Even though Week 14 isn’t fully in the books, it’s time to cast an eye over your Week 15 waiver wire pickups for the 2021 season. For some of you, there is one last week until your playoffs. For others, you are there already (or you have a bye). This is where all of the work and pickups is most important.
Fortunately, there are no bye weeks now. But there are still plenty of injuries and COVID affects to be considered.
All of these pickups are written in percentage, not priority. For a player to be eligible they have to be owned in less than 50% of leagues. The rostered percentage is taken from ESPN. Now, let’s get into them!
Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) @NYJ 38.7% rostered
Tua isn’t even having a great season, but you’ve still got to consider him this week. Why? The opposition. The Jets defense is just not good (and that’s the polite version). The Dolphins offense is coming off a bye, which will have given their team a chance to get refreshed, and some players to return from COVID.
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) v TEN 18.4% rostered
Roethlisberger has had two consecutive games where he has been decent enough for fantasy. The Steelers offense has been functioning by allowing him to throw it often, which gives him reliable volume. With the receiving talent of Diontae Johnson, Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth and everyone on Twitter’s favorite Chase Claypool, the Titans offense are likely to have their hands full.
Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) v ATL 13.8% rostered
The 49ers offense continues to do what it needs to, led by Garoppolo correctly choosing his momnets. Against the Bengals, he had another game of 2 TDs and just shy of 300 yards. You can’t look past that production and has Atlanta next. Perfect insurance pickup for Lamar Jackson owners
Others to Consider
- Carson Wentz (IND) v NE 44.7% rostered
- Justin Fields (CHI) v MIN 15.4% rostered
- Davis Mills (HOU) @JAX 0.9% rostered
Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) @IND 42.5% rostered
The Patriots offense is built upon establishing the run primarily, which was shown in the game against the Bills where that’s all they did. Stevenson is the backup for the Patriots at the least, and used in the rotation at best currently. You have to pick him up if he is available for your playoff stretch.
Jeff Wilson (SF) v ATL 38.1% rostered
Wilson was given the majority of the carries out of the backfield as Eli Mitchell was ruled out of the contest. Mitchell might be back for next week, but you have to pick up Wilson incase he isn’t. Atlanta’s defense isn’t likely to be able to keep the 49ers from doing what they want, which is likely to include carries out of the backfield.
Rex Burkhead (HOU) @JAX 27.1% rostered
David Johnson was added to the COVID reserve, which made Burkhead the lead back for Houston. That led him to scoring double-digits for just the second time this season. Next up for Houston are Jacksonville, who have been giving up plays for fun. I’d pick him up and see how the COVID situation plays out. At worst you’ll have a flex consideration.
Devontae Booker (NYG) v DAL 26.1% rostered
Booker (from what I saw of the game) looked better than Saquon Barkley. There I said it. But he did. He didn’t have the same workload, but he was dynamic when he was on the field. Barkley has suffered with injury this season, so I’d pick up Booker as a depth piece.
Boston Scott/ Kenneth Gainwell (PHI) 19.2/ 11.7 % rostered
I’m grouping these two together because really you have to try and back one of them and see what shakes out. The Eagles have suffered from injury the entire season, and at this point you need to try and get out infront of that. I’d go with Gainwell personally, as his receiving work is more likely to pay off. But I can see why you’d go Scott. Just pick one up and hope you have the right one.
Rashaad Penny (SEA) @LAR 5.7% rostered
Penny took his opportunity to lead the Seattle backfield and had a great game didn’t he! While I wouldn’t get too carried away, don’t forget it was Houston after all, you can’t not pick up a starting RB at this stage of the season. The upcoming weeks also have teams that you can feel confident in too.
Justin Jackson/ Joshua Kelley (LAC) v KC 1.6/ 0.4% rostered
Ekeler was forced off the field due to an ankle injury, and the duo filled the role on the ground. They are going to be popular adds at this stage of the season. Of the two, Kelley was given more carries. Make of that what you will. There wasn’t a massive difference between them, but he did have the edge. Although for what it’s worth I’d opt for Jackson.
Others to Consider
- Ty Johnson (NYJ) @MIA 23.3% rostered
- Samaje Perine (CIN) @DEN 10.5% rostered
- Corey Clement (DAL) @NYG 0.3% rostered
K.J. Osborn (MIN) @CHI 26.5% rostered
Osborn was great on Thursday night. Yes, the majority of that production came on one downfield pass, but it’s clear the team wants him involved in the offense. Next up for the rookie is a matchup against Chicago, who have given up plays throguh the air.
Rashod Bateman (BAL) v GB 24.9% rostered
Did you give up on waiting for that breakout for Bateman? I did, so I’m heading back to the waiver wire this week to pick him up. He had a season-high 7 receptions and broke 100 yards against the Browns, and faces the Packers this week. He also seemed to be effective enough without Lamar Jackson too, so even if Jackson does miss time Bateman should still be ok.
Amon-Ra St.Brown (DET) v ARI 10.5% rostered
St. Brown had another healthy target share for a Detroit offense that struggled to make a real impact against Denver. Those targets are gold in PPR leagues, and there are some nice other matchups for WRs in the next few weeks. In the madness that we have with COVID causing some late unavailability, his depth could be priceless.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE) v LV 9.0% rostered
Peoples-Jones had one of those games that spiked this past week. In a season of ups and downs, he caught five passes for 90 yards against the Ravens. Being used as a downfield threat for the team really allows him to showcase his skillset. Against the Raiders this week, he has that boom-or-bust option you may need.
Allen Lazard (GB) @BAL 4.0% rostered
The Packers offense has long had an opening for a second receiver in the offense, the issue is knowing who it is week to week. Lazard was the latest receiver to step into that role. With Randall Cobb on the sidelines, I’d bank on Lazard more often than Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Others to Consider
- Jamison Crowder (NYJ) @MIA 30.7% rostered
- Kendrick Bourne (NE) @IND 26.9% rostered
- Jaylen Guyton (LAC) v KC 14.1% rostered
- Gabriel Davis (BUF) v CAR 2.5% rostered
Austin Hooper (CLE) v LV 34.1% rostered
Hooper had his best fantasy performance of the season, catching 5 of his 7 targets for 30 yards and a TD. The Browns offense doesn’t attack through the air too much, but the weakness of the Raiders at defending the position should mean Hooper finds himself in space for this matchup.
Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN) v CIN 0.7% rostered
Being honest, there weren’t many options I was overly sold with outside of Hooper. So I’ll opt for Okwuegbunam. The TE has had a relatively consistent role in the offense, and could continue to carve that role out in this offense.
Others to Consider
- Ricky Seals-Jones (WAS) @PHI 14.1% rostered
- C.J. Uzomah (CIN) @DEN 11.2% rostered
- Jack Doyle (IND) v NE 3.0% rostered
Miami Dolphins v NYJ 45.2% rostered
The Miami defense has really picked up since Week 9, with double-digit games in four of their five games since then. Next up are the Jets at home. Admittingly they were the team that broke their double-digit streak, but I’d still roster them.
Cleveland Browns v LV 41.0% rostered
The Browns defense did a great job against the Ravens this past week, and has had a string of decent performances. This week they face a Raiders team that just imploded on offense, giving the Chiefs a number of turnovers. With the Raiders traveling to a loud stadium, we could see the same struggles.
Others to consider
- Minnesota Vikings @CHI 30.4% rostered
- Philadelphia Eagles v WAS 29.3% rostered
- Washington Football Team @PHI 26.1% rostered
Greg Zuerlein (DAL) @NYG 40.6% rostered
Zuerlein continues to be about as reliable as you’d hope for from a kicker. The Cowboys offense has managed to move the ball consistently, but have stalled at times. With the safe floor of PATs mixed with FGs he is a safe player to hang your playoff hopes on.
Younghoe Koo (ATL) @SF 39.9% rostered
I’m going to give Koo a write up, as he broke his long streak of failing to score double digits. He hadn’t done that since Week 7, but this Falcons offense does seem like it has found it’s feet. After his performances last season, I hope he rediscovers his form.
Others to consider
- Ryan Succop (TB) v NO 30.1% rostered
- Dustin Hopkins (LAC) v KC 7.2% rostered
- Michael Badgley (IND) v NE 6.6% rostered
There you have it! Any questions, or want some more specific help for your league on who to drop, just reach out. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. And checkout out rankings for each Week.
Image Credit: Thomas Shea- USA TODAY Sports
