Top-50 WR Rankings - Week 17

5 Starts & 5 Sits - Week 17

Streamers for the Desperate - Week 17

Streamers For The Desperate - Week 15

Leonard LaPadula

If your team was on the brink of making the playoffs last week, I hope it worked out in your favor and you're now officially in the postseason.

I had three meaningless matches in Week 14. Even though I lost all three, all my teams made the playoffs, one with the 1st seed.

I don't care about losing those matches, but it was a rough week because two players I paid a lot for to help boost my squad were terrible, Jayden Reed (WR, GB) and Tee Higgins (WR, Cin). Except for injury, each had their worst week of the season, scoring just 0 and 4.3 fantasy points respectively. To make matters worse, I traded Tyreek Hill (WR, Mia) (who has been dismal all year) and a 1st for Tee Higgins, and this week Tyreek had his best fantasy performance to date, scoring 28.1 fantasy points. I’m waiting for my refund, but customer service isn’t answering. Typical fantasy football. Hopefully, next week I’ll feel like a genius!

There are now three types of teams: those in the playoffs, those planning for next year in keeper and dynasty leagues, and those already out of contention in redraft leagues.

On to the Week 15 streamers...

If you are familiar with my format of "Streamers for the Desperate" articles, then skip the following introduction.

This article is based on the principles I wrote about in How To Own Your League's Waiver Wire.

I name this article as such because it is generally for deep roster leagues (18-to-24-man rosters), and as the season progresses (especially in the 24-man roster leagues), the pickings can get very thin. ASL's Alex Cuilla writes an article focused on regular Yahoo redraft leagues that is more descriptive but does not cover as many players. See Week 15 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds.

I list the players who are available on waivers in my three leagues and who generally scored more than 10 fantasy points (PPR). The players with an asterisks are available in my 24-man roster league. As we get deeper into the year, no matter how slim the options are, I always list a couple of available players for each position from my 24-man league.

I have loosely ranked the players but you need to decide which ones are right for your team. Your criteria for deciding will be different depending on team need and if you are in a redraft, keeper, or dynasty league.

The ranking in parenthesis after each player is the strength of the opponent against that position for the remaining weeks of the fantasy season. So a "1st" indicates the most difficult opponent for that position, and a "32nd" indicates the weakest opponent against that position.

As much effort as it is, I make waiver requests every week for all of my teams. I don't just try to fill in obvious immediate needs, but look to make my team better to the last man on the roster. A deep roster creates resilience against injury. It also results in other teams having fewer good options, increasing the opportunity to trade to teams that truly are desperate and thereby building my draft pick arsenals.

Quarterbacks

  • Jameis Winston, Cle v KC (20th, 30th, 1st) - Winston completed 24 of 41 passes for 212 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 Ints, and rushed 4 times for 28 yards against a stout Steelers D in Week 14. He has more favorable matchups this week and Week 16 against the Chiefs and Bengals, respectively, and has a high ceiling on any given week.
  • Bryce Young, Car v Dal (28th, 9th, 32nd) - Young completed 19 of 34 passes for 191 yards, 1 TD, and 1 Int, and rushed 7 times for 29 yards against a tough Eagles defense in Week 14. Young has favorable matchups this week and Week 17 against the Cowboys and Buccaneers, respectively.
  • *Desmond Ridder, LV v Atl (29th, 31st, 11th) - Ridder entered the game in Week 14 early in the 4th quarter when starting QB Aidan O'Connell went down. Ridder performed admirably, completing 12 of 18 passes for 101 yards with no TDs or Ints, and rushing twice for 3 yds. He is the expected starter in a favorable matchup against a soft Falcons D in Week 15.
  • *Drew Lock, NYG v Bal (27th, 29th, 22nd) - Giants QB Drew Lock is questionable to start in Week 15. If he is out, backup Tommy DeVito will get the nod. Lock completed 21 of 49 passes for 227 yards, a 2-pt conversion, and an Int, and rushed 5 times for 59 yards in Week 14. If healthy, he will look to improve on those numbers in Week 15 against a soft Ravens D.
  • Drake Maye (R), NE @ Ari (9th, 4th, 10th) - Patriots QB Drake Maye is coming off a bye week. In Week 13 he completed 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards, 1 TD, and 1 Int, and rushed 5 times for 59 yards. With no favorable matchups left for the fantasy season, Maye doesn’t belong in lineups, but as a developing rookie, he could be a worthwhile stash in deeper dynasty leagues.
  • Kirk Cousins, Atl @ LV (23rd, 14th, 15th) - Falcons QB Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 37 passes for 344 yards and 2 Ints in Week 14 and has 0 TDs and 8 Ints in the last four games. Despite this, coach Raheem Morris has already confirmed he will continue to start. It might be worth stashing rookie QB Michael Penix in dynasty and keeper leagues. 
  • Mac Jones, Jax v NYJ (13th, 23rd, 18th) - Jags QB Mac Jones completed 23 of 31 passes for 220 yards and 2 Ints and rushed 3 times for 3 yards in Week 14. Although the Jaguars got their first win since Week 8, his performance left much to be desired. Jones will look to improve against the Jets in Week 15.
  • Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler, NO v Wsh (15th, 12th, 23rd) - Saints QB Derek Carr got banged up (hand/head) late in the 4th quarter with the game in hand, and backup QB Jake Haener handed the ball off three times and then did a kneel-down to procure the victory with rookie Spencer Rattler a healthy scratch. Thus, Haener is the more likely candidate to start for the Saints in Week 15.

Running Backs

  • *Patrick Taylor, SF v LAR (18th, 21st, 2nd) - The 49ers have been plagued by bad luck with their RBs this season, as Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, and Jordan Mason are all on IR, and now rookie Isaac Guerendo is questionable for Week 15. Taylor took over the running back duties late and finished with 7 rushes for 25 yards and a TD while failing to catch his lone target. If Guerendo is out in Week 15, Taylor is in line to get the start at RB against an average Rams run D.
  • *Isaiah Davis (R), NYJ @ Jax (31st, 18th, 30th) - With starting RB Breece Hall out, Davis split carries with Braelon Allen, rushed 10 times for 40 yards and a TD, and caught 3 of his 6 targets for 27 yards. If Hall remains out for Week 15, Davis should continue to see increased volume and is a reasonable streaming option in deep roster leagues.
  • Chris Rodriquez, Wsh @ NO (24th, 5th, 9th) - Rodriguez is coming off a bye week. In Week 13 he rushed 13 times for 94 yards and 1 TD to make a case to supplant Jeremy McNichols as the No. 2 back behind Brian Robinson while Austin Ekeler is out for at least three more games. Rodriguez has a favorable matchup against the Saints in Week 15.
  • Justice Hill, Bal @ NYG (28th, 11th, 3rd) - Hill is coming off a bye. In Week 13, he rushed 3 times for 6 yards and caught 4 of his 6 targets for 15 yards. Hill has 3 touchdowns on the season. With a favorable matchup against the Giants, he makes for a risky hit-or-miss streamer at best in Week 15.
  • Kendre Miller, NO v Wsh (12th, 22nd, 19th) - Miller returned from IR in Week 14, and rushed 10 times for 32 yards and a TD, as the No. 2 behind Alvin Kamara. He will look to improve on this performance against the Commanders in Week 15.

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Receivers

  • Ray-Ray McCloud, Atl @ LV (14th, 6th, 19th) - McCloud caught 8 of his 11 targets for 98 yards and rushed once for 3 yards in Week 14. With consistent moderate volume and up against an average Raiders D, McCloud makes a reasonable streaming option in Week 15.
  • Marvin Mims, Den v Ind (18th, 12th, 20th) - Mims is coming off a bye week. He caught 3 of his 4 targets for 105 yards and a TD and rushed once for 4 yards in Week 13. He has seen an uptick in volume since Week 10, averaging 5.3 touches per game. He could help your team if you need a WR in Week 15.
  • Marquez Valdes-Scantling, NO v Wsh (19th, 9th, 14th) - MVS caught 4 of 7 targets for 51 yards in Week 14, snapping his 3-game streak of catching at least 1 TD. However, even with Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave both on IR, expectations should be tempered if QB Derek Carr is out and Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler is behind center.
  • Michael Pittman, Ind @ Den (11th, 4th, 6th) - Pittman is coming off a bye. He caught 5 of his 7 targets for 42 yards in Week 13. He has averaged 5.3 receptions in his last three games and remains a reasonable streaming option going into Week 15.
  • David Moore, Car v Dal (23rd, 17th, 25th) - With Jalen Coker out, Moore caught 2 of his 5 targets for 25 yards against a tough Eagles D in Week 14 and will look to bounce back as the Panthers No. 3 receiver against a softer Cowboys D in Week 15.
  • *Tim Patrick, Det v Buf (13th, 1st, 7th) - Patrick caught 6 of 7 targets for 43 yards and 2 TDs, his only TDs of the season, in Week 14. Patrick is the clear No. 3 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and has averaged 3.7 receptions in the last four games. That said, Patrick is a risky lineup fill-in for Week 15.
  • Christian Watson, GB @ Sea (15th, 26th, 32nd) - Watson caught 4 of 7 targets for 114 yards and a lost fumble in Week 14. He has averaged 33.1 yards per catch over the last 4 weeks. His volume of opportunities should continue, especially if Romeo Doubs is out in Week 15. With that many yards per catch, it seems Watson is overdue for a TD.
  • Michael Wilson, Ari v NE (21st, 10th, 23rd) - Wilson caught 2 of 3 targets for 57 yards and a TD in Week 14. Currently, Wilson is a low-volume, TD-dependent fantasy option going into Week 15.
  • Kendrick Bourne, NE @ Ari (17th, 13th, 11th) - Bourne is coming off a bye and caught all 3 of his targets for 39 yards and rushed once for 6 yards in Week 13. With only 1 TD on the year, Bourne has a moderate floor with little upside going into Week 15.
  • Jalen McMillan (R), TB @ LAC (11th, 24th 10th) - McMillan exploded, catching 5 of 7 targets for 59 yards and 2 TDs in Week 14. Since McMillan is a rookie, he might be worth a stash in dynasty leagues.
  • Mack Hollins, Buf @ Det (29th, 21st, 2nd) -  Hollins caught 4 of 6 targets for 47 yards and a TD in Week 14. He has had inconsistent targets, but also has 5 TDs and is up against a soft Lions D in Week 15.
  • Amari Cooper, Buf @ Det (29th, 21st, 2nd) - In Week 14, Cooper caught 6 of 14 targets, his highest target share of the year. Don't expect his target volume to remain this high heading into next week, especially with his inefficient catch rate of 40 catches out of 80 targets on the season.

Tight Ends

  • Noah Gray (R), KC @ Cle (9th, 4th, 22nd) - Gray caught 4 of 6 targets for 26 yards in Week 14. He's made 4 catches in each of his last four games and is a decent streaming option even while sharing TE targets with Travis Kelce.
  • Dalton Schultz, Hou v Mia (20th, 32nd, 24th) - Schultz is coming off a bye. He caught 5 of his 7 targets for 61 yards and his first TD of the season in Week 13. He has inconsistent targets and only 1 TD on the season but has favorable matchups the rest of the way.
  • *Grant Calcaterra, Phi v Pit (22nd, 15th, 14th) - With Dallas Goedert on IR, Calcaterra caught all 3 of his targets for 16 yards and his first career TD in Week 14. Calcaterra should continue to see increased target volume for the rest of the fantasy year, especially with a very efficient 16 catches of 16 targets when Goedert has been out.
  • Austin Hooper, NE @ Ari (8th, 6th, 10th) - Hooper is coming off a bye, but caught all 4 of his targets for 42 yards and a TD in Week 13. He has had 4 targets each of the last four weeks but will be up against stingier defenses through the playoff stretch.
  • *Luke Schoonmaker, Dal @ Car (28th, 27th, 12th) - With Jake Ferguson starting, Schoonmaker caught both his targets for 22 yards in Week 14. With Ferguson back, Schoonmaker's target share will likely be very modest the rest of the way.
  • *Michael Mayer, LV v Atl (5th, 26th, 13th) - With Brock Bowers largely contained by the Buccaneers, Mayer unexpectedly broke out, catching 7 of 9 targets for 68 yards in Week 14. He is a risky streaming option, as opportunity share will likely return to normal among the Raiders TE corps in Week 15.

Kickers

  • Matthew Wright, KC @ Cle (14th, 15th, 5th)
  • Anders Carlson, NYJ @ Jax (22nd, 21st, 4th)
  • Will Lutz, Den v Ind (24th, 6th, 19th)
  • Daniel Carlson, LV v Atl (30th, 22nd, 18th)

Defense / Special Teams

  • Houston Texans v Mia (24th, 6th, 2nd)
  • Seattle Seahawks @ Ari (4th, 20th, 27th)
  • Los Angeles Rams @ SF (14th, 15th, 20th)
  • Arizona Cardinals v NE (28th, 19th, 7th)
  • Indianapolis Colts @ Den (6th, 32nd, 31st)
  • Cincinnati Bengals @ Ten (32nd, 31st, 7th)
  • Washington Commanders @ NO (23rd, 12th, 25th)

*Available in my league with 24-player rosters