Who To Pick Up On The Waiver Wire Ahead Of The Week 14 Fantasy Football Playoffs


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The fantasy football playoffs are here, and some of us are going into desperation mode. Your season could end this week or next, so sifting through the waiver wire for the best possible pickups that can help your team now, or if you’re lucky (or good) enough, in Week 15.

Here are some deep cuts on the waiver wire for Week 14, and players that are trending up and are ready to start right now.

Quarterback

Robert Griffin III: Early September feels so long ago. Remember when Robert Griffin fractured his shoulder all the way back in Week 1? There’s a possibility he could come back this week and if he does, give a try? Who knows? You’d have to be really desperate or in a super deep league to try this, but weird things do happen. You can upgrade Corey Coleman and Terrelle Pryor if RG3 comes back, too.

Tyrod Taylor: This is for the Week 14 Andrew Luck, Marcus Mariota and Tom Brady owners and the Week 15 Brady owners for when the Patriots go to Denver. Taylor may not have a great Week 14 matchup, but the QBs are relatively plentiful and the schedules are decent. Don’t be too concerned by his awful performance in Week 13, but he could put up good points in the playoffs when your studs are staring down scary defenses. Sammy Watkins is getting healthier by the week, Charles Clay will be back next week after welcoming his first child into the world, and LeSean McCoy is continuing his Eff You Philly campaign with impressive numbers.

Running Back

CIN Rex Burkhead: With Gio Bernard going down there’s been a gaping hole in the Bengals offense that’s been filled quietly and admirably by Rex Burkhead. He was out-touched by Jeremy Hill 25-12 in Week 13, but Burkhead out-gained Hill on the ground and through the air. Burkhead is clearly comfortable in pass catching Bernard role (4 catches for 28 yards on Sunday), and all he needs is a visit to the end zone to make him a viable RB2. He’s available in virtually all leagues.

DAL Alfred Morris: The Cowboys have a playoff spot locked up and are in a solid position for a bye. You know what that means, successful fantasy football owners — the possibility of a rest game for Ezekiel Elliot is becoming very real. Handcuff him. Now. When Alfred Morris plays behind that big offensive line, when anybody plays behind that big offensive line, wonderful things happen.

Wide Receiver

Brandon LaFell: Maybe you’re bitter from his run on the Patriots, but he’s emerging as a perfectly acceptable WR2/3 while A.J. Green has been injured. Most fantasy owners were quick to jump on Tyler Boyd as the next man up in the Bengals offense, but both Boyd and LaFell have been practically identical. Boyd is just 53 percent owned and LaFell is 17 percent owned. It’s not a sexy pickup, but with Cleveland on deck in Week 14 and with a nose for the end zone, LaFell could pay off.

Tyler Lockett: Finally, finally, finally Tyler Lockett is healthy and getting the touches he deserves. In Seattle’s blowout win against the Panthers Sunday night, Lockett caught 5 of 6 passes for 63 yards and took a rush 75 yards to the house. Granted, he had 6 targets the week before against Tampa and didn’t catch a thing, but this was the first time all season Lockett had six or more targets in back to back games. He’s a solid flier in 3 wide receiver leagues.

He’s just so fast.

Tight End

PIT Ladarius Green: The former Charger is (mostly) healthy after coming back for only a few snaps in Week 10. Now the Steelers have eased him back into the lineup and have demonstrated that when Ladarius Green gets snaps, he gets targets. He had 9 targets in Weeks 10-12 and only played 34 snaps, then he went off in Week 13 with 11 targets finishing with a 6/110/1 line. Now…

Sammie Coates is recovering from two broken fingers, Markus Wheaton and Darrius Heyward-Bey are out hurt, and Jesse James was underwhelming. Ladarius Green can do some serious damage in this offense, and he’s only getting healthier. You should’ve picked him up a few weeks ago, now this is your final chance.

Vernon Davis: He caught 5 of 6 targets for 47 yards against the Cardinals, who give up by far the least amount of points to fantasy tight ends. If Jordan Reed remains out, Davis faces Philadelphia in Week 14 (a top 5 defense against the TE), then Carolina (13th-least points scored by a TE against) and the Bears in Week 16 (a bottom-3 defense against the TE). Washington’s defense alone should get him work as long as Reed is out.

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