Waiver Pickups: Playoff edition
Wanted to write up a bonus article this week for teams looking for a championship title. A lot of these things I am personally doing to get ready for the fantasy playoffs in a few weeks. Fantasy football has a lot of luck involved but being a step ahead of your opponents will go a long way. I am going to highlight some week 12 streaming options than later in the article, highlight some stashes for the fantasy playoffs. I won't go as heavy on streaming WR and RB as I will with the other positions. Being prepared has generally helped be get ahead of my competition and lead me to some fantasy titles. It has been a long season and I don't know about you, but I am bittersweet to head into the playoffs. Some of these adds might not make sense for your team because of the varying factors of each individual league, so I will try to layout as many options as possible. This time of year is especially hard for leagues with short benches. With the amount of injuries that we have seen this year, I hope these stashes will give all of us a step ahead as we march towards the playoffs.
Week 12 Streamers:
Derek Carr (45.3%)- Like I said in my waiver article yesterday, if you picked up Carr for this week you can go ahead and start him next week. I think he will get back on track with 2 more multi-touchdown performances this week as well as in week 12. He is my favorite target to stream at QB.
Jacoby Brissett (42.4%)- I am expecting him to be back in action by their week 12 matchup against the Texans. It will be a huge divisional game for both teams. While writing this, Brissett seems to be putting in a full practice and should be good to go Sunday. When the Colts faced the Texans in week 7, Brissett had his best game all year throwing for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns. I do expect another huge game in week 12.
Baker Mayfield (45.6%)- If there is ever a time this year for Baker to have a blow-up game it is in week 12 against the Miami Dolphins. He had a strong performance in week 10 against the tough Bills defense, throwing for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns. That was the only game in which he has thrown for multiple touchdowns. I do get it though, it is tough to trust in must win situations, but I think there is a nice possibility we see a breakout game for Baker come week 12.
Mason Rudolph (14.5%)- There seems to be a lot of solid options this week and I would still be ok streaming Rudolph. He gets a matchup against the Bengals who I've tried to target for most of the year. This could even mean a turn around for struggling Juju Smith-Schuster. With James Conner working his way back into the lineup, I think this offense will be at full health facing one of the worst teams in the league.
J.D. McKissic (18.8%)- Runningback streams are a little tricky to predict without knowing some roles ahead of time. I like McKissic to be a solid play this week and next week if Ty Johnson remains out. The Lions get a matchup against the Redskins where I think their defense will play the team tough if Stafford is out. Now if Stafford is in, I do expect a nice lead which may give Paul Perkins some more room. Time will tell but McKissic is still a nice play even for this week.
Zach Pascal (36.9%)- I am expecting Hilton to be out for week 12 and with Brissett likely back, he will need someone to rely on. Like I said above this could be another high scoring game and I think Pascal will benefit. I did leave him out of my waiver wire pickups for this week due to my uncertainty about Brissett playing, but now it seems more likely the Colts have their starting QB back.
Darren Fells (26.3%)- I wrote him up in my waiver pickups for this week and if you went ahead to stream him this week, I think you can do the same in week 12. The Colts have given up the 8th most fantasy points per game to the TE position and I think a lot of scoring will be happening. He didn't have a blow up game the last time these 2 teams faced, but the Texans are facing a little more injuries than in week 7.
Dallas Goedert (26.3%)- A few of my guys in this weeks column will be on here, but that's good news for us who are needing to stream with them. The Eagles play the Seahawks in which could be a high scoring game in Philly. The Seahawks are just one spot under the Colts for fantasy points allowed per game. I think Goedert does get some work here, but I think we will be hoping for a touchdown.
Ryan Griffin (1.1%)- Trusting a NY Jet player not named Bell or Crowder is tough, well even lately that has been kinda tough but I do like this matchup for Griffin. Chris Herndon is now on IR which leaves Griffin as the starting TE for the remainder of the year. In weeks 8 and 9, he actually was very startable and I think this will be the case for week 12. The Jets face the Raiders who have allowed the 4th most fantasy point per game to the position. It is scary, but I am predicting Griffin has a solid game.
Denver Broncos (18.1%)- Taking a look at streaming options for next week, there isn't really a fantastic play for any team owned under 50%.
Oakland Raiders (15.4%)
Detroit Lions (11%)
Playoff Picture: (I will go off of a 65% ownership threshold for these guys listed below)
Favorite QB plays:
Daniel Jones (40.8%)- The Giants have one of the best fantasy playoff outlooks out of everyone. The face Philly, Miami, and then Washington who are all great matchups for fantasy QB's. I truly think there are going to be some fantasy championships won with rookie Daniel Jones starting for them. We have seen his potential to have massive games throughout the year.
Nick Foles (14.3%)- I paid up for him in one of my dynasty leagues in which I'm contending due to me relying on a combination of Tannehill and Minshew the last few weeks. I love his fantasy playoff matchups which include 2 teams that are in the top 5 in points allowed to the QB position. It may be tough sledding in week 14 but depending on how he comes out and plays these next few weeks, it may not even matter.
Kyle Allen (15.9%)- He may be able to get you to a championship, but I think week 16 will draw a big test for him. In weeks 14 and 15, he faces the Falcons and Seahawks, who have not been able to stop opposing QB all year. I do think that D.J. Moore could see some positive touchdown regression which will lead to bigger games for Allen. We get to see this week how Allen will play against the Falcons. I am expecting big things.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (5.9%)- I'm not going to lie, if you are going to rely on Fitzpatrick through the playoffs more power too you, but I would be very nervous. I wouldn't say he is one of my favorite plays, but he does have a fantastic playoff schedule, which is why I have him on here. All 3 teams are in the top 11 for points allowed per game to the QB position. If he keeps slinging it around, we may see some nice numbers in weeks 14-16.
Derrius Guice (44.2%)- He has been all over my waiver pickups for the last few weeks and I am excited to have him for the fantasy playoffs. I think this team is going to lean on their younger guys in a lost season. Dwayne Hoskins may limit the upside of this offense, but I love Guice's playoff schedule. He faces the Packers, Eagles, and Giants in weeks 14-16. The Eagles had a stout run defense early in the year but have more recently been beat on the ground. I think the job is his and should have some solid work in the passing game.
RB Handcuffs- I put this in every article because of how important it can be during the fantasy playoffs. Hopefully everyone who has read this, has their top end handcuffs on their team. This is just another reminder.
Kalen Ballage (29.5%)- I feel gross writing this but like I said with Fitzpatrick this is a fantastic playoff schedule. If he is going to touch the ball 20+ times against the bottom ten run defenses, he will surely have some value right?
Marquise Brown (64.3%)- He just fell into the threshold and I am glad he did. I think Lamar Jackson is going to win a lot of people some titles this year. Hopefully that includes me as well. He has one great game sandwiched in between two little more difficult ones. He is talented and has an amazing QB throwing to him. Only reason why I say week 14 and 16 could present a challenge is because he should be shadowed by some top corners. The Ravens face the Bills in week 14 and then the Browns in week 16.
Sterling Shepard (62%)- There is a very good chance that he is available in your leagues due to all of his injury history. There is definitely risk of wasting a roster spot if he doesn't come back, but I have seen some reports saying he should resume practicing after the team's bye this week. I love Daniel Jones during the playoffs, so I must also love his pass catchers. In the 4 games he played this year he caught no less than 5 passes in any of those games.
Dede Westbrook (60.6%)- Here is a guy I have been working to acquire over the last few weeks that has a fantastic playoff schedule as well. Going back to the beginning of the year, Foles loved Westbrook. Before the season had started, Foles had thrown to the slot at the 6th highest rate over the last 2 years. This is where Westbrook will shine. I am excited for a nice end of the season for a player I was fairly high on entering the year.
Devante Parker (44.5%)- It really does suck that one of the worst teams in the NFL has the easiest fantasy football playoff schedule, but we can't ignore it. I may be playing Parker in a dynasty league that has 3 WR and 3 Flex. Parker falls under the same situation as both Ballage and Fitzpatrick. I do trust Parker a little more than both of those guys though.
Jason Witten (63%)- He has been tried and true for years now and I think he is going to be a solid streamer throughout the playoffs. If you make it to the title game with him, you may need to stream elsewhere, but I will have an option for you a little later in the article. He faces two teams who are in the top 13 for most fantasy points allowed per game to the TE position. He doesn't really have touchdown upside, so he is a little better play in PPR leagues.
Eric Ebron (53.2%)- This is really just a one week play which is week 14. He faces the Buccaneers who have given up the 2nd most points per game to TE all year. This team should be able to put up a ton of points on the Buccs and I think Ebron will be able to have a great day. If Hilton for some reason does miss time into the fantasy playoffs, I think I will still be ok rolling out Ebron in week 15.
Darren Fells (26.9%)- Here is someone you should stack up with Witten if you have been streaming TE. He does have a favorable playoff schedule also but has that great matchup against the Buccaneers in week 16. He does also see the Titans in week 15 who have allowed the 11th most fantasy points per game. You can mix and match a few of these guys throughout the playoffs but I really want Fells for my title game if I need a TE.
Jacob Hollister (13.5%)- If you want an even better title game play here is your guy. He gets the Cardinals who have allowed the most points per game. He does have two difficult matchups in weeks 14 and 15 but I think his volume alone will offset that. I actually like him a little more than some of these guys on here because of the amount of work he is getting. He may be matchup proof just because of Russell Wilson.
Kansas City Chiefs (41.1%)- Think they will be solid plays in weeks 15 and 16, but stay away in week 14 against the Patriots.
Philadelphia Eagles (36.7%)- Has decent matchups in week 14 and 15 against the Giants and the Redskins, but I wouldn't play them against Dallas in week 16.
New York Giants (9.1%)- I would stay away in week 14, but gets the Dolphins and Washington in weeks 15 and 16. Could be a good pickup for teams looking to have the bye.
*If these teams are available, I would get them over any of the teams listed above; Ravens and Steelers.