With Matt Forte down, Bilal Powell could help win a fantasy championship

Taylor Gabriel and Tyreek Hill produced again and they are both looking like solid waiver adds from the recent weeks. With injuries providing them both with expanded playing time, they may have played their way into permanent steady roles that will help win fantasy championships. If they’re still available, then your league probably isn’t paying attention enough and you should take advantage.

Speaking of injuries, there were a few notable ones over the weekend and while Ryan Tannehill’s may be the most serious one of all (ACL/MCL sprain), he has minimal fantasy implications. Instead, we’re looking at Matt Forte (knee) and Melvin Gordon (hip). The latest news indicates that Gordon is day-to-day, but not only does he have a hip sprain, he also suffered a knee sprain. Forte could have a more serious issue after he heard a crack and pop in his knee. In any case, Bilal Powell put up 145 yards on 29 carries and 5 receptions for 34 yards. Let’s not forget his two TDs. Yes, this was against the lowly 49ers, but it’s proof he can handle the load and the Jets aren’t afraid to give it to him.

Hopefully, you are moving to round 2 of the fantasy playoffs and if so, we’ve got waiver wire rankings from our featured experts for you. Keep in mind, the players ranked below all have under 50% ownership. It’s possible there are some players that may be quality pickups that are available in your league (e.g. my first blurb at the beginning of this article). For more tailored advice, you can always take advantage of our premium waiver wire assistant.

Featured Experts:
James Hatfield – Hatty Waiver Wire Guru
Matthew Hill – DataForce Fantasy Football
Kevin Roberts – Breaking Football
Jared Smola – Draft Sharks
Bobby Sylvester – FantasyPros

*Ownership % derived from a consensus of Yahoo & ESPN leagues

Q1. Give us your thoughts on a waiver wire target (or two) you especially like as a pickup.

“Thanks to their RB1 upside, Bilal Powell and Kenneth Farrow are the unquestioned waiver wire pickups of the week. If you are not fortunate enough to land either of the new 3-down backs, Dontrelle Inman makes for a worthy consolation prize. The only fully healthy wide receiver in San Diego’s pass-heavy offense, Inman has posted five or more catches in four of five games and has scored in three straight contests. Dontrelle Inman continues to be undervalued and could find himself putting up big numbers in week 15 shootout with Oakland.”
– Matthew Hill (DataForce Fantasy Football)

“Bilal Powell could be a league-winner and is worth whatever waiver-wire dollars you have left. I doubt we see the 31-year-old Matt Forte again this season after he heard “cracking and popping” in his knee in the 49ers game. Powell has looked like the Jets’ best RB for much of the season anyway, averaging a juicy 5.8 yards per carry. He gets a middling Dolphins run defense in week 15, followed by a tougher draw against the Patriots in week 16. But Powell’s pass-catching ability (he’s got 42 catches already this season) make the matchups less important.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)

“Bilal Powell and Kenneth Farrow are this week’s top pickups. Bilal Powell will be usable for the rest of your playoffs and Kenneth Farrow is dependent on the status of Melvin Gordon, but both are worth targeting in your waiver wire additions for next week’s playoff games.”
– James Hatfield (Hatty Waiver Wire Guru)

“I’m becoming a fan of Robby Anderson. Not only do he and Bryce Petty have an obvious connection from working together since the summer, but he’s actually a bit of a gamer. As long as Petty is under center, Anderson is going to carry interesting upside.”
– Kevin Roberts (Breaking Football)

“Kenneth Farrow was not elite in college, but he proved to be one of the most impressive athletes in the 2016 draft at his combine. Then, he lucked into a wonderful fantasy situation. Assuming Melvin Gordon will be shut down for the fantasy season (which is a fair assumption), you can bet Farrow will see 20+ carries once again in week 15 and 16. The best part about it is that those weeks are against Oakland and Cleveland, who are two of the five worst run defenses in the NFL. Any back getting that kind of work in those kinds of matchups can win you a fantasy championship.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Q2. For owners renting a D/ST in Week 15, what readily available option should they target and why?

“If you started the Atlanta Falcons defense in week 14, there is a good chance you will be moving onto week 15. If you didn’t and are still alive, good news—The Falcons defense is still available in roughly 50% of leagues. With a below average San Francisco offense making the cross-country trip to take on last week’s game-winning defense, the Falcons, who have seventeen sacks in seven games and have held two of their last three opponents to less than 20 points, will once again be a popular start.”
– Matthew Hill (DataForce Fantasy Football)

“The Atlanta Falcons defense just turned in a week-winning performance and could do it again this coming Sunday. They’re at home for a 49ers team that’s allowed the 5th most sacks and committed the 11th most turnovers. If you can’t get your hands on Atlanta, the Houston Texans (vs. Blake Bortles) are a strong plan B.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)

“The Houston Texans are available in 50% of leagues and they are going up against the Jacksonville Jaguars who have been awful as of late. They are a solid streaming defense for Week 15. ”
– James Hatfield (Hatty Waiver Wire Guru)

“I’d be eyeing two defenses: Green Bay and Tampa Bay. The Bucs have been defensive fiends for five weeks in a row now. Dismantling Dallas could be tough, but 10+ fantasy points is doable with how they’re playing. The Packers have been impressive, too, allowing no more than 13 points in each of their last three games. Next up is a must-win game vs. Matt Barkley and the Bears. Odds are they work out just fine in week 15.”
– Kevin Roberts (Breaking Football)

“I’m taking the New York Jets at home against Miami. With Ryan Tannehill likely out, the Jets draw Matt Moore in what could very well be a snowy game. The last time Moore started was 2011 and he has 28 interceptions and 23 fumbles in just 25 career starts. This could be one of those games where the turnovers just continue to pile up.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

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Thank you to the experts for ranking the top readily available waiver options. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter and subscribe to our podcast below.

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