Fantasy Football Week 14: Working the Waiver Wire to Win Throughout the Playoffs

Maybe you think that after 13 weeks, everything is what it is. The players on your fantasy team got you this far, so that's who you are rolling with. Or maybe you think that there can't possibly be actual starting options on the waiver wire at this point.

That's just not true. Very, very not true.

Last year, Tim Tebow carried many teams to fantasy championships. The year before that it was Jerome Harrison. Maybe their year it's Roy Helu. Or maybe it's Marion Barber.

Is that crazy? Probably. But could it actually happen? Absolutely.

At this point in the season, you're either in the playoffs (or have a playoff bye week) or you need to win this week to stay alive. Of course you'll want to pick up the best players no matter what, but you have to consider your situation.

If you've clinched your playoff position, or you have a playoff bye week, you need to look to the future. Do you need different D/ST? (And I mean for the entire playoffs.)

Don't be afraid to stash a D/ST you're hoping to use in Week 16. Just don't cut anybody that could be used against you to do it. Or can you pick up players your opponent(s) might use against you? How about grabbing the handcuff RBs for the remaining playoff teams?

If you need to win this week, nothing else really matters. That doesn't mean you should cut everybody that you're not using this week, but if you lose it really doesn't matter does it? You should not only try to grab the best players for your team, but also any players your opponent might try to use against you. Does you opponent rotate D/STs weekly? Did he just lose Matt Schaub or Jay Cutler at QB? Is he playing musical TEs?

You also have to balance your pickups this week. If you need to win this week, you should go with the player most likely to help you this week. But all teams need to consider players who could have value over the remaining few weeks.

For example:

You're a team who needs to win this week to make the playoffs. You might need a RB or flex option this week, so your first waiver claim is for Marion Barber.

And you get Barber. Swell.

But another team fighting for the playoffs cuts Kevin Smith. Who might not play in Week 14, but could certainly be a fantasy option in Weeks 15-17. So even though Smith can't help you this week, as long as no player you cut could be be picked up and used against you, make a claim on Smith.

At this point in the season, a backup QB or TE whom you will not use unless your starter gets injured aren't helping you win. You can't cut sure-fire starters who could be used against you. But everybody else is fair game.

I will repeat this one more time, just to make sure I'm being crystal here: PLAYERS ON YOUR BENCH CANNOT HELP YOU WIN A FANTASY PLAYOFF GAME!

Is it really worth carrying Matt Moore just in case Tony Romo goes down? If Romo goes down, I'm probably already screwed already. Not to mention there should always be a Matt Moore-type on the waiver wire, except in the deepest of leagues.

With that said, onto the pickups. Like I said, prioritize the players whom you might use this week. That means if you need a D/ST to start, that D/ST is your highest priority waiver claim.

QB

MATT MOORE (MIA)

Moore has been solid, but not spectacular. But in Weeks 15-16 he faces the Patriots and Bills, two of the worst pass defenses in the league. If you got hit with injuries at QB, Moore should at least be good for double digit fantasy points those two weeks.

CHRISTIAN PONDER (MIN)

You're not going to see 381 passing yards and three TDs again this season. But 300 yards and two TDs could happen. Ponder is an inconsistent rookie, but you can see his potential. He should have at least one more big game this season if you are desperate at QB.

T.J. YATES (HOU)

Yates is probably going to be a game manager type of QB for now. But in Weeks 15-16 he faces the Panthers and the Colts. Who are two of the three worst defenses in the NFL. Yates could accidentally score double digit fantasy points against such poor opponents.

RB

RYAN GRANT (GB) & BRANDON SAINE (GB)

It looked like James Starks suffered an injury that could cause him to miss time. Neither Grant nor Saine would be dynamite options immediately, but there's a chance that one of them could earn a significant portion of the RB touches.

Grant would be the preferred option in standard leagues while Saine would be a better option in PPR leagues.

MARION BARBER (CHI) & KAHLIL BELL (CHI)

Matt Forte suffered a sprained MCL and he should miss at least the remainder of the fantasy season. Bears coach Lovie Smith has announced that Barber and Bell will split the RB chores going forward.

Barber will be the better option because he should see a few more carries as well as any possible goal line work. Bell will have some value in PPR leagues as a check-down option as well as being the RB on the field when the Bears are trailing.

Both players could have flex value depending on your league.

BEN TATE (HOU)

There's a small chance that Tate was cut in some leagues, or that he may get cut this week. If so, snatch him up. The Texans face the two worst rushing defenses (Panthers and Colts) in Weeks 15-16.

Tate could easily have flex value (or better) for those two crucial weeks.

RICKY WILLIAMS (BAL)

Williams could be used as a flex option when the Ravens face a bad team with a poor run defense. Luckily, that happens twice (Week 14 vs. Colts and Week 16 vs. Browns) in the next three weeks.

It's always tough to start a clear backup RB, but sometimes you have to take a chance like that in the playoffs.

WR

DEMARYIUS THOMAS (DEN)

It will be almost impossible to trust a Broncos WR.

But in Weeks 15-16 the Broncos face the Patriots and Bills, two of the worst pass defenses in the league. Thomas is very talented and there's a chance that Tebow continues to improve his passing.

That makes Thomas at least worth a flier in deeper leagues.

BRAD SMITH (BUF)

Believe or not, Smith has been the most targeted Bills receiver the last two weeks. He's locked into the starting lineup opposite Steve Johnson. Smith might not be a dynamic playmaker, but he could be a decent WR3 option in PPR leagues as long as he's in the starting lineup and Fitzpatrick is playing well.

DEVIN AROMASHODU (MIN)

Based on the box score, you would think that Percy Harvin was the most heavily targeted Vikings receiver.

But actually, it was Aromashodu. It's doubtful that he finds the end zone much, if at all, but we have seen Aromashodu have success late in the season before. If you're in a deep PPR league, he's worth picking up, just in case lightning strikes twice.

JOHNNY KNOX (CHI)

It will be tough to rely on any receiver who has Caleb Hanie throwing to him.

But Knox has by far been Hanie's preferred target and we all know that Knox is talented. He just needed a chance. So far, he's performing very well with Hanie and should have WR3 value going forward.

DENARIUS MOORE (OAK) & JACOBY FORD (OAK)

One or both (or none) of Oakland's WRs could make it back this week.

If so, they would immediately become the top targets for Carson Palmer in the Raiders passing game. Moore probably has more upside, but Ford might be closer to returning. Both are worth speculative pickups.

SANTANA MOSS (WAS)

Moss had a healthy 12 targets in Week 13, but with Fred Davis gone for the remainder of the season, Moss should be the primary option in the Redskins passing game.

It's tough for Moss to be more than a WR3 with Rex Grossman under center, but as the primary passing game option, he should be owned in most leagues.

GOLDEN TATE (SEA)

It's tough to rely on any receiver with Tavaris Jackson throwing to him. But we've seen Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin both have some success with Jackson. Tate has led the Seahawks receivers in both snaps and targets the last two weeks. Tate does have talent and could be an interesting WR play in very deep leagues going forward.

TE

ANTHONY FASANO (MIA)

The cupboard is pretty bare at TE at this point of the season. Fasano has been consistently targeted by Matt Moore and he is the second-most popular red-zone target on the team.

But he's still a desperation option at best.

DUSTIN KELLER (NYJ) & JAKE BALLARD (NYG)

Most likely these are the best TEs who might have been cut in your league. Both are still receiving a decent number of targets, and they could be useful for owners who are having struggles at the TE position.

DST

SEAHAWKS (vs. RAMS)

You want to start any defense that plays against the Rams. And the Seahawks are at home. The no-brainer D/ST pickup of the week, at least in my opinion.

BRONCOS (vs. BEARS)

The Broncos D/ST managed to score points without Von Miller, while getting killed by Percy Harvin.

Now the Broncos get to face the Caleb Hanie-led Bears who couldn't find the end zone in Week 13 against the Chiefs.

What's not to like?

Thanks for reading. Have anything to add to the discussion? Please use the comments feature below. Questions are welcome, but please be as specific and detailed as possible. Good luck to all of your teams this week.

Check out John's previous Week 14 Fantasy Football Article

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