The regular season has come to an end in the majority of leagues, but the waiver wire is still a crucial tool to utilize over the next three weeks.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark (at least 25% availability) as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated. Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Priority Free Agents
RB Patrick Taylor, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are digging deep into their backfield depth as Isaac Guerendo‘s status for the Thursday night game is in doubt following a foot sprain he suffered in Week 14. Though Israel Abanikanda could see some work, the expectation is that Taylor is the starting running back on a short week if Guerendo is ruled out. Considering the timing, it makes sense for managers to spend a good chunk of FAAB to acquire a potential RB2 option.
Availability: 96%
FAAB: 65%
RB Isaiah Davis, New York Jets
While Braelon Allen (42% available) isn’t a bad addition either, he’s rostered in far more leagues than Davis. Both rookies will continue to split the backfield as long as Breece Hall is out, but it was Davis who came away with the big game. The workload was a near 50-50 split, but Davis is the RB14 entering Monday night. If Hall is going to miss more time, Davis can be an intriguing flex play.
Availability: 89%
FAAB: 50%
RB Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
Out from under Davis Allen‘s rule, Miller took over as the clear backup to Alvin Kamara last week. He had a decent fantasy outing as well, recording 10 carries for 32 rushing yards and a touchdown without seeing a target. The Saints won’t get to play the New York Giants every week but if Miller is carving out a role for himself down the stretch, he is someone that needs to be rostered.
Availability: 96%
FAAB: 35%
WR Ray-Ray McCloud, Atlanta Falcons
The passing game in Atlanta is a bit of a mess right now as Kirk Cousins has failed to throw a touchdown pass in any of his last four games. However, McCloud has been slowly carving out a solid role in the offense. Averaging 10.3 fantasy points per game over his last three, McCloud has posted 95 and 98 receiving yards in the two games since coming out of the bye week, respectively. With the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants coming up, McCloud could be a flex option for needy teams.
Availability: 82%
FAAB: 15%
WR Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The rookie wideout had the best game of his season thus far. He played just two fewer snaps than Mike Evans and ran the same number of routes while leading the team with seven targets. He returned the favor by posting four receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns. Entering Monday night as the WR9 on the week, McMillan could be a sneaky addition with a favorable playoff schedule coming up.
Availability: 95%
FAAB: 15%
RB Sincere McCormick, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders backfield had a bit of a shake-up last week as McCormick took over the lead role. It was a two-man effort between him and Ameer Abdullah, who ran six more route. However, McCormick was the clear leader in snaps and carries. He turned the expanded role in 15 carries for 87 rushing yards while adding two receptions for 11 receiving yards. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but McCormick could be a valuable addition if he holds onto the starting role.
Availability: 85%
FAAB: 35%
WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
The up-and-down season for Johnston continues, and this time he found himself on the high side of things. The second-year wideout posted five receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. His 13.3 fantasy points make him the WR19 entering Monday night, and it was his best performance in over a month. The absence of Ladd McConkey (shoulder) certainly played a role, but the Chargers have a favorable schedule down the stretch, so there’s some flex value here.
Availability: 60%
FAAB: 20%
RB Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
Most likely rostered but worth a look. Bigsby enters Monday night as the RB16 on the week after he led the backfield with 18 carries for 55 rushing yards and a touchdown. He played three more snaps than Travis Etienne, who ran double the routes that Bigsby did. This is going to be a split for the rest of the season, but if Bigsby is seeing double-digit touches, he has RB3 value in the right matchup.
Availability: 54%
FAAB: 40%
Grab-n-Stash
Suggested FAAB usage for potential stash players shouldn’t exceed more than 5%. It’s best to try to get these players without spending any FAAB at all, if possible.
RB Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Managers will want to monitor the injury to Bucky Irving (back), which forced him to miss the remainder of the game after exiting in the second quarter. If Irving needs to miss time, Tucker becomes a potential flex option.
Availability: 98%
RB Israel Abanikanda, San Francisco 49ers
We mentioned him above, but the 49ers claimed Abanikanda off waivers after the injuries to Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason depleted the depth. He was a healthy scratch last week, but he has an intriguing skill set that deserves at least some attention.
Availability: 97%
WR Noah Brown, Washington Commanders
Coming out of the bye week, Brown should at least be on the radar as a potential spot start with two favorable matchups against the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons over the next three weeks.
Availability: 93%
Running back handcuffs to stash or monitor
- Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (70% available)
- Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (79% available)
- Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles (94% available)
- Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins (94% available)
- Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (84% available)
- Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills (78% available)
- Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (57% available)
Streamers of the Week
QB Bryce Young vs. Dallas Cowboys: Though he wasn’t overly spectacular against the Philadelphia Eagles, Young did hold his own against a tough defense. Dallas will be coming off a short week and has allowed 20.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over its last five.
Availability: 88%
QB Aaron Rodgers at Jacksonville Jaguars: He’s coming off his first 300-yard game of the season. The Jaguars are allowing the second-most passing yards and the third most passing touchdowns per game.
TE Daniel Bellinger vs. Baltimore Ravens: The Giants offense is in for a rough outing, but Bellinger took over the starting role with Theo Johnson out for the season. He saw seven targets while recording five receptions for 45 yards. Meanwhile, Baltimore is allowing the fourth-most yards per game to the position.
Availability: 100%
TE Dalton Schultz vs. Miami Dolphins: It’s been a tough year for Schultz, but he has at least six targets in six of his last nine games, and the Dolphins are allowing the most targets per game to the tight end position.
Availability: 46%
Cincinnati Bengals D/ST at Tennessee Titans: It’s a risky move trusting the Bengals defense, but they get the best matchup possible in a reeling Titans offense that could be without Will Levis (shoulder).
Availability: 67%
Washington Commanders D/ST at New Orleans Saints: The Commanders come out of the bye week ready to take on a Saints offense that is likely going to be without Derek Carr (hand). Washington isn’t the strongest defense, but the Commanders are good enough to dominate this game.
Availability: 23%
PK Daniel Carlson vs. Atlanta Falcons: Carlson has missed five field goals on the season, but he’s 11th in fantasy points, and the Falcons have allowed the highest field-goal percentage to opposing kickers this season.
Availability: 89%
PK Will Reichard vs. Chicago Bears: The rookie kicker missed his lone field-goal attempt last week coming off an injury, but he’s been solid this season. Chicago has allowed the fifth-most field-goal attempts to kickers this season, so Reichard should be in for a bounce-back game.
Availability: 92%
