Week 15 Waiver Wire Targets: Playoffs Edition
- Faraz Siddiqi
- Dec 9, 2025
- 6 min read
The fantasy playoffs have officially arrived, and the waiver wire takes on an entirely different meaning from this point forward. Every roster spot matters. A few players finally saw the role shifts we’ve been waiting for, a handful of others can legitimately start in Week 15, and several high-value handcuffs now offer more upside than many of the players currently sitting on deep benches.
Instead of working through a long list, it’s more productive to think about the Week 15 waiver wire through three clear categories.
How to Approach Waivers in the Playoffs
There are three types of players who matter in the postseason:
Players you can start immediately in Week 15
These are your priority adds if you’re missing a flex—or your matchup depends on immediate production.
Players with season-long upside
They may not be must-starts this week, but their roles are trending upward or their upcoming matchups make them worthwhile stashes.
High-value handcuffs
Contingent-upside players who become instant starters if an injury hits. These spots matter more in the playoffs than at any other point in the season.
Once you understand these three buckets, the waiver wire becomes much easier to navigate.
Players You Can Start in Week 15
If you need legitimate lineup help this week, these players carry the strongest combination of role, matchup, and short-term reliability.
Devin Singletary vs. Washington
Tyrone Tracy exited before the Giants’ bye with a hip injury, but despite being carted off, it turned out to be a contusion rather than something structural. Tracy could be ready this week—but Singletary may have already played himself into a larger role.
Once Singletary entered the game, the Giants leaned on him, giving him a 9–2 carry edge in the first half. Since Cam Skattebo went down, Singletary has seven inside-the-five rushing attempts to Tracy’s two, and he could ultimately lead the backfield even if Tracy is active. The matchup is outstanding: Washington ranks inside the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to RBs across every major category. He’s a viable Week 15 flex.
Parker Washington vs. NYJ
Washington logged a pair of limited practices late last week, so a Week 15 return is realistic. If he’s active, he would jump near the top of this list. Prior to leaving early last game, he had finished as a top-36 WR in four straight weeks—including two top-18 finishes.
This role matters in Jacksonville’s offense. Tim Patrick essentially played the Washington role on Sunday and delivered 5/78/1 despite Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr. both playing full roles. The Jets’ nickel corner situation is currently thin after Jarvis Brownlee landed on IR, which could put Jordan Clark (Ryan Clark’s son) into that spot. If Washington suits up, he’s a strong flex consideration.
Isaiah Likely @ Cincinnati
Whether you need a tight end or a desperation flex, Likely draws the league’s most TE-friendly defense. Cincinnati has allowed eight more fantasy points per game to TEs than the next closest team. Likely put up 5/95 against them two weeks ago, and other recent TE performances include Hunter Henry (7/115/1) and Colston Loveland (6/118/1). It’s a funnel matchup tailor-made for tight ends.
Jayden Higgins vs. Arizona
Higgins continues to operate as Houston’s clear No. 2 WR. His last two weeks:
5/65 vs. IND
3/34 in a tough matchup vs. KC
He’s posted a 23% target share over his last three games and has two top-25 finishes in that stretch. Arizona isn’t an elite matchup, but it’s an upgrade from Kansas City, and Higgins’ usage gives him a reasonable floor.
Blake Corum vs. Detroit
Corum maintains a 35–36% rush-attempt share in the Rams’ rotation and turned that into a big Week 14 performance, scoring on a long TD and a goal-line touch. The usage didn’t change—just the results.
The issue: Detroit allows the fewest fantasy points to RBs. Corum is on this list because he has a path to touchdown equity, especially if one of Matthew Stafford’s downfield drives ends in Corum’s red-zone series. But the floor is low. He’s a touchdown-dependent dart throw.
Jayden Reed @ Denver
Reed returned to his full-time slot role (65% route participation), posting a strong 24% targets-per-route rate. It resulted in a 17% target share, tied for the team lead with Christian Watson. Denver is a tough matchup—Rashee Rice managed only 6/38 against them—but Reed’s weekly upside keeps him in the mix as a boom-bust flex.
Luther Burden vs. Cleveland
The matchup is difficult; Cleveland allows the fewest fantasy points to slot receivers. With Rome Odunze week-to-week, Burden led the Bears in target share (21%), with DJ Moore dropping to 11% and Colston Loveland at 18%.
The concern is Burden’s usage: he still played behind Olamide Zaccheus in two-WR sets. If Odunze remains out, Burden can still lead this team in targets, but expectations need to be managed against a strong Browns defense.
Darius Slayton vs. Washington
Despite dealing with injuries, Slayton has shown surprising chemistry with Jaxson Dart. Over their last three games together, he’s averaging 12.7 fantasy points. Washington is one of the most generous defenses to WRs, allowing explosive plays at a high rate—3rd most 40-yard completions, 5th most 20-yard completions. Slayton comes with big-play upside.
Chimere Dike @ San Francisco
Tennessee players are always volatile, but Dike posted a 33% target share last week and draws a sneaky-favorable matchup. San Francisco’s vulnerability is in the slot, which is where Dike lines up. He’s hit four top-18 finishes in his last seven games, making him a deep-league flex consideration.
Other Players to Consider
Dalton Schultz vs. Arizona
A tough outing last week, but he posted 7/55 two weeks prior. The matchup is favorable.
Kayshon Boutte vs. Buffalo
The Bills don’t give up much downfield, but Boutte remains Drake Maye’s preferred vertical option. Boom-bust if you’re desperate.
Devaughn Vele vs. Carolina
Averaging 6.7 targets since the bye and steady enough for deeper PPR builds.
Jerry Jeudy @ Chicago
He followed up several quiet weeks with a long TD, but weekly volatility remains an issue. Chicago isn’t a bad matchup, but Jeudy requires another strong performance from Shedeur Sanders to pay off.
If you need a Week 15 flex or replacement starter, these are the names that should be on your radar.
Season-Long Upside Stashes
These players might not be must-starts this week, but their roles, matchups, or underlying usage trends make them valuable holds for the remainder of the playoffs.
Marcus Mariota
If Washington decides to protect Jayden Daniels by scaling things back, Mariota becomes immediately interesting. He draws the Giants this week and a very strong championship-week matchup against Dallas at home.
Rashid Shaheed
Shaheed posted 4/67 last week, his first promising performance with his new team. We’ve seen his explosiveness before, and if he strings together another strong outing, he’ll be startable in Weeks 16 and 17 against the Rams and Panthers. Worth stashing.
Darren Waller
Waller’s usage hasn’t fully rebounded yet—just one catch last week despite a positive game script—but his schedule is friendly the rest of the way. He gets Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Tampa over the next three weeks, with Week 16 against Cincinnati being particularly appealing.
Tyler Shough
Quietly productive:
QB12, QB19, QB13, QB6 over his last four games.
He’s been a borderline QB1 in fantasy points per game across the past five weeks. With Carolina, the Jets, and Tennessee on deck, he’s a viable stash.
Jalen Coker
Carolina comes out of its bye, and Coker may earn an expanded role down the stretch. He posted 4/74/1 on six targets two weeks ago and faces New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and Seattle to close the season. There’s upside if he sees even a small bump in opportunity.
Justin Fields
Relying on Fields in the playoffs is inherently risky, but the circumstances are lining up:
Tyrod Taylor has a soft-tissue injury and could miss time
Fields has a manageable schedule (JAX, NO, NE)
He put up 19 fantasy points on New England a few weeks ago and has shown he can capitalize on softer matchups.
“These players aren’t locked into your starting lineup, but each has a clear path to becoming a usable fantasy option if their situations break the right way.”
High-Value Handcuffs
Your bench should not be filled with WR5 darts once the playoffs begin. It should be constructed around contingent upside—players who become immediate starters if an injury hits.
These are the handcuffs with the clearest league-winning upside, ranked by value:
Ray Davis
Brian Robinson
Samaje Perine
Tyler Allgeier
Dylan Sampson
Emanuel Wilson
Bhayshul Tuten
Sean Tucker
Every one of these players would see a meaningful role increase and an immediate jump to fantasy relevance if the starter in front of them misses time.
Final Thoughts
The waiver wire looks different in the playoffs than it does any other week of the season. You’re no longer managing for the long haul—you’re preparing for a single matchup at a time. Prioritize players who can contribute now, stash those with rising roles, and load your bench with high-impact handcuffs.
Good luck in Week 15, and stay ready: one lineup decision can swing an entire season.
