With the last of the bye weeks in the rear view mirror and the fantasy football playoffs starting in most leagues, Week 15 is a critical week for last minute fantasy football waiver wire additions. After Week 14 featured some great games, big finishes, and playoff-shifting victories. If you need to give your team a final boost, there are some strong early pickups emerging from the waiver wire for Week 15.
Throughout the week, DK Network will have you covered with potential waiver wire pickups and strong plays for Week 15. Be sure to stay tuned to the outstanding coverage from the whole team. This post is designed to be an early look at some of the names to keep an eye on coming out of Week 14.
Another key factor to keep a close eye on every week is new injuries. Here are some new situations to monitor moving forward:
Players with new injuries from Week 14 to watch:
- QB Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
- QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
- QB Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
- QB Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets
- RB De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
- RB Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
- RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens
- WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
- WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
- TE Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
- TE David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
- TE Darnell Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers
With those injuries in mind, here are some of my early names to watch if you’re shopping on the Week 15 waiver wire.
WR Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans
Chimere Dike (13.4 FPTS) has stepped up as one of the Titans top receivers after multiple injuries and transitions at the position throughout the season. The rookie has been volatile, but he brings a very high ceiling with his usage and big-play ability.
Over the last seven weeks, Dike has posted over 13 fantasy points four times. He has three receiving touchdowns and a pair of return touchdowns on the season and has at least three targets in nine straight games.
On Sunday, he hauled in five of his eight targets for 24 yards and another touchdown:
Dike’s high volume and the fact that he brings so much big-play potential makes him a solid pickup. He’s only owned in 15% of leagues, but he is set up to be the team’s top receiver moving forward.
Next week, he and the Titans visit the 49ers before finishing most fantasy seasons with back-to-back home games against the Chiefs and Saints. Those three are mid-range matchups for receivers, but he brings a rare combination of floor and ceiling.
Ryan Flournoy (29.5 FPTS) and Tim Patrick (18.8 FPTS) had big weeks from their low ownership as well, but their future usage isn’t as secure as Dike’s future prospects.
RB Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins lost De’Von Achane (17.5 FPTS) to a rib injury in the first half of their win over the Jets, but they got a huge game from Jaylen Wright (19.7 FPTS), who stepped in almost seamlessly for the star running back.
After Achane had 92 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries, Wright took over and racked up 107 rushing yards and a touchdown on his 24 carries.
His touchdown actually came before Achane’s injury, and Ollie Gordon II had a rushing score as well, as the Dolphins ran all over the Jets. Wright was targeted on three passes but didn’t convert any into catches.
The injury to Achane creates a rare opportunity, since Wright could step in as the primary running back in a system that relies heavily on its running backs both as rushers and receivers. Gordon would likely continue to mix in, but Wright seems lined up for the majority of the workload. For most of the season, Gordon has looked like the handcuff to Achane, but Wright was impressive in Week 14.
Wright was expected to play a role in the Dolphins’ backfield coming into the year, but injuries and lack of opportunities have kept him off the fantasy radar. He’s available in over 90% of leagues, and if Achane misses time, Wright has the potential to be a key addition and win managers playoff games as a featured back.
Next week, the Dolphins visit the Steelers on Monday Night Football, which is a mid-range matchup, but then Miami’s backfield faces two outstanding matchups against the Bengals and Buccaneers. If Wright is the lead back for those matchups, he’ll be a RB2 with RB1 upside, and it is incredibly unusual to find that kind of potential on the waiver wire in Week 15.
QB Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
The Browns got a big game from Shedeur Sanders (37.5 FPTS), even though they came up just short against the Titans. Sanders had the second-best game of all quarterbacks in Week 14 to this point, behind only Josh Allen (37.8 FPTS).
Sanders finished with 364 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 39 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown. He was the first Browns QB with 300+ pass yards, 3+ pass TDs, and a rush TD in the same game since 1950.
Sanders completed only 23-of-42 passes, but it’s clear that the coaching staff is starting to trust him with more opportunities, and he’s starting to gel with the playmakers in the offense.
Looking ahead at the schedule, Sanders faces Chicago on the road next week, the Bills at home, and then at home against the Steelers in Week 17. Those matchups are fairly favorable for him, and if he starts adding more production on the ground, he could be a solid QB option in most formats if you’re in an emergency situation in the next few weeks.
Another rookie with a big game on Sunday was Tyler Shough (22.3 FPTS), who led his Saints to one of the biggest upsets of the season by knocking off the Bucs. Both Shough and Sanders are available in over 90% of leagues heading into the last four weeks of the season.
TE Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
In the Browns’ loss to the Titans, Harold Fannin Jr. (28.4 FPTS) put up the biggest week of any tight end in Week 14, which makes him one of the top additions from the waiver wire in Week 15, especially with David Njoku (knee), leaving with an injury and unable to return.
Fannin hauled in eight of his 11 targets from Sanders for 114 yards and a touchdown.
The rookie from Bowling Green is up to 59 catches on 85 targets for 619 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He has found the end zone in back-to-back weeks and has at least three catches in eight of his last nine games.
The yardage has been a little inconsistent, but now that Sanders is rolling, Fannin should be a good starting option for the next few weeks. In Week 15 and Week 17, Fannin has top-10 tight end matchups against the Bears and Steelers. If you lost Zach Ertz or another starting tight end, the rookie can be a great option in the 60% of leagues where he is on the waiver wire.
If Fannin isn’t an option, players with big games in Week 14 also included Mike Gesicki (20.6 FPTS), Mason Taylor (10.10 FPTS) and Josh Oliver (16.5 FPTS).
Cowboys DST
The Cowboys defense played Thursday night against the Lions, and even though they gave up 44 points in their loss, they are a good streaming play from the Week 15 waiver wire.
They will host the Vikings on Sunday Night Football in Week 15, and the Vikings have been one of the best DST matchups all year. In Week 16, they have another top-10 matchup for DST against the Chargers before heading to Washington to face the struggling Commanders in Week 17.
The Cowboys had just one sack and one takeaway against the Lions, but a few weeks ago, they had strong showings against the Cardinals and Raiders in favorable matchups like they’ll have the rest of the season.
On the year, they have 29 sacks in 13 games with 10 takeaways and a pair of defensive touchdowns. After three tough matchups against the Eagles, Chiefs, and Lions, the new-look defense should be lined up for a solid home stretch with new playmakers led by Quinnen Williams.
If someone else already roped in the Cowboys DST, other strong options for next week include the Jaguars DST (vs. NYJ), 49ers DST (vs. TEN) and the Panthers DST (at NO).
