Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 15

Here’s what I’ve learned from this season so far: NFL players need to stop being amazing and stick to being just average. It’s clear the Football Gods won’t allow us to have pretty, nice things so we’ll have to settle for just average. Most of the just average people in the league are still playing well a fair amount of the stellar, amazing, “we make the NFL worth watching” guys are injured. Add now Carson Wentz to that list.

Blarg.

If you’ve been one of the lucky Wentz owners, this is a hell of a blow to take. But more importantly, this is a hell of a blow to Wentz who was putting together an MVP season this year. Thoughts to him and hoping for a speedy recovery. Maybe it’s time everyone in the NFL wear knee braces. Just a thought.

Anyway, I’ve got a few quarterbacks here for those who are now suddenly very needy along with other players you should be instantly trying to add to your fantasy team (percent owned in Yahoo leagues).

QB Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars (34 percent owned)

I’m not saying it’ll be easy to leave you fantasy championship chances in the hands of Blake Bortles, but if you are a Carson Wentz owner and are currently cursing the Fantasy Gods and trying desperately to figure out how to salvage your championship chances, Bortles might just be your guy. He has an extremely favorable playoff schedule—vs Texans, 49ers, and Titans—and has scored over 16 points in five of the last six weeks. Plus, how badass would it be to win your league with Blake Freaking Bortles as your QB.

RB Theo Riddick, Detroit Lions (41 percent owned)

Mark this date in your calendar as the day Theo Riddick finally did something. After having done a whole lot of nothing this season, Riddick came alive Sunday against the Buccaneers tallying six catches for 64 yards and 29 yards rushing with two touchdowns. Maybe it was the workload that finally did the trick, as the Lions used almost exclusively Riddick out of the backfield after benching Ameer Abdullah for poor performance. If this is the sign of things to come from Riddick, he needs to be on your squad.

RB Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers (38 percent owned)

Don’t you just love when veteran running backs come out of nowhere to score three touchdowns while their rookie counterpart does a whole bunch of nothing? I certainly do. Not many could have predicted Stewart’s breakout game given that he was facing a stout Vikings’ run defense (5th in league per RORD). However, much like with Riddick, if this is a sign that Stewart has awoken from hibernation and ready to show the NFL world that he is not to be replaced so easily, you should get him on your team, especially as the Panthers face the Packers (18th fantasy run defense) and Buccaneers (28th) in Weeks 15 and 16.

RB Rod Smith, Dallas Cowboys (13 percent owned)

Welp, Rod Smith had his breakout game and I would be impressed if anyone was able to take advantage. Smith went off against the Giants, finishing with 160 total yards—113 as a receiver—and a pair of touchdowns. Of course this is just in time for Ezekiel Elliott to come back from his suspension in Week 16 but for now, let’s just worry about Week 15 where the Cowboys take on the Raiders and their very average defense.

RB Kerwynn Williams, Arizona Cardinals (11 percent owned)

While Adrian Peterson has been out the past two weeks with a neck injury, Williams has been making the most of his opportunity. Over the last two weeks, Williams has tallied 36 carries for 170 yards (4.7 yards per carry), with a catch for 15 yards as well. Peterson’s status next week is still up in the air but the Cardinals face a very vulnerable Washington run defense that’s given up roughly 28 points to opposing backs the last three weeks.

WR Marquise Goodwin, San Francisco 49ers (55 percent owned)

I told you there was something special between Marquise and Jimmy G brewing in San Francisco. Goodwin has been targeted 20 times since Jimmy Garoppolo has taken over as starting quarterback, including Sunday’s performance where he received 12 targets, six receptions for 106 yards. Don’t be surprised if Goodwin’s stretch continues as the 49ers face the Titans next week, a defense that’s giving up the seventh most points to opposing wide receivers.

WR Dede Westbrook, Jacksonville Jaguars (30 percent owned)

Let’s just take a moment and recognize the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars are a very legit football team finally. John Dorsey should hang an inspirational picture of the Jaguars in his office, like one of those super cute ones with the little kitty hanging from the tree that says “Hang In There”. Like that, but with the Jaguars so he can look at it everyday and realize that bad teams can one day be good. Anyways, Westbrook has quickly become a fantasy stud the last three weeks, during which he’s been targeted 27 times, catching 12 for 200 yards and a score. And you already know the Jaguars’ offense has a very favorable schedule moving forward (see: Bortles, Blake).

WR Corey Coleman, Cleveland Browns (28 percent owned)

Josh Gordon has gotten all of the hype in Cleveland since his return and hopefully that just means people in your league have forgotten about Coleman. Coleman in his own right is a very talented receiver and is still a big part of the Browns offense. In only one of the five games he’s played this season has he been targeted less than six times and he’s coming off one of his best game of the season, catching five balls for 62 yards and a score.

TE O.J Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (23 percent owned)

It seems like the Howard revolution in Tampa was not just a Ryan Fitzpatrick thing. Howard put together yet another strong performance against the Lions, catching four balls on six targets for 54 yards and a touchdown. Howard has now gone over 50 yards in three of the last four games and that will likely continue against favorable matchups like the Falcons and Saints. Also, for those worried about Cameron Brate: he had one target Sunday.

QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (81 percent owned)

The Packers are still alive. Rodgers is coming back. Time to take advantage of all those fools in your leagues who dropped him because they weren’t patient enough to keep him around. Get him. Win with him. Laugh in your friends faces as you hoist the trophy over them with THEIR Aaron Rodgers at your helm.