Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 14
Welcome to the winner’s circle! Those of you reading this article are in the elite group of fantasy football owners who have reached the pinnacle of the fantasy football season: The Playoffs. If for some reason, you have been eliminated but are reading this just to spite the other owners in your league, I commend your dedication. With pleasantries taken care of, let’s get to business. Here are some names who can get you over the hump and secure a #FootClanTitle. You can listen to the guys discuss their top adds on the podcast.
Wide Receivers
Malcolm Mitchell vs BAL (ESPN 20%, Yahoo 29%)
The Chris Hogan experiment appears to be over in New England. Mitchell is the new hotness in a high-powered offense that is still trying to fill the void left by “Pimp Daddy Rob” Gronkowski.
Quincy Enunwa @ SF (ESPN 47%, Yahoo 36%)
Enunwa is a tough player to trust as he is likely to serve as a backup singer to Bryce Petty and the Heartbreakers, but he is still a big body in an offense that refuses to use TEs.
Tyler Lockett @ GB (ESPN 25%, Yahoo 37%)
Lockett has been slowed by injury all season, but it looks like he is finally coming back into form. He may be able to deliver on the potential we saw in him in the offseason.
Brandon LaFell @ CLE (ESPN 17%, Yahoo 17%)
The only thing worse than Brandon LaFell is the Cleveland Defense.
Tyler Boyd @ CLE (ESPN 33%, Yahoo 53%)
At least he isn’t LaFell.
Russell Shepard vs NO (ESPN 0.5%, Yahoo 0%)
Sneaky Snart this week. No Humphries, no Cecil Shorts for Tampa Bay. If New Orleans knows what is good for them they will dedicate all their limited defensive resources to stopping Mike Evans. Russell Shepard should be the beneficiary of soft coverage.
Taylor Gabriel @ LA (ESPN 36%, Yahoo 38%)
We have already seen the elite speed and playmaking ability of Gabriel. But now he comes into a week in which Julio Jones is dealing with a turf toe injury which would sideline most mere mortals, and the Falcons other starting WR, Mohamed Sanu is also dealing with an injury. Go west young man.
Adam Thielen @ JAX (ESPN 17%, Yahoo 16%)
Adam Thielen has been a pleasant surprise for the Vikings this season. This week they face the Jaguars who have played #1 WRs tough. Lucky for Thielen, his success this season hasn’t quite elevated him to that status. I expect Jalen Ramsey to lock down Stefon Diggs, giving Thielen some opportunities.
Running Backs
Jerick McKinnon @ JAX (ESPN 51%, Yahoo 44%)
McKinnon scored last week and looks to be the healthiest he’s been in weeks if not months. Do not let rumors of Adrian Peterson’s return scare you, it’s the offensive line you should worry about.
Christine Michael vs SEA (ESPN 47.8%, Yahoo 44%)
James Starks has been bad. There’s a stat floating around the interwebs that James Starks ran 54 yards per 1 rushing yard gained in Week 13. This is atrocious. If there’s one thing Michael is good at, it’s running downhill.
Handcuffs
Text cannot express the importance of picking up your handcuffs. Everyone has a 5th or 6th WR or some other expendable asset on the end of your bench whose potential never panned out. Cut them and lock up your RB position.
Deangelo Williams [Le’Veon Bell] (ESPN 22%, Yahoo 21%)
Alfred Morris [Ezekiel Elliott] (ESPN 15%, Yahoo 12%)
Derrick Henry [DeMarco Murray] (ESPN 46%, Yahoo 45%)
Mike Gillislee [LeSean McCoy] (ESPN 25%, Yahoo 23%)
Charles Sims [Doug Martin] (ESPN 9%, Yahoo 13%)
Kenneth Farrow [Melvin Gordon] (ESPN 0.4%, Yahoo 1%)
Charcandrick West [Spencer Ware] (ESPN 27%, Yahoo 17%)
Bilal Powell [Matt Forte] (ESPN 40%, Yahoo 44%)
Jalen Richard [Latavius Murray] (ESPN 12%, Yahoo 14%)
Paul Perkins [Rashad Jennings] (ESPN 24%, Yahoo 17%)
Jeremy Langford [Jordan Howard] (ESPN 26%, Yahoo 26%)
Tight Ends
Ladarius Green @ BUF (ESPN 12%, Yahoo 23%)
Coming off a career-high performance, it appears the investment in Green is finally paying off for Pittsburgh.
Cameron Brate vs NO (ESPN 51%, Yahoo 73%)
In his next three games, Brate plays the Saints, the Cowboys, and the Saints.
Coby Fleener @ TB (ESPN 65%, Yahoo 77%)
Fleener’s value has been capped this season because of a low snap count. However, fellow TE Josh Hill suffered a fractured fibula in Week 13. This leaves Fleener as the clear TE in the Saints’ offense.
C.J. Fiedorowicz @ IND (ESPN 52%, Yahoo 40%)
The Texans may unwittingly find themselves in a shootout against Andrew Luck and the Colts, with a QB in Osweiler who refuses to throw deep. Fiedorowicz could be a target monster.
Dennis Pitta @ NE (ESPN 47%, Yahoo 33%)
Pitta has been a PPR asset all season with solid yardage. After his double dip into the end zone in Week 13, it is very tempting to chase the points, though not the best matchup this week.
Vance McDonald vs NYJ (ESPN 19%, Yahoo 20%)
McDonald owners should be encouraged by the benching of Colin Kaepernick. In 10 games with Blaine Gabbert as his starter, McDonald has scored 5 TDs. Oh, by the way, they play the Jets this week.
Defense/Special Teams
Bengals @ CLE, vs PIT, @ HOU (ESPN 51%, Yahoo 31%)
Cleveland still doesn’t know who their starting QB is going to be. It is still possible that Kessler and RGIII are unavailable for this game. Even if they do play, it’s still Kessler and RGIII.
Bills vs PIT, vs, CLE, vs MIA (ESPN 57%, Yahoo 63%)
I don’t think you can start the Bills this week. But in Weeks 15 and 16 they play the Browns and Dolphins at home.
Chargers @ CAR, vs OAK, @ CLE (ESPN 45%, Yahoo 40%)
Carolina is giving up a lot of sacks this season. San Diego also plays Cleveland in the championship week.
Lions vs CHI, @NYG, @DAL (ESPN 17.5%, Yahoo 9%)
The Lions have held opposing offenses to less than 20 points for 4 straight weeks. Enter Matt Barkley and the Bears.