Waiver Wire Targets: Week 15
The difference in your week one game may have been changed based on one injury or one player putting up a dud. In order to prevent that from happening next week and each week following, here are a couple guys at each position who are owned in 50% of leagues or less according to NFL.com:
Quarterback:
Dak Prescott, Cowboys – Owned in 43.4% of leagues
Dak Prescott has continued to play well since the Cowboys have acquired Amari Cooper. While he is not the most consistent fantasy QB, he is passing a lot more than he has in the first half of the season. Last week against the Eagles, Dak was the third best fantasy QB and the only QB to throw for over 400 yards. With the Colts and Bucs his next two games, he should be a great pickup for anyone who has QB issues.
Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins – Owned in 1.1% of leagues
Tannehill has been criticized often throughout his career for being no more than an average player. After missing five games earlier this year, Tannehill has the Dolphins playing at a high level. He has thrown for eight TDs over the past three weeks. Although he was a little shaken up at the end of the game, he is expected to continue to play next week. With the Dolphins still in the playoff hunt, expect Tannehill to step up and play at a higher level than we have seen throughout his career.
Nick Mullens, 49ers – Owned in 2.9% of leagues
Nick Mullens has been a pleasant surprise for the 49ers this season. After injuries to Jimmy G and C.J. Beathard, many thought the 49ers’ season would be lost. In the past two weeks Mullens has thrown for 746 yards and four TDs. With young playmakers starting to make a real impact like Kittle and Pettis, Mullens should be able to continue to play well.
Running Back:
Justin Jackson, Chargers – Owned in 43% of leagues
Justin Jackson should be a top priority pickup for anyone who is still alive in the fantasy playoffs. With Gordon and Ekeler both missing practice this week, Justin Jackson may be given a huge role this week against a weak Chiefs’ defense. The Chargers have been firing on all cylinders this season and Jackson has played a crucial role when they needed him to. Expect that to continue this week.
Kenneth Dixon, Ravens – Owned in 2.3% of leagues
Kenneth Dixon has always had the potential to be a good RB. Over his first couple seasons, injuries, suspensions and competition with other Ravens’ RBs has really limited his ability to stay on the field. John Harbaugh has already stated that they would like to get Dixon more opportunities given his success these past two weeks. After carrying eight times for 59 yards last week, he could become a serious threat to take some of the workload from Gus Edwards these last couple weeks.
Frank Gore, Dolphins – Owned in 24.2% of leagues
Frank Gore has been a consistently productive NFL RB for as long as some fantasy players can remember. Although he does not have an extremely high ceiling, he has proven he is as reliable as they come and the Dolphins have shown they are willing to give Gore enough opportunities for him to still have fantasy value. Gore is a great pickup for anyone who needs a high floor RB.
Elijah McGuire, Jets – Owned in 0.7% of leagues
McGuire has been a great asset for the Jets since Powell landed on IR. With Crowell looking like he is seriously injured, McGuire will be the next man up. Once Crowell left the game, McGuire took over getting 20 touches and over 80 yards of total offense in addition to a rushing touchdown. Expect more of this assuming Crowell cannot go this weekend.
Darren Sproles, Eagles – Owned in 2.5% of leagues
As someone who has dealt with the Eagles’ RBs in the past, let me be the first to tell you how annoying it is to have another Eagles’ RB when Sproles is healthy. Sproles is the best receiving RB the Eagles have and they use him often as they try to create opportunities to get him in space. His best years may be behind him, but with the injury to Corey Clement, Sproles will most likely be asked to stay on the field even more than he already was.
Wide Receiver:
Tim Patrick, Broncos – Owned in 0.0% of leagues
Tim Patrick showed he has what it takes to step up for the Broncos this past week. He led all Broncos WRs with seven catches on 10 targets for 85 yards. Patrick has excellent athleticism and he already developed a great rapport with QB Case Keenum. With the Broncos losing Sanders for the season, they needed one of their young receivers to step up. Patrick looks to be the most likely receiver to live up to the bill.
Dante Pettis, 49ers – Owned in 28.9% of leagues
Dante Pettis has been a huge asset to fantasy owners late in the season. He has been the 4th highest scoring fantasy WR over the past three weeks. With him and Nick Mullens clearly on the same page, Pettis will continue to start and be a top target in that offense even with Goodwin returning to the lineup. Pettis is a great pickup for anyone who skirted by the first round with subpar WR play.
Curtis Samuel, Panthers – Owned in 15.2% of leagues
Curtis Samuel had a rough start to the season, but he has come on strong recently. With double digit performances three out of the past six games and at least eight points in each of the last four weeks, Samuel is one of the more consistent producers in the Panthers’ offense. Expect him to continue to function as one of Cam Newton’s top targets for the rest of the season.
Trent Sherfield, Cardinals – Owned in 0.0% of leagues
Trent Sherfield started the season buried on the Cardinals’ depth chart. As an undrafted rookie, he had a long way to get to being a fantasy relevant player. With Kirk heading to IR, Sherfield became the WR 2 in the offense and he took advantage of his new opportunities. He finished this week with five catches for 77 yards. Expect Sherfield to hold onto that role throughout the rest of the year and he is a name to keep an eye on for anyone in dynasty leagues.
Robert Foster, Bills – Owned in 0.7% of leagues
Foster has been a clutch receiver for the Bills gaining over 90 receiving yards in three of the past four games. Allen looks towards Foster often and with Benjamin gone, Foster has a very realistic shot to take over as the WR1 for the Bills. Expect his role to continue to grow throughout the rest of the season. Since the Bills are typically playing from a deficit or a close game, expect him to remain a key aspect in the passing game.
Tight End:
Ian Thomas, Panthers – Owned in 9.1% of leagues
Thomas was mostly disappointing in his stint as a starter when Greg Olsen missed time early in the year. After Olsen went down a second time, Thomas has stepped up and he is turning into a more reliable target for Newton. If Thomas can continue to improve and hopefully begin to find the endzone, there is a lot of room for growth.
Evan Engram, Giants – Owned in 24.4% of leagues
Evan Engram has had a largely disappointing sophomore season struggling with injuries and poor QB play. With his injuries seeming to be in the past, Engram was able to lead the Giants in receiving yards this past week when OBJ sat out. If Odell is forced to miss any time during the rest of the season with the Giants officially eliminated, Engram would be a primary benefactor.
Vernon Davis, Redskins – Owned in 1.8% of leagues
Despite being the TE 2 on the Redskins these past couple seasons, the inability of starter Jordan Reed to stay healthy has provided Davis an opportunity to return to a regular role within the offense. Josh Johnson serving as the QB will limit his potential a little bit, but it also could help Davis’ chances with Johnson possibly relying on Davis as a safety valve.
Defenses:
This section of the article is based primarily on streaming defense options for each week. It will sight defenses that have good matchups and are owned in less than 15% of leagues according to NFL.com:
Detroit Lions – Owned in 8.2% of leagues
The Lions have not been the most prolific fantasy defense this season, but they are able to step up and shut down poor offenses like they did against the Cardinals in week 13. With the Bills coming up this week, the Lions’ defense is a must start. Josh Allen has shown potential this season, but he still makes mistakes that are expected from young QBs. Lions should definitely take advantage of this opportunity.
New York Giants – Owned in 12.7% of leagues
The Giants’ defense stepped up big time last week against the Redskins and backup QB Josh Johnson. They were the 3rd best defense in fantasy in week 13 and a matchup with the Titans should give them a good shot at continuing that success. The Titans have allowed the 10th most points scored to opposing fantasy defenses throughout the year.