This is my last Untangling the Wire for the season. If you make the playoffs, I hope you will grab some guys that can help you get through the first two weeks and make it to the championship. I want to thank you all for reading my articles every week. Remember, if you didn’t make the playoffs, you could still play DFS and the NFL Playoff Challenge. I will run another NFL Playoff Challenge for Ride Hard Breathe Easy again this season. Please join!
For this article, I mention playoff schedules; the team’s rank in fantasy points allowed to opposing teams is listed in parenthesis next to the team name. So, for instance (1st) would mean that that team gives up the most points to the opposing team’s position of whatever that player is.
Good luck in the playoffs!
May your Waiver Wire Dreams come true tonight!
NOTE: If you are new here, this column refers to players rostered in under 50% of Yahoo, ESPN, and Sleeper Leagues.
Quarterbacks
Mike White
This is the third week I am writing about Mike White. In Week 12 threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns. In Week 13, he threw for 369 yards and ran for 7 yards and a touchdown. I wrote not to play him against the Bills because it was a tough matchup. He left the game multiple times for what appears to be some rib injury. If you have a QB issue or it was simply a weak position for you, the schedule the Jets have moving forward is the Lions (1st) in Week 15, followed by the Jaguars (8th) in Week 16, and in championship week, the Jets play the Seahawks (13th).
20% rostered on Yahoo
15% rostered on ESPN
23% rostered on Sleeper
50% Free Agent Budget
Brock Purdy
Mr. Irrelevant, my ass. Purdy is relevant for the Niners and could be for you if you need some help at quarterback in the fantasy playoffs. He has multiple touchdowns passing in 2 straight games and ran for another touchdown in his second NFL game against the Buccaneers in Week 14. The skill position players are good for the Niners. The schedule is also friendly. Seahawks in Week 15 (13th), Commanders in Week 16 (14th), and the Raiders in championship week.
10% rostered on Yahoo
7% rostered on ESPN
14% rostered on Sleeper
25% Free Agent Budget
Other quarterbacks to consider if you are desperate:
- Mac Jones – Raiders (3rd), Bengals (27th) and Dolphins (5th)
- Sam Darnold – Steelers (9th), Lions (1st) and Buccaneers (22nd)
Running Backs
Zonovan Knight
The third week of writing about him is almost dull, but this guy might be a league winner. I added him to many teams. He filled up the stat sheet in Weeks 13 and 14. In Week 14, he had 17 carries for 71 yards, a touchdown, and two receptions for 6 yards. The schedule is favorable: Lions (20th), the Jaguars (11th), and the Seahawks (2nd) in the fantasy playoffs. The Jets coaches said they would use them, and they have. So if he is still available in your league, add him now.
55% rostered on Yahoo
58% rostered on ESPN
57% rostered on Sleeper
100% Free Agent Budget
Chuba Hubbard
In Week 14, Hubbard ran 14 times for 74 yards and a touchdown. He was also targeted three times and caught three passes for another 25 yards. Foreman still played more snaps, but Hubbard was very productive. This was a three-headed running back by committee that I don’t love, but we have to mention him here with this production. With the Steelers (19th) and the Lions (20th) in the first two weeks of the Fantasy playoffs, Hubbard may have some flex appeal as a floor play.
33% rostered on Yahoo
19% rostered on ESPN
39% rostered on Sleeper
40% Free Agent Budget
Other running backs to consider if you are desperate:
- Joshua Kelley – Plays 40% of the snaps and is the clear backup to Ekeler
- Marlon Mack – Played 32% of snaps, two receptions, 62 yards, TD
- Pierre Strong – 70 yards, TD, 2 targets, 2 receptions, 20 yards
NOTE: Rhamondre Stevenson suffered an injury during the Monday Night Football game and Pierre Strong took over as the Patriots primary running back.
Wide Receivers
Corey Davis
Davis left the Jets’ Week 14 games after getting a knee to his helmet. Since he has been back in the line-up, he has been productive. The schedule is one where the Jets will be throwing, yes, even against the Bills. The Jets need to get wins to get into the playoffs. His matchups are excellent in the first two rounds of the fantasy playoffs. The Lions (5th) Week 15 and the Jaguars (9th) Week 16. There is a tough matchup against the Seahawks in championship week, but you must get there first.
21% rostered on Yahoo
21% rostered on ESPN
31% rostered on Sleeper
15% Free Agent Budget
DJ Chark
He is back, and he is healthy. He has increased targets each of the past three weeks. Over the past three games, he is second in target share for the Lions, behind only Amon-Ra St. Brown with 15%. He leads the Lions in air yards with 39.7%. He has double-digit fantasy scores in two straight games. The fantasy playoff schedule is demanding, but the Lions’ offense is good, with everyone healthy
40% rostered on Yahoo
22% rostered on ESPN
55% rostered on Sleeper
25% Free Agent Budget
Chris Moore
With Nico Collins out, Moore was outstanding in Week 14. Moore saw 11 targets which he turned into ten receptions for 124 yards. It is a thing of beauty because the Texans have this fantastic fantasy playoff schedule of Chiefs (4th), Titans (1st), and Jaguars (9th) for passing offenses to score fantasy points against. So I am adding away on Moore everywhere you can.
2% rostered on Yahoo
2% rostered on ESPN
5% rostered on Sleeper
20% Free Agent Budget
Other wide receivers to consider:
- Elijah Moore – 10 targets, six receptions, 60 yards
- Richie James – 9 Targets, seven receptions, 61 yards, TD
- Ben Skowronek – 8 Targets, seven receptions, 89 yards
NOTE: Ben Skowronek had a 23% target share and played every single snap for the Rams in Week 14. I may be too low on him because the schedule is brutal. I would like to see what Baker Mayfield can do next week before going nuts.
Tight Ends
Chigoziem Okonkwo
Getting Chiggy with it, (Na na na na na na na). I would have had him in this column last week if I had known that Burks would miss the game. But, instead, in Week 14, Chig got six targets which he turned in 6 receptions, 45 yards, and a touchdown. He also caught a 2 point conversion.
14% rostered on Yahoo
4% rostered on ESPN
24% rostered on Sleeper
20% Free Agent Budget
Hunter Henry
Henry’s fantasy playoff schedule is the Raiders (7th), the Bengals (16th), and the Dolphins (3rd). This schedule is super easy for a tight end. The Patriots will be playing to try and make the playoffs. The passing offense needs him to step up. I like Henry the rest of the way.
51% rostered on Yahoo
30% rostered on ESPN
44% rostered on Sleeper
15% Free Agent Budget
Other tight ends to consider:
Austin Hooper: 5 targets, five receptions, 68 yards
Evan Engram: 15 targets, 11 receptions, 162 yards, 2 TDs
NOTE: I had Engram in here last week as well. The Jaguars’ passing game schedule is not very favorable throughout the fantasy playoffs. I would add him if I need a tight end, but I would count on this type of production again this season.
Thanks for checking out our waiver wire column. For more great content from the Undroppables, follow us on Twitter, @MikeReedyFF for more great content, and visit back soon for Mike’s weekly Money Makers and Heart Breakers.
