Pat Bryant has emerged as the No. 2 WR in Denver over Troy Franklin. Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images
Just because the fantasy football playoffs are here — well, unless you start next week in a 10-team league — it doesn’t mean the waivers end. Some things do, as worries and power-ups are done-ish. I still touch on those in player write-ups, and if you have questions about any of them, you know to jump in the comments. Running backs are super thin in the Week 15 waiver wire, so make sure you’re scooping up all the good backups before it’s too late. Don’t forget that Ameer Abdullah was a playoff RB1 last year.
Waiver Wire Running Backs
Chris Rodriguez, WAS — Rodriguez is the clear lead, but touchdown-reliant and an RB3.
Blake Corum, LAR 🫡
Bam Knight, ARI — Needy RB3 play.
Devin Singletary, NYG — The Giants return from the bye with questions about Tyrone Tracy’s health, but even so, Singletary could continue to lead the timeshare with Jaxson Dart under center.
Brian Robinson, SF 🫡
Tyler Allgeier, ATL 🫡
Dylan Sampson, CLE — Shedeur Sanders has sparked the offense, and Sampson is seeing (more) passing game work. He’s also next up if Quinshon Judkins were to get hurt.
Jaylen Wright; Ollie Gordon, MIA — Reports say De’Von Achane is fine, but in case he’s not, Wright has finally stepped up as the “Next Man” behind Achane. Gordon would share and get goal-line work. Think of it as old Achane/Raheem Mostert days … but with much less value. Wright would be No. 1 if Achane is out, and Gordon would move behind Singletary.
Rachaad White, TB — Bucky Irving is back and amazing, but White should be stashed where possible.
Dare Ogunbowale, HOU — If Nick Chubb is out, Ogunbowale is next behind Woody Marks.
Rasheen Ali, BAL — With Keaton Mitchell’s knee injury, Ali could be next up. It sounds as if Mitchell is OK, but if not, deep leaguers and Derrick Henry managers can grab Ali.
Junk DropPurely Next Man Up Ranks
(If an injury ahead of them)
Brian Robinson, SF
Kyle Monangai, CHI
Tyler Allgeier, ATL
Chuba Hubbard, CAR
Blake Corum, LAR
Zach Charbonnet, SEA
Jordan Mason, MIN
Kenneth Gainwell, PIT
Emanuel Wilson, GB
Rhamondre Stevenson, NE
Samaje Perine, CIN
Rachaad White, TB
Jaylen Wright, MIA
Ray Davis, BUF
Tank Bigsby, PHI
Tyjae Spears, TEN
Isaiah Davis, NYJ
Bhayshul Tuten, JAX
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, WAS
Keaton Mitchell, BAL
Raheem Mostert, LV
Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN
Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
Jayden Reed, GB — First game back and nearly the Reed we remember — in the WR3 conversation this week.
Kayshon Boutte, NE 😏
Adonai Mitchell, NYJ — If Tyrod Taylor plays, Mitchell is a high-ceiling WR3. If not, Mitchell falls to a Hail Mary WR5, which is behind Darius Slayton.
Devaughn Vele, NO — Chris Olave isn’t 100% but even if he gets back to it, Vele is still a WR4/5.
Alec Pierce, IND — Now a WR4 — still boom/bust — with Daniel Jones done. Could get back to WR3 tier if Philip Rivers returns like the Undertaker and looks anything like Joe Flacco did for the Bengals.
Jack Bech, LV — They said Bech would get more opportunities, and it was true. Bech can finally fill the Jakobi Meyers void and have WR4 value.
Luther Burden, CHI — Burden got leapfrogged by Olamide Zaccheaus with Rome Odunze out, and given the schedule, Burden is simply a WR4 until 2026.
Pat Bryant, DEN — Not only was Bryant the No. 2 last week, but he was again this week, and Troy Franklin fell to fifth in routes, behind two tight ends.
Andrei Iosivas; Mitch Tinsley, CIN — With Tee Higgins likely to miss time due to a concussion again, Iosivas gets WR4 value back and Tinsley WR5.
Darius Slayton, NYG — Now back to 100%, Slayton is a boom/bust WR4.
Jayden Higgins, HOU — A rather deep-league option and no more than a WR5.
Jalen Coker, CAR — Coker could get the post-bye rookie bump … though, it’s pretty late in the year for that.
John Metchie, NYJ — If Brady Cook is under center, Metchie could be a desperation WR5, reliant on volume.
Isaiah Bond, CLE — Cedric Tillman and David Njoku got hurt, putting Bond in position to grab the No. 2 role (well, No. 3 behind Harold Fannin).
Ryan Flournoy, DAL — Only if CeeDee Lamb is out and would be a WR3/4. Flournoy would rank above Pierce for as long as Lamb is out.
Bait Loot
(Leave them on waivers)
Tim Patrick, JAX — If Parker Washington is out, Patrick is actually a decent WR4/5 flier, but reports make it sound as if Washington should return.
Chimere Dike, TEN — Chasing Titans wideout production — this goes for Elic Ayomanor, too — is the definition of chasing your tail.
Rashid Shaheed, SEA — Had a return touchdown, which is cool, but the 67.6 Route% and 18.2% target share while on the field are still not enough to plug in Shaheed.
Unbreak My Heart
Jerry Jeudy, CLE ❤️❤️❤️ — It only took Sanders at quarterback, plus injuries to Tillman and Njoku to like Jeudy again, but here we are. I’d put Jeudy in the WR4 conversation and third, unless Taylor is OK for the Jets, then behind Mitchell.
Junk Drop
Troy Franklin, DEN — See: Bryant, Pat.
Reserve Heroes: Deployed
(Streaming Section)Streaming Quarterbacks“Thou Shall Not… Pass!”
(No thanks, not worth the risk)Streaming Tight EndsPlayoff DSTs(Top 10 ranked for each week, rostership regardless)Week 15
SEA vs IND
PHI vs LV
HOU vs ARI
TB vs ATL
DAL vs MIN
SF vs TEN
JAX vs NYJ
CHI vs CLE
NO vs CAR
KC vs LAC
Week 16
HOU vs LV
NO vs NYJ
DEN vs JAX
PHI at WAS
SF at IND
BUF at CLE
DET vs PIT
LV at HOU
KC at TEN
MIN at NYG
Week 17
LAR at ATL
SEA at CAR
NE at NYJ
HOU at LAC
JAX at IND
CLE vs PIT
DAL at WAS
DET at MIN
TB at MIA
NO at TEN
All In Speed Run Podcast
(Hey, listen! 🧚 it’s mine 👀)AppleSpotify
Manual: Rules of Play
Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo.
Listed in order of preference: I’ll regularly prioritize potential upside over immediate replacement production.
No FAB suggestions: Varies wildly by league tendencies and needs.
Streaming QB, TE, DST order might change in the ranks with more news and projections.
Emojis for brevity:
😏 = mentioned multiple times, multiple weeks — either you want him or don’t
🫡 = Next Man Up, but with deeper startability