Monthly Archives: December 2015

Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

 

By MV December 21st 2015

 

Projections are free for the remainder of the season including our Daily Fantasy Sports projections for Fanduel and DraftKings.

Super Bowl week is here and if you are looking for that desperation start, good luck. If that is you, you could do worse than a few of the names we have highlighted below. I have listed them in order of value for this huge week.

Below is a look at all of the teams officially eliminated from the playoffs. These are the teams that will be testing their rookies or showcasing their veterans for the remaining two weeks. Every year a few players come out of absolutely know where and have a big week.

Teams eliminated from the playoffs

Cleveland Browns

Tennessee Titans

San Francisco 49ers

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

San Diego Chargers

Oakland Raiders

Buffalo Bills

St. Louis Rams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

 

 

If you are still reading this that means that you are in the Super Bowl or are in the running for total points. Good job! Good luck!

 

Quarterbacks

If you are streaming Quarterback’s at this point of the season our weekly projections are exactly what you need. They are an excellent tool for playing matchups especially at the stream QB, Defense, and Kicker positions.

 

Running Backs

Karlos Williams BUF – Did he get dropped a few weeks back? He is our #1 pickup of the week as a week 16 fill in for LeSean McCoy owners that need some help. He has a great matchup at home against the soft Cowboys defense.

Christine Michael SEA – It looked to me that Michael is the current lead back and he was running as though he realized this was his last chance. The way Russell Wilson has playing there should be some open holes for him to run this weekend against the Rams.

Cameron Artis-Payne CAR – CAP was the lead rushing running back in Carolina this weekend, and as we suspected is the fill-in for Jonathon Stewart should he go down. We suspected this injury would have occurred much sooner in the year. We had it backwards though this year: everyone but Jonathon Stewart was going to get injured in 2016.

Donald Brown SD – Sorry about your luck.

 

Wide Receiver

Reuben Randle NYG –  With Odell sidelined with a one-game suspension for his on the field bitch-shit antics Randle slides in to the #1 wide receiver role.

Julian Edelman NE – Was he dropped and available for pickup? He could be the Super Bowl difference this all important week 16 for you and for the Patriots. Looks like Edelman will be back.

Jermaine Kearse SEA – Suddenly this Seattle offense has a huge passing attack. All three Seattle wide receivers are startable next week.

Tight End

Will Tye NYG – He might be the only tight end available that I would be willing to take a one week flier on. He should be targeted heavily next week with ODB suspended for week 16.

Luke Wilson SEA – Not in love with this pickup, but he is in the lights out Seattle passing game now, he’s available in your league, and he should get some targets next week at home against the Rams.

Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups  

 

By MV December 15th 2015

At this stage you are looking to pick up players because you limped into the playoffs and need a spot starter or your opponent did and you want to prevent them from picking up the playoff darling we spoke of last week. Or maybe you just want to add depth? These are all reason why you should still be active on the waiver wire even if you have your starting lineup locked in.

A decent place to look at a spot starter is the younger players that may get a chance to show there stuff on eliminated teams. Here they are to date:

Teams eliminated from the playoffs

Cleveland Browns

Tennessee Titans

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

San Diego Chargers

 

It’s a good idea to take a look at your leagues rules for playoffs if you are in the hunt. Most leagues do not allow pickups during the playoffs and you don’t want to get caught with an injury at the kicker, QB, or tight end position. It is a good idea to enter with some good backups. Also makes sense to look at the defensive matchups for week 14-16. The Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, and Kansas City Chiefs have some really soft matchups for the fantasy playoffs.

If you are still reading this that means that you did well this year. Good job! Good luck in the playoffs!

 

Quarterbacks

If you are streaming Quarterback’s at this point of the season our weekly projections are exactly what you need. They are an excellent tool for playing matchups especially at the stream QB,Defense, and Kicker positions.

 

Running Backs

Branden Bolden NE – Legarrette Blount is done for the season as the most recent RB to go out with season ending injury. Bolden will see the majority of the rushing snaps for the Patriots from here out with James White mixing in as the change of pace and pass catching back. Bolden has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield as well.

Denard Robinson JAX – TJ Yeldon looks to be out for at least one full week. Denard is a speedy running back that has a good chance to have a break out game in this offense. There are a few pick up options this week at the running back position, but this has to be my favorite simply because of schedule, opportunity and Denard’s talent to have a big game.

Bryce Brown SEA – It looks like Bryce is dialed in as the starting RB for the Seahawks for Week 15 and possibly 16 too. Great landing spot for a fill in fantasy running back. If you limped into the playoffs and are struggling at the RB position Bryce could prove to be a fine fill in.

Tim Hightower NO – Like a zombie Tim has come back from the dead and led the NFL with 28 carries after being away from the NFL for multiple years. He looked good to. Some leagues he might still be available after being heavily picked up last week, but he can be added in all formats as the Saints have 2 great home matchups over the next couple of weeks (Detroit and Jacksonville).

 

Wide Receiver

There is not much in the way for pickups this week at the Wide Receiver position. It is safe to say that we are at the stage of the year where your starting lineups are probably dialed in, but here are a few of the names that have been popping up on the waiver wire and are ranked higher than some that are owned:

Reuben Randle NYG – He does the biggest disappearing act on this team, but as teams key on ODB it opens the door for a healthy Reuben to have a big game. It could happen over the next couple of weeks as the Giants are desperately trying to squeeze their way into the playoffs.

Tyler Lockett SEA – The pace that Russell Wilson has been on for the last 4 weeks is ridiculous. We wrote about Doug Baldwin as an undervalued fantasy asset in the preseason, but he is not even the best talent on this team and Lockett has looked great this year especially over the last few weeks.

Malcolm Floyd SD – The Chargers have nothing to play for which is a perfect time to light up the Dolphins at home this weekend or the Raiders in Oakland next weekend. I am sure Rivers wants to say goodbye to his old friend in fashion by giving him a ton of targets.

Tight End

Zach Miller CHI – Zach is now the lone-wolf in a pass happy offense with Martellus Bennett out for the rest of the year. He has played well since coming back from a two year hiatus and his talent was never in question. He will finish the season strong as a borderline TE #1.

Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

 

By MV December 7th 2015

Every year the teams around the league that become mathematically eliminated from playoff contention begin preparing for the future. Sometimes that means to rest their stars to minimize injury risk. Sometimes it means to try and showcase their talents for an offseason trade. Sometimes it is an opportunity for coaches to see what they have in their bench players and rookies.

The other guarantee is that less-than-known-name (better than no-name) running backs and wide receivers will have outstanding fantasy performances out of nowhere. Knowing the team situations allow you to have a good opportunity finding the diamond in the rough. Better for Daily Fantasy Sports than season-long leagues, but if you somehow made it to the playoffs and you need a spot start a good place to start your search is the eliminated teams.

Teams eliminated from the playoffs

Cleveland Browns

It’s a good idea to take a look at your leagues rules for playoffs if you are in the hunt. Most leagues do not allow pickups during the playoffs and you don’t want to get caught with an injury at the kicker, QB, or tight end position. It is a good idea to enter with some good backups. Also makes sense to look at the defensive matchups for week 14-16. The Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, and Kansas City Chiefs have some really soft matchups for the fantasy playoffs.

 

Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson SEA – This guy is going to put this team on his shoulders and make a Super Bowl run. Inside of that he will put up solid fantasy numbers for the remainder of the year and make everyone think he is worthy of a top 6-8 QB draft slot next year. He’s not fooling us. Take advantage of what he has to offer this year and have a short term memory next year. So what changed? I just think he is one of those guys that is more confident and comfortable as the season goes on. The O-Line has played better over the last few weeks too.

Matthew Stafford DET – Simply put we trust Stafford to play well and compete down the stretch. They have some favorable matchups the next five weeks (GB, @STL, @NO, SF, @CHI). I would count on 12 TD’s over that span.

 

 

Running Backs

Jay Ajayi MIA – Jay has looked good with his chances thus far and he will definitely see his workload increase when the Dolphins become officially eliminated.

Bilal Powell NYJ – He has had 6 carries in each of the last 2 games, but that’s not why he’s on here. He is a PPR running back and he will continue to perform as Chris Ivory is wearing down a bit.

Kenjon Barner PHI – This is one to watch. Kenjon has been getting looks with Ryan Mathews out and Demarco Murray doing the biggest healthy disappearing act of the season (or Lacy). Barner could be the guy that Chip wants to showcase down the stretch to see what he has. On second thought, Chip might not really care any longer.

James White NE – Hit or miss in this offense, but he still has an opportunity to put up some decent numbers from week to week in PPR formats.

Ameer Abdullah DET – Ameer’s workload increased last week. He is so talented that as long as he gets carries and holds onto the football he will break a couple and make some highlights. He has been dropped in a ton of leagues, but now may be the time to pick him up.

Wide Receiver

DeVante Parker MIA – Parker had another good performance for the second straight week catching 3 of his 5 targets for 63 yards and a TD.

Markus Wheaton PIT – This is such a great offense and all they do is sling it around, so depending on the matchup (CB – WR) Markus could be in store for another big game or two. Defenses are going to work so hard at covering Martavis Bryant and Antonio Brown that this could be a great playoff WR.

Anquan Boldin SF – Anquan again leads the SF in targets with 13. He only caught 5 of them, but he will be a fine WR#3 in PPR for the remainder of the season.

Brian Hartline CLE – Travis Benjamin is likely to play this weekend against the 49ers, still we like Brian to be a decent WR3-4 in PPR leagues.

Brandon Coleman NO – We had high hopes for this physical freak in the preseason, but he never really got going and was buried on the depth chart. With Snead sidelined it opens the door for Brandon to show that he is a starter in this league. I like him to get some more play time over the next 4 weeks.

Tight End

Scott Chandler NE – Chandler’s volume was decent in his first start as TE #1. He was picked up in most leagues, but he will perform well if he’s still around in your leagues.

Will Tye NYG – Well Tye managed to have his fewest targets in 4 weeks (4 targets), but still had a respectable outing catching 3 for 70 yards. He is Eli’s safety valve and is a fine tight end for your playoff run if you were a Gronk or Jimmy owner.

Richard Rodgers GB – I have seen him available in a couple of my leagues. This poor WR corp. I was right about James Jones, he burned out, but I was not aware of DaVante Adams inability to run a route and catch the ball. He is just not that good. Richard Rodgers will probably see the biggest amount of targets over the next 4 weeks.