RADIO
Michael Florio's sneaky fantasy football starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 15. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
If you are reading this, the chances are you made the fantasy playoffs in your league! Congrats, it's a big accomplishment. If you are in the consolation bracket, you probably are not going to like the next thing I say. I believe that the first run of waivers should go to players who have made the playoffs. If you are in a consolation bracket, you can get involved in the second waiver wire run. Those who made it and need some pivot options should get the first crack, they earned it by making the playoffs.
Now that we are in the playoffs, the bye weeks are behind us. You do not need to stash as many depth running backs and receivers as your lineup should be easier to set barring injuries. The bench spots can be utilized to roster your handcuffs or pick up streamers a week before you need them. You can also try to block your opponent from picking people up.
Additionally, now is not the time to get too cute. The names listed below are pivot options, and some can be flat-out started. The deeper names are purely for those in need and not to start over one of your weekly starters. Let's get you fantasy football players into Week 15!
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Quarterback Pivot Options for Fantasy Football
If QBs Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, and Kenny Pickett don’t play, you can pivot to…
Mike White had a disappointing game last week against the Bills, but give him a pass. He was battling through a ribs injury in cold weather against a pretty tough defense. He has a chance to get back on track this week against the Lions, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG to QBs (23.3).
Plus, he gets a great schedule to round out the fantasy playoffs against the Jaguars and Seahawks. He is the top streaming option this week and arguably moving forward.
Matt Ryan can be trusted in the right matchup and that is exactly what he has this week against the Vikings. The Vikings have allowed 22.2 fantasy PPG to QBs in the last month, the fourth-most in the NFL.
In recent weeks, we have seen Jared Goff, Mike White, and Mac Jones have good games against them. If they can do it, so can Ryan. If you need a streaming option, Ryan is a name for you.
Brock Purdy more than held his own in his first NFL start. He threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns while also running for a touchdown. He scored 21.7 fantasy points in total.
This week, he gets the Seahawks, who are not a gimme, but neither were the Bucs. This is more about trusting Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers' passing game. If you are in need of a QB, you can do worse than Purdy.
Running Back Pivot Options for Fantasy Football
If RBs Rhamondre Stevenson, Najee Harris, and Jeff Wilson Jr. don’t play, you can pivot to…
Zonovan Knight was still available in far too many leagues coming into this week. And if you were the lucky one who picked him up, you should consider elevating him from your bench. Even with Michael Carter back, Knight saw 17 carries, two targets, and scored a touchdown.
He has now topped 13 fantasy points in each of his three games. He is a power runner that is hard to take down, which could play well this week as the Lions have allowed 3.3 yards after contact per carry, which ranks in the top third in the NFL. The Lions have been better against the run, but if you are pivoting, you can do much worse than Knight.
Damien Harris, Kevin Harris, and Pierre Strong Jr. would be options if Rhamondre Stevenson sits this week after leaving Monday with an ankle injury. Damien Harris would be a very strong start this week against the Raiders if Stevenson sits.
If both Stevenson and Damien Harris, who has been dealing with a thigh injury, sit, then Kevin Harris and Strong become pivot options. Both scored a touchdown last week but it was Harris who played 28 snaps to Strong’s 18. Harris would get the slight nod of the two, but both would be pivot options in a strong matchup.
Jerick McKinnon had a massive fantasy game last week. He carried the ball six times for 22 yards, but it was in the passing game where he did his damage. He was the Chiefs' leading receiver with 112 yards and two scores, going for over 32 fantasy points.
McKinnon always is in play as a pivot option, but the floor is low. This week, he has a fantastic matchup against the Texans, but this could be an Isiah Pacheco week. Last week was likely due to the matchup, but if you need an upside play, McKinnon certainly qualifies.
Dare Ogunbowale and Rex Burkhead are both deeper league options with Dameon Pierce out and Eno Benjamin now cut. Ogunbowale played 17 snaps last week compared to Burkhead’s five while seeing some work on the ground and in the air. I have a slight lean towards Ogunbowale, but both are purely for the desperate.
Wide Receiver Pivot Options for Fantasy Football
If WRs Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Amari Cooper, Courtland Sutton, Treylon Burks, Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker, Julio Jones, Kadarius Toney, and Chase Claypool don’t play, you can pivot to…
Zay Jones has averaged 10.8 targets per game in the last month, which ranks top-five at the receiver position. In three of those four games, he has scored at least 14.8 fantasy points, twice topping 21. The matchup may look tough on paper, but it should be a game where the Jags have to put up points.
Plus, if Trevon Diggs is on Christian Kirk, it could mean even more volume coming Zay’s way. He isn’t someone you can grab on waivers, or at least shouldn’t be, but you can elevate him off your bench and into your starting lineup.
Donovan Peoples-Jones led the Browns with 12 targets, eight catches, and 114 yards last week. He disappointed in the two games prior, so he may have found himself on waivers again, but before that, he was one of the more consistent receivers in fantasy, topping 50 yards in seven straight games.
Volume can win the day, plus he is a field stretcher, so he has the chance to put up points in chunks. He is certainly in play for receiver-needy teams.
Elijah Moore saw a team-high 10 targets last week after Corey Davis exited with an injury. He caught six of them for 60 yards. This week, he gets the Lions, who not only have allowed the most fantasy PPG to receivers this season (40.8), but they have allowed the most yards and touchdowns to slot receivers.
The slot happens to be where Moore runs the majority of his routes. He is certainly in play as a sleeper this week.
Chris Moore led the Texans across the board last week, catching 10 of his 11 targets for 124 yards. That is good for over 22 fantasy points in PPR leagues. Both Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins continue to miss practice, and if they are out this week, Moore would very much so be in play against the Chiefs.
Just a sneaky feeling, but the Texans may be chasing points in this one, which would only ensure a bunch of volume once again for Moore. You can do much worse off the waiver wire.
Tight End Pivot Options for Fantasy Football
If TEs Pat Freiermuth and Hayden Hurst don’t play, you can pivot to…
Evan Engram caught 11 of 15 targets for 162 yards and two touchdowns, good for over 39 fantasy points – the most by a tight end in Jags history. The week prior, he saw seven targets, caught a touchdown, and scored 14 fantasy points.
That is consistent volume and production, at least as of late, at a position that does not provide much of it. The floor is low, but if you are streaming at tight end, you could do much worse than Engram. Start him this week.
Greg Dulcich has seen eight targets in two straight weeks. That is a huge volume for a tight end. Plus, this week he gets the Cardinals, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG, catches, yards, and touchdowns allowed to the position.
You know this by now, but stream tight ends against Arizona. Especially ones who have been seeing eight targets per game as of late.
Chigoziem Okonkwo came through last week, catching all six of his season-high targets for 45 yards and a touchdown. He has now seen at least five targets in three straight games and remains a big play threat at a position that offers very few.
He is especially in play if Treylon Burks sits again this week, but even if he suits up, Okonkwo is a pivot option at the thinnest position in the game.
Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio.
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