Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 14

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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Rostered percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 60% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton, Cowboys

Dalton travels to the Cincinnati Bengals for the first week of the fantasy playoffs, in the city where he spent the first nine seasons of the NFL career.

Though the Dallas Cowboys' offensive skill players are among the best in the league, the line is decimated by injuries and just lost another star with Zack Martin hitting injured reserve. Fortunately, for Dalton, the Bengals' defense ranks 32nd in sacks with just 13, so protection may not be a problem for Dallas in this one.

Assuming he emerges healthy from Tuesday's contest against the Baltimore Ravens, Dalton will be in play as a streaming option for this revenge spot in Week 14.

Philip Rivers, Colts

Despite playing through a foot injury that may require surgery in the offseason, Rivers continues to chug along with at least 285 passing yards and two passing scores in each of his last three appearances.

That bodes well for his fantasy outlook as he prepares to face a Las Vegas Raiders defense that's given up multiple touchdown passes in seven of its last nine games.

Rivers may not have the ceiling of the top fantasy quarterbacks, but he's a solid streamer and a fringe QB1/high-end QB2 most weeks.

Streamer options: Matthew Stafford vs. GB (55% rostered), Mitch Trubisky vs. HOU (13% rostered), Derek Carr vs. IND (51% rostered), Teddy Bridgewater vs. DEN (33% rostered), Baker Mayfield vs. BAL (38% rostered), Drew Lock at CAR (12% rostered), Alex Smith at SF (6% rostered), Sam Darnold at SEA (8% rostered), Mike Glennon vs. TEN (3% rostered)

Injured streamer option (if healthy): Daniel Jones vs. ARI (27% rostered)

Intriguing stash: Jalen Hurts vs. NO (3% rostered)

Running backs

Ty Johnson, Jets

Johnson surprised on Sunday by totaling 117 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown after taking over for Frank Gore, who remains in concussion protocol.

It's possible the veteran back is cleared in time to play in Week 14, but why would the Jets rush him back? It makes more sense for them to see what they have in some of the younger players on the roster, which is something the coaching staff claimed to have planned in recent weeks.

If Johnson gets the nod, the 23-year-old will take on a Seattle Seahawks unit that just allowed 135 yards to another backup-turned-starter in Wayne Gallman.

With options on the waiver wire dwindling (especially at running back), desperate managers should feel free to spend up to secure Johnson's services as a plug-and-play RB3/flex with RB2 upside.

J.D. McKissic/Peyton Barber, Washington

Antonio Gibson exited Monday's game with a toe injury and was ruled out at halftime. Toe injuries can be problematic, so fantasy managers should be concerned.

Without knowing his status for Week 14, this is a bit of a leap of faith to acquire one of the two backs who would replace him.

McKissic has been a fantasy factor at times in 2020 thanks to his pass-catching ability, while Barber is the early-down replacement and goal-line back.

Both would have flex value if Gibson is sidelined, but keep your expectations in check.

Cam Akers, Zack Moss, Jamaal Williams, and Le'Veon Bell are around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.

High-upside backups Alexander Mattison (31% rostered), Boston Scott (25% rostered), Carlos Hyde (32% rostered), and Tony Pollard (18% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Phillip Lindsay at CAR (45% rostered), Kalen Ballage vs. ATL (21% rostered), Gus Edwards at CLE (36% rostered)

Risky flex options: Adrian Peterson vs. GB (48% rostered), Duke Johnson at CHI (58% rostered), Brian Hill at LAC (17% rostered), Cordarrelle Patterson vs. HOU (7% rostered), Jerick McKinnon vs. WAS (52% rostered), Jeff Wilson Jr. vs. WAS (6% rostered), Mark Ingram at CLE (43% rostered), Jordan Wilkins at LV (10% rostered), Sony Michel at LAR (15% rostered), Jalen Richard vs. IND (4% rostered), Ito Smith at LAC (5% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Anthony McFarland Jr. at BUF (3% rostered), Joshua Kelley vs. ATL (17% rostered), Jeremy McNichols at JAX (1% rostered), Jordan Howard vs. NO (15% rostered), Kerryon Johnson vs. GB (20% rostered), Josh Adams at SEA (0% rostered), Tevin Coleman vs. WAS (15% rostered), Darrel Williams at MIA (2% rostered)

Injury stash: Rashaad Penny (4% rostered)

Deeper stashes: D'Onta Foreman at JAX (1% rostered), Alfred Morris vs. ARI (0% rostered), Royce Freeman at CAR (3% rostered), Lynn Bowden Jr. vs. KC (0% rostered)

Wide receivers

Tim Patrick, Broncos

In a year filled with unpredictability, Patrick's fantasy numbers have been impressively consistent since the Denver Broncos moved him into the starting lineup to replace the injured Courtland Sutton.

If you've been reading this column and/or listening to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, you've heard me mention Patrick many times. And yet, he remains available in 79% of fantasy leagues.

Here's a look at his production since Week 3:

• 4-43-1
• 6-113-1
• 4-101-0
• 3-44-0
• 4-29-1
• 4-61-0
• 5-119-0
• 0-0-0 *Kendall Hinton emergency start
• 4-44-2

Unless you're stacked at receiver, there should be a spot for an underrated WR3 on your roster and maybe even in your starting lineup.

T.Y. Hilton, Colts

Hilton has come back to life with 12 receptions, 191 yards, and two touchdowns during his last two outings.

You can credit the easy matchups with the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, but Hilton gets to face a below-average Raiders defense in Week 14 before squaring off with the Texans again a week later.

The 31-year-old is back in the WR3/flex conversation for at least the next two games before having to deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fantasy championship round.

Keke Coutee, Texans

In the first game of Will Fuller's suspension, Coutee delivered 141 yards on eight catches in what should have been a difficult matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, who entered the week allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to his position.

Though he's a very different player than Fuller, Coutee proved to be a trusted target for Deshaun Watson and should remain in this role for the rest of the season.

The Chicago Bears aren't the most favorable opponent in Week 14, but neither were the Colts and that didn't stop Coutee. Treat him as a WR4/flex with upside.

Michael Pittman Jr., Cole Beasley, Sterling Shepard, Antonio Brown, and Allen Lazard are around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.

Flex options: Breshad Perriman at SEA (24% rostered), Denzel Mims at SEA (11% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling at DET (22% rostered), Rashard Higgins vs. BAL (8% rostered), Sammy Watkins at MIA (57% rostered), Henry Ruggs vs. IND (32% rostered), Nelson Agholor vs. IND (40% rostered), Jalen Reagor vs. NO (22% rostered), Gabriel Davis vs. PIT (5% rostered)

Risky flex options: Emmanuel Sanders at PHI (42% rostered), Darnell Mooney vs. HOU (12% rostered), Laviska Shenault Jr. vs. TEN (16% rostered), Jakobi Meyers at LAR (44% rostered), Josh Reynolds vs.NE (8% rostered), Michael Gallup at CIN (41% rostered), Keelan Cole vs. TEN (26% rostered), Dez Bryant at CLE (8% rostered), Russell Gage at LAC (7% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Collin Johnson vs. TEN (0% rostered), Quintez Cephus vs. GB (0% rostered), N'Keal Harry at LAR (7% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. BAL (0% rotered), Hunter Renfrow vs. IND (19% rostered), Anthony Miller vs. HOU (17% rostered), David Moore vs. NYJ (4% rostered), Danny Amendola vs. GB (2% rostered), Damiere Byrd at LAR (3% rostered), Chris Hansen at CHI (0% rostered), Tre'Quan Smith at PHI, K.J. Hamler at CAR (3% rostered), Jalen Guyton vs. ATL (0% rostered)

Tight ends

Jordan Reed, 49ers

The Washington Football Team present a revenge scenario for both Reed and his head coach, Kyle Shanahan. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean anything for fantasy purposes, but it should have them bring their A-games against their former team.

Prior to his Monday night matchup with the Buffalo Bills, Reed has seen the field on more than 40% of the snaps only three times this season while filling in for George Kittle. In the first two outings, Reed produced stat lines of 7-50-2 and 5-62-0, but the most recent game was a tougher challenge against the Los Angeles Rams that resulted in 2-18-0.

With limited quality tight end streaming options on the waiver wire, you could do worse than chasing Reed's revenge narrative.

Anthony Firkser, Titans

Firkser should remain on your radar until we find out whether Jonnu Smith is healthy enough to play in Week 14.

Though he didn't find the end zone on Sunday, Firkser caught five of his seven targets for 51 yards, with MyCole Pruitt vulturing one touchdown and scoring another on a fumble recovery.

If Smith is sidelined, Firkser can once again be fired up as a top-15 fantasy option against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to the position.

Streamer options: Logan Thomas at SF (40% rostered), Trey Burton at LV (49% rostered), Kyle Rudolph at TB (26% rostered), Tyler Higbee vs. NE (48% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Tyler Eifert vs. TEN (6% rostered), Jordan Akins at CHI (6% rostered), Jacob Hollister vs. NYJ (1% rostered), Will Dissly vs. NYJ (2% rostered), Gerald Everett vs. NE (5% rostered), Drew Sample vs. DAL (1% rostered), Cole Kmet vs. HOU (1% rostered), Dan Arnold at NYG (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 14 streamers

Favorable Week 15 schedules: Vikings DEF vs. CHI (56% rostered), Browns DEF at NYG (38% rostered), 49ers DEF at DAL (48% rostered), Titans DEF vs. DET (32% rostered)