Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
NFL free agency will drastically help reshape the fantasy football landscape as the new league year begins.
Now that NFL free agency is upon us, we’ll run through the fantasy football outlooks for trades, re-signings, midrange deals, and tag recipients.
This analysis will be updated as players continue to move about in free agency, so be sure to check back regularly.
A snapshot positional fantasy ranking of notable impending free agents.
The NFL’s annual trek into free agency gives teams a chance to retool and rebuild. Franchise leadership needs to balance single-year needs with stop-gap options, long-term mega-signings, and take consideration of future NFL draft additions, all while managing to fit the contracts under the salary cap.
Below is a ranking of noteworthy players contractually eligible for free agency, ranked in order of likely 2024 fantasy football importance. Several players will hit the market after eventually being released, such as Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. We will address those specific situations in future articles.
Making educated guesses as to where all of fantasy football’s key NFL free agents will play in 2023.
Tuesday is the NFL’s deadline for franchise tagging, and we’ve already seen the likes of Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, and Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard get slapped with the tag as of Monday evening.
Free-agent quarterback Derek Carr inked a four-year, $150 million pact with the New Orleans Saints as the only notable fantasy name to be free to sign anywhere before the market officially opens next week.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was given a three-year, $105 million contract extension Monday, which comes as no surprise.
With that out of the way, we’ll take a look at the most likely landing spots for marquee fantasy football names prior to the opening of free agency.
Here are the top waiver wire targets in fantasy football for Week 15.
The bye weeks are over, trade deadlines have passed and the fantasy football playoffs are commencing for the majority of leagues.
The waiver wire will be the sole avenue for making transactions moving forward as most leagues wrap up their 2022 campaign during the next three weeks.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in ESPN leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on Twitter (@KevinHickey11). Your questions, comments, and roasts are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Here are the top waiver wire targets in fantasy football for Week 5.
The first month of fantasy football has just about concluded. Some managers are still searching for their first win, while others remain in the thick of the race. Either way, the waiver wire can be a manager’s best friend.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in ESPN leagues, using the 75% mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on Twitter (@KevinHickey11). Your questions, comments, and roasts are always welcome!
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
The best one-week rentals to wrap up the fantasy football season.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated. FAAB $ amounts are based on a $100 budget.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Bye weeks: none
QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens: In what could be Big Ben’s final NFL game, it’s fitting it will come vs. the Ravens in what usually is a knock-down, drag-out fight. Baltimore is just too beaten up on the back end to compete with any ferocity, and Roethlisberger should close it out on a strong note. He has four very capable weapons in Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, Pat Freiermuth, and versatile rookie running back in Najee Harris to help keep what is left of the Ravens defense in check. Big Ben through for 236-2-0 in the Week 13 meeting and is poised to get closer to 300 and three.
Availability: 73%
FAAB: $9-10
RB Le’Veon Bell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers: An ankle injury has Ronald Jones possibly sitting out, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn is dealing with ailing ribs, making Bell in line to draw a start. Carolina allowed five scores on the ground to the position in the most recent five games, and Alvin Kamara caught a TD vs. them last weekend. There’s no doubt Bell isn’t what he used to be on the field, but we have a quality opportunity for a dirt-cheap TD and a handful of catches.
Availability: 96%
FAAB: $34-36
WR Cyril Grayson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers: Another Buc thrust into increased playing time due to injury, among other predictable outcomes, Grayson has been explosive each and every time he has been granted a chance to show it. In Week 8 vs. the New Orleans Saints, he housed his only target on a 50-yarder. In the past two games, Grayson has turned 11 targets into nine catches, 162 yards and a score. Now that’s what you call efficient! Tom Brady will play in this one, and the bizarre ending to Antonio Brown’s career in Tampa (and probably anywhere else) opens the door for Grayson to see at least a half-dozen targets vs. a Carolina secondary that’s banged up and permitted the ninth-most PPR points per game in the month leading up to Week 17.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $8-10
WR Deonte Harris, New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons: This one is all about the matchup and the chance for a huge play. The Falcons have given up 18 WR scores in 16 games, and this matchup was 25 percent better than league average entering the contest. Sure, they did a great job against Buffalo, but the elements weren’t conducive to passing the ball with success. Twenty-two wideouts have posted 10-plus PPR points against this defense, and Harris is among them when he corralled six of eight looks for 52 yards in Week 9. Kenny Stills and Marquez Callaway each scored in that one, which offers hope. A rusty Harris returned from a three-week layoff in Week 17, going for only 2-23-0. Going back to his last game before the absence, Harris displayed the precise reason anyone should consider playing him with a 4-96-1 line.
Availability: 86%
FAAB: $6-8
WR Laquon Treadwell, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts: Purely for PPR gamers looking to plug a flex spot, Treadwell has been among the most consistent possession guys of late. He has at least five targets, four catches, and 54 yards in six straight games, producing at least 9.4 PPR points in each of those contests — nothing spectacular, but he’s effectively guaranteeing a rock-solid floor each week. While the Colts have given up an average of only 11 receptions to the position in the last four contests, 19 performances of 10-plus points have been had on the year. Treadwell wasn’t a factor in the first meeting as he was buried on the bench.
Availability: 97%
FAAB: $5-6
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WR Zay Jones, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers: The former Buffalo Bill has posted 11-plus PPR points in three straight games and four of the last six. He has stepped up with Darren Waller (knee, COVID) out, and Derek Carr trusts him. Jones snared 120 yards worth of action on eight grabs vs. Indy last week but wasn’t a factor in the Week 4 trip to LA as much was different for the Raiders at that stage of the season. The Chargers have given up six double-digit PPR performances in the last five outings, and four scores came in that window of operation. The Bolts have yielded a hearty 13.3 yards per catch since Week 12. Finally, it will be all hands on deck for the Raiders as the winner is into the postseason, and we all know LA’s offense can put up points with the best of ’em.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $5-6
TE Dan Arnold, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts: Make sure Arnold is removed from the COVID reserve prior to adding him, but he has a solid opportunity should he return to the field. The Jaguars were without TE James O’Shaughnessy (hip) in Week 17, and with the Jaguars on to their RB4 facing a poor matchup, increased passing volume is inevitable. The Colts are, however, a brilliant matchup tight ends. The position has registered the second-most catches and sixth-most yards vs. this defense, and only two teams have permitted more points per game in PPR on the year.
Availability: 94%
FAAB: $1-2
PK Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns: Ja’Marr Chase isn’t the only promising rookie on this team … McPherson wasn’t asked to do much in the Week 9 41-16 beatdown by Cleveland, something we just don’t see happening again. If anything, it really could go in the other direction. Over the last seven games, McPherson has booted 10-plus points worth in standard fantasy scoring five times. He has attempted two or more field goals, connecting on 11 of 12, in the last four games. In the event Cincy sits offensive stars, it actually works in his favor as there will be more reliance on taking what you can get on the scoreboard.
Availability: 71%
FAAB: $2-3
PK Brett Maher, New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons: Maher wasn’t the kicker for the Week 9 battle, but Brian Johnson made both field goal kicks and his only extra point. The Falcons actually have done a fine job of limiting kickers all year as only three have gone into double-digit fantasy territory. These teams know each other well and profile as a fairly even matchup in the regular-season finale. Maher should be good for two or three treys and at least an extra point.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $1-2
Indianapolis Colts D/ST at Jacksonville Jaguars: In competitive leagues, Indy is overwhelmingly owned. However, this group could be on the wire in more casual settings as postseason teams may have been inclined to play matchups off the wire. It doesn’t get too much better than this one given all that has gone wrong for the Jaguars, and Indianapolis will pull out all the stops to secure a postseason berth.
Availability: 38%
FAAB: $5-6
Los Angeles Chargers D/ST at Las Vegas Raiders: The run-it-back game comes three months after the first meeting, and many things have changed on both sides, especially for the galvanized Raiders. That said, Derek Carr continues to turn over the ball too much for a serious contender, and it appears to be a long shot Darren Waller (knee, COVID) will be ready. The upcoming Sunday Night Football tilt features a “win and get in” scenario for both teams. The Chargers are just in better position talent-wise and are healthier than during the embarrassing whoopin’ put on them by Houston a few weeks back. Carr was sacked four times and threw a pick in the Week 4 game, and he has tossed a pick in all but three games this year, including five in the last four outings. His offense has failed to score more than 23 points in five straight weeks.
Availability: 46%
FAAB: $3-4
Scouring what’s left on the wire for Week 17 waiver winners.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated. FAAB $ amounts are based on a $100 budget.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Bye weeks: none
1) RB Derrick Gore, Kansas City Chiefs: The shoulder/collarbone injury suffered by Clyde Edwards-Helaire in Week 16 could cost him time. If so, Gore will see a large role in the backfield split with Darrel Williams. The latter is universally owned, which makes Gore a natural pivot if you’ve made it to the championship week with a decimated backfield. He posted games of 16.9 and 13.4 PPR points, respectively, in Weeks 14 and 16. The Chiefs didn’t send a play his direction in Week 15. Sunday, Gore rushed 12 times and caught all three targets, generating 104 yards of offense vs. Pittsburgh. In the three contests in which he has touched the ball at least 10 times, Gore has managed to get into double-digit PPR land. In Week 17, KC heads to Cincy, which is a neutral matchup for RBs on the year and offers a hint of upside for a cheap TD. The regular-season finale has the Denver Broncos hosting the Chiefs, but that one is a decidedly poor matchup for the 27-year-old.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: $38-40
2) RB Boston Scott, Philadelphia Eagles: Running back Miles Sanders suffered a fractured hand bone in in Week 16 and left the stadium in a soft cast. Monday we learned he will not play at Washington in Week 17. RB Jordan Howard left in Week 16 with a stinger. He’s day to day. Rookie back Kenneth Gainwell has fallen out of favor, seeing only a pair of targets in the past two weeks. That leave’s the versatile Scott to see the primary share of touches. Dallas closes out the year for the Eagles, and while it’s hardly a running back-friendly opponent, there’s hope for some aerial returns in that one.
Availability: 81%
FAAB: $32-34
3) RB Dare Ogunbowale, Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars lost running back James Robinson for the remainder of the year after he partially tore his left Achilles tendon Sunday. Ogunbowale rushed 17 times for 57 yards and a score vs. the New York Jets last weekend, and he snared half of his four targets for 15 yards. He’ll be the next man up without Robinson and Carlos Hyde. Jacksonville heads to New England this week, and while the Patriots have given up a few big games to the position, O-Gun is just a shot in the dark for a TD plunge. New England has allowed enough work to backs through the air to consider him a low-end play in PPR. The Jaguars face Indianapolis in Week 18 for gamers who’ll play out the remainder of the season.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $30-32
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WR Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo Bills vs. Atlanta Falcons: With Gabriel Davis and Cole Beasley on the COVID-19 list, McKenzie erupted vs. the New England Patriots in Week 16 to the tune of 11-125-1 on 12 targets. We know the Bills love throwing to the slot, and McKenzie can play both inside and out. We also know Davis will miss Week 17, but Beasley has a chance to return based on the timing of his positive test results. Even if he does, McKenzie’s flexibility and big-play nature will put him on the radar vs. a Falcons team that has given up 208 grabs to WRs in 2021, which is the sixth most. Toss in a defense that has surrendered 18 TDs to the position in 15 games, coupled with the constant doubles sent toward Stefon Diggs, and McKenzie has a legit chance of standing out once again.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $14-15
TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers: A deep-league flier, Albert O is a low-volume TD gamble in Week 17. The Broncos face a Chargers defense tight ends have had their way with in 2021. In 15 games, LA has allowed a dozen touchdowns to the position at a rate of once every 6.67 catches, and no team has been worse in that regard. The Chargers have allowed only 11 fewer yards than Indy for the most in the league. Okwuegbunam’s odds improve if Teddy Bridgewater returns from a concussion, and something in the area of 5-40-1 would be his ceiling.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $1-2
PK Randy Bullock, Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins: The veteran has attempted seven field goals in the last three weeks, making six with two in each of those games. He hasn’t exactly been a wealth of fantasy points this year, so there’s considerable risk here. Entering Monday Night Football vs. the New Orleans Saints, Miami has allowed the eighth-most field goal tries in 2021, and from Weeks 11-15, the Dolphins yielded two-plus attempts in three of the five games. The two sides match up well with Tennessee’s offense showing signs of life last week as Miami’s defense has stiffened in the last two months after giving up ridiculous numbers to the position in the first half of the season.
Availability: 75%
FAAB: $1-2
Philadelphia Eagles D/ST at Washington Football Team: COVID-19 can flip the script in a hurry, and Washington has had its share of issues with it in recent weeks. A bigger issue has been quarterback play, especially Taylor Heinicke’s regression the last two games. He was absent vs. Philly in Week 15 but posted just 18 completions on 47 attempts (38.3 percent) vs. Dallas in consecutive appearances,. In those outings, he threw three picks vs. two TDs and amassed a measly 245 total passing yards. While Heinicke is not a lock to start, backup Kyle Allen isn’t a much better option. The Eagles have registered at least two sacks in three straight, averaging a takeaway per game in that time. This is a poor week for defensive matchups, and Philly is widely owned, but it doesn’t hurt to take a peek.
Availability: 29%
FAAB: $3-4
The following fantasy-relevant players are eligible to return from the Reserve/Injured list and could be on waivers, but inclusion below doesn’t guarantee coming back in the upcoming week. The date when the player was placed on IR is in parentheses.
Week 16 waiver wire targets to help you advance to the championship round.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated. FAAB $ amounts are based on a $100 budget.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Bye weeks: none
1) RB Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Leonard Fournette suffered an ankle injury and is expected to miss a game or two, which thrusts Jones into a prime situation. The Buccaneers are down Chris Godwin (knee) for the rest of the year, and Mike Evans (hamstring) is iffy this week. Who knows what to expect with Antonio Brown (ankle, suspension ending) … the overall matchup in Week 16 at Carolina isn’t ideal on paper, but Jones is a strong candidate for a TD, and he could even catch a few balls from the backfield with Giovani Bernard also out. The Week 17 trip to the New York Jets is about as tasty as they come, and the Bucs close with a home game vs. Carolina once again.
Availability: 65%
FAAB: $42-45
2) RB Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Mixon (ankle) left last week with an injury, and while nothing is official yet, a FOX Sports medical correspondent suggests we’re talking about up to three weeks without the star back. Perine filled in admirably for him already this year by acting as a complementary option when Mixon wasn’t at full strength, posting 18.3 PPR points vs. Green Bay in Week 5 and 14.5 against Baltimore in Week 7. Cincinnati faces KC in Week 17. Cincinnati heads to Cleveland for the Week 18 finale.
Availability: 87%
FAAB: $38-40
3) WR Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills: He appeared in this spot as a one-week play last week after showing up a few times prior to that throughout recent months, and Davis should be treated as a mainstay at this point. The Bills have Emmanuel Sanders (knee) battling an injury at 34 years old, and Cole Beasley has struggled to consistently matter in fantasy over the last two months. Single coverage opposite Stefon Diggs, combined with a penchant for finding paydirt, makes Davis a must-own commodity. Facing New England and Atlanta over the next two weeks makes him a borderline WR3.
Availability: 81%
FAAB: $22-24
4) WR Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs will be without Chris Godwin (knee) the rest of the way. Mike Evans escaped a significant hamstring injury by the looks of things but still isn’t a lock for Week 16, and Antonio Brown (ankle, suspension) is available to return to the team as of Monday. Rob Gronkowski still exists, but Leonard Fournette is expected to miss some time, which opens up a bunch of targets. Johnson can play inside and outside, and he has Tom Brady’s trust. Tampa has a cake schedule the rest of the way, with a trip to the Carolina Panthers in Week 16, then a visit to the New York Jets, and followed by the home finale vs. Carolina once more. If Evans also is out, look to Scotty Miller as a worthwhile gamble from the wire.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $13-14
5) RB Duke Johnson, Miami Dolphins: Even though Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed returned in time for Week 15 after being on the COVID list, both of them took a back seat to Johnson. It really could have boiled down to conditioning or their lack of practice time. The veteran journeyman has a hint of staying power after his 22-carry, 107-yard, two-TD performance. Miami is inconsistent about utilizing RBs in the passing game as most short-area work has gone to WR Jaylen Waddle and TE Mike Gesicki. Johnson seeing only one target in Week 15 is mildly concerning for the idea of his role over the rest of the year, and his body of work profiles as anything but the guy we saw run roughshod over the hapless New York Jets. Tread carefully here. The allure of a workhorse back this late in the season may be too great to prevent some owners from overspending, but there’s little confidence that we’ll see Johnson maintain a primary touch-share percentage, and the Dolphins face a brutal Week 16 opponent in New Orleans.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: $11-12
6) RB Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions: Detroit has no incentive to rush back D’Andre Swift (shoulder), but he should be nearing the expected end of his prognosis. The Lions also have Jamaal Williams, who has missed two games with COVID-19, so there’s no telling if he’ll be 100 percent upon his return. He was activated Monday. At a minimum, it will be worth rostering Reynolds just to see if he has a role with Williams on the field and to potentially block any opponents. Detroit faces an extremely exploitable Atlanta in Week 16 and closes the fantasy season with another cupcake in Seattle.
Availability: 87%
FAAB: $11-12
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RB Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans: These two were included last week, and Jackson should be the top guy on the list, but Kelley is a decent consolation prize. Early reports said the Chargers would placed running back Austin Ekeler on the COVID-19 list Monday, but when the team landed six players on the reserve, Ekeler wasn’t among them. He still could be added at any time. While he still may play in Week 16, gamers cannot risk it. If Ekeler indeed goes on the list, add these two, particularly Jackson, like your fantasy season depends on utilizing them … because it just might.
Availability: 94% (Jackson) & 99% (Kelley)
FAAB: $38-40 (Jackson) % $9-10 (Kelley)
WR Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions: QB Jared Goff was placed on the COVID reserve list Monday, so it’s unclear if he will play. Presuming he is cleared in time, we’re optimistic about Reynolds’ worth to fantasy lineups.
It’s a little surprising Reynolds isn’t rostered in more leagues right now. He has at least 10.9 PPR points in three of the last four games, scoring twice along the way. As former Los Angeles Rams, he and Goff have an established chemistry, and it’s visible to the untrained eye. Furthermore, the scrappy group from Motown has a feeble defense, which results in more passing. It doesn’t hurt that the Lions face Atlanta in Week 16 — a defense tied for the seventh-most fantasy points per game allowed in PPR. The schedule gets risky beyond this upcoming contest as Detroit heads to Seattle before a Week 18 home stand against Green Bay.
Availability: 90%
FAAB: $4-5
RB Ameer Abdullah, Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Consider the former Viking and Lion as a desperation PPR play in the flex spot vs. a defense that has given up the fourth-most catches on the year. The position struggles to run against Tampa Bay, and it’s common for pass-catching backs to use this as an extension of the ground game. As a result, 11 RBs have at least four catches vs. the Bucs in 2021. Abdullah should become the 12th, regardless of the man at quarterback.
Availability: 92%
FAAB: $3-4
QB Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals: The overall body of work by QBs vs. the Bengals isn’t the driving factor here as much as Lamar Jackson (ankle) managed to produce 25.7 fantasy points in the Week 7 meeting and threw only one TD pass in the process. Huntley is coming off a total of four scores to his credit vs. the Green Bay Packers and could once again draw the start if Jackson’s ankle isn’t ready. Think about Huntley as a No. 2 in superflex or a brazen flier in playoff leagues if you’re without Lamar or have a struggling star, such as Dak Prescott.
Availability: 96%
FAAB: $1-2
TE C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens: Defending the position has been an issue for the Ravens all year, and this unit had no answer for Uzomah in Week 7’s meeting. He scored twice and posted 91 yards on just three grabs. He has done effectively nothing since, highlighting just how volatile he is as a fantasy play. Low-volume, TD-centric upside is the only reason to play him, but there’s hope if the Bengals need to throw more after RB Joe Mixon suffered an ankle injury in Week 15. Only three clubs have given up more TE touchdowns in 2021.
Availability: 84%
FAAB: $1-2
PK Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens: He has staying power after posting 12 or more fantasy points in four of five games since the Week 10 bye. In Week 7, the rookie was good for 13 fantasy points against the Ravens, and this matchup once again profiles as a favorable day for the young kicker. Ten of the 21 total three-point attempts vs. Baltimore have come in the last five games.
Availability: 75%
FAAB: $1-2
PK Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions: Winter weather won’t be a factor here, and Koo has seen a little bit of an uptick in fantasy rewards over the last two games, averaging 10 points in those contests. He faces the friendliest unit for allowing field goal tries, and the Lions have yielded three-plus attempts in half of their 2021 outings.
Availability: 57%
FAAB: $0-1
Philadelphia Eagles D/ST vs. New York Giants: Regardless of how Philly performs Tuesday night vs. Washington, this defense is a strong contender off the wire vs. Mike Glennon/Jake Fromm. The Eagles should be able to harass this backfield all day long as the Giants have turned it over seven times on the last three games while allowing a pair of sacks in that span.
Availability: 51%
FAAB: $2-3
The following fantasy-relevant players are eligible to return from the Reserve/Injured list and could be on waivers, but inclusion below doesn’t guarantee coming back in the upcoming week. The date when the player was placed on IR is in parentheses.
Addressing all of the pertinent waiver targets for Week 15 and beyond.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated. FAAB $ amounts are based on a $100 budget.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Bye weeks: none
1) RB Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks: History says Penny’s impressive lack of durability will make gamers regret this one, but being the top back — clear and away — in any offense pushes a player into must-own territory. The Seahawks faced Houston, too, which further complicates evaluating this situation. Talent hasn’t been Penny’s problem, and the former first-rounder almost always had to share touches when he was healthy, so this really will be a four-game litmus test for his long-term viability in the NFL. He rushed 16 times for 137 yards and a pair of scores in Week 14, dominating the backfield touch split. In the final month of the season, Seattle heads to the Los Angeles Rams, comes home for Chicago, stays there for Detroit, and closes out with a Jan. 9 trip to Arizona. Penny could be a playoff rock star over three of those games, and the final one luckily is out of play in most fantasy formats.
Availability: 79%
FAAB: Everything you have left
2) WR K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings: Last week, Osborn was promoted as the top-billed player to add in wake of Adam Thielen’s high-ankle sprain. The veteran receiver sat vs. Pittsburgh, and even if he has the mildest high-ankle sprain of all time, we should be talking multiple weeks, but no one is actually saying that. … If it were a sprain to the lower area of the ankle, this wouldn’t be an issue, but most players miss at least three weeks. The general prognosis for a world-class athlete typically is four to six weeks. And if he is rushed back, Thielen runs the risk of aggravating it. Minnesota closes out with @CHI, LAR, @GB and CHI. Osborn should be universally owned as long as there’s a hint of doubt surrounding Thielen’s availability and durability.
Availability: 62%
FAAB: $18-20
3) WR Braxton Berrios, New York Jets: The former New England Patriots slot project has developed nicely with the Jets. Nearly every time he is given at least four touches, Berrios manages to do something of note. He has double-digit PPR production in all but one of such outings in the last two seasons, going 6-for-7 in this regard. WRs Corey Davis and Elijah Moore are on IR, and the Jets are lousy on defense, which promotes passing volume. The running game has been a joke since Michael Carter sprained his ankle, and he’s eligible to return soon, which should help prevent defenses from getting a little too greedy against the pass. Moreover, the Jets face Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa in the next three weeks. Lock him in for PPR WR3 production.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $9-10
4) RB Justin Jackson and Josh Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers: It’s unclear how long, if at all, Austin Ekeler (ankle) will be out with a sprain, but it’s also equally murky as to which back is the best target as his replacement. Jackson is the official No. 2 on the depth chart, but he will undoubtedly share considerable touches with Kelley. The Chargers utilized the latter more by a single touch in Week 14, and the two backs produced nearly identical results. Closely monitor the situation and nab both, if possible, but not at the expense of a surer thing. This ultimately could prove to be a total blip on the radar and we see Ekeler back on the field in Week 15, but no one should take that for granted just yet.
Availability: 98% (Jackson), 99% (Kelley)
FAAB: $20-22 (Jackson), $18-20 (Kelley)
5) WR Laquon Treadwell, Jacksonville Jaguars: This passing game is abysmal. No doubt about it. It also has created a valuable WR3 or flex from the guy manning the third spot. Prior to Treadwell’s three-game uptick in action, Jamal Agnew was relevant before getting hurt. All things Trevor Lawrence should leave you feeling uneasy right now, yet he has been proficient at involving intermediate targets each week. With Laviska Shenault quickly looking like the next Cordarrelle Patterson — not the one who has carried fantasy teams in 2021 — and Marvin Jones being mostly an afterthought, gamers can pivot to Treadwell as a PPR flex option. He has 10-plus points in consecutive weeks and more than nine in three straight. The upside for big plays is basically non-existent, so know what you’re getting here. Meetings ahead with HOU, NYJ, NE and IND are compelling.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $4-5
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RB Duke Johnson, Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets: Miami’s top trio of running backs all are on the COVID-19 list, and two of them are highly iffy for Week 15 action. Johnson is on the practice squad, along with Gerrid Doaks, and the two could receive the call any moment for activation. The Jets have given up a rushing TD every 17.1 attempts in 2021, and the next worst team in this regard is at every 22.5 carries. The matchup is elite for pass-catching backs, so Johnson should feel right at home here. The situation has all of the makings for an early playoff stocking-stuffer.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $15-17
WR Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers: Davis had been one of my favorite players to make the leap to weekly utility after a seven-TD rookie campaign, but the first six games of the season were a sobering reminder that Emmanuel Sanders still can get it done, and Cole Beasley wasn’t going anywhere. One more impactful aspect I hadn’t given much credence to before the season was the drastic improvement by Dawson Knox. This long, winding road has brought us to Davis rebounding over the last seven weeks to track closer to his rookie season’s performance marks. Sanders suffered a knee injury in Week 14 and didn’t return. In the event he cannot go vs. Carolina, there’s a fine opportunity to roll the dice on Davis as a flex play. He doesn’t need a ton of volume to matter, and Carolina has surrendered a TD per game to WRs, on average, this year, including four in the last month of play. Davis is good enough to exploit single coverage as the Panthers sell out to contain Stefon Diggs.
Availability: 97%
FAAB: $4-5
RB D’Ernest Johnson, Cleveland Browns vs. Las Vegas Raiders: This one is solely dependent upon whether Kareem Hunt (ankle) misses time, which looks to be the case. Johnson hadn’t touched the ball too much in the weeks with Nick Chubb healthy and Hunt out, but this matchup is so tantalizing it’s worth a roll of the dice — if the rest of your lineup is strong enough to absorb a potential paper-weight performance. The Raiders have yielded 18 total touchdowns to the position, including 12 on the ground, and RBs have averaged 143.2 offensive yards per game. On the year, only five teams have permitted scores at a greater frequency. Playing Johnson this week likely relies on an injury forcing one’s hand, but at least the matchup metrics make the gamble a little easier to swallow.
Availability: 87%
FAAB: $3-4
WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars: There’s a tremendous amount of risk here, and Collins is far from a sure thing to warrant a lineup spot, but we have a pretty good matchup ahead for a rookie coming off a career-high 10 targets that resulted in personal bests in receptions (5) and yardage (69). Despite being roughly 70 feet tall, Collins has yet to score a TD, and this is the week it may be in the cards. Five of the 11 total WR touchdowns vs. Jacksonville have come in the last four games, and all by different players.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $1-2
WR Cam Sims, Washington Football Team at Philadelphia Eagles: A few points … we don’t know if Taylor Heinicke’s knee is going to cost him time. Kyle Allen filled in admirably, but there’s a reason he’s the backup. We also don’t have any idea if Terry McLaurin will miss Week 15 with a concussion. Washington faces Philadelphia in the upcoming slate, and the matchup isn’t ideal, but Sims could be a useful flex play given the overall lack of weaponry in his passing game. Presuming he is the primary receiver, Sims is worth little more than a TD flier, so it’s tough to envision anyone being that desperate in the fantasy playoffs, but 2021 has taken stranger turns. He has basically no utility should Scary Terry overcome the concussion in time.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $1-2
PK Chase McLaughlin, Cleveland Browns vs. Las Vegas Raiders: Just one team in the last six games have not kicked multiple field goals against Vegas, and three or more treys were attempted in four of those contests. Tack on 20 total extra point attempts in that time and we’re looking at one of the easiest matchups of the week for a Cleveland team that is just barely good enough to move the ball. This could be a field goal fest.
Availability: 94%
FAAB: $0-1
PK Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Football Team: Philly returns from its bye week rested and ready to go against a Washington unit that permitted the 12th-most fantasy points per game to kickers entering Week 14. In the past two weeks alone, the position has attempted and made all seven three-point tries, also adding a lone PAT. Elliott generated 14-plus fantasy points (distance-based scoring) in four of his last six showings and should be plenty available after being widely dropped over the bye.
Availability: 89%
FAAB: $0-1
Miami Dolphins D/ST vs. New York Jets: Miami’s defense really started to pick up the pace in the five games prior to going on bye in Week 14, logging 17-plus points in three of the contests. The five points scored against the Jets in Week 11 was the worst showing of that window, but Joe Flacco and not Zach Wilson was the starting quarterback for Gang Green in the contest. This meeting should go much differently. Miami was dropped in some 20 percent of leagues polled as owners looked for a bye-week replacement. With a matchup against New Orleans in Week 15 and then Tennessee’s hamstrung offense the following game, this is a defense for the remainder of the fantasy slate.
Availability: 52%
FAAB: $2-3
RB Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions: Surprisingly, Detroit turned to a total unknown in Reynolds rather than Jermar Jefferson in Week 14 as Jamaal Williams (COVID) and D’Andre Swift (shoulder) were out of commission vs. Denver. The unheralded Reynolds ran hard, going for 83 yards on 11 carries, adding 16 aerial gains on his two grabs, while sharing touches with Godwin Igwebuike. The third-year former undrafted free agent had two prior career touches. The Lions could get either Swift or Williams back in Week 15, rendering Reynolds useless, but the situation is worth monitoring. The upcoming tilt with Arizona doesn’t scream fantasy success, however, so despite the potential opportunity, he ultimately may end up being reserved for DFS action if nothing less.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $1-2
Atlanta Falcons D/ST: Coming off by far its best fantasy day of the year (13 points), Atlanta hosts the Detroit Lions in Week 16 and should be among the best streaming plays. For owners with room to look ahead and stash, the Falcons make for an intriguing risk-reward decision. If they don’t even look remotely competent vs. San Fran in Week 15, no sweat … drop and move along.
Availability: 74%
FAAB: $0-1
The following fantasy-relevant players are eligible to return from the Reserve/Injured list and could be on waivers, but inclusion below doesn’t guarantee coming back in the upcoming week. The date when the player was placed on IR is in parentheses.
If you’re in a competitive league, it is unlikely running backs are just chillin’ on the waiver wire. But that doesn’t mean gamers aren’t still in need of “break in case of emergency” running backs. These players could be available for a dumpster dive:
Gamers have a natural pivot after the Adam Thielen injury, and rentals galore highlight Week 14 waivers.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated. FAAB $ amounts are based on a $100 budget.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Bye weeks: Colts, Dolphins, Eagles, Patriots
1) WR K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings: Wide receiver Adam Thielen suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 13 and is bound to miss time, at least the upcoming Thursday Night Football. Osborn will enjoy single coverage as the Pittsburgh Steelers will have their collective hands full with Justin Jefferson. Osborn started off hot, scoring twice in the first six games and topping 76 yards on five or more grabs in three of those outings. His production fell off in a run-heavy offense that found a role for TE Tyler Conklin. Osborn is a borderline must-play in PPR vs. a defense that has allowed 21 receivers to land four-plus passes in 2021. While the overall numbers aren’t gaudy, Pittsburgh has benefited from playing LV, CLE, CHI and DET — hardly passing juggernauts. High-ankle sprains tend to be four- to six-week injuries, although Thielen hasn’t been given that kind of prognosis as of writing this sentence … Minnesota closes out with PIT, @CHI, LAR, @GB, CHI.
Availability: 96%
FAAB: $18-20
2) RB Dontrell Hilliard, Tennessee Titans: The Titans return from their bye week with a barren cupboard at the skill positions as WR A.J. Brown (chest) and WR Julio Jones (hamstring) are both on IR for at least another week, and RB Derrick Henry (foot) is poised to miss the rest of the regular season. In the passing game, Hilliard stands to benefit from the pair of injured star receivers, and he has seen ample action on the ground to warrant a fantasy start in most formats. There’s a chance he wasn’t claimed prior to the bye or was cast back to the wire out of desperation, and gamers need to take a peek. From Weeks 14-18, Hilliard faces three easily exploitable ground units and a San Fran defense that has struggled to keep RBs out of the end zone in recent weeks.
Availability: 60%
FAAB: $23-25
3) TE Ricky Seals-Jones, Washington Football Team: Seals-Jones missed the past few games with a hip injury while tight end Logan Thomas finally returned from a severe hamstring strain. As Thomas was starting his upswing, it is feared he suffered a torn ACL and an MCL against Las Vegas, which will end his season. Seals-Jones filled in admirably when Thomas previously was unavailable, and the journeyman tight end is nearing a return after being a game-time decision in Week 13. Washington faces one of the softest schedules the rest of the way for TEs with a pair of battles each with Philly and Dallas, plus another divisional tilt against the New York Giants. Facing the Eagles twice alone makes him a worthwhile addition.
Availability: 95%
FAAB: $9-10
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QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings: One-week rentals dominate waiver claims this time of the year, and if you’re desperate for a quarterback gamble, Big Ben is your man. His two best fantasy games have come in the last three weeks, and while his arm isn’t what it used to be, he can remain efficient in short-area passing to rack up a few touchdowns. Minnesota is an injured mess on defense, and while RB Najee Harris will get his on the ground, he’s also a huge factor in the aerial game. Roethlisberger has at least two TD passes in three of the last four contests, and Minnesota has given up three or more such plays in the last five games, including a 296-3-0 line to Jared Goff last week. Even Dallas backup Cooper Rush torched this defense in Week 8. In the five games leading up to Week 13, this defense ranked 31 percent better than average, a figure that will grow once Detroit’s stats are included into the mix.
Availability: 79%
FAAB: $4-5
RB Adrian Peterson, Seattle Seahawks at Houston Texans: There could be some rest-of-season utility here with Peterson sticking around as a weapon around the stripe, but everything during his Tennessee stint lined up favorably, too, and still he was cut. Seattle afforded AD a touchdown in his team debut, but he ran for 16 yards on 11 carries, and he has now averaged 2.6 yards per carry over his last 38 totes. Not encouraging. But, if for only one week in time, Peterson should be quite capable of exploiting a Houston defense that gave up the seventh-most rushing yards per game and eighth-highest TD frequency to the position in the five contests leading up to Week 13. Should Peterson stick around, Seattle faces a few worthwhile matchups the rest of the way (@LAR, CHI, DET).
Availability: 79%
FAAB: $3-4
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears: The Pack return from a well-timed bye as Aaron Rodgers desperately needed to rest a broken toe. Valdes-Scantling has an intriguing gamble matchup ahead. While Chicago has fared okay vs. WRs in recent weeks, this was the third-worst unit at giving up big plays in the five games leading into Week 13. It also allowed receivers to turn the 10th-fewest catches into the 10th-most yards as a result. MVS offers nothing in fantasy without a trip into the end zone, but Chicago will have all it can do to prevent Davante Adams from wreaking havoc. Last year, in his lone meeting with the Bears, Valdes-Scantling caught two passes for 87 yards and a score — something in that vein is the target here … two or three catches, 60-90 yards and a TD vs. a unit that has allowed 14 WR scores in 12 outings.
Availability: 82%
FAAB: $1-2
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens: A groin injury hampered Peoples-Jones before Week 13’s bye, and the time off should help put him closer to full strength. Now, there’s legitimate quarterback concern with Baker Mayfield, but the goal here is to exploit a Baltimore secondary that has been ravaged by injuries. Once arguably the strongest aspect of this defense, the loss of two Pro Bowl cornerbacks this year leaves Anthony Averett as the top cover man, which is something akin to plugging a hole in the Hoover Dam with toilet paper. There’s serious risk in trusting anything Cleveland passing attack right now, but the upside is juicy.
Availability: 91%
FAAB: $1-2
PK Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions: No team has allowed more field goal attempts than the Lions, and just eight rosters have yielded more extra points. McManus hasn’t exactly been an ideal fantasy play in 2021, but the hamstrung Denver offense has presented him with two-plus field goal attempts in seven games this year. There’s hope for a battle of ineptitude leading to a low-scoring, FG-laden type of game.
Availability: 74%
FAAB: $0-1
PK Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings: In the past five weeks, Boswell has missed two extra points, but gamers need to go back to Week 3 to find the last time he missed a three-pointer. The veteran booter has attempted a trio of field goals in three of the last five, and he has two-plus tries in four of those contests. Minnesota has yielded the fourth-most FGAs per game in 2021, and 10 times have permitted more TD-capping attempts. Ravaged by injuries, Minnesota is poised to give up a load of points to Boswell one way or another.
Availability: 41%
FAAB: $0-1
Tennessee Titans D/ST vs Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags have allowed only 22 sacks on the year, but this offense has turned it over 21 times in 12 games, including two of which that went the other direction. One kick return came against this group, too. Tennessee has been up and down in fantasy this year, but this defense returns from its bye week and will be asked to carry an infirmary of an offense if the Titans have any hope of holding onto their flimsy grasp on the No. 2 seed. The second-best defensive fantasy showing against Jacksonville in 2021 came from Tennessee in Week 5.
Availability: 78%
FAAB: $0-1
Los Angeles Chargers D/ST vs. New York Giants: Los Angeles saved its best defensive effort for Week 13, hounding Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow for six sacks. The four takeaways resulted in a score, and this high-powered offense was held to only 22 points. The Giants may once again be without Daniel Jones (neck), and even if he returns, we’re not talking about a substantial upgrade from Mike Glennon. In the past seven games, Giants quarterbacks have been sacked at least three timeson four occasions, and 10 of the 15 total takeaways have come in that window.
Availability: 74%
FAAB: $0-1
Seattle Seahawks D/ST at Houston Texans: Only four teams have yielded more sacks in 2021 than Houston, and whatever on Earth that quarterback showing was last week has to get Pete Carroll’s group excited. In the last five weeks, this offense has surrendered at least four sacks in four of the outings, and eight of the 21 turnovers on the year came in that period of time. Seattle has struggled to do much of anything on defense in 2021, so this one really could go either way, but Houston has been soooooo bad that it’s a worthwhile gamble.
Availability: 87%
FAAB: $0-1
QB Gardner Minshew, Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles head into their bye week with Jalen Hurts (ankle) expected to regain his starting gig, according to head coach Nick Sirianni, once healthy. Minshew lit up the New York Jets in Week 13, so take it for what you will, but there’s an exploitable closing stretch on the slate to consider if Hurts doesn’t get healthy in time. The former Jaguar is best reserved for two-QB or superflex formats, however.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: $0-1
RB Peyton Barber, Las Vegas Raiders: Running back Kenyan Drake was lost for the year with a broken ankle suffered in Week 13, and while he didn’t play much of a role in the last month, Josh Jacobs is an injury waiting to happen, and Barber belongs on all rosters as an insurance policy. There’s a chance he will be worked in slightly more — something like 5-8 touches per game — but shouldn’t be banked on as a playable commodity as long as Jacobs is healthy.
Availability: 76%
FAAB: $1-2
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles: Gainwell has more likely utility than the aforementioned Minshew, largely because Miles Sanders (ankle) has fought durability issues of late. The Eagles also have been without RB Jordan Howard the past few games, and while both backs could return from injury following the bye week, Gainwell belongs on radars in shallow leagues and rosters in more competitive formats.
Availability: 76%
FAAB: $1-2
The following fantasy-relevant players are eligible to return from the Reserve/Injured list and could be on waivers, but inclusion below doesn’t guarantee coming back in the upcoming week. The date when the player was placed on IR is in parentheses.
If you’re in a competitive league, it is unlikely running backs are just chillin’ on the waiver wire. But that doesn’t mean gamers aren’t still in need of “break in case of emergency” running backs. These players could be available for a dumpster dive:
