Week 15 Fantasy Waiver Wire

Image via 710 ESPN Seattle

By: George Kerth

Welcome to the fantasy playoffs! The waiver wire is not something that people give a lot of credit to in the fantasy playoffs, but injury fill-ins, streams, and handcuffs are as important as ever. Let’s see who some of the best adds of the week are!

SEA RB Rashaad Penny (Owned 1.4%)

The Seattle backfield may finally have an identity without Chris Carson. There have been failed experiments on Alex Collins, Travis Homer, DeeJay Dallas, and others but the former first round pick is finally looking like one. He turned 16 carries and 1 catch into 26.3 half-PPR points last week and could be an immediate starter in your fantasy lineups if you are a RB needy team entering the playoffs.

LAC RB Justin Jackson (Owned 0.4%)

If we remember back to last season, when Ekeler missed time, it was a mess to see who would lead the Chargers backfield, but one name always was in the mix. That man was Justin Jackson. He seems to be a coaching staff favorite and someone who is given the first chance to carry the load in Ekeler’s absence. Ekeler left the Chargers week 14 game with an ankle injury and with the Chargers playing on Thursday night this week, it wouldn’t be a shock if Ekeler misses the game and Justin Jackson sees most of the carries. A great handcuff and one week fill in right here.

DET RB Craig Reynolds (Owned 0.1%)

The pride of my and the other Couch GMs alma mater, Kutztown University, Craig Reynolds may have been the biggest surprise of week 14. Both DeAndre Swift and Jamaal Williams missed last weeks game and we are unsure of their statuses moving forward, but if they were to miss more time, Reynolds has definitely earned more of the starting RB work in their absence.

MIN WR K.J. Osborn (Owned 9.5%)

Osborn is a repeat offender on this article as he definitely stepped up in the absence of Adam Thielen like this writer and the rest of the Couch GMs expected. I don’t think there is a lot to say about Osborn but that he is a WR2/Flex option in your lineups until Adam Thielen is back and healthy for the Vikings offense.

BAL WR Rashod Bateman (Owned 8.3%)

I have talked about Bateman many times on this column before, talked about how many targets he was demanding and how the Ravens were relying on him in key situations. That started to fade in recent weeks when we heard he may have been dealing with a core muscle injury, but Bateman came back strong in week 14, even with a backup QB at the helm. Bateman has nowhere to go but up and is worth a roster spot on WR needy teams.

DET WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (Owned 10.4%)

That marks 2 straight 10+ points performances for Jared Goff’s up and coming favorite target. I get that St. Brown is not the prettiest name, but this man is getting targets and carving out a role in an offense that does not have many weapons to take away work. Tread carefully as they start to get some of their few weapons back in the coming weeks like Hockenson and Swift, but I still see solid performances to come from St. Brown.