For most leagues, we finished up the first week of the fantasy football playoffs. With that said, we’ll keep the 2020 fantasy football Week 15 waiver wire article short. At this point, each team is relatively set with mostly start/sit questions and moves. Make sure to check out Mick’s weekly flex rankings and Ahaan’s weekly players he loves and hates to help with any start/sit decisions. Monitor the injuries to DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki, Drew Brees, Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel, and more. With only two weeks left, let’s dive into the 2020 fantasy football Week 15 waiver wire.
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2020 Fantasy Football Week 15 Waiver Wire
Quarterback
Shallow league adds – Philip Rivers, Derek Carr, Teddy Bridgewater, and Kirk Cousins.
Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Chicago Bears
In a fantasy-friendly matchup, Mitchell Trusbisky played well with 267 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. He even added 23 rushing yards. The Bears play the Vikings and Jaguars over the next two weeks, thus stream away with Trubisky at quarterback. Although he doesn’t present the rushing upside as Jalen Hurts, Trusbisky ranks as one of the top deep-league quarterbacks to pick up in the 2020 fantasy football Week 15 waiver wire.
Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
In his first start against the Saints, Hurts displayed the rushing ability that fantasy managers drool over. He totaled 18 carries for 106 rushing yards and also added 167 passing yards with one passing touchdown. According to Chris Mortenson, the Eagles plan to stick with Hurts at quarterback for the rest of the season. With that said, Hurts showed us why his rushing production makes him valuable in fantasy and should rank him as a streaming quarterback in the playoffs.
Gardner Minshew, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars subbed in Gardner Minshew in the middle of the Titans game and he should rank as a QB2 moving forward. Unfortunately, the matchups look a bit difficult with the Ravens and Bears over the next two weeks. Minshew passed for 178 yards with one passing touchdown and added 22 rushing yards. Prioritize Trusbisky or Hurts over Minshew at this point based on the matchups.
Running Backs – 2020 Fantasy Football Week 15 Waiver Wire
Shallow league adds – Tony Pollard, Sony Michel, Chase Edmonds, Carlos Hyde, and La’Mical Perine.
Jeff Wilson Jr. RB, San Francisco 49ers
Raheem Mostert left Sunday’s game and was evaluated for a concussion but later returned in Week 14. With that said, Jeff Wilson Jr. appeared like the other primary rusher, who logged 11 carries for 31 rushing yards and one touchdown. He also added in one 13-yard catch on three targets. Granted that Mostert outproduced him in terms of total yardage, Wilson played 39 snaps, and Mostert played 40 snaps. Stash Wilson in case Mostert misses time, but prioritize the other shallow league running back adds in the 2020 fantasy football Week 15 waiver wire.
Ito Smith, RB, Atlanta Falcons
In Week 14, we witnessed an ugly offensive game for the Falcons outside of Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage throwing a dime. However, Ito Smith led the Falcons’ running backs in production and total snaps. Smith finished with 11 carries for 42 rushing yards on 25 snaps compared to Todd Gurley’s six carries for 19 rushing yards on 19 snaps. Gurley outproduced Smith in the receiving game with two catches for 12 yards, and Smith caught a single 3-yard catch. In Week 15, the Falcons face a difficult matchup against the Buccaneers, so it’s hard to trust any Falcons running back. However, in deep-leagues with multiple flex spots, fantasy managers may turn to Smith.
Samaje Perine & Trayveon Williams, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Early in the game, Giovani Bernard lost a fumble and seemingly lost snaps and touches to Trayveon Williams and Samaje Perine. Williams finished with 12 carries for 49 rushing yards and caught all three targets for 14 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Perine logged ten carries for 32 rushing yards and two catches for nine receiving yards. I’m guessing Williams received more touches because the Bengals played from behind, and he’s more of their satellite back. It’s hard to envision a scenario where you’re relying on any Bengals running back in the playoffs, especially in Week 15 against the Steelers. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll consider them in the championship Week 16 matchup against the Texans.
Wide Receivers
Shallow league adds – Curtis Samuel, Tim Patrick, T.Y. Hilton, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Jalen Reagor.
Keke Coutee, WR, Houston Texans
By now, many fantasy managers picked up Keke Coutee, but we’ll mention him one more time. Against a tough Bears defense, Coutee caught all three targets for 24 receiving yards and one touchdown. With Brandin Cooks ruled out, it likely impacted the coverage, but the Bears defense also pressured Deshaun Watson. Although it’s a small sample, Coutee had an 11.4 aDOT heading into Week 14, and that’s a positive indicator for him moving forward.
I’m hoping Coutee is the 2019 Breshad Perriman with the higher target share, air yards, and aDOT. A little worried with Cooks out since Coutee will act as the Texans WR1. But hopefully still a solid WR3 in PPR https://t.co/ZrNsQkYapp
— Corbin (@corbin_young21) December 13, 2020
Nelson Agholor, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Over the past four games, Nelson Agholor has totaled 35 targets with 20 catches, 280 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. At this point, he’s the Raiders’ second receiver behind Darren Waller and averaging just under nine targets per game during that four-game stretch. From Week 11 to 14, Agholor ranks 4th with 525 air yards, 7th with a 43% air yards share, and 18th with a 0.63 Weighted Opportunity Rating (WOPR). Although he’s a bit of a boom/bust WR4, fantasy managers should feel more confident plugging in Agholor into their lineups. Thus, make sure to add Agholor this week in the 2020 fantasy football Week 15 waiver wire.
Lynn Bowden Jr., WR, Miami Dolphins
Over the past two weeks, Lynn Bowden Jr.’s opportunities and productivity keep trending up. In Week 13, Bowden caught all four of his targets for 41 receiving yards and also added 11 rushing yards. Then in Week 14, he caught seven of nine targets for 82 receiving yards and led the Dolphins in catches and receiving yards. He led all Dolphins receivers with 59 snaps and 35 routes, which makes sense since DeVante Parker left with an injury. However, Bowden ranks more as a deep league redraft play to consider in the 2020 fantasy football Week 15 waiver wire.
Chad Hansen, WR, Houston Texans
A player to monitor in deep leagues with multiple flex spots involves Chad Hansen. If you asked, who’s Chad Hansen, then you’re not alone. In the past two games, Hansen caught 12 of 14 targets for 157 receiving yards. Hansen finished second amongst receivers with 53 snaps on Sunday. In Week 15, the Texans play the Colts again, and in that matchup, Hansen caught five passes for 101 receiving yards. With that said, Hansen could rank as a deep-league flier to plug in lineups, but more of a WR4/5 in Week 15.
Tight Ends
Irv Smith Jr., TE, Minnesota Vikings
With Kyle Rudolph ruled out, Irv Smith took advantage of the opportunity with an efficient day. Smith caught all four of his targets for 63 receiving yards and one touchdown. Kirk Cousins struggled against a tough Buccaneers defense, and even their top receivers in Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson struggled with production. In Week 15, they face the Bears, who allow the third-most fantasy points to the tight end position. With that said, Smith ranks as the top streaming tight end to pick up in the 2020 fantasy football Week 15 waiver wire. If Mike Gesicki’s injury lingers, then pick up and plug in Smith with their fantasy-friendly matchup.
Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears
Although Jimmy Graham caught a touchdown on Sunday, the underlying metrics indicated stock up for Cole Kmet. Against the Texans, Kmet caught four of seven targets for 41 receiving yards. He also ranked second on the team in targets and receiving yards. Kmet led the tight end group in snaps with 51 compared to Graham’s 29 snaps, so that’s a positive sign for Kmet in deep leagues.
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