The fantasy football playoffs are officially upon us in all league formats. Now more than ever, it’s never been more important to monitor the waiver wire and make smart pickups to maximize your point total. With that in mind, Damien Williams and Kenneth Dixon are both poised for big weeks and are likely available on your waiver wire.
Fantasy Football: Top Week 15 Wide Receiver Waiver Pickups
Fantasy Football: Top Week 15 Quarterback Waiver Pickups
Fantasy Football: Top Week 15 Defense Pickups
Fantasy Football: Damien Williams, Kenneth Dixon Highlight Week 15 Running Back Waiver Claims
Damien Williams
Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams was on this list last week, but this time he’s the headliner. The fifth-year running back is set to see a lions share of the snaps in one of the most high-octane offenses in the NFL. Spencer Ware suffered a shoulder and hamstring injury during Sunday’s action, with the hamstring injury forcing him out of the game for good.
The Chiefs face off against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, meaning that Ware has less time than normal to recover from his injuries. Williams has the potential to be a top fantasy running back if Ware cannot go in prime time. Over his past two games, Williams has recorded 52 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries to go along with 23 receiving yards and a touchdown on six receptions.
These numbers will only increase if he gets the lead back role. If you’re the Spencer Ware owner, use whatever waiver priority you have to add him. Nobody knows Ware’s status as of this posting, but you can’t afford to not have Williams on a short week.
Kenneth Dixon
Who’s ready for another go on the Baltimore Ravens running back carousel? After Gus Edwards made a strong claim for the starting job, fellow Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon is officially getting back into the mix. While Edwards led the team in carries and yards, Dixon was the more efficient runner. The now-healthy Dixon averaged 7.4 yards per carry and recorded a touchdown while Edwards had just 4.2 yards per carry and no touchdowns.
Additionally, Dixon offers more in the passing game. Edwards has just one catch for seven yards on the season, and Baltimore clearly likes to utilize him as only a running threat. Dixon, meanwhile, has the ability to beat defenses in both facets of the game. In 12 games last year, Dixon recorded 30 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown.
Trusting any Baltimore Ravens running back to do anything is an inherently dangerous decision. Nobody knows how John Harbaugh will utilize his running backs, so Dixon might not do much in Week 15. However, if you’re looking for a high-upside play, Dixon should be worth a shot.
Elijah McGuire
New York Jets running back Elijah McGuire is basically the ying to Dixon’s yang. The New York Jets offense is one of the most inconsistent units in the league and struggles to move the ball for weeks on end. However, Elijah McGuire can be a solid volume play out of the flex position.
McGuire saw the workload of a true bell-cow back in Week 14, recording 17 carries and three receptions for a combined 93 yards and a touchdown. New York doesn’t really have a better option with Isaiah Crowell banged up, and it’s hard to find running backs taking that much of a workload on the waiver wire. While he doesn’t have the highest ceiling, McGuire should provide a safe floor in Week 15.
Fantasy Football: Top Week 15 Wide Receiver Waiver Pickups
Fantasy Football: Top Week 15 Quarterback Waiver Pickups
Fantasy Football: Top Week 15 Defense Pickups
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