If you are still reading this column, congratulations on making your playoffs. Between the COVID positives, injuries, and bye week players, Week 14 was a choppy one, but you survived and advanced. You cannot win without a chip and a chair.
Now is not the time to take the foot off the grass; it is the time to keep grinding. If you made the playoffs in a roster lock format like FFPC or NFFC, your roster is set. But in most leagues, you are now one of six teams in the postseason. Many leagues do not allow non-playoff teams to make waiver moves, and even if they do not, eliminated teams often lose interest and will not make bids. So take advantage of having fewer players to compete against this week.
If you are one of the teams in your league that earned a bye, now is a great time to look a week ahead to Week 16.
If you do not have a solid every-week kicker like Nick Folk, consider going kicker-less this week to roster another strong backup RB, useful potential Flex play, or a Week 16 or 17 defense. But if you need the win this week, then the smaller moves can sometimes differentiate between a win or a loss. Add potential Flex plays, and make sure you have a strong defense and kicker this week.
If you are in a head-to-head matchup, take a look at what the team you are playing against needs. Perhaps their QB is Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson. In this case, with those players’ statuses up in the air for this weekend, adding one of the best QB streamers may be the move to make. If you have a FAAB advantage, then be a bully. Do not be afraid to add multiple players at the same position with dollar amounts they cannot compete with. You are in a one-week season against your opponent in a winner takes all playoff. Make sure you make the moves that give you the best chance to win.
Last week we discussed Defensive streamers. Hopefully, you already have a great Week 15 option, but if you do not,, here are a few good options:
Arizona (at Detroit)
Miami (vs NY Jets)
Philadelphia (vs Washington)
Quarterbacks
Taysom Hill/Justin Fields
Both are QB1s this week but are most likely rostered.
Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins)
Tua Tagovailoa is one of this week’s best readily available streamers. He is coming off of a 269 combined yards and two-TD performance in Week 14 and now has had the bye week to prepare for the hapless Jets.
Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers)
Jimmy Garoppolo has quietly been on a tear the last two weeks with 595 yards passing and four TD passes. He now faces off against Atlanta; one of the league’s softest defenses against opposing QBs. He has a healthy George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel, and simply needs to get the ball in their hands.
Top 10 over the past 5 seasons (ie since 2017)
Jimmy G being basically tied with Brady/Rodgers is great content pic.twitter.com/fp0tV4UnSL
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) December 14, 2021
Running Backs
D’Onta Foreman (Titans)
We have written up D’Onta Foreman for multiple weeks and he is almost certainly rostered, but if he is still available, he would be my No. 1 add this week, and an obvious ‘spend all your FAAB-type’ addition.
Rashaad Penny (Seahawks)
Pete Carroll promised that Rashaad Penny would be a big part of the game plan, and he certainly kept his word. Penny ran wild against The Texans with 137 yards rushing and two TDs. He played his best game as a pro and looked like a former first round pick.
may I offer you a Penny in this trying time 🪙 pic.twitter.com/6T3b3fhBOJ
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) December 13, 2021
The competition gets a lot stronger with the Los Angeles Rams on tap this week, but Penny will get every chance at another high volume day. This is another ‘spend all you have left type of your FAAB-type of bid,’ and a great plug-and-play for teams who need an RB or Flex.
Justin Jackson (Chargers)
Austin Ekeler is banged up, and the Chargers play on Thursday. Justin Jackson would not see all the RB touches, we would most likely see Joshua Kelley mixed in, but Jackson would be the Chargers RB I would use/be my recommended addition. If given the opportunity, he is a capable receiver and rusher and would be a low-end RB2.
Jordan Howard/Kenny Gainwell/Boston Scott (Eagles)
Last week, I wrote up my hopeful Kenny Gainwell add, but if Jordan Howard is healthy AND Miles Sanders is out, the coaching staff would most likely give him a high amount of carries against Washington.
Been debating whether to stash Kenneth Gainwell or Jordan Howard.
🔥Howard averages 2.5 YBC & 2.9 YAC
👀Gainwell leads the Eagles with 34 High-Value Touches ahead of Miles Sanders at 30 with Boston Scott at 18 & Jordan Howard at 8 pic.twitter.com/FCRFGuyfeY
— Corbin (@corbin_young21) December 11, 2021
Pay attention to Tuesday’s practice reports with this one. My gut says Howard, but Gainwell getting increased touches out of a bye could boost the offense.
Gerrid Doaks/Duke Johnson (Dolphins)
For deep league players, the RB room in Miami is decimated. The veteran Duke Johnson would most likely be a floor play, Flex-type add, and Gerrid Doaks was a player I was high on in the preseason. I do not recommend using a Miami back this week due to the uncertainty, but the Jets are certainly generous against the position.
$0 Bids/Stashes
Craig Reynolds (Lions)
Wayne Gallman (Vikings)
D’Ernest Johnson (Browns)
Wide Receivers
Gabriel Davis (Bills)
Gabriel Davis played very well this past weekend at Tampa Bay. He caught a TD pass and converted a huge first down with effort and athleticism. He has now scored TDs in back-to-back games and should see even more snaps with Emmanuel Sanders now injured.
We may have just witnessed the Gabriel Davis over takes Emmanuel Sanders game and it’s about damn time the Bills figured that out. Even before this week Gabriel Davis continued to prove how efficient he was ranking just behind Stefon Diggs in PPR/Snap. pic.twitter.com/8QRe1y0gKd
— 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐧 (@ProFootballPSI) December 13, 2021
Davis is a WR3 for me this week and can be used as a Flex play (monitor the Josh Allen injury).
K.J. Osborn (Vikings)
We all saw what K.J. Osborn was capable of this past week as he drew nine targets and found the end zone. Adam Thielen is dealing with a high ankle sprain, so we could see another week of Osborn as Minnesota’s WR2. He would be a WR3/Flex play any week Thielen misses for the rest of the season.
Allen Lazard/Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Packers)
If we chase Flex plays, I want exposure to a QB like Aaron Rodgers. Allen Lazard saw more snaps and finished with six catches for 75 yards and a TD on seven targets. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, like always, is going to see several deep shots and is a boom-bust option. If you need a floor, add Lazard, if you need a ceiling consider MVS.
Jalen Guyton/Josh Palmer (Chargers)
Monitor the Keenan Allen COVID situation. If he is cleared then I would avoid these two. If he misses, both would warrant Flex consideration.
https://t.co/pXrT84T9fV pic.twitter.com/3iN3qcX0Rn
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) December 12, 2021
Josh Palmer is the stronger add of the two and seems more of a direct replacement for Allen. Jalen Guyton is a boom or bust TD-dependent, gutshot flex play.
Donovan Peoples Jones (Browns)
Donovan Peoples-Jones is on the Flex radar this week after an impressive five catches for a 90-yard performance in Cleveland’s big win over Baltimore. The Browns now have a great matchup against the Raiders. We could see DPJ have another big performance.
$0 Bids/Stashes
Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions)
Josh Reynolds (Lions)
Kendrick Bourne (Patriots)
Tight Ends
Austin Hooper (Browns)
Austin Hooper was a big part of the Cleveland offense with David Njoku out with COVID. He saw a season-high seven targets and caught five of them for a TD. He can be used as a high end TE2 streamer this week against Las Vegas.
