Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 14
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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.
Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.
Quarterbacks
Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images Sport / GettyCam Newton, Panthers| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. ATL | 29% | $1 |
Newton followed up his impressive start against Washington in Week 11 with an equally disastrous performance versus the Dolphins a week later.
The Panthers decided to fire offensive coordinator Joe Brady over the bye week and will now look to get back on track in a favorable matchup with the Falcons.
Atlanta is fielding a bottom-five unit, according to Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA, and had given up the third-most passing touchdowns in the NFL through 12 weeks.
Newton has historically been a streaky player and should have no problem getting hot against the Falcons. The high-end QB2 has a QB1 ceiling this week.
Streaming options: Taysom Hill at NYJ (34% rostered), Taylor Heinicke vs. DAL (39% rostered), Teddy Bridgewater vs. DET (23% rostered)
Streaming options (if healthy): Justin Fields at GB (19% rostered)
Risky streaming options: Jimmy Garoppolo at CIN (32% rostered), Baker Mayfield vs. BAL (29% rostered), Ben Roethlisberger at MIN (21% rostered), Trevor Lawrence at TEN (29% rostered)
Bye-week stashes: Tua Tagovailoa (41% rostered), Gardner Minshew (5% rostered)
Running backs
Billie Weiss / Getty Images Sport / GettyD'Onta Foreman/Dontrell Hilliard, Titans| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. JAX | 40%/40% | $14/$14 |
The Titans are coming off the bye, which means fresh legs for their running backs. The only question is how the team will distribute the touches after the time off.
Foreman and Hilliard produced impressive results in their last outing - a loss to the Patriots in Week 13. The bigger-bodied Foreman compiled 112 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches, while the smaller, quicker Hilliard turned in 133 yards from scrimmage, thanks in part to a long touchdown.
Both players were on the field for around 50% of Tennessee's snaps, and each fumbled once.
Pass-catching specialist Jeremy McNichols will likely return this week, but based on what we've seen, it's clear Foreman and Hilliard deserve another shot as the featured tandem.
The Titans are 9.5-point favorites against the Jaguars this week and should produce a positive game script, making both Foreman and Hilliard intriguing RB3s with RB2 upside.
Tevin Coleman, Jets| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. NO | 41% | $7 |
Rookie Michael Carter will likely return from injured reserve before the end of the season, so there's a time limit on Coleman's fantasy value.
Even so, the veteran has established himself as the lead back in Carter's absence, averaging 16 touches and 74 yards from scrimmage per game over the last two outings.
The ceiling is low for Jets RBs, but Coleman will be a decent RB3/flex option until Carter gets back in the lineup.
Ameer Abdullah, Panthers| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. ATL | 4% | $5 |
Abdullah is making a repeat appearance since Carolina was on a bye last week.
As expected, most fantasy managers ran out and picked up Chuba Hubbard as the replacement for Christian McCaffrey, who is out for the year after suffering another ankle injury.
While Hubbard stepped into a dominant role during McCaffrey's last injury stint, Abdullah recently saw more snaps as the complementary option.
That split will likely lead to a committee with both backs sharing time in a rushing attack capped by Newton's goal-line prowess.
Both should be solid RB3/flex options in this week's matchup versus Atlanta, but be wary of playing Hubbard in the fantasy playoffs, with the Panthers going up against three tough run defenses in the Bills, Bucs, and Saints.
Thanks to his pass-catching role, Abdullah may end up being Carolina's more valuable running back for the rest of the campaign.
High-upside backups like Ronald Jones (24% rostered) and Khalil Herbert (14% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.
Samaje Perine (23% rostered), Justin Jackson (1% rostered), Jeff Wilson (25% rostered), and JaMycal Hasty (0% rostered) should be stashed until we know more about the injuries their starters suffered in Week 13.
Risky flex options: Adrian Peterson at HOU (15% rostered), Rex Burkhead vs. SEA (23% rostered), Carlos Hyde at TEN (12% rostered), Latavius Murray at CLE (33% rostered), Mike Davis at CAR (47% rostered), David Johnson vs. SEA (43% rostered)
Dart-throw flex options: Jeremy McNichols vs. JAX (11% rostered), Ty Montgomery at NYJ (0% rostered), Travis Homer at HOU (0% rostered), Godwin Igwebuike at DEN (0% rostered), Jermar Jefferson at DEN (3% rostered)
Other backups to roster: Devontae Booker at LAC (28% rostered), Zack Moss at TB (46% rostered), Peyton Barber at KC (0% rostered), Jaret Patterson vs. DAL (1% rostered), Rashaad Penny at HOU (6% rostered), Mike Boone vs. DET (0% rostered)
Bye-week stashes: Boston Scott (41% rostered), Jordan Howard (11% rostered)
Wide receivers
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRussell Gage, Falcons| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at CAR | 34% | $14 |
Gage is coming off an 11-catch, 130-yard performance against the Buccaneers - the latest in a string of quality showings from the 25-year-old.
The wideout's also put up stat lines of 4-67-1, 7-64-0, 5-49-0, and 6-62-1 over the last seven games, but those were mixed with a couple of completely scoreless outings - a harsh reminder of Gage's fantasy floor.
If you can stomach the wide range of outcomes each week, Gage is a startable WR3/flex for the remainder of the season - assuming Calvin Ridley doesn't return to the team.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. CHI | 19% | $14 |
Valdes-Scantling had accumulated 19 targets over his previous two contests before the Packers' Week 13 bye, delivering 173 yards and a touchdown in those games.
Now, he appears poised to finish the campaign strong as Green Bay's No. 2 pass-catcher behind Davante Adams.
The schedule works in his favor, featuring matchups with the Bears, who are one of the 10 easiest opponents for fantasy receivers, the Ravens, who are prone to giving up big plays and just lost corner Marlon Humphrey, and the Vikings, who he just torched for 123 yards and a score.
Treat MVS as a WR3/flex who has a week-winning ceiling when he can connect on a deep ball from Aaron Rodgers.
K.J. Osborn, Vikings| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. PIT | 4% | $9 |
After popping up for a couple big performances early in the season, Osborn had taken a backseat in Minnesota's offense over the last month or so.
That was until Adam Thielen suffered a high ankle sprain that should sideline him for Thursday's game against the Steelers and maybe longer.
Now the Vikings will ask Osborn to temporarily replace Thielen as Kirk Cousins' No. 2 receiver - which should come with increased targets - making him a WR4/flex option in fantasy.
Flex options: Amon-Ra St. Brown at DEN (6% rostered), Josh Reynolds at DEN (4% rostered), Laviska Shenault at TEN (38% rostered), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine vs. JAX (13% rostered), Tre'Quan Smith at NYJ (5% rostered)
Risky flex options: A.J. Green vs. LAR (44% rostered), Rondale Moore vs. LAR (23% rostered), Tim Patrick vs. DET (25% rostered), Robby Anderson vs. ATL (37% rostered), Jamison Crowder vs. NO (21% rostered), Marquez Callaway at NYJ (27% rostered), DeSean Jackson at KC (12% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. BAL (9% rostered)
Risky flex options (if healthy): Kadarius Toney at LAC (37% rostered), Sterling Shepard at LAC (27% rostered)
Dart-throw flex options: Laquon Treadwell at TEN (0% rostered), Byron Pringle vs. LV (2% rostered), Curtis Samuel vs. DAL (14% rostered), DeAndre Carter vs. DAL (4% rostered), Breshad Perriman vs BUF (1% rostered), Olamide Zaccheaus at CAR (1% rostered), Dee Eskridge at HOU (0% rostered)
Bye-week stashes: Kendrick Bourne (41% rostered), Quez Watkins (1% rostered)
Other receivers to stash: Jalen Guyton vs. NYG (0% rostered), Josh Palmer vs. NYG (0% rostered)
Tight ends
Bryan Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyRicky Seals-Jones, Washington| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. DAL | 5% | $9 |
Logan Thomas may have avoided a torn ACL, but he'll likely still miss time. Seals-Jones did an admirable job filling in for Thomas earlier this year before suffering a hip injury that kept him out of the last three games.
If RSJ can return this week, he'll immediately be in consideration as a back-end TE1 for fantasy.
Seals-Jones already has weekly finishes as the TE14, TE6, and TE10 from Week 5 to Week 7.
If he's unable to go, then rookie John Bates (0% rostered) could be picked up and started as a streaming option.
Streaming options: Tyler Conklin vs. PIT (30% rostered), Cole Kmet at GB (26% rostered)
Risky streamer options: Evan Engram at LAC (29% rostered), Gerald Everett at HOU (29% rostered), Jared Cook vs. NYG (45% rostered), Foster Moreau at KC (23% rostered), David Njoku vs. BAL (6% rostered)
Dart-throw streamer options: James O'Shaughnessy at TEN (1% rostered), C.J. Uzomah vs. SF (15% rostered), Austin Hooper vs. BAL (21% rostered), Ryan Griffin vs. NO (1% rostered), Nick Vannett at NYJ (0% rostered)
DefensesWeek 14 streamers| Team | Next Up | Rostered |
|---|---|---|
| Broncos | vs. DET | 46% |
| Packers | vs. CHI | 33% |
| Titans | vs. JAX | 23% |
| Saints | at NYJ | 45% |
| Seahawks | at HOU | 13% |
| Panthers | vs. ATL | 25% |
Favorable upcoming schedules: Browns DEF (34% rostered), Broncos DEF (46% rostered), Texans DEF (8% rostered), Jaguars DEF (39% rostered)
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