Thomason: Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 15
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) Here are my top 10 waiver adds for 10- and 12-member leagues.
1. Bilal Powell (RB, New York Jets) – Matt Forte left early Sunday with a knee injury and didn't return. With the Jets in rebuilding mode, maybe they don't ask him to return for the rest of the year? Powell made a case for an increased workload. Albeit against San Francisco, he piled up 179 total yards, caught five balls and scored two touchdowns for a monster day. That type of performance against any team is impressive, and we know from last year, when Powell is called upon to be a starting running back, he can return RB1 numbers.
2. Kenneth Farrow (RB, San Diego Chargers) – Melvin Gordon suffered a hip injury early in Sunday's game, much to his fantasy owners' dismay. He didn't return, and his season is in jeopardy, especially with the Chargers not heading to the playoffs. Farrow is a pedestrian talent but will see volume on an offense that's always capable of putting up points. Farrow saw 16 carries and totaled 55 yards, adding six receptions for another 23 yards as well. Volume is king, and Farrow is going to see plenty of touches.
3. Taylor Gabriel (WR, Atlanta Falcons) – Gabriel just scores touchdowns, and with Julio Jones hobbled with turf toe, he should see additional work. You don't want to rely on big plays and touchdowns to make your fantasy hay, but Gabriel continues to produce. While he isn't a yardage monster or going to catch a ton of balls, he's been targeted at least five times in the last six games and has six touchdowns during that span.
4. Dontrelle Inman (WR, San Diego Chargers) – Inman has racked up double-digit PPR points in five of his last six games and scored in his last three. This past week he tallied six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. He's also seen an average of seven targets per game over the last six contests, and the Chargers have a nice playoff schedule. Not to mention, the receptions left behind by Gordon may increase Inman's value.
5. Robby Anderson (WR, New York Jets) – Anderson has been Bryce Petty's guy each and every time Petty has had the chance to play. Once again, he lead the team in targets with 11, catching six for 99 yards and added two rushes for another 12 yards on Sunday. This makes 23 targets in two weeks for Anderson, and that type of volume is appealing for a receiver attempting to prove himself and earn a job for next year. It should mean fantasy goodness if you're in need of a WR3/flex.
6. Charles Sims (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – In his first game back, Sims totaled 50 yards on seven touches and looked spry doing so. He's going to have the passing-down role sewn up moving forward, which in a tough matchup like in New Orleans in Week 16 could mean a lot more work out of the backfield. Jacquizz Rodgers only saw two rushes, so it looks like he's behind Sims once again. Sims' workload could increase too, as this was just his first game back and Doug Martin hasn't been lighting the world on fire, but he's seeing the volume.
7. Tyler Boyd (WR, Cincinnati Bengals) – Boyd is emerging as a secondary option to Tyler Eifert on an A.J. Green-less offense. He racked up six catches on targets for 49 yards and added 40 yards on two rushes as well last week. He's a better option in PPR formats, given that he's seen at least six targets over the last four game and no less than four receptions over the same span.
8. Marqise Lee (WR, Jacksonville Jaguars) – In seven of his last nine games, Lee has hit 50 yards or had a touchdown. He's seen at least six targets in all but two matchups and plays for a team that trails often. Houston has been dealing with injuries on its defense as well, and Lee has become a safety blanket for Blake Bortles too with Julius Thomas on injured reserve.
9. Justin Forsett (RB, Denver Broncos) – No running back is inspiring in Denver right now, but it is worth noting that Forsett out-touched Devontae Booker, 9-5, in Sunday's game against the Titans. Forsett also totaled 35 yards to Booker's 11. It had been rumored that Booker was about to be supplanted by Kapri Bibbs before his trip to injured reserve, and Forsett knows most of this offense, having played with coach Gary Kubiak in the past. He's worth adding even if it's just for keep-away.
10. T.J. Yeldon (RB, Jacksonville Jaguars) – Yeldon has 41 touches in the last two weeks, and both Denard Robinson and Chris Ivory are battling injuries. With volume being king and Yeldon seeing it, he may be a viable RB2/flex play in a solid matchup against the Houston Texans next week, if Ivory is out again with his hamstring injury.
Just missed: Alfred Morris, Andre Ellington, DeAngelo Williams/Fitzgerald Toussaint, Mike Gillislee, Adam Thielen, Pittsburgh's defense and Buffalo's defense.
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert and co-host of "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today," which can be heard every Sunday during football season from 8-9 a.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter @jthomason77 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.
