The fantasy football playoffs are finally here. In the interest of the rest of season rankings being as useful as possible I’ve thrown a whole pile of players in the 70-80 range that could potentially be a one week plug and plays for your team. I encourage all readers to map out their lineups throughout the playoffs to find expendable players. Ensure you have the optimal lineup for this week if you are in a playoff matchup, after that move on to week 15 and week 16. If there are players on your roster who will not make your projected lineup in any of those weeks those players become droppable (sans handcuffs). Prior to dropping any players, the last key question to ask yourself is will throwing this player to the waiver wire improve any potential competitor’s lineup substantially? If that isn’t the case find the highest upside players possible and get them on your roster. For a personal example, I have a first-round bye secured in a league. In the league I dropped Bo Scarbrough for David Njoku for the outside chance he returns against Arizona in week 15. Scarborough will never make my lineup. He is a usefully player, but the upside of Njoku against Arizona is worth the risk of one of my opponents snagging Scarborough.
Here are four teams with great rest of season offensive schedules with a mix of players in the ROS 80 and a few fringe players you can possibly still grab:
Jacksonville Jaguars (Opponents: LAC, @Oak, @Atl): The Chargers defense is trending slightly upward with the return of Derwin James and Adrian Phillips, but this schedule puts Dede Westbrook (#76) back into roster worthy territory. He is under 70% owned on Yahoo! Westbrook has 8.5 targets per game over the past two weeks and while they have been trailing in a majority of those this defense looks like a shell of its former self. Leonard Fournette (#6) maintains his elite ranking, and DJ Chark (#40) gets a slight bump.
Philadelphia Eagles (Opponents: NYG, @WAS, DAL): Jordan Howard has been dropped in several spots. If he is on the wire, he could be worthy of a speculative add for weeks 15 and 16 in the event his pinched nerve subsides. The Eagles remain only a game back of Dallas. Additionally, Alshon Jeffrey (#74) makes a return to the ROS 80 after a 16-target week. Although he had a poor week 13 Zach Ertz (#29) is a premium tight end play after a mediocre first half of the season. He scored double digit points the 3-weeks prior. Finally, as much of a scapegoat he has been Nelson Agholor has targets of 8/9/6 in his last 3 games played and is on the field for 90% of snaps per game. If you are desperate for a WR3 there are worse options.
Cleveland Browns (Opponents: CIN, @ ARI, BAL): I mentioned David Njoku as a sneaky add for the tight end needy. Baker Mayfield is 75% owned and can propel QB streaming playoff teams to the finals. Nick Chubb (#5) is now splitting snaps but remains a great play with the expected positive game scripts. Kareem Hunt (#61) is getting a bevy of snaps (~60% the last two week) and pass game work (over 6 targets per game since returning), which is proven to be more valuable than run game work. I’ve been hammering OBJ (#22) all season long. He has been a disappointment, but he is set to thrive in a few of the biggest weeks of the year. Here’s to hoping.
Miami Dolphins (Opponents: @NYJ, @NYG, CIN): Now we are talking! The waiver wire needy have somewhere to go. The Dolphins only have one player on the ROS 80: Davante Parker (#45). Parker could easily perform as a WR1 the rest of the way. Mike Gesicki is only 23% owned and has received 6 targets or more for the past 5 weeks. We know Ryan Fitzpatrick wants to push the ball downfield (yes, he is streamable in a pinch). If you think you can predict what happens between a Patrick Laird and Miles Gaskin backfield either could be worthy flex plays against this atrocious lineup of defenses. Bear in mind, the Jets are sneaky great against the run.
How would you rank Doyle, Gesicki and Njoku for weeks 15 and 16? Thanks!
Just for 15/16 I would probably go Gesicki, Doyle, Njoku. I can’t in good faith tell u Njoku is a must play as he is only viable in week 15 and I would probably need to see him play week 14 first. Gesicki and Doyle are both good options. Just feel as the target count will be similar and Gesickis Adot will be deeper. Doyle has more red zone targets but those are fickle with non premium players.
I have a bye this week and can pickup an extra RB for upside. Which Cheifs RB would you reccomend? Damien not available but the rest are.
My gut tells me that Andy Reid really really really wants McCoy to be the guy in the playoffs and might start ramping him up. I have absolutely zero to back that up. Whoever it is will have some tough sledding in weeks 15 and 16.
I was offered Jimmy G and Julio for J Allen and Locket in 12 team superflex half ppr. We both have byes this week and wouldn’t play each other till the championship. I also have Watson and Winston who have better 15 and 16 matchups so I figure losing J Allen doesn’t matter that much. Is Julio a big enough upgrade over locket to do this trade in your opinion?
He is definitely an upgrade at face value I just get concerned that they just signed him to a huge contract, they are playing for nothing and shut him down. That’s the only reason I can’t recommend it. Lockett has been an afterthought and might be hurt himself but they are fighting for HFA so he is playing and they have a pretty juicy schedule. Julio just scares the hell outta me.
“usefully player” (or some other noun there) should be used more
Mistakes were made…
Thank you for this list, it’s been a huge help all season. I am also hoping Obj gets going. Need him for weeks 15/16 bad.