Fantasy Football 2019 Week 15: Waiver Wire Pickup Advice For The Playoffs

Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? We’re in the thick of the playoff hunt, so I’m cutting the list to playable options this week and next week. All the players I list will be owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the ownership percentage coming from Yahoo.com

Quarterbacks

Ryan Tannehill, Titans (48% Owned): If you weren’t sure if Ryan Tannehill is a thing again, last week should be your confirmation. I highlighted his startling efficiency this season in an offense that leans heavily on the run, and sure enough, Tannehill put up a mind-numbing 391 yards and three touchdowns on just 27 pass attempts. That kind of production is an outlier, of course, but it shows that he can be trusted even with lower volume than usual. It was how Russell Wilson became a Top 10 QB last year. Tannehill is protecting the football, and he has high-end talent around him when he does throw it. Week 16 is one to avoid, but he’ll be good to go once again against the Texans, who entered Week 14 as the 25th-ranked pass defense in the NFL per Football Outsiders and were shredded at home by Drew Lock.

Drew Lock, Broncos (2% Owned): Speaking of Drew Lock, he could be worth a speculative add for his Week 16 home matchup against the Lions. We’ll want to see how he does against Kansas City this week, but in his first two weeks as the starter he’s been impressive. He threw two touchdowns on just 28 attempts in his first start, then hung 309 and three scores on Houston, in a meaningful game for the Texans, on one fewer attempt. He’ll be hurt by not having TE Noah Fant, but Courtland Sutton is a monster, and his RBs help him in the passing game too.

Running Backs

Adrian Peterson, Redskins (40% Owned): Shocker!!! Derrius Guice is hurt again, once again leaving Peterson as the bell cow. You’re likely set at RB since you’re in the playoffs, but volume is never a bad thing to have on your roster. He racked up 20 carries last week and turned them into 76 yards and a touchdown. We marvel at Frank Gore’s agelessness, but Peterson is another old back who refuses to die. And unlike Gore, when Peterson gets this volume, you wouldn’t even suspect his age based on the production he doles out. The turd in the AP punch bowl are middling matchups against the Eagles and Giants, but if volume’s what you’re after, you don’t really care.

DeAndre Washington, Raiders (7% Owned): Washington got the work with Josh Jacobs out, and since we do not know Jacobs’ status yet Washington is a quality pickup. He gained 53 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground, and added six catches, 43 yards and a receiving touchdown in a loss to the Titans. Washington’s slate includes playoff matchups with Jacksonville and then the Chargers, so he’s a potential RB1, and a ready-made RB2 at worst if Jacobs nurses that shoulder.

Gus Edwards, Ravens (12% Owned): Mark Ingram owners should insure their star RB for these playoffs. Because if he goes down, and they don’t have a ton of FAAB for Edwards, they’re in bad shape.

Malcolm Brown, Rams (5% Owned): Todd Gurley owners are in the same boat as Ingram owners. Brown is a clear handcuff to their guy, and if Gurley goes down then Brown has significant TD upside. At this point, discard anyone who is probably not playing in the next two weeks and protect your asset.

Wide Receivers

A.J. Brown, Titans (27% Owned): Brown exploded for more than 130 receiving yards for the second time in three weeks. The Titans have realized they have a potential superstar WR on their hands here, and he’s seeing the snaps we’ve been begging for all year. Brown has another juicy matchup with the Texans, whose defense has fallen apart since losing J.J. Watt and trading Jadeveon Clowney in the offseason. I love Brown as a WR2 this week, and because of his size and talent, he has WR1 upside in any week, in any matchup, provided he sees a little bit of volume.

Darius Slayton, Giants (27% Owned): Slayton is making a case that he’s actually the best Giants WR. I was hesitant last week about him with Golden Tate returning from injury, but Eli Manning threw for 203 yards against Philly on Monday, and 154 of them were gobbled up by the rookie. Slayton has seen at least seven targets for four straight weeks, and bashed the Eagles for two touchdowns to go with his big yardage. I’m not in love with the Giants offense with Eli back in the saddle, but matchups against Miami and Washington are as good as you can hope for in the playoffs. I’m worried about the Big Blue offense, but if you are a little weak at WR, or have brutal matchups, Slayton has high upside.

Tight Ends

Darren Fells, Texans (36% Owned): Chances are you’re set at TE if you’ve made it here, but if not, Fells is one of the few widely available TEs worth a gamble. He hasn’t had more than two catches in a game since Week 8, but his touchdown upside, not his volume, is what you’re looking at. I would not feel comfortable at all playing him, but the matchup with Tennessee is favorable, and the Week 16 opportunity vs. Tampa Bay is supreme.