Still unowned in 65 percent of Yahoo leagues, Wilson is fantasy’s No. 2 QB over the past three weeks, trailing only Cam Newton. The rookie is fifth in points per game over the past five weeks and 14th on the season. Only Newton and RGIII have more rushing yards than Wilson’s 402. Even in a tough matchup versus the 49ers, Wilson is a borderline QB1 option this week. Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.Wessling's Waiver Wired column
If ever there was a week to take a flier on Bradford, this is it. Coming off the best fantasy game of his career with 31.8 points on 377 yards and three touchdowns versus the Vikings, Bradford travels to Tampa to face a Bucs defense allowing the most fantasy points to opposing QBs. The Bucs have surrendered 30+ fantasy points to QBs five times this season, including the past two weeks versus Nick Foles (35.8) and Drew Brees (32.5). With Danny Amendola back in the lineup, desperate fantasy owners could do worse than Bradford this week.Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.Wesseling's Waiver Wired column
Coach Rex Ryan is finally expected to pull the plug on Mark Sanchez this week. It’s not known yet whether it will be Tebow or Greg McElroy under center versus the Chargers in Week 16. While fantasy owners can ignore McElroy regardless, Tebow is worth a speculative add thanks to his history of relative success in fantasy football. Considering the Jets’ dearth of surrounding talent, expectations should remain low.Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.Wesseling's Waiver Wired column
The Patriots defense has allowed 25+ fantasy points to QBs seven times this season, including Colin Kaepernick’s 29.6 points and four touchdowns in Week 15. Henne figures to have plenty of opportunity for garbage-time throws to Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon against a revenge-minded New England club. Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.Wesseling's Waiver Wired column
Coach Mike Shanahan won’t commit to Robert Griffin III as his starter until doctors tell him there is no chance to re-injure the ligament. At this point, RGIII’s Week 16 status is in doubt. Cousins could draw a second consecutive start after burning the Browns for 329 yards and a pair of touchdowns. One sour note is that Philadelphia’s pass defense has been much improved the past two weeks since ditching Jim Washburn and the Wide-9 scheme.Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.Wesseling's Waiver Wired column
Nick Foles (pictured), Ryan Tannehill, Ricky Stanzi, T.J. Yates, Ryan Mallett, Luke McCown, Brock Osweiler Foles and Tannehill remain hard to trust outside of two-quarterback leagues. … Stanzi could make his first NFL start with Brady Quinn battling a rib injury. … Yates, Mallett, McCown, and Osweiler could see extensive action in the season finale if their respective teams have nothing for which to play.
Ryan Mathews’ 15-20 touches per game are up for grabs in the San Diego backfield following his second fractured collarbone of the season. Coach Norv Turner confirmed that Battle “will get a chance to play” while casting doubt on Curtis Brinkley’s role against the Jets this week. We’ve been down this road with Battle several times in the past two years. He’s a straight-ahead runner with decent power and speed but lacks any semblance of lateral agility. On a positive note, he can catch passes and is trusted at the goal line. Battle has a shot at top-30 value in Weeks 16-17 versus the Jets and Raiders. Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.
Stevan Ridley played just one snap after his third-quarter fumble last week -- his second fumble in as many games. Ridley often rides the pine when the Pats are in comeback mode, however, so we have no idea whether or not he’s in the doghouse. Vereen had a fumble of his own last week while Danny Woodhead stole the show. The Pats travel to Jacksonville to face a defense allowing the most fantasy points to opposing backs, which doesn’t lend itself to a Woodhead-centric game plan. I would still expect Ridley to handle lead-back duties, though Vereen could be a candidate for 15+ touches in the season finale versus the Dolphins if New England is locked into the No. 3 seed.Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.
Tate’s outlook is similar to Vereen’s in that he could handle the bulk of the workload in Week 17 if the Texans lock up the No. 1 seed with a victory against the Vikings on Sunday. It would behoove Houston to get their talented backup on track as a change-of-pace to Arian Foster entering the playoffs.Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.
Miller was already passing Daniel Thomas on the depth chart before the latter suffered a knee injury in Week 15. The third-round rookie should be the primary backup to Reggie Bush versus the Bills this week. With Bush due to hit free agency in the offseason, the Dolphins could give Miller a long look as the feature back at New England in the season finale. Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Tolbert matched his season total with a pair of short-yardage touchdowns at San Diego in Week 15. With plus matchups against the Raiders and Saints in the final two games, the powerful fullback should have several more opportunities to vulture touchdowns. Recommendation: Worth a look in touchdown-heavy leagues.
James isn’t going to be a fantasy option in an all-important Week 16 showdown at Seattle, but he might be worth a look against the Cardinals’ soft run defense if the 49ers wrap up the No. 2 seed in the NFC heading into the season finale. Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
The Packers have returned to a full-blown committee attack in the backfield with Grant and Harris combining for 25 more yards on the same number of carries as starter Alex Green last week. If Green Bay is locked into the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, Grant could see an uptick in carries as the primary back in the season finale at Minnesota. Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Finally over his ankle injury, Goodson broke off a series of big plays in totaling 103 yards versus the Chiefs last week. More explosive than workhorse starter Darren McFadden, Goodson is locked into the change-of-pace role at Carolina in Week 16. He’s no more than a desperation flex option for fantasy purposes.Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Ronnie Hillman (pictured), Lance Ball, Jason Snelling Hillman, Ball, and Snelling could all see increased roles if their teams have nothing to play for in Week 17.
Torrey Smith’s Week 16 status is in doubt after sustaining a concussion in last week’s game. Should Smith sit out, Jones would likely enter the starting lineup opposite Anquan Boldin against a Giants defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. Jones would be just a borderline top-40 option if he draws the start. Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
What he’s lacked in catches and yards, Cooper has made up for in touchdowns since DeSean Jackson went down for the season. Cooper is fantasy’s No. 41 receiver over the past three weeks -- right behind Roddy White and Hakeem Nicks -- on the strength of two touchdowns. Those in touchdown-heavy leagues may want to give him a spin in plus matchups versus the Redskins (second-most points allowed to receivers) and Giants (fourth-most) the next two weeks.Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
The return of Danny Amendola didn’t cool down Gibson, who recorded his second straight six-reception game in Week 15. Those in deeper PPR formats may want to give him a long look this week, as the Rams are facing a Bucs defense that allows the most fantasy points to opposing receivers. Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.
The undrafted rookie out of Temple is fantasy’s No. 15 receiver over the past three weeks, pacing the Raiders in yards in all three games. Although Streater has yet to take over the No. 1 receiver role from Denarius Moore, he’s earned Carson Palmer’s trust. He’s not going to be a recommended WR3 option against a Panthers defense allowing just the 27th-most fantasy points to wide receivers. The same defense shut down a piping hot Danario Alexander in Week 15. Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Playing his best ball of the season, Little has averaged 70 yards from scrimmage on seven targets per over the past three games. This week’s matchup in Denver is a tough one, as Champ Bailey and Chris Harris limited Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin to one total catch in Week 15. Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Hankerson was the primary beneficiary of Kirk Cousins’ spot start, hauling in two touchdowns for 56 yards at Cleveland. Unfortunately, he saw just three targets. Desperate owners can pick him up in hopes that lightning strikes twice if Cousins gets another start, but Hankerson remains a long shot for WR3 value.Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Taking over third receiver duties from Kevin Ogletree, Harris caught four passes for 46 yards against the Steelers in Week 15. The boxscore may not be impressive, but Harris’ run-after-catch ability was. If Dez Bryant encounters a setback with his fractured finger, Harris would have WR3 value in attractive matchups versus the Saints and Redskins.Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Nate Washington (pictured), Braylon Edwards, Deion Branch Washington could see an increase in snaps and targets with Kendall Wright sidelined by a cracked rib. … Edwards is the Jets’ new No. 1 receiver, which means he’s without reliable value in fantasy leagues. … Branch could see full-time snaps in the season finale if the Patriots rest their starters for three quarters.
We pointed out last week that Pitta had an excellent matchup versus the Broncos, and he responded with a 7/125/2 stat line on 10 targets. The performance pushed Pitta into the No. 1 spot among fantasy tight ends over the past five weeks. He’s back on the TE1 radar for matchups versus the Giants and Bengals to close out the season. Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues.
We found out late last week that Brandon Pettigrew’s injury is actually a high-ankle sprain, which could keep him out multiple games. While Scheffler’s production has been disappointing, it’s a promising sign that he’s averaged 8.5 targets the past two weeks. He should be the No. 2 option in the passing game against the Falcons and Bears in the final two games. Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.
Cleared from his concussion, Celek will regain his starting job this week against a Redskins defense that allows the second-most fantasy points to tight ends. He’s been hit-or-miss with Nick Foles under center, topping 40 yards just twice in five games. . Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.
Watson makes the list this week for the same reason Dennis Pitta did last week: No defense allows more fantasy points to tight ends than the Broncos. While Watson has cooled off a bit, he’s still a top-10 tight end over the past five weeks. A trip to Denver should get him back on track. Recommendation: Worth a look as a matchup play.
After a three-game stretch where he failed to top 30 yards, Chandler has posted five receptions and 55+ yards in back-to-back games. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues, though the matchup is tough against a Dolphins defense allowing the 26th-most fantasy points to tight ends.Recommendation: Worth a look in deeper leagues.
Marcedes Lewis (pictured), Lance Kendricks Lewis is hard to trust after back-to-back game under 10 yards, but he has a pair of plus matchups versus the Patriots and Titans to close out the season. … Kendricks is playing the best ball of his career, topping 30 yards in four consecutive games and six of the past seven.