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Week 14 was rough for a lot of Fantasy owners because of injuries, and if you managed to advance in your playoffs to Week 15 you could be looking to replace at least one prominent player on your roster. We hope there are options on the waiver wire to help fill the void.
We already know Andy Dalton (broken thumb), Thomas Rawls (broken ankle) and LeGarrette Blount (hip) are done for the season, and it appears like Vincent Jackson (knee) won't return before Week 17 as well. And the injuries we're monitoring this week to players you might have been starting in the majority of leagues include Brian Hoyer (concussion), Jonathan Stewart (foot), T.J. Yeldon (ankle), Spencer Ware (ribs), DeSean Jackson (knee) and Tyler Eifert (concussion). Todd Gurley (knee), David Johnson (thigh) and Greg Olsen (foot) are also banged up, but their injuries aren't expected to keep them out in Week 15.
The options aren't great at quarterback with players owned in less than 50 percent of leagues, and Kirk Cousins might be your best bet as a replacement for Dalton. He has played well at home this season, and he faces the Bills in Washington on Sunday. AJ McCarron also didn't embarrass himself as Dalton's backup, and he gets all those weapons in Cincinnati now, especially if Eifert is healthy. For this week, you can also consider T.J. Yates with his matchup at Indianapolis, and I like his outlook better than McCarron since the Bengals will likely try to run on the 49ers.
Running back has some better choices, with four players all top priorities in Denard Robinson, Bryce Brown, Tim Hightower and Brandon Bolden, in that order. Robinson is the No. 1 running back to target with Yeldon expected to sit against the Falcons.
The Seahawks made things clear for us as Fantasy owners when they released DuJuan Harris on Tuesday. That opens the door for Brown to get a heavy workload in a favorable matchup with the Browns. It looks like Marshawn Lynch (abdomen) won't return for Week 15, and Brown should share carries with Fred Jackson, who will likely stay in his current role as a change-of-pace option.
In New Orleans, Hightower showed he can handle a heavy workload as the replacement for Mark Ingram (shoulder), who was placed on injured reserve last week. We like his matchup against the Lions in Week 15. And Bolden should see an increase in touches in tandem with James White now that Blount is out for the season. Bolden should be considered a flex option against the Titans.
At receiver, the two top options are Julian Edelman, who could return from his foot injury this week, and Tyler Lockett, who is playing great right now and catching passes from the hottest quarterback in the NFL in Russell Wilson. And Zach Miller is the No. 1 tight end for this week now that Martellus Bennett (ribs) is on injured reserve.
It's never fun to lose players to injuries, especially in the Fantasy playoffs. But at this time of year you just need to keep winning, so find the best player to help you advance and potentially win a title.
Quarterbacks
Injuries: Andy Dalton (thumb), Brian Hoyer (concussion) and Matt Hasselbeck (ribs)
Priority list (Add them in this order):
Potential drop candidates: Matt Ryan (91 percent), Jameis Winston (88 percent) and Andrew Luck (86 percent)
Of note:
- Ryan Fitzpatrick (74 percent) would easily be the best quarterback to add if he's still available on waivers. He has scored at least 29 points in three games in a row in a standard league, and he should have the chance for another quality outing at Dallas in Week 15.
- Jay Cutler (75 percent) is also worth a look if he's still available on waivers. He scored 22 Fantasy points against the Redskins in Week 14, and that was his first game with at least 20 points since Week 10. But he had 21 Fantasy points against the Vikings in Week 8, and Minnesota has allowed multiple touchdowns to four of the past five opposing quarterbacks. It will help Cutler if the Vikings are still down several starters on defense, so keep an eye on the injury report for Minnesota this week.
- Marcus Mariota (62 percent) would be risky to trust heading into New England this week, and the Patriots haven't allowed a quarterback to score 20 Fantasy points at home since Week 7. But Mariota has found a way to score at least 20 Fantasy points in four of his past six games, including three in a row. It was fluky in Week 14 at the Jets because he caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Antonio Andrews, but he could just be that kind of player that makes things happen even in dire situations. I'd be OK with him in a two-quarterback league this week.
- Peyton Manning (57 percent) could be an option if you want to go that route with his matchup this week at Pittsburgh. First, you have to see if he's able to return from his foot injury, and if the Broncos will go back to him over Brock Osweiler, who finally lost his first game as a starter in Week 14 against Oakland. Manning also was bad as a Fantasy quarterback this season with only two games of at least 20 Fantasy points, and the last time he scored that many points was in Week 3. But the matchup would be favorable since Pittsburgh has allowed three of the past five quarterbacks to score at least 19 Fantasy points, and Manning could be helpful in two-quarterback leagues if he plays.
Running backs
Injuries: Thomas Rawls (ankle), LeGarrette Blount (hip), Todd Gurley (knee), Jonathan Stewart (foot), T.J. Yeldon (ankle), Spencer Ware (ribs) and David Johnson (thigh)
Priority list (Add them in this order):
Bryce Brown, RB, Seahawks
Ownership percentage: 0 percent
The Seahawks appeared to have a mess at running back with Rawls out, but they made it easy for us with the surprise release of Harris on Tuesday. That should mean Brown will get the majority of work, but don't be surprised if Jackson (6 percent) or even fullback Derrick Coleman get some touches in Week 15. Seattle also must feel confident Lynch is close to a return. Still, the move to cut Harris appears to be an endorsement for Brown, and he's worth adding in all leagues for his matchup at home against Cleveland. The Browns have allowed a running back to score double digits in Fantasy points in 10 of 13 games. Brown has the chance to be a solid No. 2 running back in the majority of leagues this week.
Tim Hightower, RB, Saints
Ownership percentage: 48 percent
The Saints made it clear that Hightower and not C.J. Spiller will be the guy to replace Ingram. Hightower had 28 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 10 yards at Tampa Bay in Week 14, and Spiller only had three carries for 2 yards and three catches for 7 yards. This week, the Saints could easily win this game at home against Detroit and lean on Hightower to kill the clock. The Lions have done a nice job in run defense of late, but last week Gurley had a big game with 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns. And in their previous game on the road in Week 8 against Kansas City, the Chiefs had three rushing touchdowns. Hightower has the potential to be a No. 2 running back this week.
Potential drop candidates: DeMarco Murray (98 percent), Alfred Blue (81 percent) and Antonio Andrews (79 percent)
Of note:
- Matt Jones (76 percent) is worth adding if he's still available, and he has a good opportunity this week against the Bills, who have allowed a running back to score double digits in Fantasy points in nine games in a row. Alfred Morris could easily have the better Fantasy performance, and he scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 14 at Chicago. But Jones has consecutive games with at least 19 touches, and Morris was held to 17 touches combined in each of the past two games.
- Since the Eagles have decided to shake up their backfield, we've seen Darren Sproles (65 percent) become the most productive Fantasy option over Murray and Ryan Mathews. He only had seven carries for 41 yards in Week 14 against Buffalo, but he scored a touchdown for the second game in a row. Now, Mathews (13 carries for 38 yards and two catches for 4 yards) and Murray (11 carries for 34 yards and two catches for 3 yards) had more work, but Sproles has the highest ceiling right now and is worth using as at least a flex option in the majority of leagues.
- I liked Isaiah Crowell (52 percent) going into Week 14 against San Francisco because the 49ers were bad in run defense, especially on the road. And he delivered with 20 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns and one catch for 9 yards. This week, we would avoid Crowell in the majority of leagues with his matchup at Seattle. He also plays at Kansas City in Week 16 and vs. Pittsburgh in Week 17, so it will be tough to trust him moving forward. Still, he helped any of the Fantasy owners who started him in Week 14.
Wide receivers
Injuries: DeSean Jackson (knee), Vincent Jackson (knee), Brian Hartline (collarbone) and Devin Smith (knee)
Priority list (Add them in this order):
Potential drop candidates: Vincent Jackson (90 percent), Brandon LaFell (90 percent), Jordan Matthews (90 percent), Stefon Diggs (84 percent) and Donte Moncrief (81 percent)
Of note:
- I wouldn't give up on DeVante Parker (60 percent) yet even though he struggled against the Giants with two catches for 16 yards on five targets. He scored in his previous two games prior to Week 14, and the Chargers have allowed a touchdown to a receiver in each of the past three games.
- If this were the middle of the season, you could look at guys like Robert Woods (23 percent), Nelson Agholor (12 percent) and Albert Wilson (2 percent) as potential starting options in deeper leagues, but it will be hard to count on them in most standard formats even though they are coming off productive games in Week 14. Of these guys, Woods has the most upside, especially if Charles Clay (back) is out in Week 15 at Washington. Woods has a touchdown or 100 receiving yards in each of his past two games.
Tight ends
Injuries: Tyler Eifert (concussion), Greg Olsen (knee) and Charles Clay (back)
Priority list (Add them in this order):
Potential drop candidates: Scott Chandler (88 percent), Jason Witten (85 percent) and Austin Seferian-Jenkins (72 percent)
Of note:
- Richard Rodgers (77 percent) should be considered a must-add tight end if he's still available, and I would take him over Miller. He scored last week against the Cowboys on his only catch for 3 yards, and he should have the chance for another quality outing this week at Oakland. This matchup is similar to what he had at Detroit in Week 13 when he had seven catches for 85 yards before coming down with a 61-yard Hail Mary touchdown to win the game.
- Benjamin Watson (73 percent) is another tight end to prioritize this week if he's still available, and I would also add him over Miller. He has at least eight targets in each of his past three games, and he has scored a touchdown in three of his past four home games. The Lions are also terrible against tight ends with 10 touchdowns allowed to the position.
- Will Tye (22 percent) is playing well for the Giants with at least seven Fantasy points in a standard league in three games in a row, including his first NFL touchdown in Week 14 at Miami. He has a tough matchup in Week 15 against Carolina, but the Panthers did allow Watson to score in their last road game.
- Heath Miller (41 percent) returned in Week 14 at Cincinnati from his one-game absence with injured ribs and was back to being a go-to option for Ben Roethlisberger with 10 catches for 66 yards on 10 targets. He's worth adding in PPR leagues, especially if T.J. Ward (ankle) remains out for the Broncos. The Raiders had Clive Walford and Mychal Rivera combine for six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets last week at Denver with Ward out.
DST streamers
Texans (at IND): 62 percent
Buccaneers (at STL): 39 percent
Colts (vs. HOU): 11 percent
K streamers
Matt Prater (at NO): 25 percent
Jason Myers (vs. ATL): 9 percent
Dustin Hopkins (vs. BUF): 10 percent
