RADIO
Steve Rebeiro speculates on players who can be added a week early in case they emerge in Week 15. His waiver wire stashes and bench fliers to pickup in advance.
It's Wednesday morning. You dropped a player last night expecting to make some moves on the waiver wire, only to wake up and find out you weren't able to get anyone you put a claim in for. What now?
If you've got an open roster spot, its always a good idea to plan ahead for the future. There are plenty of players in the NFL ripe for a breakout game that will fly up the waiver wire in the following week. This column is here to help you anticipate who that's going to be, and stay a week ahead of your competition.
Usually, we look at guys with upside down the line in this column, but this week I'll give you a few quarterbacks and defenses that will help you beat the waiver wire ahead of Week 15, and push you towards the fantasy championship.
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Waiver Wire Stashes and Fliers for Week 15
Blake Bortles (QB, JAX) - 34% owned
After looking like a young Michael Vick in Week 13, Bortles decided to channel his inner Peyton Manning in Week 14 and torch the Colts defense for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Don't look now, but Blake Bortles is looking like a real streaming option for deep playoff runs. Jacksonville plays Houston in Week 15 and San Francisco in Week 16. Bortles will no doubt struggle in Week 14 against Seattle, so he'll likely be available to sign in Week 15, but owners with an open roster spot and questionable quarterbacks should pick him up now.
Blaine Gabbert (QB, AZ) - 4% owned
Last week I wrote that Gabbert wasn't a fantasy option in Week 13, and he proved me right with a tough matchup against the Rams, but I still like Gabbert's streaming potential down the stretch. He faces the Titans this week, the Redskins next week, and a beautiful championship matchup with the New York Giants. Gabbert put up solid numbers against the Jaguars which showed that he is capable of playing well against a tough defense. He'll have streaming upside moving forward.
Tennessee Defense - 40% owned
The Titans defense has been shaky this season, but one thing they've done well is play well against bad offenses. They're matched up with the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15. Unless Jimmy Garoppolo turns into Tom Brady this week, the 49ers offense won't be that frightening. The Titans will be a hot waiver add in Week 15.
Indianapolis Defense - 1% owned
For those truly desperate, the Colts face off with the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. I'm sure you're thinking two things: that you can make plans for Thursday night, and that it might not be that insane to start the Colts defense that deep in the playoffs. Denver hasn't scored over 20 points since Week 2 and has arguably been the biggest dumpster fire in the NFL the last few weeks. The colts defense has been awful at times but they gave up just 20 points to Pittsburgh and Tennessee in recent weeks. For owners who haven't planned ahead with defenses, the Colts are a real consideration.
