As your Fantasy Football playoffs open, your core performers are well established, and there is less streaming to be done with the bye weeks over. You actually may find yourself in situations where you just have too many quality players and are faced with tough decisions that result in you leaving a solid contributor on the bench. Instead of racing to the waiver wire to spend more Fantasy Football FAAB, you are struggling over decisions on who not to leave out of your Fantasy Football playoff lineups.
But even if your team looks stacked, you can never have enough depth, mainly because of injuries and possible lineup changes on NFL teams. There are obviously not as many impact players on the free agent list this time of year, but the waiver wire is not devoid of players who can help you support your core performers and boost you to postseason victories. Stay active in free agency, even if you are not overly aggressive, and you could land a Fantasy Football postseason hero for your roster this late in the season.
Week 14 Fantasy Football FAAB Targets
Running Backs
Darwin Thompson, Chiefs. (32 percent owned in FanTrax leagues): He created quite a stir in the postseason and many Fantasy types expected him to challenge for the starting job. But when play began for real he was buried on the depth chart. Now the Chiefs must turn to Thompson because of injuries to Damian Williams and Darrel Williams, and they also seemingly want to keep LeSean McCoy on a pitch count. Thompson has some upside, as we saw in the summer, and should receive flex consideration right away if you land him. Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 70 percent of your remaining budget. You may not find many other potential contributors with this sort of upside so late in the season.
Raheem Mostert, 49ers (36): The longtime special teams standout showed what he can do if given a real opportunity, as he came through with a career performance in a marquee game against Baltimore. Mostert had 146 rushing yards and scored on a 40-yard run. He simply looks much more dynamic than Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida can’t stay healthy. He may be the best RB on the San Francisco roster right now, as he has good vision and the speed to take off for long gains. Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 60 percent. He is not clearly in line to maintain a significant role but it would not be smart of San Francisco to relegate him to a lesser role, either.
Derrius Guice, Redskins (88): He should be more widely available on some other sites after his breakout game in Week 13. Honestly, it was good to see Guice come through with a performance after all he has been through injury-wise. You have to root for the guy as he has overcome a lot of injury challenges to regain relevancy. Guice displayed an impressive mix of power and speed as he rushed for 129 yards and two TDs on just 10 carries. Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 50 percent of your budget. He may still share some time in the backfield, as Washington may be careful not to overwork him. But there is obviously a lot of flex promise for your playoffs here.
Wide Receivers
Anthony Miller, Bears (55): He has 21 receptions over his past three games, and posted a career-high 140 yards vs. Detroit in Week 13. Miller is starting to come on stronger just in time for the Fantasy postseason and is worth a flier for WR depth. If he keeps playing at this pace he will force you to consider him for flex usage. Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 30 percent.
Russell Gage, Falcons (27): He has 13 receptions over his past two games and caught his first career TD pass in Week 13. Julio Jones’ shoulder injury kept him out of action last week, and if it continues to be an issue, Gage will remain in a prominent role in the Atlanta passing game. Even if Jones can return this week, Gage is good to have as a “WR handcuff” for Jones or Calvin Ridley owners in case either misses any time going forward. Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 20 percent.
Zach Pascal, Colts (48): Many owners cut Pascal after or during a quiet three-game stretch prior to last week. But with the Colts receiving corps very thinned by injuries, Jacoby Brissett had no choice but to get him involved again last week. Pascal responded with seven receptions for 109 yards in Week 13 and is now back on the Fantasy radar. At least in the short term, he can be useful again. Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 20 percent.
Tight Ends
Jacob Hollister, Seahawks (62): Somehow, he is still available in a lot of leagues, as some owners refuse to acknowledge his recent emergence. But Hollister provided those who have faith in him with another respectable performance in Week 13, with six receptions for 44 yards. Hollister is a regular target for Russell Wilson on key downs and is capable of producing even better totals in any given week. Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: He seems to be a bit overlooked, so 25 percent should be enough to acquire him.
Kaden Smith, Giants (5): He has 11 receptions and a TD in the past two games. The rookie has been needed to step forward because of injuries and may continue to get some frequent looks because of injuries in the Giants passing game. If you are streaming TEs you should take the flier. Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 10 percent.
Quarterbacks
Tyrod Taylor, Chargers (0.1): There have already been reports he could get playing time at the expense of a struggling Philip Rivers. Taylor is a dual-threat who is a must-add in two QB formats and is worthy of a flier in deeper leagues where you are streaming. Fantasy Football FAAB Recommendation: 40 percent in two QB leagues, three percent in others.
Gardner Minshew, Jaguars (28): He was likely held onto in many two QB formats, but should be added again if you are streaming QBs in a single QB league. Minshew was a quality Fantasy option at times earlier this season. He also gets matchups with the Raiders and Falcons in Weeks 15 and 16.
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