Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 15 (Fantasy Football)
If you are reading this, you are either gearing up for a playoff run or desperate to avoid your league’s dreaded last-place punishment. Either way, it is crunch time, and the waiver wire remains a vital tool for maximizing your chances of ultimate success. With Week 15 marking the start of the fantasy playoffs, now is the time to ensure every bench spot is optimized for both the week ahead and the matchups to come.
This might mean cutting loose benchwarmers that you would never start in favor of high-upside handcuffs who could become game-changers. Another savvy move is stockpiling defenses with favorable matchups to give yourself a potential edge. The key is to leave no stone unturned and take every step possible to set your team up for victory. With that in mind, here are the top waiver pickups for Week 15, players who can make a difference this week and keep your championship hopes alive.
Catch the weekly Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast
Running Back Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
3
1
2
2
1
5
1
3
4
2
4
4
2
6
3
5
5
3
7
6
9
4
6
7
8
9
5
8
6
7
8
9
7
8
9
Devin Neal, RB, New Orleans Saints – There is a new sheriff in New Orleans, and his name is Devin Neal. With Alvin Kamara sidelined, the rookie has looked more than capable as the Saints’ lead back. He delivered his best game on Sunday with 19 carries for 70 yards and a TD, plus a 14-yard reception. He handled 76% of the team’s RB carries, showing a firm grip on the backfield and clear trust from the coaching staff.
If Kamara remains out, Neal profiles as a low-end RB2 the rest of the way, starting with a favorable matchup against the Panthers. His schedule only boosts his appeal, with the Jets next and a dream spot against the Titans in Week 17, giving him one of the strongest closing stretches at the position.
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams – After a quiet rookie year, Blake Corum is starting to look like the top prospect he was at Michigan. He earned a spot in last week’s article after putting up 81 rushing yards and a score in Week 13, but he topped that in Week 14. Corum ripped off 128 yards and two TDs on 12 carries in Sunday’s win over the Cardinals, showing real burst while giving Kyren Williams much-needed relief. With how productive he has been, there is little incentive for the Rams to change their plan of managing Williams’ workload down the stretch, which keeps Corum firmly on the fantasy radar.
I would not suggest forcing him into your lineup in Week 15 against the Lions, since limited touches make him more TD-dependent in that matchup. But if Williams misses any time, Corum jumps straight into league-winner territory, making him a must-add in every league.
Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans – Tony Pollard has been a disappointment all season, but he finally showed signs of life in Week 14. He powered Sunday’s upset win over the Browns with 25 carries for 161 yards and two TDs, looking like the explosive playmaker fantasy managers expected back in September. The problem is that this was his first double-digit fantasy outing since Week 5, which suggests it may be more of an outlier than a turning point.
Even so, he is a starting RB who is currently rostered in just under 40% of leagues, which makes him a priority pickup if you need help or want to shore up depth. His matchup with the 49ers is not terrible on paper, but a repeat explosion is unlikely. Treat him as a low-end RB2 who needs a score to hit a real ceiling.
Chris Rodriguez, RB, Washington Commanders – Chris Rodriguez will keep landing in these articles until his roster percentage finally rises to where it should be. He is still somehow hovering around 60% despite serving as Washington’s lead back and impressing every week. He posted 52 yards on 10 carries in Sunday’s loss to Minnesota, clearing five yards per attempt and reinforcing why he should keep this role through the finish. He doesn’t add much as a receiver and needs TDs for a true ceiling, but he is a reliable depth piece for the playoff push and a viable spot start most weeks, especially with a favorable Week 15 matchup against the Giants on deck.
Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings – Their QB may go by “Nine”, but the Vikings dialed things up to ten in Week 14. *crickets*. Jokes aside, while the rookie QB showed much-needed progress in this outing, Minnesota has also started to get meaningful contributions from RB Jordan Mason. In Sunday’s commanding win over Washington, Mason ran for 52 yards and a TD on 11 carries. He offers very little as a receiver and is still splitting work with Aaron Jones, but he can enter the streaming conversation in deeper leagues thanks to a favorable matchup with the Cowboys.
With that said, Dallas has improved against the run since adding Quinnen Williams, which makes Mason more TD-dependent this week, but he is still worth adding for anyone looking to strengthen depth.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins – De’Von Achane is an electric talent, but his smaller frame does leave him more susceptible to injury than most lead backs. Although reports say he could have returned after exiting Week 14 with a rib injury, we at least saw what the backfield might look like if he misses time. Instead of rookie Ollie Gordon taking over, Jaylen Wright stepped in and took control. He logged 24 carries for 107 yards and a TD in the win over the Jets, though he failed to connect on any of his three targets. If you roster Achane or are slated to face him in the playoffs, Wright becomes a priority add. Even if you are not directly tied to Achane, Wright has appeal in case the injury lingers. Miami also draws a soft closing stretch with Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Tampa Bay to close out the fantasy season.
Wide Receiver Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
3
1
2
2
2
4
3
4
5
2
4
5
6
3
5
6
1
7
6
3
4
6
7
7
10
5
8
10
7
8
9
9
12
9
10
11
8
11
11
8
13
10
12
13
9
13
13
14
11
14
14
12
14
12
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers – Jayden Reed has missed most of the season after getting hurt in Week 1, which has kept his roster percentage under 50%. He finally returned in Week 14 and posted four catches for 31 yards, a quiet enough line to keep him under the radar. Even so, he has shown he can be a week-winning play when things break his way. Christian Watson has been on a tear and should remain the WR1 in Green Bay, but that attention can open up opportunities for Reed as his snaps ramp back up.
Reed is an intriguing stash with real boom/bust potential for the stretch run. Just don’t plug him in yet. The Packers draw a red-hot Denver defense in Week 15, which keeps Reed off the starting radar for now.
Luther Burden, WR, Chicago Bears – Rookie Luther Burden is an electric playmaker, but his opportunities have been limited for much of the season. With Rome Odunze sidelined, Burden played his highest snap share of the year in Week 14 and took advantage of the expanded role. He posted four catches on six targets for 67 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Packers, marking his fourth straight game with at least five targets and signaling a steady rise in involvement.
He unfortunately now draws a brutal Week 15 matchup against the Browns, who remain one of the league’s toughest defenses despite last week’s meltdown. That makes Burden more of a stash than an immediate start, but if you have room on your roster, he is the type of high-upside talent worth grabbing.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns – After finishing as a surprise fantasy WR1 last season, Jerry Jeudy has played more like Jerry Booty for most of this year. Still, he has flashed a couple of spike games since the Week 9 bye and appears to be building some chemistry with Shedeur Sanders. That showed up in Sunday’s loss to the Titans, where he turned five targets into three catches for 76 yards and a TD.
The problem is that his production has been far too inconsistent to trust. He remains a desperation option in the right matchup, nothing more. If you have room on your roster or are truly scrambling for a starter, his Week 15 matchup with the Bears is at least interesting enough to take a shot and see if he can finally stack some momentum.
Rashid Shaheed, WR, Seattle Seahawks – Rashid Shaheed, who looked like a key Seahawks acquisition at the trade deadline, has been nearly invisible since joining the team… until Week 14. He turned heads Sunday with four catches on five targets for 67 yards, plus 148 return yards and a TD on three kick returns. Shaheed is carving out a role alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but in fantasy terms, he is more boom or bust than a reliable weekly option. That said, he draws a favorable Week 15 matchup against the Colts and should be strongly considered in leagues that reward return yardage.
Ryan Flournoy, WR, Dallas Cowboys – CeeDee Lamb missed a large chunk of Thursday night’s game due to concussion protocols, and in his absence, another receiver stepped up in a big way. No, not the one you think. Ryan Flournoy, who has been little more than a complementary piece in Dallas’ offense this year, became the focal point in Week 14. He finished the loss to the Lions with nine catches for 115 yards and a TD on 13 targets. While many expected George Pickens to benefit from Lamb being sidelined, it was the unheralded second-year receiver who shone.
The reality is that Flournoy only becomes fantasy relevant if Lamb or Pickens misses time, which is not currently expected even after Thursday’s exit. For now, his Week 14 explosion does not make him a viable starting option moving forward.
Tight End Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
3
2
4
3
4
4
3
5
5
6
5
4
6
5
7
6
7
7
6
9
8
9
8
7
9
8
9
8
Harold Fannin, TE, Cleveland Browns – Last week, we recommended Harold Fannin as a top pickup, even with how messy the Browns’ offense has been. In a disastrous Week 14 loss to the Titans, he still managed to impress. Fannin posted eight catches on 11 targets for 114 yards and a TD, finishing as the TE1 on the week. He has now scored in back-to-back games and clearly has chemistry with Shedeur Sanders. You can trust him right away heading into a Week 15 matchup with the Bears, where he should remain a central piece of the game plan.
Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens – It will take some guts to roll him out in the first week of the playoffs, but Isaiah Likely has quietly started to heat up after a slow season. He had previously turned a favorable Week 13 matchup against the Bengals into five catches for a season-high 95 yards. His production was lighter on Sunday with four catches for 25 yards, yet he found the end zone and nearly scored again before a controversial overturn. His snaps and routes have climbed each week, and he has seen six targets in back-to-back games. He now gets Cincinnati again in Week 15, setting him up for another potential spike week in the best matchup at the position.
Quarterback Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
2
4
2
4
1
2
3
2
4
3
4
3
8
1
5
5
3
5
6
6
5
6
7
7
6
9
8
8
7
8
9
9
9
7
Check out Javier Manzanera’s weekly article on QB Streamers to Consider.
Team DST Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
3
2
2
2
1
3
3
3
2
1
6
4
6
4
1
5
4
5
4
6
5
6
5
Catch the weekly Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast
Final Thoughts
Making the playoffs is a significant milestone, but the real challenge begins now. This is the time to stay focused, keep your foot on the gas, and position your team for victory in the weeks ahead. No one remembers the teams that simply make the playoffs. They remember the champions. Every season, only one manager claims that title, and your journey to the top starts here. Strengthen your roster with key pickups from the waiver wire, and prepare for the long road ahead. Let’s win this first battle and keep the momentum going on the road to ultimate glory.
Comments
After that terrible “nine” joke I stopped reading and went elsewhere, if I could facepalm emoji on my laptop I would! Not a McCarthy apologist at all either.