Week 15 is now in the books. There are numerous storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the players turning it on in time for the stretch run. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 15, so there are more than a few intriguing names on the waiver wire in leagues of all sizes. Let’s take a look at some of the names that may be worth some of your free agent budget for the fantasy playoffs.

Defensive Line

Kayvon Thibodeaux (DE/LB – NYG): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Kayvon Thibodeaux went bonkers in Week 15, amassing nine solos, three assists, one sack, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown. Kayvon is still learning how to navigate NFL double teams but has now recorded a sack in two of his last three games. He is actually starting to heat up when most rookies hit the wall and should be looked at as a DL3 option for the rest of the fantasy playoffs. Kayvon screams future DL1, and if his Week 15 performance is any indication, he can quickly get there when the Giants defensive line is healthy. It is no mistake that he has started to get hot when Azeez Ojulari returned to the lineup, as opposing teams are forced to respect both of the young and talented edge rushers. Tap him as a borderline DL2 for Week 16.

Haason Reddick (DE/LB – PHI): 3% rostered on Yahoo
Haason was excellent in Week 15, tallying three solos, one assist, two sacks, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass defended. Hasson took a couple of weeks to get going for the Eagles but has recorded at least one sack in nine of his last 12 games. Now up to fifth in the NFL with 12 sacks, Reddick has cemented himself as one of the premier pass rushers in the league. Treat him as a DL1 for the rest of the fantasy playoffs, while those at Yahoo can treat him as an LB1 or LB2, depending on the matchup. Fire Haason up as a DL1/LB2 for a tough on-paper matchup against a Dallas Cowboys team surrendering the third-fewest fantasy points per game to the position.

Chandler Jones (DE – LV): 8% rostered on Yahoo
Chandler Jones was held off the sack sheet for the first time in three weeks but still found a way to make an impact for the Raiders and IDP managers alike, reeling off two solos, one fumble recovery, one touchdown, and two passes defended. Chandler has been on a tear over his last three games and needs to be in lineups as a DL3 option in leagues of all sizes. Fantasy managers have been waiting all year for him to show up, and his explosion could not have happened at a better time. Fire him up as a DL3 with DL2 upside for a plus Week 16 matchup against a Pittsburgh Steelers team allowing the 11th most fantasy points per game to the position.

J.J. Watt (DE – ARI): 4% rostered on Yahoo
J.J. was excellent in Week 15, racking up four solos, one assist, three sacks, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one pass defended. It was a throwback performance for the elder Watt and shoots him up to 9.5 sacks on the season, good for a tie for 14th in the league. Watt has four sacks in his last three games and has really turned it on since Week 8. Treat Watt as a high-upside DL3 option for a plus Week 16 matchup against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team surrendering the 16th most fantasy points per game to the position.

Josh Sweat (DE – PHI): 9% rostered on Yahoo
Josh Sweat has caught fire for the Philadelphia Eagles, and they rewarded him with a season-high 79 percent of the snaps in Week 15. He responded with five solos, one assist, two sacks, and three tackles for loss against the Chicago Bears. Sweat has recorded a sack in each of his last four games, totaling six sacks over that time. His usual snap count keeps him in the DL3 conversation, but if the Eagles keep him over 60 percent of the snaps, he will have no problem producing at a DL2 or even a DL1 level. Tied for 14th in the league with 9.5 sacks, Sweat needs to be started for Week 16 in leagues of all sizes. Tap him as a DL3 option for this weekend despite the tough on-paper matchup against a Dallas Cowboys team limiting the position to the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game.

Others to consider: Romeo Okwara (DE/LB – DET): 0%, Markus Golden (DE/LB – ARI): 0%, Za’Darius Smith (DE/LB – MIN): 6%, Alex Highsmith (DE/LB – PIT): 9%, Kyle Van Noy (DE/LB – LAC): 1%

Linebacker

Christian Harris (LB – HOU): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Christian Harris was excellent in Week 15, racking up seven solos, seven assists, and three tackles for loss. As expected, Harris has battled inconsistency as a rookie but has certainly looked the part as a long-time starter at the position. Tap Harris as an LB3 option for the rest of the fantasy playoffs. Start him with confidence for this weekend’s matchup against a Tennessee Titans team surrendering the 13th most fantasy points to the linebacker position.

Nicholas Morrow (LB – CHI): 6% rostered on Yahoo
Morrow has started to heat back up, tallying nine solos, two assists, and one tackle for loss in Week 15. He has been inconsistent but is worth a long, hard look for those looking for LB3 cover this weekend. He has a plus matchup on tap against the Bills and is hot enough to consider a high-floor option.

Denzel Perryman (LB – LV): 7% rostered on Yahoo
Denzel Perryman was excellent in Week 15, racking up eight solos, one assist, and one tackle for loss. Perryman is back in an every down role and is worth a look for those looking for an LB3 option for Week 16. Treat him as such despite the tough on-paper matchup against a Pittsburgh Steelers team surrendering the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to the position.

Kenneth Murray (LB – LAC): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Kenneth Murray was rock solid in Week 15, tallying four solos, three assists, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. He has started to heat up at the right time and should definitely be considered as an LB3 option for an incredible Week 16 matchup against an Indianapolis colts team relinquishing the fourth most fantasy points per game to the position.

Quincy Williams (LB – NYJ): 5% rostered on Yahoo
Quincy Williams was excellent in Week 15, racking up five solos, two assists, and two tackles for loss. Quincy fell off the LB3 map after a hot start to the season but has started to pick it back up at the perfect time for fantasy managers looking for some cover at the position. Quincy is worth a look as an LB3 option for a Thursday night revenge matchup against a Jacksonville Jaguars team allowing the seventh most fantasy points per game to the position.

Others to consider: Ja’Whaun Bentley (LB – NE): 2%, Germaine Pratt (LB – CIN): 6%, Luke Masterson (LB – LV): 0%, Cody Barton (LB – SEA): 14%, Deion Jones (LB – CLE): 5%

Defensive Back

Rayshawn Jenkins (S – JAC): 8% rostered on Yahoo
Rayshawn Jenkins had a monster line in Week 15, putting up a difference-making nine solos, nine assists, two interceptions, two passes defended, and one touchdown. While we can’t chase the stats, he has been a DB3-level option for most of the season and absolutely needs to be started for Week 16. Fire him up as a DB3 option for a plus Week 16 matchup against a New York Jets team allowing the fourth most fantasy points per game to the safety position.

Kyle Dugger (S – NE): 8% rostered on Yahoo
Kyle Dugger was excellent in Week 15, racking up four solos, two assists, one interception, one pass defended, and one touchdown. The performance pushed him up to the DB3 overall since the Patriots’ bye in Week 10 and makes Dugger a must-start DB1 option for the rest of the fantasy playoffs. Bill Belichick is giving him starter’s snaps again, giving Dugger a high upside, high floor outlook for Week 16. Fire Dugger up with confidence as a DB1 despite the tough on-paper matchup against a Cincinnati Bengals team limiting the position to the second-fewest fantasy points per game.

Kyle Hamilton (S – BAL): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Kyle Hamilton was back under 60 percent of the snaps in Week 15 but still managed to post six solos, one assist, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one pass defended. He remains stuck in the slot, but at least he is getting on the field enough to make an impact. Hamilton has four or more solos in each of his last five, working his way into the DB3 conversation in the process. His season will go down as an utter disappointment both in real life and in fantasy, but the future remains bright for the DB1 to be. Tap Hamilton as a DB3 option for a plus Week 16 matchup against an Atlanta Falcons team surrendering the 11th most fantasy points per game to the position.

Grant Delpit (S – CLE): 8% rostered on Yahoo
Grant Delpit was electric in Week 15, racking up eight solos, one assist, and two tackles for loss. Delpit has not had the breakout season IDP managers were expecting but has flashed his DB1 upside on occasion. He is worth a long look for those who injury cover at the position, even with a tough on-paper matchup on tap against New Orleans Saints. Start Delpit as a DB3 option where needed. Teammate John Johnson, who went off for eight solos, one assist, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass defended, should also be considered by those who find themselves in a pinch.

Others to consider: K’Von Wallace (S – PHI): 0%, DeAndre Houston-Carson (S – CHI): 0%, Jaylinn Hawkins (S – ATL): 2%, Jayron Kearse (S – DAL): 5%, Nasir Adderley (S – LAC): 1%

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.

Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.