Two more weeks. It feels like so much and not enough at the same time. We have hit the semi-finals week of the fantasy playoffs and it appears that hope is still alive if you’re here looking for waiver claims. One of the biggest issues that you’ll run into around this time is that more than half of your league has probably given up and is no longer churning their roster. That means less competition for waivers, but also, fewer players added to the waiver pool. You’re basically looking at the same guys and hoping to find the diamond in the rough. That’s why we’re here too, so let’s dig in and Pick ‘Em Up!
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts (83% Available)
Let me start by saying that I am not worried about Carson Wentz taking this job back this season. Overall, Wentz may be a better QB but Hurts proved in Week 14 he is better for this team right now. Hurts ran for over 100 yards against one of the best defenses in the league. His passing numbers were pedestrian but in fantasy football, that hardly matters. In most leagues, you get 1 fantasy point for every 25 yards passing and every 10 yards rushing. A rushing yard is worth 2.5 passing yards. Rushing QBs have an advantage in fantasy football and Hurts has that advantage. He gives the Eagles the best chance to win — they just beat the #1 team in the NFC — and he gets Arizona and Dallas over his next two games. They both give up top-15 points to QBs.
Philip Rivers (59% Available)
Rivers was my Stream of the Week QB in Week 14 and he delivered. He has hit multiple touchdowns and 20+ fantasy points in each of his last four games. Week 15 brings a rematch with Houston, who he beat for 285 yards and two touchdowns in Week 13. He plays Pittsburgh in Week 16, so this may just be a one-week rental, but you can do much worse in the semi-finals.
Running Backs
Jeff Wilson Jr (81% Available)
Running back waivers are ROUGH right now. Jeff Wilson Jr. may be the only back available with just about guaranteed volume. Wilson and Raheem Mostert both returned in Week 12 and since then, Mostert has received 39 carries while Wilson has gotten 30. They are splitting the work and Wilson has a chance to score a touchdown every week. Wilson has also been targeted in the passing game eight times over the last two weeks. His floor is less than ideal but his ceiling makes him a decent RB2 for those struggling at the position.
Gus Edwards (67% Available)
Edwards is firmly behind JK Dobbins in playing time but way ahead of Mark Ingram and he is a threat to score a TD every single game. On Monday night, he found the endzone twice on just seven carries against Cleveland. The Ravens have one of the best schedules for RBs over the next two weeks, with games against JAX and NYG, and Edwards could be the perfect answer for teams in need of an RB2 in each of the next two weeks.
Salvon Ahmed (83% Available)
Ahmed could end up being a great play in Week 15 if he can get himself healthy. It seems that Myles Gaskin will miss another game on the COVID-IR and neither DeAndre Washington nor Patrick Laird did much in Week 14. Ahmed averaged 14 fantasy points during the two games where he was Miami’s lead back. In Week 15, the Dolphins play New England, who just got torched by Cam Akers and give up about 22 fantasy points-per-game to RBs.
Wide Receivers
Nelson Agholor (64% Available)
Between Agholor and the next guy on this list, I’m starting to wonder if anybody even reads this article. There is no way to make this simpler: AGHOLOR IS THE #1 WR IN LAS VEGAS. He averages almost nine targets-per-game over his last four games and is the WR35 on the season. During those last four games, he is the WR18. You are leaving a fantasy WR3 with legit backend WR1 upside out there for your opponent to sign. Fix this.
Tim Patrick (72% Available)
Much like Agholor, I can’t understand the thinking here. Patrick missed a game with an injury but has scored 10+ fantasy points in eight of his last ten games. One of the games he didn’t hit the mark was that tragedy against New Orleans when the Broncos had no QB. He is the WR36 on the season and the WR28 since Week 9, even with that zero against New Orleans.
Gabriel Davis (93% Available) / John Brown (59% Available)
Davis has looked great since John Brown went to IR but Brown is eligible to return in Week 15. Josh Allen has looked much better in four of his last five games, some with Brown, others with Davis. If they keep throwing as much as they are now, both could succeed, but it will likely be just one. If Brown returns this week, he is likely the better play, but if he stays on IR, Davis is a solid WR3 with good upside in Week 15.
Keke Coutee (55% Available)
Over the next two weeks, the Texans play teams that are very good at stopping WR1s but give up points to WR2s. What I’m saying is Coutee needs Brandin Cooks to return. As we saw against the Bears, Coutee was only targeted three times after seeing nine targets against Indy in Week 13. Week 15 brings a rematch with the Colts but if Cooks is out, Coutee will find the going tough again and there is no guarantee he scores a touchdown to save his day again.
Lynn Bowden Jr (99% Available)
Bowden is the definition of a lottery ticket. The Dolphins are short at RB and WR, especially if DeVante Parker and/or Mike Gesicki are hurt heading into Week 15. Bowden is the last man standing. He was targeted nine times in Week 14 and had his best fantasy day of the season. You’re not starting him in leagues where you need just three WRs, but if you need to start 4/5 WRs, Bowden has enough upside to be a consideration in deep leagues.
Tight Ends
Cole Kmet (94% Available)
Jimmy Graham stole a touchdown in Week 14, but Kmet has been targeted seven times in each of the last two games. He needs to score a touchdown for you to be happy, but what TE doesn’t? The Bears play Minnesota and Jacksonville to end the fantasy season. Both teams give up about 13 fantasy points to TEs. If all those points find their way to the rookie, you’ll be happy to start Kmet.
Dalton Schultz (79% Available)
Schultz’s ceiling is just about as boring as you’ll find in fantasy but his floor is safe. He’s scored at least six fantasy points in each of his last six games but hasn’t put up more than 12 fantasy points since Dak Prescott was hurt. He has San Fran in Week 15, who has given up 10+ to TEs in each of their last two games, and Philly in Week 16, who he beat for 11 points in Week 8.
