Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 15

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone will run down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget. Only players owned in less than 60 percent of leagues are considered.

Fantasy Podcast: Week 14 takeaways, early look at waiver wire

Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson, Ravens

It appears Jackson avoided a serious ankle injury, which is good news since his game is dependent on elusive rushing ability. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean the rookie will get the start now that Joe Flacco is back. The Bucs have given up the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, including at least 30 rushing yards to Baker Mayfield, Mitch Trubisky, and twice to Cam Newton. Assuming Jackson gets the nod, he'll once again be a borderline QB1.

Josh Allen, Bills

Allen has been putting up similar numbers to Jackson, with huge rushing totals and minimal yardage through the air. A matchup at home against the Lions isn't scary, but they have limited quarterbacks to less than 20 rushing yards in every game this season. That could threaten Allen's main means of production, adding more risk to an already dangerous fantasy gamble. With few quality passers on the market this week, Allen's upside makes him worth the risk as a mid-range QB2.

Other options: Derek Carr vs. CIN (15 percent owned), Nick Mullens vs. SEA (7 percent owned), Eli Manning vs. TEN (21 percent owned)

Running Backs

Damien Williams, Chiefs

Williams gets the No. 1 spot on the list with the possibility that he could start for the Chiefs on a short week. Spencer Ware battled through a shoulder injury on Sunday and we still haven't received an update on his status for Thursday's divisional tilt against the Chargers. If Ware is ruled out or limited, Williams would be the immediate beneficiary after touching the ball 13 times for 38 yards and two scores last week. Even if Ware plays, it's clear that the Chiefs are looking to get Williams involved and there'll be plenty of scoring opportunities in this high-powered offense. If he gets the start, Williams will be an RB2, compared to an RB3/flex with Ware in the lineup. Pass-catching back Charcandrick West (5 percent owned) is also worth consideration as a deeper flex play.

Doug Martin, Raiders

It's impossible to feel good about using Martin in fantasy, but desperate owners in need of a starter can look his way. The veteran has scored a touchdown in three straight games and has surprisingly been a top-25 fantasy back since the Raiders bye in Week 7. Facing off with the Bengals, who are allowing the most fantasy points to running backs, should help him remain a fringe RB2 for at least one more game. His teammate Jalen Richard (47 percent owned) will also take advantage of the matchup, but he tends to have his best days when the Raiders are trailing, which might not happen against a struggling Bengals squad.

Kenneth Dixon, Ravens

On Monday, head coach John Harbaugh said he expects Dixon's role to grow moving forward, which is well deserved since he posted recent stat lines of 13-44-1, 9-43, and 9-80-1 as a part-time player over the last three weeks. Even with his increased usage, this will remain a three-man committee also featuring Gus Edwards and Ty Montgomery (14 percent owned). As long as Jackson stays under center, there should be enough volume to go around, but that isn't guaranteed. Dixon is definitely worth an aggressive bid to see how this works out, just keep your expectations in check.

Elijah McGuire, Jets

When Isaiah Crowell suffered a foot injury on Sunday, McGuire stepped in to rack up 83 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches. He's likely to see a similar workload this week, though the degree of difficulty will be ratcheted up versus the Texans' strong run defense. Ezekiel Elliott and Nick Chubb were both held in check by Houston on the ground, but made up the yards as pass catchers. While he's not in their class, McGuire is a capable receiver and will see enough volume to lift his numbers through the air, making him a flex play.

Ito Smith, Falcons

Smith popped back up for 74 yards this week and has out-touched teammate Tevin Coleman in each of the last two contests. However, that might say more about Coleman's 2018 performance than it does about Smith. The Falcons are nine-point favorites this weekend at home against the Cardinals, who are permitting the second most fantasy points to running backs. That's enough to put Smith back on the flex radar, though he likely still needs a touchdown to pay off.

Other options: LeGarrette Blount at BUF (48 percent owned), Chris Ivory at DET (4 percent owned), Rex Burkhead at PIT (22 percent owned), Rashaad Penny at SF (32 percent owned), Theo Riddick at BUF (54 percent owned), Darren Sproles at LAR (5 percent owned), Zach Zenner at BUF (1 percent owned), Marcus Murphy at DET (0 percent owned), Royce Freeman vs. Browns (46 percent owned), Gio Bernard vs. OAK (25 percent owned), Nyheim Hines vs. DAL (25 percent owned), Chase Edmonds (2 percent owned)

Wide Receivers

Dante Pettis, 49ers

Pettis has scored at least one touchdown in three consecutive games. That includes a 129-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Seahawks in Week 13 - the same team he'll be squaring off with Sunday. The second-rounder wasn’t as hyped as some of the other draft prospects, but in the end, he might be one of the best receivers to come out of this draft. As a late-season breakout star, he'll be a WR3 with upside the rest of the way.

Curtis Samuel, Panthers

Samuel has a similar ceiling to Pettis, but he’ll face more competition for targets playing alongside DJ Moore, Devin Funchess, Christian McCaffrey, and company. Even with a talented cast around him, Samuel has hit at least 80 yards in back-to-back weeks and is seeing more passes than Moore during that time. Samuel is also well ahead of Funchess on the depth chart, with the rookie seeing the field on over 90 percent of snaps and Funchess down near the 40 percent range. If Moore draws shadow coverage from the Saints' Marcus Lattimore, Samuel could lead the receiving corps once again.

Chris Conley, Chiefs

Conley's value is tied to Tyreek Hill's health, after the Chiefs' star receiver played through wrist and ankle injuries on Sunday. Andy Reid said he expects Hill to play Thursday night, which would render Conley a boom or bust WR4, but he's worth stashing to see if Hill makes it back on the field during a condensed practice week. Before last week's tough bout with the Ravens, Conley had three touchdowns in his previous two appearances, including a 74-yard outing.

DaeSean Hamilton, Broncos

With Emmanuel Sanders on injured reserve and new No. 1 Courtland Sutton forced from the Broncos' last game with a thigh injury, Hamilton could find himself on top of Denver's depth chart. He saw a promising nine targets in Week 13, resulting in seven catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Whether Sutton suits up or not, Hamilton is a very intriguing fantasy receiver, especially in PPR formats.

Dede Westbrook, Jaguars

Westbrook was the only member of the Jaguars' offense to show up last Thursday, delivering 88 yards and a score. This week, he gets to face a team that didn't show up for their Week 14 game either - the Redskins. Westbrook’s skill set seems to mesh with Cody Kessler, who is better suited to throw short to intermediate passes and let his receivers try to make plays - something Westbrook excels at. With the Redskins looking like they’ve all but given up on the year after suffering so many injuries, this a rare spot where the Jaguars' passing attack has a chance to produce.

Other options: Mike Williams at KC (49 percent owned), Keke Coutee at NYJ (34 percent owned), Robby Anderson vs. HOU (21 percent owned), Kenny Stills at MIN (31 percent owned), Jordy Nelson at CIN (39 percent owned), John Ross vs. OAK (11 percent owned), Zay Jones vs. DET (20 percent owned), Antonio Callaway at DEN (14 percent owned), Michael Gallup at IND (8 percent owned)

Tight Ends

Chris Herndon, Jets

Herndon is coming off his worst game in nearly two months, though we can chalk that up to a challenging opponent. Just don’t forget that since Week 6, the rookie has put up the ninth most fantasy points among tight ends. And his next opponent - the Texans - are vulnerable to the position. Over their last five games, Houston has been hemorrhaging yards and touchdowns to tight ends, including stat lines of 10-83-1 (Jeff Heuerman), 7-71-1 (Jordan Reed), 2-63-1 (Jonnu Smith), and 4-65-1 (Eric Ebron). Herndon is the best streaming option out there this week.

Anthony Firkser, Titans

Even before Jonnu Smith was placed on injured reserve, Firkser had been coming on over the last month. He had 40 yards or more in three of his last four games and is in an offense that likes throwing to their tight ends. In a year where tight end scoring, outside of the elite few, has devolved into a random touchdown or bust proposition, Firkser offers top-10 upside as a streamer.

Other options: CJ Uzomah vs. OAK (30 percent owned), Ian Thomas vs. NO (16 percent owned), Gerald Everett vs. PHI (21 percent owned)