Fantasy Football: Jonathan Stewart Among Week 15 Waiver Wire Adds For Playoffs
Call it December Madness.
After 14 long weeks, the fantasy football playoffs (in most leagues) officially have begun. If you’re in the hunt, congratulations — we have good news.
Like NCAA basketball’s March Madness, the NFL playoffs or any postseason for that matter, anything can happen after the field is set. The most important part is getting in. That’s especially true in fantasy football, where any combination of players can explode — or, like Peyton Manning, leave you out in the cold — in a given week.
So what’s the key to infusing your team with some postseason magic? Part of it is focusing on the present rather than dwelling on the past.
Take Jonathan Stewart, for example. The Carolina Panthers running back has been a disappointment for most of the season, sure, but after his big Week 14, it’s very possible he could help your team in a big way down the stretch.
With that, it’s time to put previous grudges aside and take a look at some of the top available targets who could lead you to fantasy glory this postseason.
Quarterback: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Flacco isn’t the sexiest fantasy quarterback out there, which explains why he’s available in roughly half of Yahoo! standard leagues. But he’s scored 20 or more fantasy points (standard-scoring leagues) in back-to-back weeks, and he has a great chance to keep that going with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the schedule in Week 15. If you need a spot start at QB, Flacco is a very solid option.
Other quarterbacks to watch: Jake Locker, Eli Manning, Kyle Orton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Blake Bortles
Running Back: Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
Stewart shined with DeAngelo Williams out, piling up 155 rushing yards and a score on 20 carries in Carolina’s surprising offensive resurgence. Two of his three remaining games are against weak NFC South opponents, and he’s actually unowned in most leagues thanks to a disappointing season to date marked by injuries. If Williams remains on the shelf, Stewart could be a major producer down the stretch.
Other running backs to watch: Kerwynn Williams, Juwan Thompson, LeGarrette Blount, Chris Johnson, Dan Herron
Wide Receiver: Marquess Wilson, Chicago Bears
If you stayed up for the end of last Thursday’s game, you saw Jay Cutler target a certain No. 10 in the end zone on the last play of the game. That guy was Wilson, who could be Chicago’s new No. 2 with Brandon Marshall likely out for the rest of the season. The Bears have a solid matchup in the New Orleans Saints coming up, so if you’re going to take a chance on a wide receiver, there’s plenty of upside in Wilson.
Other wide receivers to watch: Marqise Lee, Malcolm Floyd, Stedman Bailey, Robert Woods, Kendall Wright
Tight End: Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins
Reed did virtually nothing against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Then again, so did his entire team. The athletic tight end still is unowned in a good amount of leagues, and he faces a much more friendly New York Giants defense next Sunday. If he’s still out there, Reed is a great guy to have down the stretch.
Other tight ends to watch: Jared Cook, Mychal Rivera, Scott Chandler, Charles Clay
Have a fantasy/NFL question for Darren? Send it to him via Twitter at @darren_hartwell
Thumbnail photo via Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports Images
