If you're still reading this column, congratulations!
You have either made the fantasy football playoffs, or have a chance to make it.
The Week 14 waiver wire is slim, but there are a few wide receivers with upside to help you bolster your postseason roster.
Here are the essential Week 14 pickups to solidify your run at the fantasy football championship.
Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups
Note: We've limited recommendations to players owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. All data as of Monday.
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Running Backs
Adrian Peterson, Lions
Ownership: 48%
Peterson continues to have fantasy relevancy, despite being a touchdown dependent running back.
The 35-year old veteran converted two goal-line touchdowns in Detroit's 34-30 upset at Chicago. Peterson rushed 16 times for just 57 yards against the stingy Bears defense, but the two touchdowns keyed his fantasy production.
While explosive rookie D'Andre Swift is expected to return next week, the possibility of lingering effects from a concussion remain.
Peterson does get a fantastic matchup at home against Green Bay in Week 14. If Swift is out again, it's possible Peterson can actually serve as a late-season RB2.
Ty Johnson, Jets
Ownership: 1%
With Frank Gore leaving the game with a concussion after the first play on Sunday, Johnson made the absolute most on his opportunity.
The second-year Maryland-product rushed 22 times for 104 yards and a touchdown in New York's 31-28 loss to the Raiders. Johnson also added two receptions for 13 yards.
With La'Mical Perine on the injured reserve, and Gore's status very much in doubt, Johnson could be the Jets starting running back at Seattle.
The Seahawks' run defense is better than their pass defense, but they just allowed 135 rushing yards to the Giants' Wayne Gallman. Given the limited waiver options in Week 13, he is worth a strong look.
It may be a desperation play, but I would consider Johnson an RB3/4 in Week 14.
Wide Receivers
T.Y. Hilton, Colts
Ownership: 45%
Just when you thought it was all over for T.Y. Hilton, he just ropes you back in.
Hilton provided a second consecutive big performance with eight receptions, 110 receiving yards, and a touchdown. He's historically dominated the Texans, and continued that on Sunday.
Indianapolis faces the Raiders, Texans again, and Steelers over the remaining three weeks of the fantasy season, giving him two plus matchups.
Yep, T.Y. Hilton is potentially a fantasy championship league-winner. So 2020.
Jakobi Meyers, Patriots
Ownership: 44%
Recency bias will keep fantasy owners from acquiring a WR3 sleeper. Jakobi Meyers was a victim of game-script in New England's 45-0 trouncing of the Chargers.
New England only attempted 22 total passes, but Meyers actually saw six targets. He's seen at least six targets in six of the past seven games.
The Patriots have difficult upcoming road matchups at the Rams and Dolphins, but Meyers will produce as a WR3 if he keeps getting this volume.
Allen Lazard, Packers
Ownership: 41%
Lazard is slowly getting re-acclimated to the Packers offense and can make a huge impact in the fantasy playoffs.
His receiving yardage total has increased in each of the past three weeks since returning from a core injury.
Fantasy owners may remember Lazard’s last game before going on injured reserve. He torched the Saints for six receptions, 146 yards, and a touchdown in a 37-30 win at New Orleans. He is close to returning to that form, and has three amazing matchups upcoming: at Detroit, followed by home matchups against Carolina and Tennessee.
Lazard is a solid WR4/5 play with WR3 upside over the last three weeks of the season.
Nelson Agholor, Raiders
Ownership: 40%
Volume certainly wasn't Agholor's problem against the Jets. He tallied 11 targets but only converted four receptions into 38 yards. He was overshadowed by a monster performance by TE Darren Waller (13 receptions, 200 yards, two touchdowns).
It is certainly not a good sign that Agholor had such a poor performance in a game the Raiders totaled 31 points. But he does have three home game upcoming, although with difficult matchups against the Colts, Chargers, and Dolphins.
Agholor is only a WR4/5 play during the fantasy playoffs.
Henry Ruggs, Raiders
Ownership: 32%
Ruggs' fantasy day was saved by his late 46-yard touchdown catch that gave Las Vegas the miracle victory.
Prior to that, Ruggs only saw three targets with a lost fumble.
Ruggs hasn't totaled more than three catches all season. His lack of volume is not worth the risk during the fantasy playoffs.
Keke Coutee, Texans
Ownership: 26%
With Will Fuller suspended for the remainder of the season, fantasy owners were hoping Keke Coutee would finally get his chance to shine.
And he did.
Coutee caught eight of his nine targets for 141 yards in the Texans 26-20 loss against the Colts.
The Houston receiving core is very much in flux. Fuller is out, Kenny Stills was released, and Brandin Cooks left this game with a possible concussion (but did return).
Coutee is my top wide receiver waiver pickup of the week, and projects as a WR3 with WR2 upside, especially with a fantastic home matchup in Week 16 against the Bengals.
Tim Patrick, Broncos
Ownership: 21%
Again, Tim Patrick keeps churning out quality fantasy production.
He led Denver's wide receivers in targets (four), receptions (four) and receiving yards (44) while catching two touchdowns in Denver's 22-16 loss at Kansas City.
With Drew Lock back under center, Patrick is a very safe WR3 option for the last three weeks. Denver travels to Carolina, hosts Buffalo, and then plays at the Chargers during the fantasy playoffs.
Rashard Higgins, Browns
Ownership: 8%
"Hollywood" Higgins took advantage of a brutal Tennessee pass defense to the tune of six receptions, 95 yards, and a touchdown in Cleveland's 41-35 win at Tennessee.
Higgins led the Browns in receiving yards and caught his first touchdown since Week 6.
The Browns have a tough matchup at home against Baltimore in Week 14, but then play the Giants and Jets to end the fantasy season.
Even with Jarvis Landry getting the most targets the past two weeks, Higgins is a valuable WR4/5 the remainder of the season. Even in Cleveland's run-heavy scheme, Higgins 2.43 fantasy points per target ranks in among the Top 10 at the wide receiver position. (PlayerProfiler).
Gabriel Davis, Bills
Ownership: 5%
Sometimes the last pickup is the best pickup.
Gabriel Davis is now starting for Buffalo as a result of John Brown going on the IR. In the past two weeks, Davis has now produced six catches, 147 yards, and two touchdowns.
While he is still behind Stefon Diggs and sometimes Cole Beasley in target share, his big play ability (16.1 yards per receptions) is a valuable weapon for the Bills.
Buffalo faces stiff run defenses in Pittsburgh, Denver, and New England, making Davis in-line for a nice WR3 opportunity rest of season.
Tight Ends
Tyler Higbee, Rams
Ownership: 48%
The Rams attacked Arizona with both tight ends, allowing Tyler Higbee to total four receptions, 24 yards, and a touchdown. It was Higbee's first touchdown catch since his three-touchdown, overall TE1 performance in Week 2.
It's impossible to predict the target distribution with fellow TE Gerald Everett, but Higbee remains the best waiver option at the position with remaining games against New England, the Jets, and at Seattle.
Drew Sample, Bengals
Only relevant in two-TE leagues, it is worth mentioning Sample caught all seven of his targets for 49 receiving yards against the Dolphins.
Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Houston are favorable matchups, but he is only a desperation waiver claim with Brandon Allen at quarterback.
Defense
San Francisco 49ers
Ownership: 48%
Due to COVID concerns, the 49ers have relocated their "home" games to Glendale, Arizona, for upcoming games against Buffalo (tonight) and Washington in Week 14. San Francisco then battles Dallas and Arizona (ironically), in favorable road matchups.
This makes the San Francisco defense one of the most attractive waiver pickups available. Washington allows the seventh-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to opposing defenses, while Dallas allows the most of any NFL team. The 49ers rank ninth overall in defensive DVOA per FootballOutsiders, and are coming off a two interceptions, two fumble recovery, and two sack performance with a defensive touchdown.
As a result of suffering through injuries to their secondary, fantasy owners have forgotten just how good this defense is when healthy. Take advantage of their great matchups in the fantasy playoffs.
New England Patriots
Ownership: 46%
The rumors of New England's defensive demise were greatly exaggerated.
The Patriots turned in an elite defense/special teams performance against the Chargers, with three sacks, two interceptions, and two total touchdowns in their 45-0 blowout win.
While the Patriots' defense will have a challenging schedule (at Rams, at Dolphins, Bills), they are worth consideration in any format as a result of superior game planning by head coach Bill Belichick.
Cleveland Browns
Ownership: 38%
The Browns are an incredible 9-3 as as result of a strong running game an opportunistic defense. With the return of DE Myles Garrett (10.5) from the COVID/reserve list, Cleveland is once again operating at an elite level. They have registered two or more sacks in seven of their last eight games, and have eight sacks and three interceptions over their past three games. Having to deal with horrific weather for Weeks 10 and 11 also limited their upside.
After a tough battle with Baltimore in Week 14, the Browns face the Giants and Jets to close the season. The Jets allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, giving the Browns an ideal Week 16 fantasy championship matchup.
