Waiver Favors: 2016 Week 14 Fantasy Football Pickups

By Ha Kung Wong  Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

As usual, I’m back to help with some waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors article!  I’m assuming if you’re reading this, you’ve made it to the second week of your fantasy football playoffs, so congratulations!  As with last week, I’ll make a couple suggestions for pickups, and give you handcuff suggestions your stud RBs.  You’re welcome.  Again.

As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.

Bilal Powell

RB – New York Jets – 45%

Bilal Powell

Bilal Powell

Bilal Powell has actually been a solid, if unspectacular, contributor even with Matt Forte in the backfield.  But with Forte going out with a knee injury after 3 carries, Powell took over as the bellcow back and rushed 29 times for 145 yards and two TDs, one of which was the game winner in OT.  Powell also managed to snag all 5 targets for 34 yards.  Sure, it was the terrible 49ers defense, but a starting running is a starting running back.  And Forte said after the game that he heard “cracking and popping” in his knee.  I’m no doctor, but I’m fairly certain that’s not a good thing.  The Dolphins are up next and they’re only run-of-the-mill on defense, so Powell is a worthy stash in all leagues.

Kenneth Farrow

RB – San Diego Chargers – 3% Owned

Kenneth Farrow

Kenneth Farrow

Kenneth Farrow, an UDFA out of Houston, isn’t anyone special.  But when Melvin Gordon went down with a hip injury, Farrow took over and rushed 16 times for 55 yards, adding 6 receptions for 23 receiving yards.  Ronnie Hillman was a healthy scratch, so even if Gordon remains out in Week 15, it’s possible that Farrow will share carries with Hillman.  And so far, it sound like Gordon has a shot at actually making in back in a week.  Regardless, Farrow is worth a speculative pickup for Gordon owners and anyone who needs a RB in 14-team or deeper leagues.

Dwayne Washington

RB – Detroit Lions – 4% Owned

Dwayne Washington

Dwayne Washington

I’m starting to feel like a broken record with all these RB injuries.  But as you can tell, injuries lead to opportunities.  With Theo Riddick out with wrist and ankle injuries in Detroit, Dwayne Washington rushed 16 times for 64 yards and caught 1 of 2 targets for 10 receiving yards.  He did have a minor leg injury himself in the fourth quarter, but he’ll likely continue to get the majority of the backfield touches until Riddick returns.  Grab him if you’re a Riddick owner, or if you’re in need of an RB in 16-team leagues or deeper.

Robby Anderson

WR – New York Jets – 2% Owned

Robby Anderson

Robby Anderson

What?  ANOTHER New York Jet?  I actually discussed Robby Anderson last week as a great DFS play in Week 14, and hopefully you read that and used that info to win some DFS cash.  But Anderson has proven that he’s going to consistently be new starting QB Bryce Petty’s favorite target when grabbed 6 of 11 targets for 99 yards in Week 14, also adding 12 rush yards.  He’s now paced the jets in receiving yards in every one of Petty’s appearances this year.  So now is the time to grab him as a WR3/4/Flex in all 12-team leagues or deeper.

As I mentioned last week, it’s time for all you lucky folks who made the playoffs to HANDCUFF YOUR RB.  If you haven’t already done so, DO IT.  DO IT NOW.  WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR.

With that said, here are the handcuffs for the top RBs in the league which are available in at least 50% of standard Yahoo leagues.

  • David Johnson – Andre Ellington (3% Owned)
  • Ezekiel Elliott – Alfred Morris (12 % Owned)
  • Le’Veon Bell – DeAngelo Williams (21% Owned) – Assuming he practices this week.
  • LeSean McCoy – Mike Gillislee (23% Owned)
  • Demarco Murray – Derrick Henry (45% Owned)
  • Melvin Gordon – Kenneth Farrow (0% Owned)
  • Jay Ajayi – Damien Williams (4% Owned)
  • Lamar Miller – Alfred Blue (2%)

And here are previous pickups I’ve mentioned that are still worthy of your consideration:

10-Team Leagues or Deeper

Jay Ajayi, Sammy Watkins, Jordan Howard

12-Team Leagues or Deeper

Mike Wallace, Tyrell Williams, Jamison Crowder, Kyle Rudolph, Mohamed Sanu, Rishard Matthews, Carson Wentz, Marqise Lee, Malcolm Mitchell, Cameron Brate, Terrelle Pryor, Pierre Garcon

14-Team Leagues or Deeper

Sam Bradford, Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, Kenny Stills, Adam Thielen, Terrance West, Cole Beasley, C.J. Fiedorowicz, Dennis Pitta, Victor Cruz, Robert Kelley, Dontrelle Inman, Quincy Enunwa, Cameron Meredith (at least until Alshon Jeffery is off his 4 game suspension), Tyreek Hill, Vance McDonald, Tyler Boyd, Brandon LaFell, J.J. Nelson, Taylor Gabriel, Devontae Booker, James Starks, Ladarius Green

16-Team Leagues or Deeper

Theo Riddick (PPR), Mike Gillislee, Andrew Hawkins, Russell Shepard (subject to injury), Lance Kendricks, Darren Sproles (PPR – subject to injury), Ty Montgomery, Matt Barkley, Paul Turner

Check back every week for more Waiver Favors! And GOOD LUCK with the Playoffs!