Only in fantasy football can Isaiah Crowell, lead running back for the 3-10 Cleveland Browns, put a team on his back and help owners to a playoff win.
It’s fitting for this season, of course, the one with Peyton Manning on the bench, .500 teams winning divisions and more. When it comes to the waiver wire, each week seems to one-up the next in terms of eyebrow-raising capabilities.
With playoffs on the mind and holes to fill, here’s a guide to help owners navigate the tricky Week 15 waiver-wire environment.
Week 15 Waiver-Wire Pickup Targets
AJ McCarron, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (0.0 Percent Owned)
What, hesitant about starting a guy who is essentially a rookie with so much at stake?
Don’t be.
The Cincinnati Bengals need a starter, as Andy Dalton went down with a thumb injury coach Marvin Lewis said will sideline the quarterback for at least one week, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:
For Lewis, he’s confident in AJ McCarron, as Hobson captured: “This is why we picked McCarron. Has confidence of the building.”
Look, quarterback’s easier to play than ever these years. McCarron added credibility to the thought process this past weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers, too, considering he posted 15 points and 280 passing yards with a pair of scores and picks.
McCarron will get the start after his first batch of first-team reps and again lean on A.J. Green and the league’s deepest supporting cast, though this time it’s not a divisional rivalry, but a game against the 4-9 San Francisco 49ers.
Isaiah Crowell, RB, Cleveland Browns (36.2 Percent Owned)
On Crowell.
Cleveland’s lead back tied for second place among scorers before Monday, bulldozing his way to 145 yards and two scores on 20 carries, good for 26 points.
Owners have seen this before, albeit in smaller fashion when Crowell started the season with three double-digit outbursts over his first five games.
The Browns have been a running back wasteland in fantasy terms this year, having entered last weekend with the fewest rushing scores in the league. It’s clear Crowell can change that, though, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect the team to feature him in heavy fashion the rest of the way.
Granted, Crowell next has to deal with a strong Seattle Seahawks defense. But opportunities equal production at the spot, which is something he showcased this past weekend and will again if the Browns keep going his way.
Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers (41.9 Percent Owned)
Folks didn’t want to believe in Carolina Panthers wideout Ted Ginn Jr. weeks ago, which makes perfect sense given his random explosions and frequent drops. After all, entering Week 13, he had posted just three double-digit outings.
Something changed in Week 13.
There, Ginn caught five passes for 80 yards and two scores, good for 20 points. He followed that weekend with one of the highest total outings, gaining 24 points by way of two catches for 120 yards and two scores.
Ginn has been Cam Newton’s top wideout all year with Kelvin Benjamin out of the picture, but it seems at long last this might equate to reliable week-to-week production. Even Ginn seems to know the reason for his outbursts, as he said in a humble gesture captured by Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer:
So long as Newton continues on his MVP-esque march, Ginn will continue to be a viable play no matter the matchup.
While a risk, the last two weeks show what Ginn can do for owners. To make things less worrisome, Ginn next encounters a New York Giants team struggling to contain wideouts, too.
Zach Miller, TE, Chicago Bears (19.4 Percent Owned)
So the add lists last week were correct: Zach Miller of the Chicago Bears was one of the top names to scoop off the market.
Few did and got to watch as Miller tied for the second-highest total at his position before Monday with 14 points on five catches for 85 yards and a score.
Miller hasn’t been anything close to consistent this year, but with Martellus Bennett lost for the season, it’s quite clear Jay Cutler won’t hesitate to look at his other veteran tight end to great success for all involved.
With defenses forced to focus on weapons such as Matt Forte and Alshon Jeffery, Miller’s going to have a consistent target rate the rest of the season as a safety valve. An uncanny reliability from a veteran wouldn’t be a shock, no matter how unpredictable the position has been all season.
All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats as of December 14. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com.
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