your own starters, but don’t be afraid to add others on the Week 14 waiver wire.
Wide Receiver
Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
This isn’t Jones’ first time on the waiver wire column, but hopefully, it’s his last. Hopefully, he is added by a suitable amount of managers who see his worth. Jones is keeping pace with teammate, Christian Kirk, in the Jaguars’ passing game. He has just eight fewer targets than Kirk in one less game played, but one more reception for 291 fewer yards and five fewer touchdowns. He is a must-add off of the Week 15 waiver wire as well as a volume-based play in fantasy lineups.
Chris Moore, Houston Texans
On the season, Chris Moore is second in snaps played amongst all Texans wide receivers. That’s just 49 behind Brandin Cooks and one behind Phillip Dorsett for the lead in Week 15. Still, Moore’s 11 targets were easily a team-high in Week 15 with approximately 45% of the target share. Moore and the Texans have arguably the best schedule for wide receivers. Their next three opponents, the Chiefs, the Titans, and the Jaguars are all top-three is most touchdowns allowed to wide receivers, in that order. I want to see one more game out of Moore, but think he is worth adding on the Week 15 waiver wire.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider:
D.J. Chark is a less than obvious asset to the Detroit Lions offense. He’s averaging six targets in his last three games with a touchdown in two of them. Meanwhile, his teammate, Jameson Williams is a complete boom-or-bust add off of the Week 15 waiver wire. Even after catching his first touchdown in Week 14, he has just three targets in his last two games. The volume isn’t sustainable. If I’m choosing between the two for 2022 redraft leagues, it’s Chark fairly easily.
Demarcus Robinson is operating as the top receiver on the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, though, it’s unbeknownst to fantasy football managers who will be throwing him the ball in Week 15. It’s tough to imagine Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley playing this week. That said, trusting Robinson, or anyone outside of Mark Andrews will be tough. I think Robinson is worth the add off of the Week 15 waiver wire in the event Jackson or Huntley returns in Week 16. He is averaging nearly seven targets per game in his last four.
Elijah Moore is the next slot receiver to face off against the Detroit Lions defense. In the last four games, Detroit has given up roughly six receptions for 85 yards to slot receivers on average. Corey Davis is probably going to miss Week 15 following his Week 14 concussion. This should help Moore build upon his nine targets from Sunday. He could be a late-season hero for fantasy football.
Tight End
Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
Dulcich has the best matchup for a tight end in Week 15. He gets a home matchup with the Arizona Cardinals who are allowing the most fantasy points to the position. Dulcich has exactly eight targets in each of his last two games. Additionally, he has at least 42 receiving yards in each game. Assuming Russell Wilson will miss Week 15, look for backup quarterback, Brett Rypien, to keep Dulcich involved. Furthermore, if Courtland Sutton is unable to go again, with a hamstring injury, Dulcich’s 25% target share in Weeks 13 and 14 is enough of a reason to add him off of the waiver and plug him into your lineup.
Chigoziem Okonkwo,Tennessee Titans
Okonkwo’s last three weeks make him a top waiver wire add ahead of Week 15 for playoff teams who are streaming the tight end position. In his last three games, Okonkwo is averaging over five targets and nearly 50 receiving yards per game. His 17% target share makes him trustworthy enough from a volume standpoint, as well. Okonkwo continues to be a big playmaker for the Titans’ offense. He has four receptions of 32 or more yards in his last three games, three of which that are over 40 yards. Okonkwo is a ceiling play with fairly decent matchups in weeks 15 and 16 against the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
Evan Engram is an obvious waiver wire add for Week 15 after scoring 39.2 points in Week 14. That score is just barely two more points than his previous five weeks combined. In fact, his Week 14 score accounts for 31% of his 2022 total. Engram is a boom-or-bust tight end option competing with plenty of others on the Jaguars’ offense for targets. His Week 15 opponent, the Dallas Cowboys, are allowing the least amount of points per game to the position. Only add Engram if you’re desperate.
Hayden Hurst‘s health is a big question mark heading into Week 15. He, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd are all worth monitoring this week during Bengals’ practices to determine their availability. If Hurst is able to play, I think he’s a worthwhile add off of the waiver wire. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are allowing the fourth-most points to tight ends. If one or both of Higgins or Boyd are unable to go, and Hurst plays, he should see a good amount of looks in the passing game in a plus matchup.
Quarterback
Mike White, New York Jets
If Mike White is able to play in Week 15, he is a top streaming option at the quarterback position. The Detroit Lions are allowing the most points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Additionally, as the fifth-highest scoring offense in the league, opposing teams remain competitive week-to-week against the Lions, lending to fantasy-friendly game scripts. Even with multiple exits during a Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills, White managed to throw for 268 yards. He’s averaging 317 passing yards per game in his last three. Keep an eye on his status, but if he plays, he is worth picking up off of the waiver wire and plugging into lineups for the QB-needy teams.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
For the second time in three weeks, Daniel Jones will face off against the Washington Commanders. In his last matchup with Washington, Jones scored 17.1 fantasy points. That’s with a fumble loss, too. The Commanders have allowed 20 passing touchdowns, tied for the sixth-most in the league.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Odds are, if you’re in the fantasy football playoffs, you are set at the quarterback position. If, though, you’re without Lamar Jackson, or, as of last night, Kyler Murray, then Brock Purdy is worth investing in for a title run. He’s averaging 18.5 points in his last two games, the second of which he made his first start scoring a career-high 21.7 points. Purdy is surrounded by plenty of playmakers. Even with Deebo Samuel expected to miss time, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle are enough to help Purdy rack up fantasy points. His fantasy playoff schedule gets easier week-to-week (Seahawks, Commanders, Raiders) in regards to points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, too. Purdy should remain a fantasy stud for the remainder of the season.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider
Jared Goff is the centerpiece of the Detroit Lions offense that is averaging the fifth-most points per game this season in the NFL. After back-to-back weeks with more than 21.0 fantasy points, Goff’s value will be put to the test in Week 15. The New York Jets defense are a tough pass defense. They’ve allowed just 12 passing touchdowns, but have 12 interceptions this year, as well. Additionally, 22 of Goff’s 24 passing touchdowns have been thrown at home. The odds of keeping his hot streak alive in fantasy football is slimmer than we’d like as the playoffs begin.