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Note: With the trading deadline passed in most leagues, I’ve ended the Buying / Selling for the year to focus more on potential Waiver Pickups that may give you the boost needed to lock up that last playoff spot and load up for a run at the championship.
WAIVER PICKUPS
Johnny Manziel QB CLE (13% owned in Yahoo! leagues) | IND (Week 14) - CIN (Week 15) - @CAR (Week 16)
Manziel finally saw his first real action of the season when replaced a struggling Brian Hoyer in the fourth quarter of this past weekend's game. In total, he played on just 13 snaps, but flashed his immense fantasy potential. On the day, he completed five of eight pass attempts for 63 yards and added two carries for 13 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown run. Russell Wilson has managed to get by as a mid-QB1 by relying on his rushing ability and struggling to post much as a passer this season. Manziel can be expected to rival Wilson's rushing prowess and with Josh Gordon fitting seamlessly back into the offense, big-plays in the passing game are bound to present themselves as well. Treat Manziel as a top-12 option for this week versus an Indianapolis defense that was just had for a career game by Colt McCoy and look for the rookie to maintain that value versus the questionable defenses of Cincinnati and Carolina.
Andre Williams RB NYG (40%) | @TEN - WAS - @STL
For as long as Rashad Jennings is healthy enough to start, Williams won't be a worthy starter in fantasy football. Jennings did exit this past Sunday's game with an anke injury though and despite the early word emulating from Giants' camp is that he's not expected to miss time, he should be considered highly questionable for this weekend's game versus Tennessee. Just the chance that Jennings would miss that match up versus arguably the NFL's worst rush defense makes Williams a must-own player. He'd be undoubtedly a high-end RB2 and perhaps the extra boost needed to advance your fantasy team.
Daniel Herron RB IND (48%) | @CLE - HOU - @DAL
After Trent Richardson outsnapped (42 to 33) in the first game since Ahmad Bradshaw was lost for the season, that gap shrunk to a near even split this past week with it being 27 to 25 in Richardson's favor. Herron further distinguished himself as the better running back as well, picking up 88 yards and one touchdown on eight carries. He also caught two passes for eight yards. Despite fumbles in back-to-back games for Herron, Indianapolis Head Coach, Chuck Pagano, praised his talent and if anything, the playing time should swing further into his favor. All three remaining games are plus match ups and he can be treated as a strong RB3/Flex play with upside.
Doug Martin RB TB (46%) | @DET - @CAR - GB
The past two seasons have been filled with disappointment and his breakout rookie campaign is only a distant memory, but that doesn't mean Martin can no longer be serviceable. Martin has started in every game that he's made an appearance, which means that when healthy, he's the clear lead back in Tampa Bay. This past weekend, Martin saw his snaps rise to back over 50% and it's likely that will rise even further. He also saw a hearty 18 carries, which he turned into 58 yards and a touchdown, while adding a three-yard reception. That type of workload makes him an RB3 at the worst, which is what he should be considered versus a tough Detroit defense this week, but the Carolina and especially Green Bay match ups to follow present an opportunity for Martin to finish strong and play the part of a solid RB2.
Jonathan Stewart RB CAR (27%) | @NO - TB - CLE
There may not be another running back that has teased fantasy owners to the degree and length of time as Stewart. It's now his seventh year in the NFL and he's yet to reach the elite RB1 heights that have been forecasted for him. However, he remains just 27 years of age and the injuries along with DeAngelo Williams presence has held him to a modest 961 career carries - a mark that some running backs reach within three seasons. With Williams suffering a broken finger, Stewart is primed for a bigger workload than his current 12.9 touches per game. He's been efficient on the ground, averaging 4.27 yards-per-carry behind a suspect offensive line and Carolina has a favorable schedule on tap. Consider Stewart a worthy Flex play with RB2 upside if the team realizes he's their best bet to win.
Marion Grice RB AZ (1%) | KC - @STL - SEA
With Andre Ellington potentially sidelined with a hip pointer, Arizona will turn to a three-headed committee that includes Grice, Stepfan Taylor, and Michael Bush. The newly signed Bush didn't see any action this past weekend while Grice handedly eclipsed Taylor in snaps (33 to 10) and touches (eight to one). However, even as the lead back, Grice should not be considered as more than a desperation Flex play. Ellington has struggled mightily behind this offensive line all season and been kept afloat by sheer volume. Grice would be mired in the aforementioned committee and the Cardinals don't exactly have a welcoming schedule ahead.
Donte Moncrief WR IND (6%) | @CLE - HOU - @DAL
In each of the past two weeks, Moncrief has played more snaps than Hakeem Nicks with total snaps at 58 to 45 in the rookie's favor. He's added another dimension to the Indianapolis offense and Nicks would be hard pressed to reverse the trend. Still stuck behind T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne, Moncrief's usage will be capped and hard to predict, but he's proven capable of putting up big numbers with few targets as evident from his three catches for 134 receiving yards and two touchdowns on just four targets this past weekend. There's enough production to go around in this Andrew Luck led offense to support Moncrief as a boom-or-bust WR4.
Kenny Stills WR NO (42%) | CAR - @CHI - ATL
Prior to Brandin Cooks arrival, Stills was primed for a breakout season, but the rookies presence combined with a quadriceps injury during the preseason placed him behind the eight-ball. Through his first 10 games, his per game averages would have translated to 55 receptions, 766 receiving yards, and 3.6 touchdowns - respectable, but no better than a WR4. With Cooks now sidelined, Stills is fulfilling his potential and has averaged 6.5 receptions, 130 receiving yards, and 0.5 touchdowns over the past two weeks. Granted, that production would be tough to sustain for even Calvin Johnson, but Stills has to be considered a high-end WR3 at worst with the juicy three-game schedule ahead.
Stedman Bailey WR STL (2%) | @WAS - AZ - NYG
Over the course of the season, the receiver hierarchy has been fluid in St. Louis and with Kenny Britt failing to impress, Bailey is making his case to be the team's go-to-guy. An assuming, but polished receiver, Bailey was having a strong preseason, but faced a four-game suspension (eventually reduced to just two games) that led to him being covered up on the depth chart. He's earned his way into more playing time though and has led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards in each of the past two games - his totals in those games are 12 receptions, 189 receiving yards and one touchdown on 15 targets. A non-threatening schedule and the opportunity to cement himself has the No. 1 option makes Bailey a worthy WR4 with WR3 potential.
Jordan Reed TE WAS (51%) | STL - @NYG - PHI
Outside of the elite tight ends, and perhaps that should only include Rob Gronkowski after Jimmy Graham's absence from the box score, consistent production from the position has been elusive. Reed was drafted as a top-10 tight end heading into the year, but he has been hampered by a hamstring injury since Week 1. In the six games that he's been able to play at least 40% of Washington's snaps, his per game averages would translate to 85 receptions and 928 receiving yards, which would be worthy of a high-end TE1. Colt McCoy taking over at quarterback has added stability to the offense, most importantly the passing game, and with DeSean Jackson now dealing with a leg contusion, Reed may be forced into an even larger role.
*All snap counts and targets in this article are courtesy of ProFootballFocus.com
