Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Backs and Wide Receivers: Jerick McKinnon, Keaton Mitchell, Zay Jones, Noah Brown and More

Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

Running Backs

Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco was forced to sit out Week 14 with a shoulder injury and there is a chance that he won't play in Week 15 either. If he is sidelined again, McKinnon becomes a very interesting flex option. Clyde Edwards-Helaire would also see an increased value once again if Pacheco is out. However, we prefer McKinnon because he sees the more valuable touches. He gets the targets and sees a lot of red zone work on top of increased volume due to Pacheco's absence. We have also seen McKinnon be a league winner in the playoffs before and it's setting up like that may be the case again this year. 

Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens

Make no mistake, Keaton Mitchell is now the RB1 in Baltimore. In Week 14, he again led the team in carries and was tied for the lead in running back targets. Mitchell carried the ball nine times to Gus Edwards' six and was targeted twice, the same amount of times as Justice Hill. Edwards saw no targets and Hill didn't carry the ball. With Mark Andrews out, the Ravens can't play it safe with Edwards anymore. They need playmakers and Mitchell is just that. He pops off the screen when you watch him because he's one of the most dynamic young running backs in football. This is a guy who could carry your fantasy team in the playoffs if he gets hot. 

Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings

Alexander Mattison left the game in Week 14 with an injury and is in danger of sitting out Week 15. That opens the door for Chandler to get the opportunity that fantasy owners have been clamoring for. The offense is struggling without Kirk Cousins, but a chance to pick up a starting running back is too much to pass up on the waiver wire this time of year. If he gets all the volume with Mattison out, then he could see in the area of 20 carries and a handful of targets. With that said, you'll have to monitor Mattison this week because we would not advise starting Chandler in the fantasy playoffs if Mattison is active. 

D'Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears

The Bears did not roll with Roschon Johnson as their top back and there wasn't even much of a split with Foreman back. Foreman served as the clear RB1 in Chicago in Week 14. He saw 11 carries and three targets. Khalil Herbert carried the ball three times and Johnson once. Neither of them were targeted. It would make all the sense in the world for the Bears to give their rookie running back more run late in the season, but that doesn't seem to be the plan. Go scoop up Foreman. 

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Brown is emerging as a playmaker in Cincinnati. Despite limited touches, he's turning heads in the fantasy community. In Week 14 he carried the ball eight times for 25 yards and caught three passes for 80 yards including a 54-yard touchdown reception. If you are looking for a flex option Brown could be a boom-or-bust option to plug into your lineup if you're in need of upside.  

Wide Receivers

Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars

With Christian Kirk on IR, Jones led the Jags with 14 targets in Week 14. He will see increased opportunities with Kirk out and has proven he can be a big-time fantasy contributor. It wouldn't be a surprise for him to be the top fantasy wideout in Jacksonville in the playoffs. Calvin Ridley is the assumed WR1, but he has shown a ton of consistency this season and we have seen a strong connection between Trevor Lawrence and Jones in the past. He's a sneaky good waiver option to plug in during your playoffs.

Noah Brown, Houston Texans

Brown has been terrible since returning from injury. He's gone two straight games without a catch. That's a far cry from the fantasy superstar we saw earlier in the season. However, it looks like the Texans may be moving forward without Nico Collins. With Tank Dell already out for the season, someone has to catch passes from C.J. Stroud. Brown still has to be the favorite the step up - at the very least he has the most upside. It would be really scary to start him this week, however, he's worth stashing and could have massive value moving forward if he goes off in Week 15. 

Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants

Hyatt is emerging as a boom-or-bust option in New York. The rookie could easily have a blowup game in the fantasy playoffs if you're willing to roll the dice on him. He had his first 100-yard game in Week 13 and we've seen quarterback Tommy DeVito improve as a passer, making his pass-catchers more viable fantasy options. We would only advise to a add him in deeper leagues, but he could be a nice desperation play if your wire is thin.