We’re into the end game now as Dr. Stephen Strange might say if he was considering the fantasy football schedule. Given the litany of injuries we’re dealing with, one might be forgiven for thinking that Thanos had dealt your rosters a snap of the fingers and made half of them disappear. Never fear though, the Waiver Wire Stashes column is here to help you find players rostered under 50% in Yahoo leagues, who are worth stashing now ahead of next week’s waiver run.
Week 15 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Stash Targets
Quarterback Stash Candidates
Jake Browning (QB – CIN) – 47% Rostered
The Bengals have a simple recipe with Jake Browning and it’s working so far. Browning has an average depth of target of 4.7 yards in his three starts, compared to 10.6 when he replaced Joe Burrow against the Ravens. Browning gets the ball out on time and near the line of scrimmage and relies on the Bengals talented pass-catchers to make it work, and thus far it has. Browning rounds out the season with games against the Vikings, Steelers, and Chiefs, all of whom have a chance of making the playoffs and should be playing to win. Browning isn’t the most talented player, but he might be the most talented quarterback left on a miserable waiver wire.
Joe Flacco (QB – CLE) – 26% Rostered
Over the last two weeks, no quarterback has attempted as many passes as Joe Flacco’s 89. When Deshaun Watson is at quarterback the Browns’ offense often feels constrained in one way or another, but under Flacco, the training wheels are off and one of the biggest improvements is how quickly the ball comes out. Flacco gets his throws out in an average of 2.62 seconds, 0.57 seconds faster than Watson, who holds the ball as long as some dual-threat quarterbacks but doesn’t get out of trouble as well as they do or create after the play in a similar way. Flacco has a very friendly matchup against the Bears this weekend before finishing with a game against the Texans and a revenge game against the New York Jets who declined to re-sign him this year when Aaron Rodgers went down.
Running Back Stash Candidates
Ty Chandler (RB -MIN) – 49% Rostered
With Alexander Mattison dealing with an ankle injury, the Vikings’ backfield will be turned over to Ty Chandler who the team has sought to give more touches to in the wake of Cam Akers‘ torn Achilles. Over the last four games, Chandler has had double-digit rushing attempts in three of them, rushing for an average of 51 yards in those games. Chandler faces a Bengals side allowing 4.4 yards per carry and the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs, so if he has a good game he’ll be very popular come Tuesday.
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN) – 46% Rostered
Over the last two weeks, Tyjae Spears has touched the ball 33 times and totaled 206 yards all-purpose yards, helping him to back-to-back finishes inside the top 18 running backs. Spears plays the Texans twice in the next three weeks and while they rank 13th best against the run in DVOA, they rank 31st in DVOA against running backs in the receiving game. Spears also remains one of the best handcuffs in the league should anything happen to Derrick Henry.
Jerick McKinnon (RB – KC) – 40% Rostered
The Chiefs have ruled Isiah Pacheco out for Week 15 after undergoing a minor surgical procedure to help his shoulder injury. Shoulder injuries are not ideal at a position where players frequently use their shoulders to make contact with very big human beings, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Chiefs try to let Pacheco rest up ready for the playoffs. McKinnon has been relied upon down the stretch run in previous years and is seeing all of the high-value touches while Clyde Edwards-Helaire works between the twenties. If I had to roster one of those two players, it’s McKinnon every time.
Wide Receiver Stash Candidates
Noah Brown (WR – HOU) – 41% Rostered
The Texans are as banged up as it gets with their injury report getting lengthier each week, but in the NFL injuries breed opportunities and Noah Brown has the chance to step up with Nico Collins struggling and Tank Dell on injured reserve. Brown had two games with 24 or more PPR points in Weeks 9 & 10, before picking up an injury of his own. It’s unlikely the Texans’ offense is as offensively pleasing with Davis Mills at quarterback this week, but he’s a competent player and Stroud should be out of the concussion protocol in time for next week’s fixture.
Curtis Samuel (WR – WAS) – 36% Rostered
It’s not often you get a chance to pick a reliable receiver who sees strong volume from waivers, but that’s what Curtis Samuel is with Sam Howell at quarterback, averaging 6.1 targets over the last six games. Before the Cardinals’ Week 14 bye week, Samuel had 13 catches for 165 yards in the previous two games and has firmly established himself near the top of the pecking order in Washington. Samuel could also see more work in the backfield with Brian Robinson Jr. ruled out this week.
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG) – 11% Rostered
Fresh off a prime-time Monday Night game where Wan’Dale Robinson led the Giants with a 35% target share he’s worth at least some level of consideration, especially if you’re in the type of league where every one of these other players seems to be rostered already. Robinson had eight touches for 115 yards and finished as a top 18 wide receiver, something that’s only happened for the Giants one other time this year when Darius Slayton achieved it. Yes, the Giants’ ceiling is low, but Robinson looks healthy and is facing a banged-up New Orleans secondary before facing an awful Philadelphia secondary in Week 16, who can’t stop anyone.
Tight End Stash Candidates
Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE – TEN) – 34% Rostered
As Will Levis has slowly found his feet in this Tennessee offense it’s had a positive effect on Chigoziem Okonkwo, who averaged 21 receiving yards over the first 11 games of the season, before cranking it up to 31.6 per game over the last three. That might not sound like a huge difference, but before Week 11 Okonkwo had finished inside the top 20 just once this year. Since seeing an uptick in production he’s been a top 18 tight end every week. This week Okonkwo faces the Texans, who allow the third-most fantasy points to tight ends, allowing eight top-twelve performances and Okonkwo will see them again in Week 17.
Tucker Kraft (TE – CIN) – 10% Rostered
Ever since Luke Musgrave got injured, Tucker Kraft is playing over 90% of snaps for the Packers and has seen 12 targets in three games, resulting in finishes of TE11, 19, and 12. Kraft plays the Bucs this week who allow the eighth-most points to TEs, giving up four top-seven finishes since Week 8 including one to Kyle Pitts who managed the rarest of rare feats and scored a touchdown in Week 14.
D/ST Stash Candidates
Tennessee Titans – 7% Rostered
The Titans play the Texans twice in the next three weeks, including one game against Davis Mills. Tennessee has scored over eight points in each of their last three games.
Seattle Seahawks – 17% Rostered
Seattle gets Will Levis and the Titans in Week 16 before potentially playing Mitch Trubisky and the Steelers in Week 17.
Minnesota Vikings – 20% Rostered
The Vikings’ defense has been their most impressive unit this year. Brian Flores has brought a blitz-happy approach to Minnesota to great effect and has them ranked in the top seven in both run and pass defense DVOA. Since Week 4 they’ve had five games in double-digit points, including games of 17, 21, and 20 points. In Week 15 they play Jake Browning before taking on a clumsy Jared Goff and then finishing with Jordan Love.
