There are no more bye weeks, and we are in the fantasy playoffs! Fantasy managers should approach waivers differently now - your first consideration is to win this week, not stash for next week. With no guarantees, target first those players who will help you win now.
Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. Remember that your roster can constantly improve, and even if you don’t need a player, you still want to prevent them from being picked up by another manager.
Good luck out there!
Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers
In most leagues, these guys aren't available. But if you're fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.
RB Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns (73% rostered on Sleeper)
Ford has been having a solid year on his own, but now, with the news of Nick Chubb breaking his foot, we know Ford will be the RB1 in Cleveland for the remainder of the year. It was announced that the Browns would be starting Dorian Thompson-Robinson for this week's game, which means fewer passing attempts and possibly more rushing volume. Ford has two decent matchups with the Bengals and Dolphins, and at this point in the fantasy season, a starting running back on a team is worth alot.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets (41% rostered on Sleeper)
You can respect your elders after Rodgers’ last two weeks. He has been the QB10 and QB4 over the previous two weeks and has thrown a combined four touchdowns. If you snuck into the playoffs or have been streaming quarterbacks for whatever reason, Rodgers deserves a look. The Jets have a decent matchup against the Rams in Week 16.
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (52% rostered on Sleeper)
If you are in a league playing in Week 18, Pittsburgh has a great matchup against the Bengals, who are giving up over three fantasy points over expectation to opposing quarterbacks. Wilson has a challenging game against Baltimore this week, but with the many injuries to starting quarterbacks, he still needs to be on your radar.
Cooper Rush, Dallas Cowboys (12% rostered on Sleeper)
I have mentioned Rush before, and he is startable in a pinch. He threw three touchdowns last week and now gets to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that has given up the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Bo Nix (71%)
Beat the Waiver Wire: Running Backs
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (33% rostered on Sleeper)
I mentioned him previously, but now, with Alvin Kamara dealing with a groin injury, Miller suddenly becomes more valuable in an offense still uncertain about Derek Carr's return. Fantasy managers must ask themselves: What does New Orleans gain by pushing Kamara onto the field when he is not 100%? The team needs to see what they have with Miller, and his snap percentage has been steadily increasing over the last two weeks.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (53% rostered on Sleeper)
Another player to see opportunity due to another player’s injury, Spears could see more time on the field with Tony Pollard dealing with an ankle injury. Not to mention that Will Levis was pulled for Mason Rudolph, so Tennessee could lean more on the run to get them through the end of the season. The matchups for Titans running backs are reasonably good for the final two games of the fantasy season - they have the Colts in Week 16 and the Jaguars in Week 17.
Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions (4% rostered on Sleeper)
David Montgomery injured his right MCL on Sunday, and it was reported on Monday that he will miss the rest of the season. Jahmyr Gibbs will become the RB1, but expect opportunities for Craig Reynolds. The team has used Reynolds before with Montgomery missing - in 2023, Reynolds had his biggest game of the year with Montgomery out, rushing for 74 yards in Week 8. Reynolds now becomes the primary handcuff for Gibbs and is one injury away from being the starting running back for one of the most potent offenses in football.
Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas (27% rostered on Sleeper)
On Monday night, we saw Sincere McCormick go down with an injury and limp off the field. Ameer Abdullah was the primary recipient of the work for Las Vegas’s struggling offense. He didn’t do much on the ground, but as a pass catcher, he was valuable, catching all seven targets for 58 yards and one touchdown. Las Vegas has two great matchups for running backs in the fantasy playoffs with Jacksonville and New Orleans.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Kenneth Gainwell (11%)
Beat the Waiver Wire: Wide Receivers
Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (40% rostered on Sleeper)
Baker Mayfield continues to sling it, throwing four touchdowns on Sunday, one of which to McMillan. McMillan even managed two receiving touchdowns in Week 14. The Bucs have the playoffs on their brains and will be playing hard for the rest of the season. They have a great matchup against Dallas in Week 16.
Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers (11% rostered on Sleeper)
Coker had missed three games due to injury, but in his return last week, he had a beautiful 83-yard touchdown catch. He finished the week as the WR9. he had the second most targets on the team, and Bryce Young is trying hard to get the ball into his hands. Arizona is a rough matchup for Panther wide receivers this week, but they get Tampa Bay in Week 17, who have given up the seventh most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. It also bodes well for Coker that Xavier Legette is beat up and is unlikely to play this week.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Adam Thielen (75%), Cedric Tillman (44%)
Beat the Waiver Wire: Tight Ends
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (89% rostered on Sleeper)
Njoku has been dealing with a hamstring issue and missed Week 15. He tested his hamstring before the game before deciding to rest, so it is feasible that he could return this week against the Bengals. The rest of the season matchup-wise is fantastic for the tight end in Cleveland, with Cincinnati in Week 16 giving up the third most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. They have Miami and Baltimore to close out the year, both plus matchups. He is probably rostered, but worth a look.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Hunter Henry (56%), Jonnu Smith (89%)
Beat the Waiver Wire: Defense/Special Teams
Green Bay Packers (72% rostered on Sleeper)
The Packers host the New Orleans Saints this week and are favored by a whopping 14 points. Without Derek Carr, the Saints are floundering, and whether it is Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener under center, it really doesn’t matter. The Packers' defense will be a great start this week. They play at Minnesota in what could be a big game next week, so you might want to have a pivot option for Championship week.
Indianapolis Colts (30% rostered on Sleeper)
I mentioned the Colts previously, but if you want to roster just one defense, they might be it. With the Titans this week and then the New York Giants in Week 17, the Colts are set up to succeed defensively.
Just a reminder to check your waiver wire for: Denver Broncos (73%)
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