Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try and help.
Every week I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played.
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Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
Mitch Trubisky (QB – PIT) vs. Indianapolis Colts (1.3% Rostered)
Many thought Week 14’s Thursday night matchup would be a fantasy nightmare. However, Trubisky was productive, completing 62.9% of his pass attempts for 190 yards and one touchdown in his first start of the season, scoring 20.6 fantasy points against a talented New England Patriots defense. Furthermore, he used his rushing abilities, totaling eight rushing attempts for 30 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Kenny Pickett will miss his second consecutive game with a high ankle sprain, giving Trubisky another week under center for the Steelers.
The Colts had held quarterbacks to only 10 fantasy points per game over their previous four games before the Week 14 matchup because opposing offenses could run up and down on Indianapolis’ defense. Last week, Grover Stewart returned from a suspension and helped limit Joe Mixon to only 3.8 yards per rushing attempt. Unfortunately, it led to Jake Browning dropping three total touchdowns and 23.7 fantasy points. If he can play like he did a week ago, Trubisky will have another solid fantasy performance on Saturday.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB – KC) vs. New England Patriots (28.7% Rostered)
Yesterday, head coach Andy Reid revealed that Isiah Pacheco had shoulder surgery and won’t play Sunday against the Patriots. While the second-year running back should return to practice next week, Edwards-Helaire would get his second consecutive start of the year in Week 15. The former first-round pick was solid last week against the Buffalo Bills, totaling 13 touches for 68 scrimmage yards and 7.8 half-point PPR fantasy points. More importantly, he was the lead back with Pacheco sidelined, outtouching Jerick McKinnon 13-7 in the loss.
Lately, the Patriots have been outstanding at stopping the run. Since their Week 11 bye, New England has held running backs to 42 rushing yards and only 9.1 fantasy points per game, surrendering zero rushing touchdowns. However, they struggled to slow down running backs earlier in the year, giving up 19.4 fantasy points per game to running backs before the bye week. While the Patriots have slowed down opposing rushing attacks lately, Edwards-Helaire’s Week 14 workload makes him a viable last-minute replacement for fantasy players with Pacheco on their team.
Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PHI) vs. Seattle Seahawks (14.4% Rostered)
We’ve reached the fantasy football playoffs, meaning waiver wire options at the running back position are uglier than any ugly Christmas sweater at your family dinner. Unfortunately, that means Gainwell is a desperate option for fantasy players this week. The former Memphis star hasn’t had a consistent role since D’Andre Swift took over as the starting running back. Yet, he has averaged 4.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the past five contests, scoring 7.2 or more twice.
Thankfully, Gainwell has an appealing fantasy football matchup on Monday night. The Seahawks have surrendered 23 fantasy points per game to running backs, the fifth-most in the NFL. They have been even worse over the second half of the year. Running backs have averaged 127 rushing yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 28.7 fantasy points per game against Seattle over the past seven weeks, totaling at least 133 yards in over half of those contests, including last week. Hopefully, Gainwell earns enough touches to take advantage of the excellent matchup.
Zay Jones (WR – JAC) vs. Baltimore Ravens (32.5% Rostered)
With Christian Kirk out for the regular season with a groin injury, Parker Washington took over in the slot, running a career-high 32 routes last week (per Fantasy Points Data). While the rookie scored a touchdown for the second consecutive game, Jones was the biggest beneficiary of Kirk’s absence. The veteran wide receiver has the second-most routes run (87), the most targets (22), and the highest target per route run rate (25%) on the team over the past two weeks, with Kirk playing only one snap.
Jones has averaged 9.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the three contests with seven or more targets this year, showing he can be a solid flex for fantasy players when given the target volume. Meanwhile, the Ravens have held wide receivers to the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game in 2023. However, they got obliterated last week, surrendering 11.5 or more fantasy points to three Los Angeles Rams wide receivers. No one should be surprised if Jones has his second consecutive game with double-digit targets Sunday night.
Demarcus Robinson (WR – LAR) vs. Washington Commanders (1.2% Rostered)
Over the past three weeks, Matthew Stafford has been on fire. While Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have had productive fantasy performances, Robinson has stepped up for the Los Angeles offense. The career journeyman has been the WR16 over the past two weeks, scoring 12.1 or more half-point PPR fantasy points in both contests. Furthermore, he has run more routes than Nacua (58 vs. 57) and earned a higher target per route run rate than Kupp (26% vs. 24%) over the past two weeks (per Fantasy Points Data).
Meanwhile, the veteran wide receiver couldn’t ask for a more fantasy-friendly matchup in Week 15. The Commanders have been a goldmine for opposing passing attacks, giving up the second-most fantasy points (35.8) and receiving touchdowns (1.54) per game to wide receivers. They have surrendered three or more receiving touchdowns to wide receivers in a quarter of their games since Week 1. Stafford will have no trouble picking apart an awful Washington pass defense, resulting in Robinson’s third consecutive game with double-digit fantasy points.
Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE – TEN) vs. Houston Texans (33.4% Rostered)
Last week, Okonkwo had his second consecutive game with six targets. After struggling with Ryan Tannehill under center, the second-year tight end has become a go-to target for Will Levis. Okonkwo has averaged 4.9 targets per game, a 23% target per route run rate, and a 15.3% first-read target share in the seven games with the rookie quarterback (per Fantasy Points Data). Furthermore, he has been the TE12 over the past two weeks, averaging four receptions on six targets for 54 receiving yards and 7.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
More importantly, Okonkwo has an outstanding matchup to kick off the fantasy football playoffs. The Texans have surrendered 11.4 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the fourth-most in the NFL. However, they have had no answers for opposing tight ends lately. Houston has surrendered at least 94 receiving yards and 12.9 fantasy points in two of their past three contests. Don’t be surprised if Okonkwo has his first game this season with double-digit fantasy points against the AFC South division rivals.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.