Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 15
Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.
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 based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.
Quarterbacks
Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyJake Browning, Bengals| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. MIN | 27% | $5 |
Browning has put together multiple strong performances, finishing as the fourth overall fantasy quarterback in Week 13 and sitting in the same position before Week 14's pair of Monday night games.
With a quality supporting cast around him - including new change-of-pace back Chase Brown - Browning should be a high-end QB2 in a matchup with a middle-of-the-pack Vikings pass defense.
Matthew Stafford and Baker Mayfield are above the 50% rostered mark but would be the top adds this week if available.
Streaming options: Gardner Minshew vs. PIT (28% rostered)
Risky streaming options: Joe Flacco vs. CHI (7% rostered), Derek Carr vs. NYG (39% rostered), Will Levis vs. HOU (18% rostered)
Risky streaming options (if starting): Nick Mullens at CIN (0% rostered)
Desperation streaming options: Desmond Ridder at CAR (10% rostered), Bailey Zappe vs. KC (2% rostered), Tommy DeVito at NO (5% rostered), Zach Wilson at MIA (4% rostered), Aidan O'Connell vs. LAC (5% rostered), Bryce Young vs. ATL 913% rostered), Easton Stick at LV (0% rostered)
Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): Drew Lock vs. PHI (1% rostered), Davis Mills at TEN (0% rostered), Mitch Trubisky at IND (4% rostered)
Running backs
Adam Bettcher / Getty Images Sport / GettyTy Chandler, Vikings| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at CIN | 22% | $100 |
Alexander Mattison is dealing with a possible high-ankle sprain that could sideline him for multiple weeks and might limit his effectiveness if/when he returns.
Chandler flashed his potential when he racked up 155 scrimmage yards, four receptions and a touchdown in Weeks 10 and 11 combined. The 25-year-old finished as the RB25 and RB16, respectively, in those contests.
With Mattison unavailable, Chandler is a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 as the Vikings' lead back for the next few weeks. And since we've reached the fantasy playoffs, there's no reason to hold back on your bid for him.
Antonio Gibson, Keaton Mitchell, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kareem Hunt, and Tyler Allgeier are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be claimed in most leagues.
High-upside backups like Tyjae Spears (44% rostered), Rico Dowdle (10% rostered), Elijah Mitchell (15% rostered), and D'Ernest Johnson (9% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.
RB3/Flex options: Jerick McKinnon at NE (41% rostered), D'Onta Foreman at CLE (38% rostered), Chase Brown vs. MIN (6% rostered)
Flex options (if starter is out): Zamir White vs. LAC (2% rostered)
Risky flex options: Miles Sanders vs. ATL (44% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell at SEA (31% rostered), Jamaal Williams vs. NYG (16% rostered), Roschon Johnson at CLE (29% rostered), Samaje Perine at DET (27% rostered)
Desperation flex options: Jaleel McLaughlin at DET (10% rostered), Dalvin Cook at MIA (20% rostered), Latavius Murray vs. DAL (16% rostered)
Desperation flex options (if starter is out): Chris Rodriguez Jr. at LAR (0% rostered), Ameer Abdullah vs. LAC (0% rostered)
Other backups to roster: Royce Freeman (9% rostered), Jeff Wilson Jr. (10% rostered), Isaiah Spiller (0% rostered), Jordan Mason (2% rostered), Ty Johnson (0% rostered), Michael Carter (2% rostered), Chase Edmonds (1% rostered), Matt Breida (2% rostered), Pierre Strong Jr. (1% rostered), Leonard Fournette (5% rostered), Kendre Miller (4% rostered)
Wide receivers
Todd Olszewski / Getty Images Sport / GettyOdell Beckham Jr., Ravens| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at JAX | 42% | $49 |
Beckham had a little extra motivation en route to a 4-97-1 stat line against his former team, the Rams, this weekend.
That said, the 31-year-old has been coming alive lately. He's found the end zone in three of his last five outings and recorded a 100-yard game in one of the two games in which he didn't score a touchdown.
It also doesn't get much better than a matchup with the Jaguars, who are allowing a ton of yardage through the air - including six 300-yard passing games in their last nine appearances.
Even as a part-time player in the Ravens' offense, consider Beckham a WR3/flex option in your lineup moving forward.
Curtis Samuel, Commanders| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at LAR | 35% | $39 |
Samuel has played more than half of the Commanders' snaps in ten games this season, and he's recorded at least 50 yards and/or a touchdown in seven of them.
Fantasy managers would be far more excited about the 27-year-old's outlook if it weren't for a midseason toe injury that briefly made him less effective and caused him to miss time.
In his last two outings alone, Samuel has 13 receptions for 165 yards on an offense that leads the league in pass attempts this season. Start him as a WR3/flex option with an underrated ceiling.
Noah Brown, Elijah Moore, and Josh Downs are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be claimed in most leagues.
Flex options: Zay Jones vs. BAL (29% rostered)
Flex options (if healthy): Demario Douglas vs. KC (20% rostered), Rashid Shaheed vs. NYG (40% rostered)
Risky flex options: Jonathan Mingo vs. ATL (17% rostered)
Risky flex options (if healthy): Josh Palmer at LV (30% rostered), Michael Wilson vs. SF (6% rostered), Dontayvion Wicks vs. TB (4% rostered)
Risky flex options (if starter is out): JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. KC (14% rostered
Dart-throw flex options: Greg Dortch vs. SF (7% rostered), Quentin Johnston at LV (21% rostered), Rashod Bateman at JAX (16% rostered), Jalin Hyatt at NO (7% rostered), Demarcus Robinson vs. WAS (0% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson at NO (9% rostered), Jameson Williams vs. DEN (24% rostered), Parker Washington vs. BAL (6% rostered), Michael Gallup at BUF (12% rostered), Josh Reynolds vs. DEN (15% rostered), DJ Chark vs. ATL (7% rostered), Darius Slayton at NO (2% rostered), Xavier Gipson at MIA (0% rostered)
Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): DeVante Parker vs. KC (3% rostered)
Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): John Metchie III at TEN (1% rostered), Robert Woods at TEN (5% rostered), KJ Osborn at CIN 919% rostered), A.T. Perry vs. NYG (2% rostered)
Tight ends
Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyLogan Thomas, Commanders| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at LAR | 43% | $19 |
Some managers dropped Thomas because he had a couple of quiet games ahead of the Commanders' bye week. But if you're looking for help at the position, he could be the answer. Before his recent dip in production, Thomas was ranked 13th positionally in fantasy points per game over the first 11 weeks of the season.
Now he'll face off against a Rams defense that's one of the five softest opponents for fantasy tight ends and has allowed three straight top-10 finishes at the position.
Darren Waller, Isaiah Likely, and Gerald Everett are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be claimed in most leagues.
Risky streamer options: Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. HOU (34% rostered), Cade Otton at GB (38% rostered), Hunter Henry vs. KC (24% rostered), Tucker Kraft vs. TB (10% rostered)
Risky streamer options (if starter is out): Brevin Jordan at TEN (23% rostered), Davis Allen vs. WAS (0% rostered)
Risky streamer options (if healthy): Tyler Higbee vs. WAS (40% rostered)
Desperation streamer options: Tyler Conklin at MIA (19% rostered), Tanner Hudson vs. MIN (4% rostered), Michael Mayer vs. LAC (9% rostered), Noah Fant vs. PHI (2% rostered), Juwan Johnson vs. NYG (13% rostered), Dawson Knox vs. DAL (0% rostered)
Deep stashes: Greg Dulcich (7% rostered)
Defenses
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWeek 15 streamers| Team | Next up | Rostered |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | at CAR | 32% |
| Rams | vs. WAS | 17% |
| Colts | vs. PIT | 42% |
| Bears | at CLE | 5% |
| Raiders | vs. LAC | 7% |
| Bengals | vs. MIN | 25% |
| Titans | vs. HOU | 6% |
Favorable Week 16 schedule: Broncos DEF vs. NE (35% rostered), Seahawks DEF at TEN (18% rostered), Rams DEF vs. NO (17% rostered), Colts DEF at ATL (42% rostered), Bengals DEF at PIT (25% rostered), Bears DEF vs. ARI (5% rostered)
Favorable Week 17 schedule: Broncos DEF vs. LAC (35% rostered), Rams DEF at NYG (17% rostered), Seahawks DEF vs. PIT (18% rostered), Buccaneers DEF vs. NO (44% rostered), Bears DEF vs. ATL (5% rostered), Colts DEF vs. LV (42% rostered)
Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.