Well, here we are. For many, the fantasy football playoffs have begun, leading to either great disappointment or a triumphant victory, granting the winner ultimate bragging rights over their vanquished opponent.
If you’ve made it this far, your team likely has several superstars and great depth, which has allowed you to have sustained success over the course of the season. This list of waiver wire additions, who are rostered in less than 35% of ESPN fantasy leagues, should help you if you need some streaming options to help you get to your fantasy football league championship. Good luck in the playoffs!
Note: Wide receivers Jalen McMillan and Tim Patrick were featured in last week’s list of waiver wire additions, so I didn’t think it was necessary to include them again in this week’s list. If they’re still available in your league, go pick them up!
Quarterbacks
Mason Rudolph - TEN
Titans quarterback Will Levis, who wasn’t even ranked in the Fantasy Trading Room Week 15 QB Rankings, was benched toward the end of their blowout loss to Cincinnati in favor of veteran backup Mason Rudolph. Levis threw three interceptions, which led to his benching.
Rudolph performed well when called upon, throwing for 209 yards and two touchdowns, a silver lining to what ended up being one of Tennessee’s worst losses of the season. If Rudolph continues to start moving forward, he could prove to be a valuable streamer in fantasy football. He’s put up some solid performances in the past and faces a fairly soft schedule over the remainder of the season.
Mason Rudolph gives the Titans the best chance to win right now, and if that’s what they want, he should become their starter for the next three weeks. If that happens, he is a solid option on the waiver wire at the quarterback position.
Cooper Rush - DAL
Dallas’ backup had a very positive showing against Carolina on Sunday, passing for three touchdowns and over 200 yards. Rush has been a solid replacement for injured starter Dak Prescott this season, limiting turnovers and keeping Dallas in games when necessary.
He doesn’t face a difficult matchup next week against Tampa Bay, and if you are in desperate need of a starting quarterback in Week 16, Rush could be the best option available. He’s shown the ability to produce in fantasy football when needed, and his floor is decently high for fantasy purposes.
If you need to stream a quarterback off of the waiver wire, Rush could prove to be a decent start next week as your team fights for a spot in the fantasy championship.
Running Backs
Jerome Ford - CLE
Browns running back Jerome Ford was extremely efficient and explosive after replacing the injured Nick Chubb against Kansas City on Sunday. He took seven carries for 84 yards and a score and was even involved in the passing game.
If Ford can return to the production that he achieved at the beginning of the season, when Nick Chubb was still out with injury, he could be a surprisingly valuable asset to many playoff teams in fantasy football.
With Nick Chubb out for the season with a broken foot, Jerome Ford is now Cleveland’s only viable running back currently on the roster capable of taking over the starting job. This should result in Ford getting almost every carry out of the backfield, as well as a great deal of receiving work.
If you are looking for a running back on the waiver wire with the potential to be a weekly starter, Ford could legitimately fill that hole in your roster. He has been productive when necessary in the past and should be a solid option moving forward.
Ty Johnson - BUF
Buffalo running back Ty Johnson has been relatively uninvolved in the running game over the last two weeks. This will most likely result in Johnson being overlooked by the majority of fantasy managers. However, after taking a look at his receiving stats, it’s not hard to understand where his upside is found.
Johnson led the Bills in receiving yards in Sunday’s shootout win over the powerhouse Detroit Lions. He tallied five receptions for a whopping 114 receiving yards through the air. These numbers bumped up his fantasy production significantly and now make him one of the best available options on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues. Johnson is a PPR running back, meaning he will find most of his production through the air.
Johnson presents high upside to any team in need of a running back in a PPR league. If his receiving production is similar to the past few weeks going forward, he could actually turn out to be a league-winner in fantasy football. Don’t let him fly under the radar.
Wide Receivers
Jalen Coker - CAR
The undrafted rookie standout from Holy Cross posted a breakout performance on Sunday against Dallas. Despite the loss, Coker put up a ridiculous stat line that included four receptions for over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. This touchdown came on an 83-yard catch-and-run that kept Carolina in the game. 13
Coker has seen his role in the offense increase over the last several weeks, and performances like these will only contribute to that further. Coker is a phenomenal route-runner and has fantastic separation skills, making him one of quarterback Bryce Young’s top targets in this Panthers offense. Carolina’s offense has started to pass the ball more with the emergence of Young, moving up to thirteenth in the NFL in terms of pass attempts per game, according to TeamRankings Offensive Stats.
If Coker continues to make big plays like he did against Dallas, he could be a sleeper in the fantasy playoffs, capable of providing a huge game off of the waiver wire. He is a solid option for a bench spot and has shown enough production to be started in a pinch if needed. Coker is still massively underrated and could turn into this team’s top target over the next few weeks. Pick him up before it’s too late.
Malik Washington - MIA
Malik Washington’s rookie campaign started off slowly after he only received four targets over the first nine weeks of the season. However, since the release of Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Washington has taken on the third wide receiver role in this Miami offense, boosting his fantasy outlook in the process.
Miami isn’t afraid to pass the ball a lot, which is reflected in the TeamRankings Offensive Stats, which ranks the Dolphins ninth in pass attempts per game in the NFL this season. This means that Washington should continue to get plenty of volume. He was one of the nation’s most productive receivers during his final collegiate season at Virginia, so it makes sense that he is able to handle a lot of targets.
If Washington is able to carve out his role in the offense a bit more moving forward, he could be one of the biggest sleepers of the fantasy football playoffs. If you need a solid bench piece for the fantasy playoffs, Malik Washington is a great option.
Tight Ends
Brenton Strange - JAX
Second-year tight end Brenton Strange has been called upon often this season in the absence of star tight end Evan Engram, who has missed a large portion of the season with injury. This week, it was announced that Engram will miss the remainder of the season, making Strange the starter for the foreseeable future. Strange will take over for Engram, who was a top-ten fantasy tight end in the Fantasy Trading Room Week 15 TE Rankings before going down with an injury.
Brenton Strange received a startling 12 targets in Week 15 and was second on the team in receiving yards in the Jags’ close loss to the Jets. If Strange can continue to receive a massive amount of volume, he could easily be a weekly starter for teams still in championship contention.
He is one of the top targets on the waiver wire this week and could absolutely end up being one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL over the next few weeks if he continues to receive a similar number of targets. Pick up Brenton Strange if you want a startable tight end.
Chigoziem Okonkwo - TEN
Similar to Strange, Chigoziem Okonkwo thrived in Week 15 on a high number of targets. He received 10, his first game with double-digit targets of the 2024 season. If he can continue to receive this type of volume with veteran quarterback Mason Rudolph under center, Okonkwo could be a focal point of this team’s offense for the rest of the year.
If Tennessee continues to play from behind, which is a likely scenario, they will continue to pass the ball at a high rate, leading to more volume for their pass-catchers, like Okonkwo. He is a good option for anyone needing a tight end off of the waiver wire.