If you are reading this article, you are most likely in one of the following scenarios: you already have a playoff spot secured or you need to win to get into the playoffs this week.
The good news is I am here to help you. If you are already locked in and there is a backup player that will get massive volume if the starter in front of him, you want to add that guy this week. You don’t want to fight with any of the competition in waivers on Tuesday. Now is not the time to hold someone on your bench that you know you will never play just because you are attached to that player.
This column refers to players rostered in under 50% of Yahoo, ESPN, and Sleeper Leagues.
Week 14 Weekend Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
The past two weeks have been really good for Matthew Stafford. In Week 12 he passed for 229 yards and 4 touchdowns. He followed that up in Week 14 with 279 yards and 3 touchdowns. The fantasy playoff schedule is pretty sweet with the Commanders in the first round Week 15. So if he is available and you need a QB I would add him.
56% rostered on Yahoo
33% on ESPN
55% on Sleeper
Gardiner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts
I had Minshew as an addition here last week as well. 312 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 14 put him back here again this week. He has been solid and the Colts are playing well.
27% rostered on Yahoo
16% on ESPN
30% on Sleeper
Other quarterbacks to consider if you are desperate:
- Mitchell Trubisky – 0% Kenny Pickett is going to miss some time. Trubisky came in and passed for 117 yards and a touchdown.
- Jameis Winston – The playoff schedule is not bad at all. He is 1% rostered.
Running Backs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansa City Chiefs
Isaiah Pacheco is out for at least Week 14. Andy Reid has stated that Clyde will get the start. The Chiefs have had an offense with Pacheco heavily involved this season, so it will be interesting to see how this pans out. CEH should be the primary runner with Jerrick McKinnon mixing in as the passing down back. I Would add one or the other. His roster ship rose from 19% to 23% during the writing of this article.
23% rostered on Yahoo
3% on ESPN
11% on Sleeper
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Spears took all the touches once Henry left the game with his concussion in Week 12. Spears rushed for 75 yards on 16 carries and had 4 receptions for another 13 yards. If Henry is missing any time Spears has RB1 potential every game Henry is out.
45% rostered on Yahoo
37% on ESPN
54% on Sleeper
Other running backs to consider if you are desperate:
- Jerrick McKinnon – 31% rostered on Yahoo and he has proven himself in the fantasy playoffs last season. Will history repeat itself?
- Kenneth Gainwell, Roschon Johnson, D’Ernest Johnson, Elijah Mitchell are all guys that should be on your radar at the very least.
NOTE: If we learned anything from me harping on you weekly to add Ezekiel Elliott is that a hand cuff is more important this time of the fantasy season then they guy that you used to fill in for the bye week.
Wide Receivers
Noah Brown, Houston Texans
Before getting injured Noah Brown had two huge games where he and CJ Stroud were connecting on very big plays. In weeks 9 and 10 Brown had 325 yards and a touchdown. With Tank Dell out for the rest of the year, Brown could factor in heavily during the fantasy playoffs for the Texans. The Texans also play the Titans twice in this span and the Titans give up the sixth most fantasy points to wide receivers.
50% rostered on Yahoo
42% on ESPN
54% on Sleeper
Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants
Hyatt had his best game of the season in Week 12 before the Giants’ bye. He saw 6 targets, which he turned into 5 receptions and 109 yards. The schedule is not so favorable for the next 2 games, but the Eagles will be up in Week 16. The Eagles give up the most fantasy points to opposing teams’ wide receivers. If wide receivers’ injuries got you down in any way he could be the answer.
6% rostered on Yahoo
4% on ESPN
16% on Sleeper
Other wide receivers to consider:
- Joshua Mingo – Migo is only 17% rostered on Yahoo. He has led the Panthers in targets in the past two games. In Week 13 he saw 10 targets, 6 receptions for 69 yards.
- Elijah Moore – He is now “Moore” highly rostered at 50% on Yahoo. But Joe Flacco only has eyes for Elijah and will give him double-digit targets. What he does with those is anyone’s guess.
Tight Ends
Harrison Bryant, Cleveland Browns
Harrison had 5 targets, 5 receptions, 49 yards, and a touchdown in Week 13. Flacco targeted his tight ends pretty heavily with both Njoku and Harrison getting 5 or more targets. With Amari Cooper’s concussion things may open up here for guys like Harrison, Njoku and Moore.
1% rostered on Yahoo
0% on ESPN
0% on Sleeper
Brevin Jordan, Houston Texans
In Week 13 Jordan filled in for Dalton Schultz and performed pretty well. He had 4 targets, 3 receptions, 64 yards. In Week 14 Schultz will be out again. The Jets are tough on the pass overall but not on tight ends. The Jets give up the ninth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Jordan is a plug-and-play for Week 14. The Schedule gets tough after that.
12% rostered on Yahoo
1% on ESPN
11% on Sleeper