Staying active on the waiver wire is an important way for season-long fantasy owners to improve their teams and get an edge on the competition. Shifts in opportunities for players due to injuries or performance cause value spikes that owners can take advantage of to fill in roster holes to build a championship lineup.
Each week, we will discuss waiver wire targets at each position to consider for both the week ahead and the rest of the fantasy season.
Week 15 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Adds
* Current roster % in home leagues is noted in parentheses (from FantasyPros)
J.J. McCarthy, QB (Minnesota Vikings) (27%)
The Vikings’ pseudo-rookie quarterback bounced back last week with the best performance of his young career in a 31-0 shutout win over the hapless Commanders. J.J. McCarthy notched his first top-10 fantasy finish with 163 passing yards and three touchdowns. He seemed to process the defense confidently and added 19 yards with his legs to pick up first downs when needed.
For the first time in his career, McCarthy did not throw the ball to the other team and posted his best completion rate (69.6%). The Vikings were not challenged to push the ball down the field, as their defense stifled the Commanders all afternoon.
On Sunday night, McCarthy will likely be asked to open things up to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison as they take on the Cowboys’ high-powered offense. That could be good…or bad for fantasy owners based on the rough first six games of his career. That said, the ceiling is there for a boom-or-bust lottery ticket in the fantasy playoffs.
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Jaylen Wright, RB (Miami Dolphins) (3%)
With De’Von Achane exiting the game against the Jets with a rib injury, Jaylen Wright saw the most work of his young NFL career in relief. He made the most of that opportunity with 24 carries for 107 yards and a score as the Dolphins picked up their fourth win in a row.
It appears the injury to Achane is not serious, and he could have come back in the game if needed. That said, Wright may be worth a playoff roster addition just in case a late-week re-injury occurs and he is thrust into the starting role against the Steelers. Wright proved enough to garner RB2 expectations if he happens to get the start.
Wright rushed for over 1,000 yards at 7.4 yards/carry in his final college season at Tennessee in 2023. He is a must add for teams counting on Achane for their fantasy playoffs and still worth a bench spot for the rest of the league down the stretch.
Luther Burden III, WR (Chicago Bears) (23%)
When Luther Burden III was drafted to the Bears in the offseason, his fantasy value appeared capped with target competition from the likes of Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, and fellow rookie Colston Loveland. That prophecy rang true for much of his rookie season, but Burden III has emerged as a favorite target for Caleb Williams with Odunze on the injury shelf.
Burden III led the Bears in targets (6), catches (4), and receiving yards (67) in their loss to the Packers on Sunday. He snap rate increased from 51% to 71% over the last two weeks and he amassed 71% of wide receiver yards against Green Bay.
The explosive fantasy game has yet to come, but maybe that comes this week against the Browns. Denzel Ward and the Cleveland secondary will likely focus efforts on Moore, leaving Burden III open for business down the field.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE (Cleveland Browns) (53%)
Harold Fannin Jr. has made this column multiple times throughout the season but somehow still can be found on waiver wires in almost half of fantasy football leagues. He showed why he is a must-add with a breakout performance in Week 14 with eight catches for 114 yards and a score on 11 targets.
Shedeur Sanders unleashed a 364-yard passing day with three passing touchdowns and still somehow managed to lose the game to the Titans. Cleveland has committed to Sanders as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season and should let him continue to open things up with nothing to lose in the standings.
With at least five targets in each of the last eight games, Fannin Jr. has developed an obvious connection with his fellow rookie quarterback. He faces the 18th-best fantasy defense against tight ends this week in the Chicago Bears. Outside of the top-tier tight ends, Fannin Jr. is in the mix as a fantasy playoff starter this week.
Jacksonville Jaguars, D/ST (26%)
Did anyone else think it was Connor Cook taking the field for the Jets when Tyrod Taylor got injured? It took me a while to figure out it was the Missouri product Brady Cook instead. At this point, we have no idea who will start for New York against the Jaguars in Week 15, but I’m not not sure it matters for this waiver add.
If the Jacksonville defense is available on waivers, they are an obvious must-add this week. The prospects of Cook starting are finger-licking for fantasy owners…for the defense. Cook completed 14 of 30 passes for 163 yards and two interceptions on Sunday. He was also sacked six times.
The Jaguars’ defense has multiple turnovers in two straight games. They’ve only topped the three-sack mark in one game this season but still have eight top-10 fantasy weekly finishes.
Pictured: Harold Fannin
Photo Credit: Imagn
