It’s playoff time around the fantasy football world but, if you need waiver wire help this week, you could find yourself out of luck. While there are some decent fantasy pickups like Julian Edelman and Montee Ball in standard leagues, deep league options are slim this week.
Waiver wire hunters were lucky when starters were dropping left and right in the first half of the season but things have been steady lately and most players worth owning are already owned. Does that mean we’re going to sit around and stay pat this week? Hardly. We’ll need to make the most of the situation, so let’s take a look at some players worth picking up for the remaining games of the season and some only worth grabbing for a week.
Doug Baldwin (Owned in 19 percent of Yahoo leagues): It’s hard to trust Baldwin since he can sometimes disappear but he has 25 targets over his last four games and has scored a touchdown in three of his last four. With Percy Harvin potentially out for the rest of the regular season, Baldwin is a solid option after putting up at least 63 yards in each of his last four games and 70+ in three of four.
Andre Holmes (1 percent): Holmes took full advantage of Denarius Moore’s absence on Thursday, catching seven passes on 11 targets for 136 yards against the Cowboys. Holmes is clearly meshing with new quarterback Matt McGloin and the Raiders will face a terrible Jets pass defense that has allowed 13+ fantasy points to Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, Jacoby Jones, T.J. Graham, and Marquise Goodwin over the last three weeks.
Nate Washington (24 percent): Washington isn’t a great option in most games but a matchup against the Broncos looks very appealing. Washington has been solid of late, catching 10 passes on 12 targets for 126 yards over the last two weeks, including 81 yards against the Colts on Sunday. He’ll be touchdown dependent in standard leagues but he’s a good bet in PPR leagues this week.
Jacoby Jones (15 percent): Like Washington, Jones isn’t a very attractive option but he has been better of late and has a very good-looking matchup. Jones has caught eight passes on 13 targets for 156 yards and a touchdown over the last two weeks and will face a woeful Vikings defense that was crushed by Bears’ number two receiver Alshon Jeffery for 249 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday.
Donald Brown (44 percent): Brown is likely no longer available in most deep leagues but there aren’t many options and if he’s still on the waiver wire, he’s as solid a get as you’ll find this week. Brown looked strong after taking over the starting job from Trent Richardson, rushing 14 times for 54 yards and a touchdown and adding two receptions for 10 yards through the air. After the Colts clear the tough Bengals run defense this week, Brown has a favorable schedule with the Texans, a weakened Chiefs defense, and the Jaguars over the last three weeks.
Willis McGahee (13 percent): It’s tough to trust McGahee since he had just 10 carries for 25 yards over two games prior to Sunday’s performance but the increased touches and a matchup against a Pats defense that has given up monster games to Knowshon Moreno and Ben Tate over the last two weeks make him addable for at least a week. McGahee ran 14 times for 57 yards and a touchdown against the Jags on Monday and added two catches for 14 yards through the air. He also gets the goal line carries for the Browns which can quickly give him a big six point fantasy boost.
LeGarrette Blount (7 percent): Ugh. Despite Brandon Bolden getting the start against the Texans, it was Blount who led the team in rushing with 12 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown. Shane Vereen carried the ball 10 times and Bolden carried the ball just three times. As long as Stevan Ridley is out, Blount is worth taking a flier on in deep leagues. He’ll be touchdown dependent but he’s the primary goal line back and the Pats are back to generating points with the best of them.
