The fantasy playoffs are upon us. For those fortunate enough to reach the tournament, each decision you make from here on out will determine the fate of your season. I know, no pressure, right? While waivers have been thoroughly picked over at this point in the year, there are still potential diamonds to be found if only we dig deep enough. With only a few more weeks to go, you never know who could become a league-winner.
Updated Fantasy Week 15 Waiver Wire: Start, Stash & Stream
For those unfamiliar, the goal of Sneaky Stashes is to get ahead of the waiver wire. By identifying valuable players before they break out, we can avoid dipping into that precious FAAB budget or getting beat out by someone with higher priority on waivers. However your league handles it, we get a leg up by stashing fantasy assets on our bench before they become hot commodities. The players featured below are prospects who either have juicy matchups awaiting them in the weeks ahead, have immense talent that is primed to break out sooner or later, or possibly a combination of both.
Nonetheless, the guys you’ll see on Sneaky Stashes are players we recommend considering if you have dead weight at the end of your bench.
Criteria for sneaky stashes require players to be available in 40% or more of Yahoo or ESPN leagues.
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WR — Keke Coutee — Houston Texans
Week 15 Matchup: at Indianapolis Colts
Available in 71%-59% of leagues
In his first game sans Will Fuller, Coutee led the Texans with 8 catches for 141 yards on 9 targets against the Colts. With Kenny Stills waived and Randall Cobb on IR nursing a toe injury, Coutee’s only competition for targets is Brandin Cooks. Deshaun Watson is currently second in the league in passing yards and will likely have to keep slinging it to accommodate for a defense that ranks bottom 10 in points allowed. Houston has a rematch with Indianapolis in week 15 before facing a Cincinnati defense that allows the eighth most passing yards in week 16.
TE — Logan Thomas — Washington Football Team
Week 15 Matchup: vs Seattle Seahawks
Available in 59%-45% of leagues
The tight end position is a fickle beast. Outside of a rare few, weekly tight end output is more or less a crapshoot. But Thomas appears to be gaining steam down the stretch. The 29-year-old is coming off a career performance against the Steelers with 9 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. He has surpassed 60 yards or caught a TD in three of his last four games and appears to be developing a rapport with Alex Smith. Smith, who became the starter in week 10, is also coming off his best performance since his brutal 2018 leg injury. The more comfortable Smith becomes, the more productive Thomas and Washington’s passing game will be.
QB — Drew Brees — New Orleans Saints
Week 15 Matchup: vs Kansas City Chiefs
Available in 48%-34% of leagues
Brees’ return to may be near. This week, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported that while suiting up this Sunday isn’t likely, playing in week 15 is “a more realistic target” for the quarterback. Brees ripped off four straight games of 19 or more fantasy points prior to his injury in week 10. Over the next two weeks, the Saints host the Chiefs in what could be a week 15 shootout and a Vikings team whose pass defense isn’t scaring anyone. If you stream QBs or lack confidence in your starter, Brees is worth an add, especially if your league has an IR spot.
#Saints QB Drew Brees, progressing well in his rehab from a lung puncture & fractured ribs, won’t practice much, if at all, today, I’m told. He’s eligible to come off IR now. They could ramp him up Thursday to see how he feels, but a more realistic target to play has been W15.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 9, 2020
RB — Latavius Murray — New Orleans Saints
Week 15 Matchup: vs Kansas City Chiefs
Available in 47%-32% of leagues
This is your weekly reminder to stash away any valuable RB handcuff. Last week I highlighted Jamaal Williams’ availability, and this week we’ll talk about Murray. The seventh-year pro showed he can still produce when given an expanded workload in week 12 when he laid 126 yards and two touchdowns on the Broncos with 20 touches. Murray’s value would catapult into RB1 territory in the event Alvin Kamara misses time, making him well worth a spot on your bench.
