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Quarterback waiver wire pickups and streamers for Week 15 of the fantasy football season. Elliott Baas recommends QB free agents to consider adding off waivers.
The first week of the fantasy playoffs in almost in the books, and if you're fortunate enough to have advanced then it's already time to start thinking about Week 15 lineups, especially for those who stream quarterbacks. Luckily, there are plenty of viable options available as eliminated owners have stopped making moves, and if you need a quarterback there should be a usable option in leagues of all sizes.
There aren't too many tough matchups this week, but owners of Philip Rivers (vs. MIN), Kirk Cousins (@ LAC), Jared Goff (@ DAL), and Matt Ryan (@ SF) may at least want to consider an alternative given their respective opponents.
In this article, we're looking at quarterbacks owned in fewer than 65% of fantasy leagues, while throwing in a few deep-league options who are owned in fewer than 20% of leagues. Ownership is based on Yahoo leagues and is current as of 12/8/2019.
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Week 15 Quarterback Waiver Wire Options
Ryan Tannehill (TEN): 47% Owned vs. HOU
Tannehill’s Tennessee turnaround is one of the biggest surprises this season, and he showed up big again last week with 391 yards and three touchdowns in the Titans’ win over the Raiders.He look to keep it rolling with another great matchup in Week 15 against Houston. The Texans’ defense just got shredded by Drew Lock for three touchdowns, and they have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. It’s gotten so bad in Houston that they’ve added two first-round busts midseason with Gareon Conley and Vernon Hargreaves, neither of which have helped stop the bleeding.
Tannehill has scored more than 25 points in two of his last three games, and has scored over 18 points in all but one start this season. He is relatively safe for a quarterback under 50% owned, and boasts huge upside as we’ve seen with performances such as yesterday’s. He is the number one quarterback to add this week and over the course of the playoffs, since Tannehill has another soft matchup in Week 16, facing New Orleans at home. If you need a quarterback, it’s worth emptying the FAAB piggybank for Tannehill at this point in the year.
Jacoby Brissett (IND): 37% Owned @ New Orleans
Brissett took advantage of a great matchup last week, putting up 22.64 points in a loss to Tampa Bay. He gets another excellent opportunity this week as the Colts travel to New Orleans for a Monday Night matchup with the Saints. New Orleans had allowed the 12th-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks coming into this week, and just gave up 349 yards and four touchdowns to Jimmy Garoppolo. Their depth was tested last week, as the Saints were without two key defensive backs, including veteran cornerback Patrick Robinson. Robinson will have an extra day to recover, but if he doesn’t play the Saints would be missing a mainstay in their secondary.
Speaking of an extra day to recover, the injury pendulum could easily swing in Brissett’s favor if T.Y. Hilton is healthy enough to play. An active T.Y. Hilton would be a huge boon for Brissett, but even if Hilton is out, the emergence of Zach Pascal and Marcus Johnson at least give him a few playmakers at receiver, and Jack Doyle is always a reliable redzone and short-yardage target. If you need a quarterback for this week and can’t get your mitts on Tannehill, Brissett is a fine streamer. He also faces Carolina in Week 16, making him a decent option in championship week as well.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (MIA): 23% Owned @ NYG
Fitzpatrick struggled in Miami’s loss to the Jets this week, and his cause wasn’t helped by injuries to Devante Parker and Albert Wilson. The status for both of those players is up in the air right now, but if they play Fitzpatrick could be in line for quite a rebound in Week 15. The Giants have been abysmal against the pass this season, having allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season, along with the sixth-highest completion rate and third-highest aDOT in the league. They just placed safety Jabril Peppers on IR this weekend, making him their fourth defensive back on injured reserve. While they haven’t played yet this week, the Giants gave up four passing touchdowns to Aaron Rodgers in Week 14. Fitzpatrick is obviously no Aaron Rodgers, but the Giants Defense has allowed at least 27 points in seven of their last eight games. This one has an early O/U of 48.0, and Fitzpatrick could be in line for plenty of scoring in a battle of basement dwellers. He follows this game with another juicy matchup, home against Cincinnati, meaning Fitzpatrick might be the unlikeliest of fantasy playoff heroes in 2019. He’s certainly worth a gamble in deeper leagues.
Two-QB League Pickups and Stashes
Drew Lock (DEN): 2% Owned @ KC
It's Week 15, which means I am far less likely to trust low-owned players like David Blough and Eli Manning on my team, but Drew Lock presents a widely available option with some substantial upside. Lock exploded for three touchdowns and 309 yards in the Broncos’ 38-24 win over the Texans in Week 15, taking the first step towards proving himself as Denver’s quarterback of the future. Whether he’s their franchise guy or not remains to be seen, but Lock could do himself a big favor with a pair of plus matchups over the next two weeks. He takes on a Chiefs team that has been below average against the pass, allowing the 13th-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks in 2019. Kansas City opened as a massive -13 favorite, meaning the Broncos will likely be throwing often in this one.
Owners in really deep leagues could have a nice late season addition in Lock, who has a solid matchup in Week 15 and an outstanding matchup in Week 16 against Detroit at home. He’s a sneaky player to add in leagues with dynasty and keeper implications, as a strong late season performance would catapult Lock into a possible starting role in 2020. He’s a raw talent, but Lock boasts incredible arm strength, which should make him compatible with young Denver receivers Courtland Sutton and Daesean Hamilton. It’s far too early to forecast a superstar future for Lock, but yesterday was a big leap for the rookie, and there might be more to come this season and next.
More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice
Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!
