Waiver Wire Watch: Week 14

Dec 07, 2020

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The playoffs may already be upon you in your fantasy league, but for most leagues they’ll officially start this week. Rosters are deep and ready for postseason runs, and the waiver-wire is thinning out. Yet, help remains on the wire for those who need it, and I try to highlight the best possible adds for immediate/"long-term" help below. With three games yet to be played as of this article’s initial publication, be sure to check back throughout the beginning of the week as more players will likely be added and rankings may shift as news comes out from the teams. If you’re still reading this column, thank you, and good luck chasing that championship.

Recommendations are based on a PPR-scoring, four-point passing touchdown, 12-team league, with ownership percentages coming from Yahoo. I try to mention when a player is a better streaming play (short-term/one-week starter) versus a long-term addition. Free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) suggestions are based on a $100 season-long budget. Lastly, the great John Paulsen will edit this article every week and adjust rankings and prices if necessary. Essentially, you’re getting two minds collaborating on this piece instead of one, so lucky you.

Now, with that out of the way, here are some players to target heading into Week 14.

TEAMS RETURNING FROM BYE: Buccaneers, Panthers

Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers, Colts
Derek Carr, Raiders
Mitch Trubisky, Bears
Baker Mayfield, Browns
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
Jalen Hurts, Eagles

Philip Rivers, Colts, 33% rostered ($3)

Rivers continued his streak of solid fantasy play with a 19.2-point effort against the Texans on Sunday, throwing for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Rivers should be able to carve up a Raiders secondary that nearly lost to Sam Darnold and the Jets this week. The Raiders can put up points, too, so there’s shootout potential here which would help secure Rivers’ fantasy floor.

Derek Carr, Raiders, 51% rostered ($3)

Carr rebounded nicely after his horrific Week 12 performance, throwing three touchdowns against the Jets and adding a fourth on the ground. Carr will look to keep his momentum going next week against a Colts defense whose reputation as one of the toughest units in the league might be cracking. Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Tannehill, and now Deshaun Watson have each done well against this defense in the last three weeks. Given Carr’s up-and-down last few weeks, there’s certainly some risk with rolling him out against the Colts, but he should offer a decent floor at least.

Mitch Trubisky, Bears, 13% rostered ($2)

Trubisky played OK against the Lions, and could have had a better fantasy day had the Bears not scored three rushing touchdowns. All told, Trubisky passed for 267 yards and a touchdown, though he did lose a fumble. If Trubisky holds onto the starting job, he’ll be a decent streamer again next week as the Bears host a Texans secondary that recently lost its best corner, Bradley Roby, to a six-game suspension. Deshaun Watson is playing incredibly well and should be able to put up points against the Bears, which could put their offense into more of a pass-heavy script as we saw on Sunday against the Lions.

Baker Mayfield, Browns, 35% rostered ($2)

Mayfield was electric against the beatable Titans defense, throwing for 334 yards and four touchdowns. Next week he’ll likely find more resistance as the Browns host the Ravens. The Ravens are allowing 18.7 adjusted fantasy points per game, per 4for4’s metric, but the Ravens dominated the Browns in Week 1, limiting Mayfield to 189 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Both teams have changed a lot since September, but Mayfield has the look of more of a mid-tier streamer than a top option coming off his epic Week 13 performance.

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins, 21% rostered ($1)

Now closer to 100%, Tua got back under center for the Dolphins and was decent, completing 26-of-39 passes for 296 yards and one touchdown. Next up for Tua is a date with the Chiefs' high-powered offense, which is why he’s a potential pickup this week. The Chiefs own the best offense in the league, and their ability to put up points could force Tua to take to the air more often. There’s risk here as Tua appears to be going through some rookie growing pains, but there’s solid upside as well.

Jalen Hurts, Eagles, 3% rostered ($1)

Hurts breathed life into the Eagles offense last week against the Packers for the first time in what felt like months. He's been named the starting quarterback over Carson Wentz for next week's game against the Saints. The brutal matchup and potentially tenous hold Hurts has on the starting job are why he isn't higher on this list. If he plays well enough against the Saints to hold onto the job, he'll have QB1 upside for the rest of the fantasy playoffs as he gets the Cardinals and Cowboys in Weeks 15 and 16.

Other streaming options: Teddy Bridgewater (vs. DEN), Andy Dalton (@ CIN), Sam Darnold (@ SEA)