Congratulations! If you are reading this, you have either reached the playoffs or are married to me and are forced to read this article every single week even though you do not even watch football. Let us focus on you the fantasy football playoff contender and not my wife, the patient and selfless backbone of this humble fantasy analyst. So, you’ve made it and chances are your roster is already nicely filled out and ready to compete. If not though, I will still be here for the next three weeks helping you fill-in holes or blocking your league mates from doing the same. Even Rocky needed Mick after he won the title, James Bond needed Q, and Crash Davis needed Annie Savoy who seriously, let us talk for a second: Annie Savoy? Chef’s Kiss! Anyways, congrats again on making it to the playoffs. Now let’s go!
My goal is to keep it simple with the waiver wire recommendations in terms of layout. I will include player, team, roster percentage, and of course a little background on why the player is suggested. The players will be listed by position in order of priority. The threshold I work with is generally less than 50% rostered in leagues.
QUARTERBACK
Taysom Hill | New Orleans Saints | 50% Rostered
The big quarterback news of Week 14 news was the injury to Lamar Jackson which could knock him out for the remainder of the 2021 fantasy football season. If Jackson is indeed out, my favorite waiver wire replacement would be Taysom Hill. His unique ability to pass and run found him finishing as a top five quarterback the past two weeks. His next two meetings should be competitive as well as the Saints look to try and secure a wildcard playoff spot. In leagues where I was streaming quarterback, Hill has been an unexpected but profitable pivot.
Gardner Minshew | Philadelphia Eagles | 2% Rostered
The big news from Week 13 was Philadelphia benching the ailing Jalen Hurts and giving the start to Gardner Minshew. The Eagles return from their bye this week to finish the season out with two matchups against division rival Washington Football Team in the next three weeks. The Football Team continues to give up the most fantasy points to fantasy quarterbacks this season. It is a dream matchup for whatever quarterback is behind center in Philadelphia. If you are the Hurts manager, its not a terrible idea to grab Minshew. For streaming past next week, there may not be a better quarterback if Minshew were to get the job.
Tyler Huntley | Baltimore Ravens | 1% Rostered
Mentioned earlier was Lamar Jackson leaving Week 14’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Tyler Huntley will be taking over at quarterback until Jackson can return. Huntley threw for 270 yards with a touchdown and added forty-five rushing yards. Heading into Monday Night, Huntley is the QB17. He is a last-ditch replacement if you lost Jackson. Either Hill or Minshew (if he starts) are much better options. I would start Ben Roethlisberger over Huntley going forth.
RUNNING BACK
Rashaad Penny | Seattle Seahawks | 20% Rostered
Hopefully, you took my advice on adding Rashaad Penny last week because he had an incredible game. Penny had sixteen rushing attempts for 137 yards and two touchdowns. It is the type of performance sprinkled throughout Penny’s first two seasons in the league, which lead many to predict a breakout last season. For the rest of this season, Penny looks to be the back to own in Seattle. Newly acquired Adrian Peterson was a surprise inactive and it appears his time in Seattle may be short. Penny sees decent matchups the next two weeks, but it is his championship matchup against the Lions intriguing me the most.
Craig Reynolds | Detroit Lions | 1% Rostered
The Detroit Lions are eliminated from playoff contention and really are not playing for nothing. I see the rumors of star running back D’Andre Swift heading to the season ending IR soon coming true. There is no real reason to roll him out there and letting him heal up is best for both the Lions and Swift. Reynolds looks to be the surprise choice to finish out the season for Detroit. Once the Lions get past the Cardinals in Week 15, they have great matchups against the Falcons and Seahawks.
Boston Scott | Philadelphia Eagles | 22% Rostered
Jordan Howard | Philadelphia Eagles | 8% Rostered
Kenny Gainwell | Philadelphia Eagles | 13% Rostered
The Eagles have emerged from their bye with little news on the health of Miles Sanders or Jordan Howard. We should have some sort of an idea by Tuesday’s practice reports. I am expecting Boston Scott to carry the load in Week 15 if Sanders and Jordan Howard are both out. If Howard is active things get a little more clouded. Gainwell is my last priority as his role seems to be in tandem with whomever starts and is very touchdown dependent. The lead back, whomever it is for Week 15, should see plenty of work. A stat I came across from friend of Razzball Pat Fitzmaurice, the Eagles have run the ball on 64% of their plays since Week Eight.
WIDE RECEIVER
K.J. Osborn | Minnesota Vikings | 38% Rostered
Last Thursday night saw the Minnesota Vikings keep moving along, at least in terms of fantasy. With Adam Thielen missing the game, we at Razzball recommended picking up and starting K.J. Osborn. While his performance was lacking, he did save his day with a touchdown. This week Osborn will face the Bears who just allowed 341 receiving yards to the Green Bay Packers. Even though quarterback Kirk Cousins is no Aaron Rodgers, I expect Osborn to see close to the same target share in a must-win game for Minnesota.
Allen Lazard | Green Bay Packers | 4% Rostered
Allen Lazard was second on the team in targets in Week 14 hauling in six of his seven looks for seventy-five yards and a touchdown. It is his second straight game with at least six targets. Aaron Rodgers has been on a tear of late and as long as Rodgers continues this course: Lazard can be used as WR3 or flex plug-in.
Amon-Ra St. Brown | Detroit Lions | 12% Rostered
While the Lions are not winning a Super Bowl this year or possibly the next fifteen, sorry Lions fans. One thing they are good for though is trailing in games. Amon-Ra St. Brown has seen his fantasy football stock rise the last two weeks as he has been peppered with a team high 24 targets which he has turned into 159 yards and a touchdown. The Lions look to trail the next three weeks as well and have their most difficult matchup rest of season this week against the Arizona Cardinals who give up over 33 points per game to fantasy wide receivers.
Wide Receiver is always deep, so here are a few more players rostered in less than 25% I would recommend rostering on your bench:
Jakeem Grant (for leagues awarding points for return yardage only)
TIGHT END
Austin Hooper | Cleveland Browns | 18% Rostered
The only widely available tight end I have much excitement for coming into Week 14 is Browns tight end Austin Hooper. The Las Vegas Raiders are giving up the second most fantasy points this season to tight ends and Hooper is just coming off a game where he saw seven targets and scored a touchdown. He has quietly been second on the Browns in targets this season.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
Miami Dolphins | 38% Rostered
The Dolphins get a home game against the team who gives up the fifth most points to defense and special teams. They are rested coming off their bye and have allowed 250 yards or less in their last two games. Easily the best waiver wire defense option for the week.