Fantasy Football: Week 15 Watch List Candidates
Scouring the waiver wire can be a daunting and time-consuming task due to the sheer amount of talent that is usually available in a league each and every week. The purpose of this article is to identify players who should be put on watch lists, so that fantasy owners can be proactive and aware of potential free agent gems over the course of the 2018 fantasy playoffs. Keep in mind that the names listed below are owned in a small percentage of leagues, but nonetheless offer statistical upside and therefore warrant our attention. The Week 14 edition of this article included names like Justin Jackson and DaeSean Hamilton. Now, let’s look ahead to Week 15 and players to watch for.
Tim Patrick (3% Owned)
Over the past week, all attention had been placed on Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton for the Broncos at wide receiver. Tim Patrick has been overlooked as a result, but now deserves recognition after registering 7 receptions for 85 yards on 10 targets in Week 14 against San Francisco. The 25-year-old is a sophomore in the NFL and went undrafted out of school, yet he owns an ideal body frame at 6’ 4” / 212 pounds to contribute regularly at the professional level. Patrick offers some flex appeal in a depleted Denver offense moving forward, and is an especially interesting name to stash in dynasty leagues for the future.
Boston Scott (0% Owned)
Despite posting a 1,000-yard rushing season with 8 touchdowns in his final collegiate season at Louisiana Tech in 2017, Boston Scott somehow managed to slide to the sixth round of this year’s NFL draft. New Orleans cut ties with the running back earlier this season after selecting him out of school, but Scott has since resurfaced with the Philadelphia Eagles in light of Corey Clement’s designation to injured reserve. It remains to be seen how much he will be utilized alongside Josh Adams and Darren Sproles, but Scott is an advisable player to roster in dynasty formats in the event that he carves out a role late in the 2018 season.
Vernon Davis (9% Owned)
Age is simply a number for Vernon Davis, as he is now 34 years old and in his thirteenth NFL campaign. Reports indicate that Jordan Reed could miss the rest of this season for the Washington Redskins due to a foot sprain, which opens the door for Davis to see extended looks at the thinnest position in fantasy. On the year, Vernon owns a 23-351-2 receiving line on 33 targets. That places him as the PPR TE25 entering Week 15. Davis is worth rostering for those in need of help at the tight end position for the remainder of the fantasy football playoffs.
Kenneth Dixon (25% Owned)
Talent has never been a question for Kenneth Dixon. On the other hand, injuries and suspensions have derailed his NFL career to this point. After a strong Week 14 performance, the Louisiana Tech product is once again back on the fantasy radar. Dixon posted 59 yards rushing with a touchdown this past week against Kansas City, which elevated his value in the process. Since returning from injured reserve in Week 13, the 24-year-old ranks the PPR RB29 in a committee alongside Gus Edwards in Baltimore. Dixon should be rostered and perhaps even started in the fantasy playoffs with an enticing matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on tap for this week.
Ian Thomas (40% Owned)
With Greg Olsen sidelined for the remainder of the 2018 season, Ian Thomas has been able to showcase his potential with a 9-77 receiving effort over 11 targets this past week. The fourth round selection is now firmly in the TE1 streaming mix, and should be rostered where available. In college at Indiana he displayed his big play ability, as Thomas scored 5 receiving touchdowns in eleven career games with the Hoosiers. Since Week 13 of this year, he ranks as the PPR TE6 overall and has earned 16 targets over that span. Look for Thomas to close out his rookie campaign on a positive note with matchups against the Saints, Falcons and Saints left on Carolina’s regular season schedule.