Top-50 WR Rankings - Week 17

5 Starts & 5 Sits - Week 17

Streamers for the Desperate - Week 17

Week 15 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds

Alex Ciulla

If you're still reading this, congrats! It means you've likely secured your spot in the playoffs, whether preparing for a divisional-round showdown or enjoying a well-earned first-round bye. No matter where you stand, I wish you the best of luck in your upcoming matchups—unless you're facing me. Here's to a smooth playoff run and, ultimately, a fantasy championship!

2024 has been an exciting ride so far, and it's hard to believe there are only three weeks left in the fantasy season—it's bittersweet. But I digress. Week 14 kicked off with a thrilling game, as the Detroit Lions narrowly defeated the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night, setting the tone. On Sunday, the Carolina Panthers gave the Philadelphia Eagles a tough fight. However, Philly’s defense proved too much for second-year quarterback Bryce Young, and the Panthers fell 22-16. It was an odd game, but Young showed more promise than expected. Don't overlook this offense—they could surprise down the stretch. Additionally, the Los Angeles Rams handed the Buffalo Bills their first loss since Week 5 in a dramatic 44-42 victory. Buffalo, trailing 38-21 late in the third quarter, fought back valiantly but fell just short of completing the comeback. There’s plenty more to dive into, but first, let’s talk about the injuries.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (back) came into his team's outing against the Las Vegas Raiders dinged up, and it didn't take long for him to re-aggravate his back. He exited the win and did not return. For now, keep an eye out for news on him. It wasn't enough that the San Francisco 49ers placed Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) on IR, but now rookie running back Isaac Guerendo (foot) finds himself hurt as well. The 24-year-old led San Francisco in rushing on Sunday in their 38-13 win over the Bears. However, he came away with what has been reported as a potential foot sprain. His status for Thursday night's divisional clash against the Los Angeles Rams is unclear. Speaking of rookie running backs -- the Panthers lost theirs for the remainder of the season when Jonathon Brooks (knee) picked up a non-contact knee injury. It's been confirmed that Brooks did re-tear his ACL, and he'll begin the long road to recovery. Las Vegas Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell (knee) picked up a bone bruise on his knee in the Raiders' loss to the Buccaneers. O'Connell wants to try to play in Week 15, though we'll see if that comes to fruition. , Finally, New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr (hand) suffered a "significant" fracture to his non-throwing hand in their 14-11 victory over the New York Giants. The injury is considered season-ending, though the team wants to keep the door open for him to return so they won't put him on IR.

As always, this column assumes PPR formats and will only highlight players around or under 50% ownership on Yahoo!. Let's get into the waiver adds.

If the players mentioned in this article are unavailable or you’re looking for more options, be sure to check out "Streamers for the Desperate - Week 15" by ASL Founder Leonard LaPadula!

Quarterback Streamers

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (6% Owned)

You’re probably thinking I’m crazy—and honestly, you’re not wrong. But hear me out.

If you just looked at the box score and missed the game, Panthers QB Bryce Young’s 191 yards, one touchdown, and one interception on 19-of-34 passing might seem pretty average. And to be fair, it was. But those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Young made several impressive throws on the run, especially to his right when the pocket broke down and he had to improvise. This has become a more frequent part of his game since returning from his early-season benching and is something worth noting moving forward.

So far, Young has one game you'd be happy with, which is his performance in last weekend's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 23-year-old ran for a score in that one and threw for almost 300 yards (298). His Week 15 meeting with the Dallas Cowboys won't be quite as easy, but it also won't be that scary either.

It's likely that with no teams on bye next weekend, you're set at QB heading into the playoffs. However, Young is undoubtedly available and has one of the better matchups of Week 15.

Running Backs

Patrick Taylor Jr., San Francisco 49ers (5% Owned)

49ers RB Patrick Taylor Jr. is more of a speculative add right now as the next man up in San Francisco's backfield while we wait for an update on rookie running back Isaac Guerendo. While there has been no official word on Guerendo, I don't expect him to be near 100% for Thursday night's outing against the Los Angeles Rams. Even if he does play, Taylor Jr. would have an excellent chance at picking up some extra work.

The 26-year-old would be a must-add if Guerendo misses time, but I admit I'm not very excited about him. Taylor is a fourth-year player who has yet to handle more than 11 carries in a single outing or rush for more than 140 yards in a season. Additionally, the former undrafted free agent isn't the fastest or most athletic back but is of good size and has a frame built to shoulder a large workload.

As previously mentioned, I'm not enamored, but Taylor needs to be rostered because HC Kyle Shanahan's black voodoo magic keeps turning these guys into productive rushers.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (4% Owned)

Saints RB Kendre Miller slots nicely into the "high-end handcuff" category and needs to be treated as such. He was a forgotten man while in the doghouse and on IR, but interim coach Darren Rizzi appears ready to let the TCU product loose. Miller was active for the first time since Week 8 -- rushing for 32 yards and a touchdown on his ten carries. The timing of his score was also intriguing, as he got a carry, then backfield mate Alvin Kamara got a carry two plays later before Miller punched it in from eight yards out on the ensuing touch.

At first glance, the box score might not jump out at you, but when you break it down, all of the former third-round pick’s yardage came on just four touches—runs of seven, eight (twice), and nine yards. While he’s unlikely to take over as the lead back in New Orleans, he could start to chip away at Kamara’s touches and, with any luck, won’t be too much of a factor near the goal line.

If you're looking for a high-upside gamble as you head into the playoffs, he’s a solid pickup. While he might be more of a lottery ticket in deeper leagues, Miller has significant upside if Kamara were to miss time. Plus, he returns kicks, so if your league rewards that, it’s a bonus.

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Wide Receivers

Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers (53% Owned)

I recommended adding Panthers WR Adam Thielen last week, but with the way QB Bryce Young has been targeting him, he’s quickly becoming a must-add. Despite a roster percentage of just 53%, it should be higher, as the 34-year-old once again saw double-digit targets, even surpassing his previous performance in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles. Additionally, this marked his first 100-yard game since Week 6 of last season.

After reviewing the tape, I was impressed by the savvy veteran. While he may no longer possess the same athleticism he once had, he now wins with crafty route-running and a sharp football IQ. Just two weeks ago, I wanted no part of the 12th-year wideout. Now, he’s emerged as the top option in Carolina’s passing game.

Additionally, teammate Xavier Legette is an intriguing target in deeper leagues, and third-string WR Jalen Coker is giving off strong dynasty vibes. That said, for this season, Thielen is still the one to own.

Ray-Ray McCloud III, Atlanta Falcons (18% Owned)

I’m not setting high expectations for him, but Atlanta WR Ray-Ray McCloud III is worth mentioning as long as he continues playing like this. The 28-year-old hit 66 yards for the first time all year last week (95) and followed it up with another solid performance on Sunday (98). However, the key difference between the two outings is his snap share.

McCloud played 30 fewer snaps in Week 14 than the week before but still managed an impressive 11 targets and eight receptions, compared to just six and four the previous week. It’s a small sample, but QB Kirk Cousins has been locking onto him lately, and he has an easy schedule down the stretch. With bye weeks now behind us, you might not need to start him in Week 15, but if you can stash or need a WR3/FLEX with upside, he’s one of the better options right now.

Tight Ends

Grant Calcaterra. Philadelphia Eagles (4% Owned)

Honestly, this is my least favorite week of 2024 for streaming tight ends. However, Eagles TE Grant Calcaterra has stepped up in place of an injured Dallas Goedert (knee) in the past. Since Goedert was placed on IR with a knee injury on Saturday, the third-year tight end is set to serve as the team’s TE1 for at least the next three games.

On Sunday, the SMU product caught all three of his targets for just 18 yards but managed to salvage his day with a touchdown. It would have been nice to see him get a few more targets, as mentioned, their game was a bit of a mess.

Moving forward, Calcaterra faces a tough matchup in Week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, so he’s probably a fade for that game. However, the 26-year-old has a much more favorable stretch ahead with games against both the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys, so he could be a solid stash and hold if you need help at the position. 

As we head into the final stretch of the 2024 fantasy season, it's time to make every move count. Whether you're fighting for a playoff spot or looking to fine-tune your roster for a championship run, keeping an eye on these key waiver-wire picks will give you the edge you need. From promising quarterbacks to high-upside running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends, there are plenty of opportunities to improve your lineup. Best of luck as you push through—may your roster stay healthy, your matchups favor you and your fantasy championship dreams become a reality!