Waiver Worthy: Week 15 (2018): Digging Deep To Identify Strong Championship Bets

by Will Overton

Congratulations to all who are reading this, because if you are I have to assume that means you’re in the title game this week! It’s possible this is just semi-finals week, but if it is shame on you and fix your league before next season.  If you are still in the thick of things you are only looking on the waiver for someone to play this week either because you are streaming a position or because of an injury. So we’re just looking at guys who I think are viable fantasy options for Week 16:

Baker Mayfield – QB, Cleveland Browns
If you’ve made it to the finals by playing the quarterback streaming game congratulations, and here’s hoping you choose wisely this week too! If it’s me one of the first players I am looking for is Mayfield. The high profile rookie has been hitting his stride these last few weeks and has a prime matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, the same Bengals team that he picked apart a few weeks ago for four TD. It’s possible that this could be a Nick Chubb game, but I really think Mayfield has a big day here.

Jamaal Williams – RB, Green Bay Packers
I think we have learned this season that Aaron Jones is the running back of the future in Green Bay, but with him suffering a sprained knee this past Sunday and the Packers season basically over it’s time for Williams (he had 55 rushing yards and 42 receiving on Sunday with a TD). Williams is not the same kind of runner Jones is, but he is a much better pass catcher and your team should get value from that. The Packers have a solid matchup with the Jets and based on volume alone he should be a Top 20 running back option.

Kalen Ballage – RB, Miami Dolphins
If I need a running back this week the first guy I am trying to get is Williams, but if that’s not possible Ballage may be the way to go. All indications are that Frank Gore’s season is over and that makes Ballage the guy to split carries with Kenyan Drake. Ballage came in against Minnesota and ran for 123 yards, including a 75 yard TD run. The matchup doesn’t look great against the Jaguars, but Jacksonville isn’t nearly as strong against the run as the pass. Ballage could split carries, but the Dolphins surely want to get a good look at what they have in the rookie back before going into the offseason.

Robert Foster – WR, Buffalo Bills
The buzz has been really quiet with Josh Allen getting all the attention in Buffalo, but Foster has been a bright spot for the Bills the last five weeks. He just went over 100 yards for the third time in five games, a stretch that also includes a game with 94 yards. Foster has speed for days, averaging 24.6 YPC, and what has the Patriots weakness been this season? Speed… Foster comes off as big play dependent, but there is a reason he’s hitting these big plays so often. There’s still some risk, but my confidence in using him is growing more and more by the week.

Josh Reynolds – WR, Los Angeles Rams
The workload of Reynolds continues to increase by the week, and while the Rams are struggling he seems to be getting more comfortable in the offense. Reynolds is coming off a week in which he hit double digits in targets for the first time. Now the struggling Rams are looking to get their high flying offense back on track against the Cardinals. We talked about this last week, but it’s always a good idea to target whatever receiver isn’t going to face off with Patrick Peterson and Reynolds should almost certainly not be that guy.

Blake Jarwin – TE, Dallas Cowboys
This is another example of someone increasing his workload paired with having a really nice matchup. For two weeks in a row Jarwin has gotten seven targets, catching 11 passes for 101 yards in the two games combined. Now this week he gets to go up against one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to defending the tight end in Tampa Bay. You really can’t be too enthused about using Jarwin in your championship matchup, but if you’ve been streaming tight ends you know the pickings get slim so he might just be your best bet.

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