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Dan's top quarterback Week 15 fantasy pickups (2025). The best QB fantasy waiver wire pickups to add and Week 15 QB streamers for 1QB, 2QB, and Superflex leagues.
Week 14 was an odd week at the quarterback position in fantasy. Nine different quarterbacks scored at least 20.0 fantasy points. However, there is a really good chance that four of them (Shedeur Sanders, Aaron Rodgers, Tyler Shough, and J.J. McCarthy) were nowhere near your starting lineup in single-QB leagues.
If you are reading this, you have likely made your fantasy playoffs or are playing for a reward (or pride) in the consolation bracket. The fantasy playoffs are the perfect time to shoot for upside each week to maximize your lineup and secure a championship.
In this article, I will focus on players under 65% rostered in fantasy leagues while adding a couple of deep sleepers for two-quarterback leagues (less than 25% rostered). Let’s look at who you'd pick up for Week 15 below. All roster percentages will be from Yahoo fantasy leagues.
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Single-QB Waiver Wire Pickups and Stashes
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings- 30% rostered
J.J. McCarthy returned to the starting lineup in Week 14 after missing a game with a concussion and had arguably his best game of the season. The second-year quarterback completed 16-of-23 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns while adding six carries for 19 yards.
JJ McCarthy has 3 touchdown passes
WASvsMIN on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/TX8AJjoT39
— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025
Sure, the big game came against one of the worst defenses in the NFL (Washington), but that doesn’t matter too much for fantasy. You also won’t find a quarterback with a better stretch of opponents for the fantasy playoffs than McCarthy.
All three of the Vikings' remaining opponents rank top five in fantasy points allowed to the quarterback position. Two of the games (Dallas in Week 15 and Detroit in Week 17) will be indoors against opponents that will put up points.
It will be hard to feel confident slotting McCarthy into your fantasy lineups given the struggles he’s had throughout the season, but it is hard to deny that he has league-winning potential against subpar secondaries to close out the season.
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers – 24% rostered
Aaron Rodgers came into Week 14 fresh off a stretch of four straight games with fewer than 10.0 fantasy points scored. However, he showed in Week 14 that he can still put together a fantasy-relevant week, even with a fractured non-throwing wrist.
Rodgers threw for 284 yards and a touchdown with zero interceptions in a win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14. He also added two carries for zero yards and a touchdown. It was the third time that Rodgers scored more than 20.0 fantasy points this season, but the first time he’s hit that mark since Week 7.
Vintage Rodgers.
PITvsBAL on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/yTIaidK7zC
— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025
The veteran quarterback will remain on the fantasy radar for the next two weeks with matchups against the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions on the horizon. Rodgers is certainly worth streaming in either of those matchups, especially if his willingness to attack down the field in Week 14 continues going forward.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers- 17% rostered
Last time we saw Bryce Young, he threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns (while adding five carries for 23 yards) in a win against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. Young scored 24.6 fantasy points that week, his second game in three weeks where he surpassed 20.0 fantasy points.
For the second straight year, it seems that Young is getting hot to close out the season, which could benefit fantasy managers. The Panthers also had the benefit of a Week 14 bye to get healthy and figure out the best way to optimize their offense with a chance at an NFC South title, thanks to the Buccaneers scuffling to close out the season.
Carolina has matchups against the Saints and Buccaneers the next two weeks, two defenses that have struggled to stop opposing quarterbacks throughout the season. It will be difficult to trust Young in Week 17 against the Seattle Seahawks, but he has two matchups that can get you to your fantasy championship before that.
Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints- 8% rostered
Tyler Shough has scored at least 17.0 fantasy points in three of his last four games, including back-to-back weeks in Week 13 and 14. In Week 13, Shough was able to put up a strong effort as a passer (239 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception). In Week 14, it was his rushing ability (seven carries for 55 yards and two touchdowns) that helped him score fantasy points.
TYLER SHOUGH. SAINTS LEAD.
NOvsTB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/SHsqgDKaGA
— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025
Shough has at least six rushing attempts in all three games since the Saints' bye. And while the Saints' passing game isn’t a strength of the team, he’s shown that he can take advantage of bad units so far as a rookie. If he can do that while continuing to be a factor as a rusher, he should have lasting fantasy appeal.
Shough has matchups against the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans during the fantasy playoffs. All three of those teams have questionable secondaries that the Saints can exploit.
Two-QB Waiver Wire Pickups and Stashes
Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns- 8% rostered
It is time to take Shedeur Sanders seriously in fantasy football. Sanders has scored double-digit fantasy points in three straight games, but had his best performance against the Titans in Week 14. In that game, Sanders completed 23-of-42 passes for 364 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He also added three carries for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Shedeur Sanders takes it in himself and throws up the ⌚️
TENvsCLE on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/3LuaUO8GNq
— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025
Sanders played well in the game, consistently getting the ball to his playmakers on time and letting them make plays to keep the offense moving. Sanders also spread the ball to eight different receivers. He’s also forged a clear connection with fellow rookie Harold Fannin Jr., who enjoyed the best showing of his rookie season as well (eight receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown).
Cleveland’s defense can consistently get the Browns offense the ball and into short fields. The Browns also have solid fantasy matchups in their final three weeks, facing the Bears, Bills, and Steelers to close out the fantasy season.
Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders- 8% rostered
Jayden Daniels returned to the field in Week 14, but lasted until the third quarter before being hit on an interception return and landing on his left elbow. Marcus Mariota took over from there, but struggled to move the offense over the final two quarters against the Minnesota Vikings.
After the game, head coach Dan Quinn told reporters that Daniels could have returned to the game, but was ultimately sidelined due to a coach’s decision in a game where the Commanders were down 17 points. The fact that Daniels could have returned makes it hard to trust Mariota going forward.
The Washington Commanders have just three wins this season, the last of which came during Week 5. At this point, it is fair to wonder if the team will choose to shut down Daniels, who has missed most of his second season with a variety of injuries, instead of continuing to trot him out there in a lost season.
Washington has good fantasy matchups against the Giants, Eagles, and Cowboys in their final three weeks. If the team does decide to turn to Mariota, he could have fantasy appeal as a streaming option in each of those matchups. He had scored at least 15.0 fantasy points in his three starts before Daniels returned to the field.
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool:
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2025 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - J.J. McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers, Tyler Shough, and Bryce Young. These are some common searches for 2025 fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy football rankings, projections, and more.
Improvements For Who Should I Pickup? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Pickup? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2025. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, stats, projections, strength of schedule, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and updates them constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pick Up
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for J.J. McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers, Tyler Shough, and Bryce Young:
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