Mike Fanelli | Sat, Dec 13th 2025, 7:51am EST

6 Last-Minute Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 15)

Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week. Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.

Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 15.

Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in fewer than 35% of ESPN leagues.

J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN) vs. Dallas Cowboys | 30.2% Rostered

J.J. McCarthy has been one of the least desirable streaming options in fantasy football this season. The former Michigan star is the fantasy QB32 for the year, averaging 12.2 fantasy points per game and scoring single digits in nearly half the contests. Furthermore, McCarthy has missed time this season with two injuries, including the Week 13 matchup, with a concussion. However, he was outstanding last week against the Washington Commanders, completing 69.6% of his 23 pass attempts for 163 yards, three touchdowns and 20.4 fantasy points despite a quiet performance from Justin Jefferson.

Thankfully, McCarthy has another fantasy-friendly matchup on Sunday night against the Cowboys. Dallas has had arguably the worst pass defense in the NFL, allowing 24.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Last week, Jared Goff completed 73.5% of his pass attempts for 309 yards, a touchdown and 16.2 fantasy points despite Jahmyr Gibbs totaling three rushing touchdowns and 37 PPR fantasy points on only 19 touches. More importantly, the Cowboys have surrendered at least 16 fantasy points to every quarterback they faced except Geno Smith a few weeks ago.

Chris Rodriguez (RB – WSH) vs. New York Giants | 34.9% Rostered

After missing practice on Wednesday with a groin injury, Chris Rodriguez Jr. was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday. Therefore, the former Kentucky star should start against the Giants. He has been productive lately as the Commanders have stopped using Jacory Croskey-Merritt as the lead running back. Rodriguez has averaged 10.8 rushing attempts for 50.6 yards, 0.6 touchdowns and nine PPR fantasy points per game over the past five contests, totaling 7.6+ points in all but last week’s matchup. More importantly, he has an excellent fantasy-friendly matchup on Sunday.

Despite having a defense with several big-name players, New York has struggled to stop opposing rushing attacks. The Giants have surrendered 28.6 fantasy points per game to running backs this season, the second-most in the NFL. They gave up 43 rushing attempts for 344 yards, two touchdowns and 84.7 fantasy points to running backs over their past two games heading into the Week 14 bye. Furthermore, New York has allowed running backs to average 159.2 rushing yards, 1.2 touchdowns and 36.5 fantasy points per game over the past seven weeks.

Devin Singletary (RB – NYG) vs. Washington Commanders | 34.2% Rostered

Many called Devin Singletary a must-add off the waiver wire last week with the Giants on a bye after Tyrone Tracy Jr. suffered a hip injury in Week 13. However, the second-year player is off the injury report and ready for Sunday’s contest. While that hurts Singletary’s fantasy outlook, the veteran is still a solid Flex option. He has seen an increased workload lately, even with Tracy playing, averaging 14 rushing attempts for 53 yards, a touchdown and 13.9 PPR fantasy points per game over the past three contests.

Furthermore, Singletary had 17.7+ fantasy points in two of those games. The veteran has also scored double-digit fantasy points in three of the past four games, after totaling zero such performances in the first nine weeks of the season. Meanwhile, the Commanders have surrendered 25.1 fantasy points per game to running backs this year, the sixth-most in the NFL. More importantly, Washington’s run defense has been awful lately, allowing 147.8 rushing yards, 1.5 touchdowns and 33.8 fantasy points per game to running backs over their past four outings.

Darius Slayton (WR – NYG) vs. Washington Commanders | 21.8% Rostered

Let’s stay in New York and turn our attention to Darius Slayton. The veteran has missed time this season with multiple injuries. However, he has found his groove with Jaxson Dart. Slayton has averaged 3.7 receptions on 4.7 targets for 64 receiving yards and 12.7 PPR fantasy points per game over his past three contests with the rookie quarterback under center, totaling at least 41 yards or a touchdown and over 11.1 fantasy points in every outing. Meanwhile, the veteran wide receiver could have league-winning upside during the fantasy football playoffs.

The Giants have been eliminated from the postseason. However, Slayton could play a meaningful role in the fantasy playoffs because of his excellent schedule, starting on Sunday against the Commanders. After facing Washington, the veteran takes on the Minnesota Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders. More importantly, Slayton has top-24 upside this week against the Commanders, as the division rivals have one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They’ve surrendered 173.4 receiving yards, 1.1 touchdowns and 36.8 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past two months.

Chimere Dike (WR – TEN) vs. San Francisco 49ers |19.4% Rostered

Fantasy players might have trouble trusting Chimere Dike, as the rookie has been inconsistent. He has averaged 3.6 receptions on 5.3 targets for 36.9 receiving yards and 11.3 PPR fantasy points per game over the past eight weeks, scoring 13.4+ points in 57.1% of the contests. However, Dike has averaged 3.6 fantasy points per game in the other three outings. Yet, he is coming off a solid performance against a talented Cleveland Browns defense, totaling five receptions on eight targets for 24 receiving yards, a touchdown and 13.4 fantasy points.

Meanwhile, Dike has an appealing fantasy matchup on Sunday against a 49ers defense that has gotten obliterated by injuries. The 49ers have surrendered 33.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the 11th-most in the NFL. Furthermore, San Francisco severely struggled heading into their Week 14 bye, allowing 14.7 receptions, 159 receiving yards, 1.2 touchdowns and 37.5 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over their past six contests. Dike should have plenty of opportunities to score fantasy points on Sunday with the Titans being 12.5-point underdogs against the 49ers.

Isaiah Likely (TE – BAL) vs. Cincinnati Bengals | 22.2% Rostered

While Mark Andrews remains Baltimore’s No. 1 tight end, Isaiah Likely’s role on offense has grown lately. The former Coastal Carolina star averaged 2.5 targets and 3.2 PPR fantasy points per game over the first 12 weeks, scoring more than 3.7 fantasy points only once. However, he has played well lately, totaling four receptions on six targets for 25 receiving yards, a touchdown and 12.5 fantasy points against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Furthermore, Likely would have had a second receiving touchdown against Pittsburgh if not for a questionable video review.

More importantly, the veteran had his best performance this year against the Bengals in Week 13, totaling five receptions on six targets for 95 receiving yards and 12.5 fantasy points. Thankfully, Likely faces them again on Sunday. Cincinnati has surrendered 24.1 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the most in the NFL, 7.7 more than any other team. Furthermore, multiple tight ends have had productive fantasy performances in the same game against the Bengals. Last week, Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox each had over 14 fantasy points against Cincinnati.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.

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