Waiver Wire Week 14: Explosive Players to Add for Fantasy Playoffs

The fantasy football playoffs are officially upon us in most leagues across the country. After a full season of tinkering and last-minute decisions, every fantasy owner knows his or her fate at this point.

Whether a team is in the playoffs or the consolation round, there is still a lot to play for this weekend. Everyone wants the championship, but having the stigma of finishing last is almost worse than winning it all.

Regardless of the current situation, sifting through the waiver wire might prove to be necessary down the stretch. Here's a look at the latest players to pick up through free agency heading into the first week of the postseason.

Standard Leagues

Player	Position	Team	Owned %
Teddy Bridgewater	QB	Vikings	7.9
Daniel Herron	RB	Colts	40.9
Kenny Stills	WR	Saints	17.7
Jordan Reed	TE	Redskins	24.6
Vikings	D/ST	N/A	23.1

One of the hottest commodities for some fantasy owners will be trying to grab Johnny Manziel this week. Though he's likely available—he's owned in 2.7 percent of ESPN.com leagues—there are certainly more effective players to pick up.

Of those players, Teddy Bridgewater seems to be coming into his own in the last two weeks. The Minnesota Vikings quarterback has slowly become a solid player in recent starts, as Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com notes:

Though Ryan Tannehill struggled against the New York Jets, Bridgewater still faces an otherwise porous defense. While Bridgewater has difficult matchups after this week, the rookie will be a good spot start this week for desperate owners.

Moving away from the quarterback position, Jordan Reed is once again flashing potential. Colt McCoy relied on the tight end to the tune of nine receptions for 123 yards against the Indianapolis Colts.

Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan noted where the game ranked on the season for Reed:

In a year where finding a consistent tight end seems futile, Reed is a player who was steady last year when healthy. Going against the St. Louis Rams this week, look for McCoy to once again lean heavily on his safety valve.

Deep Leagues

Player	Position	Team	Owned
Johnny Manziel	QB	Browns	2.7
Khiry Robinson	RB	Saints	12.3
Marqise Lee	WR	Jaguars	1.2
Richard Rodgers	TE	Packers	2.4
Saints	D/ST	N/A	7.0

In deep leagues, there typically won't be a lot of potential to comb through at this point. However, one standout receiver is Marqise Lee, who's in a good situation as the potential No. 1 receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Lee scored his first touchdown last week against the New York Giants along with a total of 75 receiving yards. Allen Robinson is out for the season, and it now appears Lee has stepped up in the offense, as Cian O'Fathaigh of Bleacher Report notes:

"

I like Allen Robinson, but I think Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns can be the Jags' best receivers moving forward.

— Cian O'Fathaigh (@Cianaf) December 1, 2014"

No pickup is typically a promising lock for the remainder of the season, but Lee has another great matchup this weekend. The Houston Texans allow the second-most fantasy points to wideouts (28.24), and Blake Bortles will be looking Lee's way quite a bit against them.

Outside of Lee, there's potential in both Donte Moncrief and Charles Johnson. Owners in need of other positions will want to pillage through the list above, including potentially even taking out a waiver on Manziel if desperation sets in.

All fantasy stats courtesy of ESPN.com.

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