Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 15

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Jameis Winston, Browns

Winston has been far from perfect since taking over as the Browns' starter, but he's delivered for his fantasy managers more often than not.

The 30-year-old passer finished as a QB1 in three of his last four games and should have a chance to let it fly again when he squares off with Patrick Mahomes this Sunday.

It's also possible wideout Cedric Tillman returns, giving Winston yet another weapon to work with. So, while there aren't any sure-fire fantasy quarterback starters on the waiver wire this week, Winston always offers top-12 upside in his range of outcomes.

Matthew Stafford and Anthony Richardson are over the 50% rostered mark but would be among the top QB pickups this week if available.

Streaming options: Drake Maye at ARI (13% rostered), Aaron Rodgers at JAX (34% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Bryce Young vs. DAL (6% rostered), Will Levis vs. CIN (20% rostered), Cooper Rush at CAR (8% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): Aidan O'Connell vs. ATL (6% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Mac Jones vs. NYJ (3% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if healthy): Drew Lock vs. BAL (3% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starting): Tommy DeVito vs. ATL (2% rostered), Desmond Ridder vs. ATL (0% rostered), Jake Haener vs. WAS (0% rostered), Spencer Rattler vs. WAS (0% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Michael Penix Jr. (1% rostered)

Running backs

Sincere McCormick, Raiders

Though injuries to Alexander Mattison and Zamir White helped open the door, McCormick has earned the lead back job with two strong performances. The first was a 65-yard effort against a tough Chiefs run defense in Week 13 in which he played 38% of the snaps.

After head coach Antonio Pierce suggested an even bigger workload was on the way, McCormick's playing time jumped to 61% on Sunday, and he responded with 89 scrimmage yards on 17 touches.

Even if Mattison returns, McCormick has done enough to secure his spot atop this depth chart - making him a fantasy RB3 with RB2 potential if he finds the end zone.

And if you're worried about the quarterback situation with Aidan O'Connell's recent injury, just know that the Raiders play the Falcons, Jaguars, and Saints over the next three weeks - games where they should be able to stay competitive regardless of who's at quarterback.

High-upside backups

We'll use this space to remind you of all the high-upside backups who should be rostered in most leagues, including:

• Blake Corum (16% rostered)
• Trey Benson (21% rostered)
• Tyjae Spears (43% rostered)
• Ray Davis (22% rostered)

Each of those players is one injury away from a significant role in their respective offenses, which could turn them into top-20 fantasy RBs.

Braelon Allen and Tank Bigsby are around the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

RB3 options (if starter is out): Patrick Taylor Jr. vs. LAR (4% rostered)

RB3/flex options (if starter is out): Isaiah Davis at JAX (11% rostered), Sean Tucker at LAC (2% rostered)

RB3/flex options: Jaleel McLaughlin vs. IND (13% rostered), Tyler Allgeier at LV (30% rostered)

Flex options: Jerome Ford vs. KC (41% rostered), Kendre Miller vs. WAS (4% rostered), Kimani Vidal vs. TB (13% rostered)

Risky flex options: Antonio Gibson at ARI (11% rostered), Jeremy McNichols at NO (6% rostered),

Risky flex options (if healthy): Raheem Mostert at HOU (48% rostered), Roschon Johnson at MIN (13% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Israel Abanikanda vs. LAR (3% rostered), Ke'Shawn Vaughn s. LAR (0% rostered), Kenny McIntosh vs. GB (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Justice Hill at NYG (16% rostered), Cam Akers vs. CHI (16% rostered), Devin Singletary vs. BAL (43% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell vs. PIT (6% rostered), Ezekiel Elliott at CAR (12% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Jaylen Wright (5% rostered), Audric Estime (8% rostered), Alexander Mattison (40% rostered), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (1% rostered), Chris Brooks (0% rostered), Emanuel Wilson (3% rostered), Dameon Pierce (2% rostered), Khalil Herbert (8% rostered), Trey Sermon (3% rostered), Tyler Goodson (1% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (1% rostered)

Wide receivers

Quentin Johnston/Joshua Palmer, Chargers

Ladd McConkey was ruled out of Sunday's game with shoulder and knee injuries, and his status for Week 15 remains up in the air.

In his absence, Johnston posted a 5-48-1 stat line on seven targets while Palmer went 6-78-0 on nine targets.

If McConkey remains out, Johnston would be a fantasy WR3 thanks to his touchdown scoring, with Palmer landing in the WR4/flex range.

However, even if McConkey returns, Johnston and Palmer are decent flex options in a positive matchup with the Buccaneers.

Adam Thielen and Christian Watson are around the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

WR4/flex options (if healthy): Keon Coleman at DET (41% rostered), Romeo Doubs at SEA (38% rostered)

WR4/flex options: Elijah Moore vs. KC (22% rostered), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine vs. CIN (42% rostered), Jalen McMillan at LAC (5% rostered), Ray-Ray McCloud at LV (18% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. WAS (38% rostered)

WR4/flex options (if healthy): Cedric Tillman vs. KC (34% rostered)

Risky flex options: Xavier Legette vs. DAL (28% rostered), Michael Wilson vs. NE (9% rostered), Noah Brown at NO (7% rostered), Alec Pierce at DEN (15% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson vs. BAL (35% rostered), Tre Tucker vs. ATL (8% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Dontayvion Wicks at SEA (15% rostered), Calvin Austin III at PHI (11% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Rashod Bateman at NYG (25% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Devaughn Vele vs. IND (13% rostered), Brandin Cooks at CAR (19% rostered), Marvin Mims Jr. vs. IND (2% rostered), Jalen Tolbert at CAR (10% rostered), DeMario Douglas at ARI (22% rostered), Kayshon Boutte at ARI (4% rostered), Kendrick Bourne at ARI (1% rostered), Tim Patrick vs. BUF (1% rostered), Parker Washington vs. NYJ (4% rostered), KaVontae Turpin at CAR (5% rostered), Sterling Shepard at LAC (7% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Demarcus Robinson at SF (19% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Adonai Mitchell at DEN (6% rostered), Mack Hollins at DET (1% rostered), Tutu Atwell at SF (2% rostered)

Tight ends

Juwan Johnson, Saints

With Taysom Hill out for the season, Johnson came through with his best performance of the year this week, turning in four receptions for 50 yards and a score.

Concerns about the Saints' quarterbacks are real while Derek Carr is sidelined, but it also could lead to Johnson becoming a safety net in the short and intermediate areas of the field.

The schedule is also working in Johnson's favor, with three positive matchups against the Commanders, Packers, and Raiders during the fantasy playoffs. He can be started as a high-end TE2/streamer during that stretch.

Zach Ertz, Hunter Henry, and Cole Kmet are around the 50% rostered mark but would be among the top TE pickups this week if available.

Streaming options (if healthy): Will Dissly vs. TB (43% rostered)

Streaming options: Grant Calcaterra vs. PIT (4% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Daniel Bellinger vs. BAL (0% rostered), Isaiah Likely at NYG (22% rostered), Noah Gray at CLE (22% rostered),

Dart-throw streaming options: Austin Hooper at ARI (0% rostered), Michael Mayer vs. ATL (0% rostered), Tyler Conklin at JAX (11% rostered), Mike Gesicki at TEN (16% rostered), Noah Fant vs. GB (19% rostered), Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. CIN (5% rostered), Foster Moreau vs. WAS (0% rostered), Josh Oliver vs. CHI (0% rostered), Tommy Tremble vs. DAL (0% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if healthy): Tyler Higbee at SF (1% rostered)

Defenses

Week 15 streamers

Favorable Week 16 schedules: Falcons DEF vs. NYG (9% rostered), Cardinals DEF at CAR (36% rostered), Packers DEF vs. NO (37% rostered), Colts DEF vs. TEN (15% rostered)

Favorable Week 17 schedules: Chargers DEF at NE (40% rostered), Colts DEF at NYG (15% rostered), Commanders DEF vs. ATL (23% rostered), Bears DEF vs. SEA (40% rostered), Raiders DEF at NO (3% rostered)

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