Week 15 Waiver Claims

Quarterback #1: Jalen Hurts

Honestly, I feel like I’ve earned a free pass from having to pitch Jalen Hurts anymore this year, I spent so much time & effort on it the last 3 weeks… So I’m just going to quote my pitch from last week & that should tell you everything you need to know about how I feel about him moving forward…

“Jalen Hurts is a Konami-Code. There is no doubt about it. 0%. None. Book shut, case closed. He is. He rushed for over 3,000 yards & 40 TD’s in college, including over 1,200 yards & 20 TD’s in just his senior season at Oklahoma alone. Then he went out & ripped off a 4.59 40 at the combine & at that point, you knew. You knew he was a Konami-Code QB & the only thing keeping you from being 100% sure about it was the fact that you needed to actually see it happen on an NFL field. Well, we have now. Jalen Hurts took Carson Wentz’s job with 7:39 left in the third quarter against GB & in that 7:39 & a quarter, he rushed 5 times for 29 yards. In a quarter & 7:39… 5 times for 29 yards. You do the math… Because my math tells me that over a full game, you’re essentially getting a starting RB’s worth of rushing attempts & production… For the record, it takes 5.5 rushing attempts per-game to qualify as a “Konami-Code” QB, & Hurts hit 5 in a quarter & 7:39. Now throw in some passing stats on top… which Hurts had no issue compiling against GB, with 109 yards & a passing TD… in a quarter & 7:39… Do the math again, what’s that equate to over 4 full quarters? This is it, my friends. This is what you’ve been waiting for. For that next Kyler/Lamar/Cam/Taysom/Tebow-type Konami-Code who runs the ball so gosh-dang much that they produce as if a RB & QB had been morphed in a laboratory into one. This isn’t superstition, either. Every single Konami-Code QB but one is top-12 in PPG this year, and the one who isn’t is Cam Newton, who sits at 14th. That includes Taysom Hill, whose 22.1 PPG in his 3 starts would rank 7th on the year among QB’s, despite the fact that Hill averaged just 181 passing yards per-game over those 3 starts & threw a total of 2 passing TD’s. Jalen Hurts threw for 109 yards & a TD in a quarter & 7:39… being thrown-in, mid-game. Now, Hurts gets a full week to prepare as the starter. You don’t have to wait until Weeks 15 & 16 against Arizona & Dallas either, you can play him this week against New Orleans as well. Trust in the Konami-Code & I have faith that you shall be rewarded.”

Quarterback #2: Nick Mullens

Nick Mullens has had some difficult fantasy matchups in the past six games since he’s taken over as the starter, but in the two games with plus-matchups (against Seattle & Buffalo), Mullens put up 17+ fantasy points both times, throwing for 5 combined TD’s. This week, he gets the plus-matchup of plus-matchups against the Dallas Cowboys.

Running Back #1: Jeff Wilson Jr.

In a perfect world, I’d have a piece of whichever offense was facing Dallas in my starting lineup every single week. But I know we’re not living in a perfect world, based on the fact that some of us won playoff matchups with guys like James Conner, Ty Johnson, or Adrian Peterson in our starting lineups. If you’re one of those people, you have to at least consider picking up a guy like Jeff Wilson, as he plays for a run-dominant team led by a play-calling genius, has seen 9+ touches in all 3 games since returning from injury (& relegated Jerick McKinnon to 3 snaps), scored a rushing TD this past week against a rugged Washington defense, and has a tasty matchup this week again the Dallas Cowboys swiss-cheese of a defense.

Running Back #2: Tony Pollard

Out of all the “just-in-case” handcuffs, Tony Pollard is by far my favorite, even in this shitey dumbed-down version of the Dallas offense, yet he is rostered in a lower percentage of leagues than Alexander Mattison, Malcolm Brown, Benny Snell, & Mark Ingram. Please help me change that.

Wide Receiver #1: Gabriel Davis

Gabe (let’s call him Gabe why not) Davis has a TD in 3 straight games & in 4 of the last 5. Most importantly, the Buffalo passing offense is absolutely humming right now. Josh Allen allowed five (!!) different receiving options to hit 10+ PPR points two weeks ago & even allowed 4 different receiving-options to hit 7.4+ PPR points this past week against a tougher Steelers defense.

Wide Receiver #2: Lynn Bowden Jr.

I had to sneak Bowden on here because he’s got the sneaky ol’ dual-eligibility. He might not be a great WR start, but with the amount of usage he’s seen as a receiver the past two weeks (4/41 & 7/82) coupled with his RB-eligibility, he’s bordering along the lines of J.D. McKissic territory.

Tight End #1: Irv Smith Jr.

As long as Kyle Rudolph remains out, Irv Smith Jr. is a borderline must-start, which includes this week against a Chicago defense that has allowed the 4th most fantasy points to TE’s. Here’s to hoping Kyle Rudolph is given the adequate time he needs to heal up & is given that extra full week of rest…

Tight End #2: Cole Kmet

Rookie TE’s are a fickle beast, but a lot of teams out there simply can’t turn their nose up at TE’s who see 7 targets 2 weeks in a row, have red-zone/TD potential, and matchups with MIN (16th most fantasy points allowed to TE’s) & JAX (6th most) to close out the fantasy season.