Week 15 kicks off the fantasy football playoffs in most seasonal leagues, and just like any other week, you should be considering making some key waiver pickups or spending some of your FAAB budget to improve your rosters.
Even if you don't have glaring lineup issues, you should still think of the best stashes and backup plans for the upcoming matchups. Based on recent trends, key RB injuries, and near-future opponents, there are plenty of upgrade options, including Chase Brown, Ty Chandler, D'Onta Foreman, Odell Beckham Jr., Isaiah Likely, and many others.
Whether you're thinking about just this week or the next few weeks, how should you prioritize the pickups, either through the running of waivers or allocation of your now almost depleted free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB)? Here's your advice and buying guide for the latest week of the fantasy open market:
WEEK 15 FANTASY: Top waiver pickups
Week 15 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
1. Jake Browning, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 73%). It looks like Browning avoided a serious thumb injury after lighting up the Colts for his second-straight big fantasy start. The 275 passing yards and three TDs at home make him a sweet top-line streamer when Cincinnati hosts the Vikings next Saturday. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
2. Joe Flacco, Browns (Yahoo league availability: 94%). Flacco has been sharp right away, unlocking all of Cleveland's key weapons in two starts. The Browns have a manageable matchup against the Bears at home coming up next, and Flacco can be again viable opposite Justin Fields. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
WEEK 15 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 15 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
1. Chase Brown, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 94%). Brown and Joe Mixon have become focal points of the offense with Browning spreading the ball around. Mixon is still locked into 15-20 touches, but Brown turned three catches into 80 yards, including a 54-yard TD, and he also showed good burst on his eight carries for 24 yards. Brown is either a valuable dynamic change-of-pace or a high-upside handcuff for Mixon. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
2. Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs (Yahoo league availability: 59%). There's a chance Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) will need to miss a second game in New England after not suiting up for Buffalo. McKinnon just returned from a groin injury to put up seven touches for 37 yards and a TD helping to fill in vs. the Bills. He could heat up late scoring-wise like he did last season. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
3. Antonio Gibson, Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 46%). Brian Robinson Jr. went into the bye week hamstrung, so Washington might need to roll with Gibson in a prominent role against the Rams at home. His pass-catching floor and decent red-zone work can make him useful for those hurting at the position despite a tough matchup. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs (Yahoo league availability: 50%). CEH was also a popular late-week acquisition ahead of the Pacheco news. Playing off McKinnon in a committee vs. Buffalo, he posted 68 yards on 13 touches. He's unlikely to be the TD guy, but there's still value here against the Pats next week. Projected FAAB bid: 6-8% of total budget
5. D'Onta Foreman, Bears (Yahoo league availability: 62%). Foreman led the backfield for Chicago as it operated with a surprising major positive game script vs. Detroit, turning 13 touches into 72 yards. Be wary that a brutal underdog matchup at the Browns is next, but Foreman is still worth owning. Projected FAAB bid: 5-8% of total budget
6. Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 100%). The Commanders are going nowhere with a likely head-coaching change on the way, so it behooves them to take a good look and what Rodriguez can do in the power and explosiveness department if Robinson Jr. (hamstring) is out. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
WEEK 15 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 15 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
1. Noah Brown, Texans (Yahoo league availability: 50%). Tank Dell (fibula) went down for the season in Week 13, and Nico Collins (calf) got hurt early in Week 14. It's weird to recommend a player who's been blanked on two and five targets, respectively, over the past two games, but Brown and the Texans go back to having a great matchup at the Titans in Week 15. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
2. Josh Palmer, Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 70%). Palmer (knee) wasn't quite ready to return against the Broncos in Week 14 but L.A. desperately needs him. In the first matchup with the Raiders, Palmer posted three catches for 77 yards on eight targets, so there's potential value here even with Easton Stick under center. Projected FAAB bid: 6-8% of total budget
3. Zay Jones, Jaguars (Yahoo league availability: 71%). Jones, now their No. 2 wideout away from Calvin Ridley, was a lot more active along with Evan Engram with no Christian Kirk (core) against the Browns. He is worth considering in a tough spot vs. the Ravens next, given the Rams just had surprising success against them. Projected FAAB bid: 6-8% of total budget
4. Curtis Samuel, Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 65%). Samuel was an integral part of Washington's passing game for multiple weeks before the bye with Sam Howell getting the ball out more quickly. Washington's outside receivers, Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, have been contained and Howell is under siege, opening the door for Samuel to shine. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
5. Jonathan Mingo, Panthers (Yahoo league availability: 83%). Mingo caught six-of-10 targets for 69 yards against the Buccaneers in Week 13. He got nine more targets in Week 14 but in a tougher matchup, it added up to only two catches for 22 yards. Mingo can get back on track with that kind of volume vs. the Falcons, but be wary of A.J. Terrell. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
6. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 86%). Smith-Schuster blew up with no Demario Douglas (concussion) or DeVante Parker (knee) against the Steelers in a revenge game. He might be busy with key targets again vs. his other former team, the Chiefs, next. Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget
7. John Metchie III, Texans (Yahoo league availability: 99%). With no Dell and no Collins, Metchie would need to see some work, too. He would also have some appeal because of the Titans matchup. Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
Week 15 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
1. Isaiah Likely, Ravens (Yahoo league availability: 45%). Likely was unlocked as a go-to guy for Lamar Jackson with his five catches for 83 and a TD against the Rams. The Jaguars' tight end coverage is decent on paper, but they allowed the Browns' David Njoku, another wideout-like tight end, to go off in Week 14. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
2. Logan Thomas, Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 57%). Thomas should get healthier coming out of the bye, and the Rams remain very vulnerable against tight ends, so he and Curtis Samuel could be very busy for Sam Howell in the middle of the field. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
3. Davis Allen, Rams (Yahoo league availability: 100%). Allen, an athletic rookie from Clemson, filled in well for an injured Tyler Higbee (neck) against the Ravens, catching four-of-five targets for 50 yards and a TD. He gets a more favorable spot next vs. the Commanders next should he need to play more off the wide receivers again with Higbee hurt. Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget
4. Tanner Hudson, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 96%). Hudson was needed for only three targets in the blowout of the Colts, but he caught two for 21 yards and a TD. The Vikings'matchup gives him another opportunity for a high-leverage role. Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget
5. Cade Otton, Buccaneers (Yahoo league availability: 62%). Otton caught only two of his five targets against the Falcons, but he made them count enough with 16 yards and a TD. The Packers matchup isn't the best, but he can pop into the end zone again. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
6. Gerald Everett, Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 48%). Everett is tough to trust in a bit of a committee for a passing game and offense breaking down, but the Raiders matchup isn't so bad if one is desperate. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
7. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans (Yahoo league availability: 67%). Chiggy is a little low-upside as a play, but after the Dolphins, he gets a great matchup by the numbers vs. the Texans. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
Week 15 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire D/ST pickups, streamers
(Note: Do not spend any of FAAB budget on D/ST! Get them for $0 after waivers run!)
1. Indianapolis Colts (Yahoo league availability: 58%). The Colts are finding ways to make big plays on defense and special teams every week. That bodes well for a date with a sputtering Steelers offense at home.
2. Los Angeles Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 69%). The defense is playing well while the offense has gone into the tank for Brandon Staley. They had a big game the first time, too, vs. Aidan O'Connell.
3. Las Vegas Raiders (Yahoo league availability: 93%). The Raiders also make the cut in the same game with Maxx Crosby and friends maybe getting Easton Stick to attack instead of injured Justin Herbert (finger).
4. Atlanta Falcons (Yahoo league availability: 68%). The Falcons are getting shakier with each week given their defensive injuries, but they can rebound for a strong effort vs. Bryce Young and the Panthers.
5. Los Angeles Rams (Yahoo league availability: 83%). The Rams are playing better against weaker offenses and draw a huge chance to rack up sacks with Aaron Donald and others vs. Sam Howell.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 75%). The Bengals' defense rose to the occasion against the Colts and made a ton of key plays. They get the mistake-prone Vikings' offense next at home.
