Week 15 Waiver-Wire Pickups: Sleepers Available in Majority of Fantasy Leagues

Congratulations are in order for those of you still competing in your season-long fantasy leagues. As we round the corner into Week 15, the reality is that if you're still playing, you're probably in the postseason.

While it feels great to be in the fantasy playoffs, there also exists the reality that the next loss ends your playoff season entirely—no, we don't count the consolation bracket. This fact magnifies the importance of every roster decision from now until the end of the season.

Unfortunately, it's become increasingly difficult to count on even the most consistent of fantasy stars in recent weeks because of injuries. Guys like Julio Jones and Michael Thomas didn't even suit up in Week 14, while guys like Melvin Gordon and Matt Forte exited early.

This is exactly why the waiver wire can be your best friend, even in the postseason.

We're going to help identify some of the top waiver-wire options who are likely to be available in your league. We'll be looking at players who are worth starting and who are available in at least 50 percent of ESPN.com fantasy leagues.

Our picks are based on factors like past performances, projected role, matchups and team health.

Good luck!

Waiver-Wire Targets

Bilal Powell, RB, New York Jets

As we mentioned in the opening, New York Jets running back Matt Forte suffered a knee injury during Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Backup Bilal Powell stepped in and rushed for an impressive 145 yards and two touchdowns with five receptions and 34 more yards.

There's at least a chance that Powell will be given the start this week against the Miami Dolphins. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Forte is considered "day-to-day" with the knee injury.

If Powell does get the start, he could be in line for another big fantasy outing. The Dolphins are rated just 20th in run defense by Pro Football Focus and allow an average of 133.8 rushing yards per game, third-most in the NFL.

Powell is available in 37.4 percent of ESPN.com fantasy leagues.

Kenneth Dixon, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

If you watched Monday night's game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens, you probably noticed that rookie running back Kenneth Dixon got the bulk of the backfield work for the Ravens.

The former Louisiana Tech standout carried the ball 11 times for 39 yards and caught eight passes for 42 more yards and a touchdown against the Patriots. Former Ravens starter Terrance West logged just two carries and four receptions.

If Dixon is going to be the primary back moving forward—and it appears he will—then he is certainly worth a waiver claim. He could have RB2 value in points-per-reception leagues and flex value in standard this week against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are rated 17th in run defense by Pro Football Focus and allow an average of 101.4 rushing yards per game.

Dixon is owned in roughly 46 percent of ESPN.com leagues right now.

Kenneth Farrow, RB, San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon also went down with an injury in Week 14, which meant playing time for backup and undrafted rookie Kenneth Farrow. The rookie performed relatively well—though certainly not as well as Powell—rushing for 55 yards and catching six passes for 23 more.

It appears that Gordon is also day-to-day with his hip injury.

"He’ll be day-to-day, and we’ll take it from there," Chargers head coach Mike McCoy said Monday, per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I talked to him this morning. He’s going to work hard to get back out there as soon as he can. … As an organization, we’re going to do what’s best for the player."

Farrow looks to have more value in PPR formats than he does in standard, but he could still be considered a viable flex play in either this week. He and the Chargers battle the Oakland Raiders, who are rated a modest 25th in run defense by Pro Football Focus.

Farrow is available in over 99 percent of ESPN.com leagues.

Ty Montgomery, RB/WR, Green Bay Packers

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

Earlier this season, it appeared that Ty Montgomery would be a breakout fantasy star for the Green Bay Packers. The Packers were utilizing him as a running back as well as a receiver, and some fantasy leagues even allowed him to be played at the running back spot.

For a two-week period, Montgomery was the man.

Between Weeks 6 and 7, Montgomery caught 20 passes for 164 yards while rushing for 66 more. His production tapered off dramatically after that, but Montgomery exploded back onto the fantasy scene this past week.

Against the Seattle Seahawks, Montgomery racked up 41 rushing yards with a touchdown and caught three passes for 45 more yards. While he isn't likely to ever be a consistent fantasy stud, Montgomery looks to have value similar to a pass-catching back like Theo Riddick of the Detroit Lions or Darren Sproles of the Philadelphia Eagles.

This week, Montgomery and the Packers take on the Chicago Bears, who are rated 15th in overall defense by Pro Football Focus.

Montgomery is owned in 34.9 percent of ESPN.com leagues.

Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd has emerged as a significant piece of the offense during the injury absence of star receiver A.J. Green. Over the past three weeks, the rookie has racked up 15 receptions for 177 yards. He's also rushed twice for 40 yards.

While it does appear that Green is on his way back for the Bengals, we don't expect Boyd's role to take a massive hit. Green has even admitted that he won't be his usually dominant self upon returning.

"I’m not going to be 100 percent whenever I come back and I know; I’m satisfied with that," Green said, per Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Expect the Bengals to continue targeting Boyd early and often in the passing game and to continue using him on gadget plays as a runner. His value, though, remains higher in PPR formats.

Boyd is owned in 31.9 percent of ESPN.com leagues.