Waiver Wire Watch: Week 15

Dec 14, 2020

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Plenty of stars showed up when it mattered most in the fantasy season: the playoffs. Hopefully you had enough studs on your squad to survive and advance. There is still some help out there on the waiver wire if you need a spot start for Week 15.

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 15.

Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers, Colts
Matthew Stafford, Lions
Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Derek Carr, Raiders
Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers

Philip Rivers, Colts, 41% rostered ($3)

Since Week 6, Rivers is averaging 18.3 fantasy points per game, with multiple touchdown passes in six of those eight games. Next up for Rivers is another matchup with the lowly Texans defense, a unit Rivers torched for 285 yards and two touchdowns just two weeks ago. He’s one of the week’s top streamers given his consistent play and solid scoring output.

Matthew Stafford, Lions, 58% rostered ($3)

UPDATE: It seems that Stafford's status for Week 15 isn't looking good, but he hasn't been ruled out just yet. To be safe, you may want to consider one of the other listed options.

It certainly doesn’t seem like a coincidence that Stafford lit up the scoreboard one game after the Lions fired Matt Patricia. Interim head coach Darrell Bevell seems to have opened things up for Stafford, as he’s scored 26.1 fantasy points (402 yards, three touchdowns, one interception) and 14.4 fantasy points (244 yards, one touchdown) in his last two games. His numbers would be even better had he not suffered a rib injury late in the game, or had the team not scored two short-yardage rushing scores. Assuming he’s healthy enough to play next week, Stafford has a road matchup with the beatable Titans defense. Tennessee’s offense is a force, which could turn this game into a shootout. Prior to facing Mike Glennon/Gardner Minshew, the Titans secondary gave up a combined 629 passing yards, six touchdowns, and one interception to Baker Mayfield and Philip Rivers.

Jalen Hurts, Eagles, 16% rostered ($2)

Hurts gave the Eagles a spark in Week 13 against the Packers, and earned his first start this week against the Saints, an impossibly difficult draw for the rookie … yet Hurts delivered in fantasy and on the field. Hurts threw for just 167 yards and a touchdown, but added 106 yards on the ground. If Hurts hangs onto the starting gig (which he should), things get much easier next week when he travels to face the Cardinals. Don’t let their performance against Daniel Jones in Week 14 fool you, this is a beatable defense. Arizona was a bottom-four defense in 4for4’s adjusted fantasy points allowed metric prior to Daniel Jones doing absolutely nothing against them.

Derek Carr, Raiders, 47% rostered ($1)

Those bold enough to go back to Carr after his abysmal Week 12 showing (0.6 standard fantasy points) were richly rewarded as Carr torched the lowly Jets, throwing for 385 yards, three touchdowns, and adding one more on the ground. Carr continued his fantasy success this past week, again throwing for over 300 yards, this time with two touchdowns (one on the ground), but also two interceptions. Carr hosts the Chargers on Thursday night, a defense that can be beaten through the air. The return of a dominant Joey Bosa and the Raiders occasionally suspect offensive line make this a riskier play, especially in the postseason.

Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers, 32% rostered ($1)

Bridgewater was unable to truly exploit a depleted Broncos defense on Sunday, managing 283 yards and 0 touchdowns (he did score on a rush, though). His offense was missing several key players after a COVID outbreak following the team’s bye, but this was disappointing regardless as it was set up for a smash performance. If the reinforcements return from the COVID list and other injury lists (looking at you, Christian McCaffrey), Bridgewater could be a target in deeper leagues for Week 15. The Panthers travel to Green Bay on Saturday for a game where they’ll likely be playing from behind and throwing the ball a lot.

Other streaming options: Drew Lock (vs. BUF)