As we roll into the Week 15 Waiver Wire, and officially into the fantasy playoffs, the theme is simple: stack your bench with upside and pray to the fantasy gods. Most of the players available at this point in the season aren’t going to be locked-in starters right away (maybe one or two if you’re lucky), but that can change in an instant with injuries shaking up depth charts every week. This is the time of year when a single unexpected opportunity can swing an entire playoff matchup, so staying aggressive on the wire is the name of the game.
Handcuffs, high-upside backups, and matchup-friendly streamers are the real heroes of December football. Whether you’re chasing a league-winning running back lottery ticket, searching for a boom-bust receiver with big-play potential, or plugging in a quarterback or tight end who can pop in the right matchup, upside is everything.
With a championship in sight, loading your roster with players who can meaningfully move the needle gives you the best chance to survive and advance. Week 15 is here, so let’s find the difference-makers who can carry you all the way to the trophy.
HEADS UP: Each player featured is rostered in 50% or fewer leagues on Yahoo! at the time of publication.
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 15 WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
QUARTERBACKS
JUSTIN FIELDS, NEW YORK JETS (27% ROSTERED)
Trusting any quarterback who’s still on waivers in Week 15 isn’t for the faint of heart, but Justin Fields suddenly has real QB1 appeal thanks to the Jets’ QB carousel. Tyrod Taylor briefly revived New York’s offense before a groin issue knocked him out against Miami, opening the door for Fields if Taylor can’t go. Fields was held out in Week 14 with knee soreness, so you’ll need to track his status, but the last time we saw him healthy, he finished as the QB5 in Week 11. When the matchup is right, his athleticism can carry him to big fantasy days.
And this week, the matchup is absolutely right. Jacksonville is the definition of a pass-funnel defense that can be exploited. Even with Fields’ passing inconsistencies, this is a spot where he can move the offense and give John Metchie and Adonai Mitchell opportunities to pop. If he’s under center, Fields offers legit QB1 upside as the fantasy playoffs get underway.
MARCUS MARIOTA, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (8% ROSTERED)
Jayden Daniels returned in Week 14 but didn’t make it far, aggravating his left elbow injury in the third quarter before being shut down for the day. Marcus Mariota stepped in and, to be fair, didn’t fare much better against Minnesota’s defense, but the bigger story is what Washington decides to do next. At 3–10 with nothing left to play for except draft position, the Commanders may choose to keep their franchise quarterback out of harm’s way, opening the door for Mariota to take over in Week 15 and possibly beyond.
If Mariota gets the nod against the Giants, he becomes an intriguing desperation streamer for fantasy managers entering the playoffs. His passing won’t wow anyone, but Mariota still brings mobility to the position, and that alone can keep a quarterback fantasy-relevant in the right matchup. If the Commanders turn to him, he’s a viable plug-in option for managers scrambling after injuries or rough matchups.
OTHER QBs TO TARGET: JJ McCarthy, Vikings (30%); CJ Stroud, Texans (42%); Shedeur Sanders, Browns (8%); Tyler Shough, Saints (8%); Riley Leonard, Colts (0%)
RUNNING BACKS
BLAKE CORUM, LA RAMS (33% ROSTERED)
At this point in the season, we’re stashing high-end handcuffs like our fantasy lives depend on it, because they do, and Blake Corum is exactly the kind of upside bench piece you want heading into the playoffs. He erupted for 128 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries in Sunday’s blowout win over Arizona. Corum has made the most of every opportunity this year, including Kyren Williams’ brief Week 13 absence, and he once again took advantage of a favorable script to rack up production. And to be clear, this wasn’t all garbage-time fluff: his first touchdown came while the game was still competitive.
While it’s unlikely Corum maintains this level of output as a change-of-pace option, especially against Detroit next week, that’s not the point anymore. In the fantasy playoffs, you’re chasing league-winning contingency value, and Corum is one of the very best handcuffs to stash. If anything happens to Kyren Williams, Corum steps into a massive role behind one of the league’s most productive rushing attacks. He should be rostered everywhere as a premium late-season lottery ticket.
JAYLEN WRIGHT, MIAMI DOLPHINS (3% ROSTERED)
As we hit the fantasy playoffs, Jaylen Wright has suddenly crashed the party. Wright exploded for 107 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in Week 14, stepping in as the lead back when De’Von Achane left with a rib injury. It was Wright’s first career 100-yard game, and he looked every bit the part of a capable NFL runner, ripping chunk gains and handling true workhorse volume. He even saw three targets, though he didn’t haul any in, and notably played over Ollie Gordon, solidifying himself as the clear next man up.
Even if Achane returns, Wright has carved out a role in Miami’s sneaky, productive offense, already scoring a short touchdown before Achane got hurt. But if Achane misses Week 15, Wright becomes a locked-in fantasy RB2 against the Steelers, who have struggled to slow down explosive runners. He’s the top add from this backfield and one of the best late-season pickups available, offering both immediate starter value and premium insurance for the playoff stretch.
OTHER RBs TO TARGET: Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders (37%); Brian Robinson Jr., 49ers (21%); Devin Singletary, Giants (24%); Bam Knight, Cardinals (38%); Rasheen Ali, Ravens (0%); Emanuel Wilson, Packers (31%); Sean Tucker, Buccaneers (25%); Tank Bigsby, Eagles (18%); Ollie Gordon II, Dolphins (8%)
WIDE RECEIVERS
LUTHER BURDEN III, CHICAGO BEARS (17% ROSTERED)
With Rome Odunze sidelined in Week 14 due to a foot stress fracture, Luther Burden stepped right into the spotlight to lead the Bears’ wideouts with six targets, four receptions, and 67 yards. The rookie did most of his work in the short areas of the field, but he still flashed big-play juice with a late 27-yard grab as the Bears tried to rally against Green Bay. Burden’s role has been steadily growing for weeks. He’s seen at least five targets in four straight games, and Sunday marked his highest yardage output during that stretch. His involvement isn’t a fluke; it’s a trend pointing upward at the perfect time for fantasy managers.
With Odunze likely week-to-week, Burden should continue operating as Chicago’s most dynamic weapon in the passing game. He’s already earning trust, volume, and high-leverage looks, making him a useful plug-and-play option as we dive into the fantasy playoffs. Treat the promising rookie as a WR3/FLEX while Odunze is out.
KAYSHON BOUTTE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (29% ROSTERED)
Kayshon Boutte has been the definition of a boom-bust FLEX this season, but when he hits, he really hits, thanks in large part to having Drake Maye launch him beautiful deep balls. Boutte sits as the WR42 in fantasy points per game, yet he’s already posted five top-24 weekly finishes, showing he can spike in any matchup. Despite seeing only two red-zone targets all year, he’s found the end zone six times thanks to 10 deep targets and Maye’s elite accuracy.
None of his remaining matchups jump off the paper (vs BUF, at BAL, at NYJ, vs MIA), but that’s not really the point with Boutte. His value comes from those week-winning chunk plays, and as long as he’s tied to one of the best quarterbacks in the league, the upside is massive. If you’re chasing upside in the fantasy playoffs, Boutte remains firmly on the radar as a volatile but explosive option.
OTHER WRs TO TARGET: Darius Slayton, Giants (33%); Adonai Mitchell, Jets (26%); Devaughn Vele, Saints (19%); Josh Downs, Colts (45%); Jayden Reed, Packers (41%); Chimere Dike, Titans (15%); Ryan Flournoy, Cowboys (1%); Pat Bryant, Broncos (3%)
TIGHT ENDS
HAROLD FANNIN JR., CLEVELAND BROWNS (40% ROSTERED)
Harold Fannin Jr. has been frequently highlighted in this column for good reason; the rookie has quietly delivered a top-12 tight end season in fantasy points per game and keeps trending upward. Over the last three weeks, with David Njoku battling injuries and Shedeur Sanders settling in at quarterback, Fannin’s role has expanded even further. He’s jumped to TE4 over that stretch, and his breakout performance on Sunday, eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown, showed just how dangerous he can be when given real volume.
Now Njoku is dealing with a knee injury that could sideline him, and if that happens, Fannin’s arrow points even higher. The rookie already offers reliable usage, athletic upside, and strong chemistry with Sanders, making him one of the most exciting late-season tight end pickups available. You can realistically treat Fannin as a top-10 fantasy TE for the rest of the season, and he might have even more in the tank if the Browns fully unleash him.
OTHER TEs TO TARGET: Colston Loveland, Bears (42%); Theo Johnson, Giants (%); Dalton Schultz, Texans (%)
