Happy Tuesday and welcome back to my weekly Waiver HUB! It’s time to hit the waiver wire and do what you can to improve your team moving forward. Mike Hubbard here, you can follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard) for all things fantasy football throughout the season. Feel free to tweet me or message me with any comments or questions you might have regarding fantasy football.
Week 15 has ended following the MNF game between the Rams and Packers. Final score was 24-12 which is 1 point off my prediction due to a missed extra point. Just goes to show you it’s extremely difficult to predict these things. Christian Watson didn’t find the end zone for the first time since week 9 but AJ Dillon had 2 TDs prior to leaving with an injury. Rams have now been mathematically eliminated while the Packers live to fight another week.
Week 16 kicks off on Thursday with a matchup between the 6-8 Jacksonville Jaguars and the 7-7 New York Jets. The Jags are coming off an epic upset over the Cowboys winning 2 games in a row while the Jets are on a 3-game losing streak. I think this game will be close, but I like the Jags to prevail. The line is EVEN and the over/under is currently at 38.5. Can Trevor Lawrence continue to play great and have game winning numbers or will the Jets defense hold? My prediction is a Jaguars win by a score of 23-16.
The fantasy playoffs are well underway, so the waiver wire is more important than ever. Hopefully you are still in the playoffs but if you didn’t you can fight for consolation games or use the information to play DFS. Another week gone, another opportunity to make your team stronger and inch your way to that league trophy and an offseason of bragging rights.
Below are my top waiver wire priorities this week. Go get those hopefully available players to help your chances at a championship run. Good luck this week and remember to check back every week to stay informed on who you could target off waivers.
TOP PRIORITY OF THE WEEK
Zach Moss – Indianapolis Colts
The Colts were on the wrong side of the largest comeback in NFL history. Jonathan Taylor got injured in the beginning of the game and was later diagnosed with a high ankle sprain that will most likely keep him out for the rest of the season. In JT’s absence both Zach Moss and Deon Jackson were given opportunities in the backfield. Moss out carried Jackson 24 to 13 and had 81 rushing yards compared to Deon’s 55. Neither RB was prolific in the pass game both being targeted just once. Moss didn’t catch his target and Jackson caught his only target for a 1-yard TD. Moss clearly had more time chances and I’m going to assume he will be slightly ahead of Jackson in split time against the Chargers. The Colts may not be good, but they certainly love to run the ball.
Quarterbacks
Brock Purdy – San Francisco 49ers
Purdy is back in my waiver article because he is so poised and playing great football. That doesn’t always translate to fantasy points, but he is holding his own so far. The rookie QB1 in SF has 2 passing TDs in each of his last 3 games. He won all 3 games and found the end zone 1 time via rush. Colts get a frustrated Washington Commanders team at home on Christmas Eve who allow 18 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs. I think Brock is going to have a great Christmas Eve on his way to a win and a solid fantasy performance.
Running Backs
Zach Moss – Indianapolis Colts
SEE PRIORITY OF THE WEEK TOP OF PAGE
Tyler Allgeier – Atlanta Falcons
Caleb Huntley is out for the rest of the season due to an Achilles injury. Both Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson are the top 2 healthy RBs in Atlanta. Tyler had 17 carries (3 more than Patterson) and finished with 139 rushing yards which was 87 more yards than Cordarrelle. Both found the endzone, but it was clear Allgeier had the better outing. This Christmas Eve the Falcons travel to Baltimore which will be a test for the RBs, but they did just allow Nick Chubb 99 rushing yards. Tyler has double digit carries in 10 of his 13 games this season so he is sure to get some chances.
Wide Receivers
Treylon Burks – Tennessee Titans
Burks is currently questionable for week 16 but barring ay unseen circumstances I’m going to assume he plays against the Texans. Burks was emerging as the season went on as the WR1 in Tennessee seeing that Robert Woods isn’t the guy. Houston has a surprisingly good defense when it comes to defending WRs, but I think Burks will get his looks and perform well. Titans will feed Henry nonstop and that should open up play action and some deep throws. Burks caught 7 of 8 targets for 111 yards in week 11 and then caught 4 of 6 targets for 70 yards in week 12. In week 13 he caught his only pass for a 24-yard TD against the Eagles which is when he got hit and had gone into concussion protocol. Burks will be looking to get back on track and help the Titans maintain a playoff spot.
KJ Osborn – Minnesota Vikings
KJ had the game of his career in the biggest comeback in NFL history. He was targeted 16 times and caught 10 of those for 157 yards and a score. Kirk Cousins now has consecutive games with 425+ passing yards and has 6 passing TDs in those games combined. KJ has never had a game like that but with Cousins slinging it around and the Vikings being in competitive games, KJ has good opportunity to build on his great game. Osborn will be looking for a TD in his 3rd consecutive game and it will be against the Giants followed by a week 17 meeting with the Packers.
Zay Jones – Jacksonville Jaguars
Zay Jones had a great week 3 where he caught 10 passes for 85 receiving yards and a TD. Since then, he has faded into the background and has played well but nothing special. That changed following the Jaguars week 11 BYE. Week 12 he caught 11 passes for 145 receiving yards and caught a 2-point conversion. Then he had a dud in week 13 but exploded in weeks 14 and 15. His last 2 games have a combined stat line of 20 targets, 14 receptions, 186 receiving yards, and 4 receiving TDs. He is on fire and so is Trevor Lawrence. They are clearly benefiting from each other and will look to continue that at the Jets this Thursday. Not the greatest matchup but he is too hot right now to overlook.
Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson – New Orleans Saints
Juwan Johnson is having a solid second half of the season for the Saints. He has scored 7 TDs this season and they all came in his last 7 games. Following his week 14 BYE he caught 2 TDs and recorded 67 receiving yards. Johnson is sitting at the #7 TE in fantasy this season, much thanks to all those TDs. Only Travis Kelce has more. Not a great matchup with the Browns upcoming but the Saints don’t have too many pass catchers healthy other than Olave so Juwan should still get chances.
Evan Engram – Jacksonville Jaguars
Engram is another beneficiary of Trevor Lawrences emergence lately. The former Giants TE has 25 targets in his last 2 games resulting in 19 receptions for 224 receiving yards and 2 TDs. He also caught a TD in week 13. Engram and Zay Jones have been breaking out and that’s with the stud Christian Kirk still getting his targets. Engram gets the Jets next who have allowed a TE to score in 2 consecutive games.