WEEK 15: WAIVER WIRE ADDS

Every Tuesday, I will be bringing to light the best potential waiver wire additions across fantasy football. Let’s begin with some basic principles for each article and some of the qualifiers that will be used each week. First off, the minimum rostered percentage threshold that I will be using is 50%, so any player that is rostered in ESPN leagues above that percentage will not be written about (until near the end of the season when it gets harder to wade through the constantly thinning waiver wire.) Second, not all waiver wire additions are created equal and all are dependent on the roster you have. Each week I will be writing about players and the potential they bring to your fantasy roster, but I obviously don’t know who is on your team or what you may need in terms of roster construction. If I say a quarterback is the top waiver wire addition for the week, and you have Patrick Mahomes, that doesn’t mean you need to add that player to your team while dropping a potentially valuable player in order to do so. Third, I will frequently be using the abbreviation FAB, which refers to Free Agent Budget. This refers to the potential amount you might spend to acquire someone off the waiver wire if your league has that as a part of their system.

Rashaad Penny- Running Back, SEA

ESPN Roster Percentage- 8.6%

Rashaad Penny gave a little reminder to football fans on Sunday of what he is capable of when healthy, which is a great running back and a productive fantasy football option. Now, I know it was in a game against the Houston Texans, but two of the next three matchups for the Seahawks are against teams ranked in the bottom half of points allowed to running backs, with their Week 17 game against the Lions. Penny was the clear lead back this week, but knowing how Pete Carrol runs the Seahawks, there is no guarantee Penny will have that role going forward. This is a waiver wire add that is purely a break glass in case of emergency pick, meaning one of your regular starters is injured or we see another week of production from Penny in Week 15. Penny had a 57% snap share while tallying over 50% of the teams total rushing attempts, meaning if he continues this pace, he will be winning some of you fantasy championships. Penny is worthy of large FAB bid and a priority waiver wire add, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into an immediate spot in your starting lineup.

Justin Jackson- Running Back, LAC

ESPN Roster Percentage- 5.7%

This is truly a pickup just to be cautious in the event Austin Ekeler misses the Chargers game on Thursday night. Ekeler left the game Sunday early with an ankle injury, one which head coach Brandon Staley said that Ekeler “could’ve returned if they needed him.” Justin Jackson was the team’s leading rusher once Ekeler left with the injury, accruing 35 rushing yards and a 28% snap share. I wouldn’t have the confidence to start Jackson in a fantasy playoff matchup, but if Ekeler missed more than one week and Jackson performs well, it may be a risky start you take in future weeks. Jackson isn’t worth a high priority add or a large FAB bid, but is worthy as an insurance add for Ekeler managers.