Week 15 Waiver Wire: Early Pickups and Breakout Fantasy Football Candidates
The breakout fantasy candidates in Week 14 of the NFL season represented two polar opposite sides of the NFL spectrum.
On one side, a lightly rostered veteran who some have written off showed the league why he continues to be a dangerous player with a big performance to help his team to a significant win.
On the other side, two rookies emerged with their best performances of the season (and, by definition, their career), showing promising potential for the rest of this season.
Let's take a look at these three breakout players who would be savvy waiver adds ahead of Week 15. To be considered "breakout" candidates, players must have been rostered in fewer than 50 percent of leagues. Scoring totals are in points-per-reception (PPR) format.
Davis Allen, TE, Los Angeles Rams
1 of 3
Rostered percentage: 0
Week 14 stats: 4 rec, 50 rec yds, 1 rec TD, 15 pts
With Tyler Higbee out for the Rams' matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Los Angeles was already thin at the tight end position. So it certainly didn't help matters when backup Hunter Long had to be carted off the field in the first half with a knee injury.
With two tight ends down, next man up Davis Allen would frankly be a smart pickup for next week even if he hadn't done much of anything on Sunday. However, he made the most of his unexpected opportunity, bringing in four of five targets for 50 yards and a touchdown.
If you, like the Rams, are thin at the tight end position in your league, Allen is a savvy waiver-wire add ahead of Week 15.
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
2 of 3
Rostered percentage: 6
Week 14 stats: 8 att, 25 rush yds, 3 rec, 80 rec yds, 1 rec TD, 19.50 pts
Bengals rookie running back Chase Brown finally got his first meaningful opportunity of the season in Week 13, when the Bengals edged the Jacksonville Jaguars.
After not seeing more than one carry and/or reception all year, Brown had nine attempts for 61 yards, good for 6.1 points in PPR formats.
And on Sunday in their 34-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts, the Bengals completely unleashed Brown, who had a PPR-friendly eight carries but, more importantly, finished as the team's leading receiver with 80 yards. He also found the end zone for his first career touchdown.
If you play in dynasty league or in a league using PPR scoring, Brown is a no-brainer pickup ahead of Week 15.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Baltimore Ravens
3 of 3
Rostered percentage: 41
Week 14 stats: 4 rec, 97 rec yds, 1 rec TD, 19.70 pts
It's not that surprising that Odell Beckham Jr.'s rostered percentage has dropped to less than 50 given his up-and-down season with the Ravens.
Beckham has five games this season with two or fewer receptions, and he's topped 50 receiving yards just twice, in Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks and in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Right before the Ravens' Week 13 bye, Beckham had strung together three games with more than 10 fantasy points. The fantasy managers who thought he'd keep up that production upon the Ravens' return in Week 14 were rewarded with his 19.70 points on four receptions, 97 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Now Beckham appears to be on an obvious upward trajectory; in his last five games, he's logged 17 receptions, 343 receiving yards and three touchdowns. If he's available in your league, grab him ahead of Baltimore's Week 15 matchup against the Jaguars.
Rostered percentage and scoring totals via Fantasy Pros
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