Fantasy Football: Top Waiver Wire Add Playoff Push Edition

Waiver Wire Playoff Edition

In my final waiver wire article of the season we have a slightly different twist than usual. When picking players to add this week I was specifically looking for guys with nice fantasy playoff schedules. So along with their name and team you will see their reaming schedule to help you decide on who you should be targeting down the stretch here. As always if you have questions hit me up. You can find me in my dynasty Facebook group Dynasty League Problems or on Twitter @mikekelleydlp.

Quarterbacks

Case Keenum (MIN) 44% – @ATL, @CAR, CIN, @GB, CHI

Most guys on this list are going to be owned in less than 50 percent of leagues and will have a favorable schedule for the fantasty playoffs. Keenum just might be the exception to that rule. Keenum has a not so nice schedule, but he is playing so well right now, I just can’t ignore that. In his last three games he has thrown for over 280 yards in each, completed 70 percent of his passes or more and thrown seven touchdowns with just two interceptions. He should continue playing well and would be rostered in deep, 2QB, and superflex leagues.

Blake Bortles (JAX) 48% – IND, SEA, HOU, @SF, @TEN

Of all quarterbacks that are owned in 50 percent or less of leagues, Bortles has my favorite schedule for the playoffs. His next three games are home and in championship week he is in San Fransico. There is a home game against Seattle in there, that is typically the first week of the playoffs, but outside of that he should be able to produce for you the rest of the weeks. I know he is not having as good a year as his last two, but with those match ups he just might be worth throwing out there if you QB1 has some bad weather or tough defensive opponents during the playoffs.

Blaine Gabbert (ARI) – 7% – LA, TEN, @WAS, NYG, @SEA

I have been a fan of Gabbert’s for a long time. Unfortunately he has been some pretty bad teams through out his career. The Cardinals are not great but they are far better than any team he has played on before. As long as the Cards keep sending him out he is worth consideration. Against the top passing defense he managed to throw for 241 yards and two touchdowns and led his team to victory. Not bad for a third string quarterback. Next week is a tough match up, but for the playoffs he has some decent match ups. Again you have to make sure they keep using him if you go get him.

Trevor Siemian (DEN) – 17% – @MIA, NYJ, @IND, @WAS, KC

Denver has a schedule almost as nice as Jacksonville does, but the team is a mess and there is no guarantee that Siemian will even remain the quarterback at all. If he does start again though he could be useful in the payoffs. He has some road games, but they are in nice weather areas or a dome which means weather might not play a factor in his starts. This one is risky but if Siemian starts the rest of the way he could be valuable.

Running Backs

Rex Burkhead (NE) – 47% – @BUF, @MIA, @PIT, BUF, NYJ

Normally I would steer clear of Patriot running backs, but over the last few weeks Mike Gillislee has been inactive, and James White has been used sparingly. Leaving Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead the bulk of the work out of the backfield. Of course you still run the risk of being screwed by the Patriots, but right now Burkhead seems as good as any to run out there with some minor confidence. With only one tough game remaining on the Patriots
schedule I think it’s worth the risk if you need a running back for the playoffs.

Rod Smith (DAL) – 15% – WAS, @NYG, @OAK, SEA, @PHI

With Darren McFadden on his way out of Dallas that means Smith is the clear cut back up to Alfred Morris, and that might not last very long either. Morris is a decent running back, but was never been known for his hands, not that Smith is great catching the ball, but he is better. Smith could easily take over the lead back job at anytime and with games against WAS, NYG, and OAK coming up he could be a decent start for a desperate team. Zeke comes back week 16 so he does lose value there, but the Cowboys play SEA anyway, which would have been a tough start for him. So if you need some early round playoff help, Smith
is your best bet to be available in deep leagues.

Kenyan Drake (MIA) – 38% – DEN, NE, @BUF, @KC, BUF

It appeared Damien Williams was well on his way to claiming the lead role in Miami, but then he hurt his shoulder. Early feeling is he will miss extended time basically giving Drake the lead role for the Dolphins. With not a single team on the Dolphins remaining schedule apt at stopping the run, he should get plenty of opportunities to put up some points. Available in over 60 percent of leagues I would be looking at add Drake to either bolster my roster or even prevent an opponent from getting him and using him against me.

Wide Receivers

Zay Jones (BUF) – 34% – NE, IND, MIA, @NE, @MIA

Zay has disappointed me most of the year. Though I think Tyrod Taylor shoulders the majority of the problem here. All that a side though, Zay has been playing better over the last few weeks. He has even seen 24 targets over the last three games. I know people are worried about Kelvin Benjamin coming back, and that will cut into Zay’s work load, but I think he has now passed Jordan Matthews and will be no worse than the WR2 for the Bills from here on out. So with three home games coming up all against teams that have struggled to stop wide receivers Zay should continue to get the targets needed to produced solid numbers down the stretch.

Dontrelle Inman (CHI) – 13% – SF, @CIN, @DET, CLE, @MIN

Since entering the Bears starting lineup three weeks ago Inman has seen 22 targets. He has turned those targets into 13 receptions for 195 yards, but sadly no touchdowns. He is leading the team in targets over that stretch, which should continue the rest of the way. If Inman can maintain that five receptions for 65 yards pace he could slip into having flex value. Then if he finds the end zone a couple of times he can really pay off. His schedule is not great but it’s not the worst and anytime you have a guy leading in targets he is worth rostering in case you need him.

Cordarrelle Patterson (OAK) – 9% – NYG, @KC, DAL, @PHI, @LAC

This one is more of a short term fix. Michael Crabtree is likely facing a suspension and Cooper suffered a concussion. Leaving the door open for Patterson to step into the WR1 role. Now if Crabtree escapes without a suspension and Cooper makes it back next week Patterson offers no value. This is purely a desperation move that needs some help to gain value. Only consider using Patterson if either Crabtree or Cooper miss time. If both guys play don’t bother.

Tight Ends

Ricky Seals-Jones (ARI) – 4% – LA, TEN, @WAS, NYG, @SEA

I can’t believe I am putting Seals-Jones on this list, but it is clear that as long as Gabbert is playing quarterback Seals-Jones will get some looks. I am sure it has to do with both guys being buried at practice all year that they have built some sort of rapport with each other, but regardless Gabbert seems to trust him. He trusts him to the tune of 7/126/3 in two games. Even if the touchdowns go away catching four passes for 60 yards is not a bad day from a tight end. Disclaimer though, if Gabbert does not play I would not use Seals-Jones at all. But if Gabbert plays through the fantasy playoffs it could result in some nice games from Seals-Jones especially weeks 15 and 16.

Julius Thomas (MIA) – 46% – DEN, NE, @BUF, @KC, BUF

Thomas finish with five receptions for 52 yards this past week. Granted I think all of it came in garbage time, he is still getting the looks. With some nice match ups coming up and the potential for more garbage time Thomas is an attractive tight end to stream during the fantasy playoffs. Every team he faces from here on out is in the bottom half of the league in yards to tight ends. So even if he does not score double digits is still a real possibility.

Charles Clay (BUF) – 44% – NE, IND, MIA, @NE, @MIA

We have already talked a couple of times about how nice the Bills fantasy playoff schedule is so of course the same applies to Clay here. Even better for Clay though, as he gets healthier, he is Taylor’s favorite target and could see plenty of use down the stretch here. I think he has the best shot at getting a couple of touchdowns out of all the tight ends on this list. He would be my preferred tight to have for sure.

Michael Kelley is a member of the Going For 2 team. You can check out his website Dynasty League Problems for more writings or find him on Twitter @mikekelleydlp spreading fantasy knowledge for the masses.

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