Ivan Herrera 
As Week 14 of the NFL season has come and gone, fantasy football managers are already looking to make adjustments to their rosters. Injuries, surprising performances, and emerging talents often prompt the need for some shrewd waiver wire pickups. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 Week 15 fantasy football waiver wire pickups, along with a few honorable mentions to keep an eye on.
1. Joe Flacco, QB, Cleveland Browns
Flacco is one of the best pickups going into Week 15 and the first round of the fantasy playoffs. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has named Flacco the starter for the rest of the season. In his first two games off the couch, Flacco has put up back-to-back QB1 fantasy performances. This Sunday against Jacksonville, Flacco was QB10, finishing the game with 21.34 points. He is averaging 44.5 pass attempts and 282.5 passing yards per game in his two starts for the Browns. Flacco and the Browns get two QB-friendly matchups against Chicago and Houston to start the fantasy playoffs. With all the injuries to QBs the past few weeks, Flacco is a clear QB1 fantasy playoff QB.
2. Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
For the second straight week, Brown was by far the most efficient back of the two. Brown finished the game against the Colts with 11 touches (8 rushing, 3 receiving) for 105 yards and a touchdown, averaging 9.5 yards per touch. Mixon also had a good game but only finished with 5.2 yards per touch. His efficiency with the ball saw him be a RB1 for the first time in fantasy. Brown also saw a nice uptick in snap count percentage, as he doubled the percentage of snaps played from 15% last week to 30% this past Sunday. Brown is a solid flex option for those in need because of injury since the Bengals are now giving him a lot more carries.
3. Jake Browning, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
The second Bengal on this list, Browning, has been a great fantasy QB, as he has now finished with back-to-back QB4 performances. In his three starts after taking over for Burrow, Browning’s worst finish was QB18, which came against a strong Pittsburgh pass defense. Browning has the weapons to keep finding success in the passing game. He does get a tough fantasy playoff schedule, so I have him as my second QB to target behind Flacco, but with players like Chase, Mixon, and Higgins, Brownings should continue to put up starting QB performances despite the matchups.
4. Easton Stick, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Stick will get his chance to start for the Chargers this weekend as starting QB Justin Hebert is sidelined with a finger injury. Stick played the final 54% of the Chargers snaps against Denver, and while he did struggle against the Broncos, the short practice with the starters before Thursday’s divisional showdown should help him as the playbook will be condensed, which should see him getting more easy throws. With the short week, Stick may not be the best option, but the 10-day rest for Week 16 should make him a much better player next week.
5. Odell Beckham, WR, Baltimore Ravens
The veteran is showing he still has gas left in his tank as he finished with his best fantasy performance of the season against the Rams. Beckham was tied with rookie Zay Flowers for the team lead in targets with 10 against the Rams. Beckham has seen at least five targets in five of his past seven games and has had at least seven in two of his last three. The loss of star TE Andrews opened up the door for Beckham, as he has 15 targets in the two games without Andrews. With the Ravens fighting for the 1st seed in the AFC, Beckham should continue to play a huge role as the other weapons for the Ravens are relatively new.
6. Davis Allen, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Davis Allen took over the starting TE role during Sunday’s game against the Ravens, as Higbee missed the game and Hunter Long was injured during the game. Allen had a career high in just about every WR category, as he finished with five targets, four receptions, and scored his first career touchdown. With Higbee and Long expected to miss some time, Allen will become the main TE for the Rams, and with his breakout performance, he should be a starting TE in fantasy as long as Higbee and Long are out.
7. Patrick Taylor, RB, Green Bay Packers
Taylor was the backup for Dillon on Monday as starter Aaron Jones continues to deal with injuries. For the second time in three weeks, Taylor saw just under 50% of the Packers snaps. Taylor was really efficient with his limited touches, as he finished with six total touches for 52 yards. If Jones continues to miss time, Taylor should stay as the RB2 for the Packers and will continue to get touches to give starter Dillon a rest.
8. Ty Chandler, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Chandler was part of the mess that was the Raiders against the Vikings on Sunday. No player on the field really did much, but with the injury to starter Mattison Chandler, he becomes the starting RB for the Vikings heading into Saturday’s game against the Bengals. Chandler has been good in his limited rushing attempts, as he is averaging over four yards per carry and has proven he can catch out of the backfield, having 13 receptions this season.
9. Ezekiel Elliot, RB, New England Patriots
Elliot was the best fantasy RB this week, and with Stevenson out for the year, he should continue to play a huge role for the Patriots. Elliot should be picked up in every league where he is available, as he is a starting RB in all fantasy formats.
10. Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants
Robinson had his best game of the season, scoring 17.5 fantasy points during Monday night’s upset of the Packers. Robinson had a season high of 79 yards and had seven targets, which is the most targets he has had this season. He seems to have found chemistry with Tommy DeVito, which is great for fantasy owners because the Giants don’t have too many weapons behind Barkley. Robinson is a great WR2/Flex option heading into Week 15.
Honorable Mentions:
- Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
- Demarcus Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
- D’onta Foreman, RB, Chicago Bears
In the world of fantasy football, being proactive on the waiver wire can often be the difference between success and failure. These Week 15 waiver wire pickups should help you strengthen your roster as the season progresses. Make sure to prioritize your team’s specific needs and potential long-term upside when making your choices.
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