If you’re still reading this, congratulations on making it to the fantasy playoffs! This is when points for and points against goes out the window and it’s just you against your opponent. Here are some targets to help you keep 4Eyes on the Prize.
Heading into the playoffs week 15 brings us a small handful of wide receivers who are immediate starts at your flex position as well as one RB who could be a potential league winner for those of you who have held tightly to your FAB and waiver priorities.
As always I will be focusing on players at less than a 50% rostered rate in consensus numbers in ESPN and Yahoo leagues compiled by Fantasy Pros.
Quarterback Streamers
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins, Consensus Roster Percentage 35.4%, Week 15 Matchup vs Jets
Tua just played the Jets in New York last month and put up 273 for 2 on them. I expect a similar line as well as a similar output of 18+ fantasy points.
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears, Consensus Roster Percentage 17.2%, Week 15 matchup vs Vikings
Justin Fields continues to impress with his last 3 games of playing a full game putting up 26, 19, and 20 fantasy points. With a playoff schedule of Vikings, Seahawks, Giants Justin Fields could carry you all the way through the playoffs if you have been streaming the position all year.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers, Consensus Roster Percentage 21.9%, Week 15 matchup vs Falcons
Jimmy may not be sexy (only from a fantasy football perspective, the man’s nickname ain’t Jimmy Handsome for nothing (*Red-face sweating emoji*) but like Alexander Hamilton and Marquis de Lafayette he gets the job done. He has only scored less than 15 points once in his last 7 games, if I’m entering round 1 of the playoffs and I don’t have an every-week starter, that is the kind of output I’m looking for
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers, Consensus Roster Percentage 46.1%, Week 15 Matchup at Bills
Start at your own risk, but if you told me I could have a team’s goal-line back who also throws the ball 20+ times a game I would have a hard time resisting.
Running Backs
Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks, Consensus Roster Percentage 12.9%
You don’t spend a first-round pick on an RB without the hopes of him being a workhorse back, last week was exactly who the Seahawks envisioned when they drafted him with the 27th overall pick in 2018. His health simply hasn’t allowed for it to happen. If Penny can actually stay on the field and get my the Rams defense with a passable fantasy day he finishes up the years against the Bears and the Lions.
Ty Johnson, New York Jets, Consensus Roster Percentage 26.2%
It’s a war of attrition in New York barring the return of Michael Carter. Johnson is going to be forced to be more heavily involved in the run game as well as continue his huge passing game role in the absence of Corey Davis and Elijah Moore
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots, Consensus Roster Percentage 49.3%
Stevenson has forced himself into a prominent role in the New England running game with his outstanding play. With Harris leaving the game against Buffalo with a hamstring injury twice in week 13, and that same hamstring limiting him in practice Stevenson is bordering on a must-start against a barely hanging on Bills team.
J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team, Consensus Roster Percentage 47.5%
There is a very good chance McKissic misses yet another game due to his concussion, but if he does manage to play this is not a guy you want to miss out on. If active I would expect him to go right back to his 10-15 opportunity a game role with near half of those opportunities coming in the passing game. You can do far worse for an RB2 with all of the injuries and COVID issues this year.
Speculative adds for potential injury
- Devontae Booker
- Ronald Jones II
- Nyheim Hines
- Samajae Perine
Players to drop
- Dontrell Hilliard
Wide Receivers
K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings, Consensus Roster Percentage 32.3%
Osborn did exactly what was expected and played nearly 90% of snaps in the absence of Adam Thielen. Expect the talented young player to play 90% of snaps again and receive near double-digit targets. He should be a top 36 receiver as long as Adam Thielen is not playing.
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens, Consensus Roster Percentage 30.5%
The Ravens’ usage of Bateman continues to be a bit of an enigma unless the flu bug that was going around their locker room was limiting him for a couple of weeks. Bateman jumped back up to 60+% snap share and 8 targets last week against the Browns. I would expect a similar line against the Packers as the first-round pick out of Minnesota is simply too talented to keep on the sideline.
Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons, Consensus Roster Percentage 48.8%
Here is Russell Gage’s total stat line for the last 4 weeks: 33 targets and 26 receptions, for 305 yards and 1 TD. Matt Ryan is playing good football right now and with Pitts and Patterson getting most of the defensive attention, that frees up Gage to be a reliable flex moving forward.
Gabriel Davis, Consensus Roster Percentage 17.1%
Emmanuel Sanders has been very healthy all season up until last week when he left the game with a knee injury and is now considered “week-to-week” which means to me they want him back by the playoffs. Davis saw his highest snap share, 83%, and target total, 8, of the entire season due to the injury to Emmanuel Sanders and should play a very prominent role in the Bills offense for the length of the fantasy playoffs.
Bonus: Braxton Berrios, New York Jets, Consensus Roster Percentage 0.30%
Back to the war of attrition in New York. Berrios and Crowder is really all the Jets have left at WR and Berrios clearly has a connection with Zach Wilson after managing 10 targets on only 41% of snaps. Wilson is looking for Berrios early and often when he is on the field. I would label Berrios as a not so desperate desperation flex.
Players to drop
- Elijah Moore
Tight Ends
Tyler Conklin, Minnesota Vikings, Consensus Roster Percentage 47.1%
If you don’t have one of the top 15 tight ends Conklin is one of the only options you have left. Conklin had a disappointing performance last week against the Steelers in the absence of Adam Thielen and will look to bounce back this week against the Bears.
Players to drop
- Don’t.
Defense/Special Teams
Miami Dolphins, Consensus Roster Percentage 45.6%, Week 15 Matchup vs Jets
The Dolphins defense has been on a fantasy tear over the past 5 weeks totaling 19 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 8 interceptions, and 1 TD. Add onto that the lowly Jets traveling to Miami you have a recipe for fantasy success.
Philadelphia Eagles, Consensus Roster Percentage 24.2%, Week 15 Matchup vs Washington
The Eagles defense has been playing well of late and get the Washington Football Team coming to town with a hobbled Taylor Heinicke under center. You can do far worse for a streaming DST than the Eagles.
That does it for our Waiver Wire Targets for Week 15!
Make sure to check out @4thAndFrames NEXT Wednesday and Thursday evening at 8pm EST where we’ll be answering all of your questions heading into Week 15 of the fantasy football season!
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