Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.

Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.

Here’s my NFL Week 15 waiver wire cheat sheet for all league sizes and formats, with players you need to add, drop and stream in your fantasy football league:

ADD

QB Matthew Stafford, Rams (ESPN: 38%; Yahoo: 60%): Stafford is the overall QB7 since Week 8 completing 66.8% of his passes for 1,911 yards and 16 TD passes against only three interceptions in the last seven games.

WR Adam Thielen, Panthers (ESPN: 39%; Yahoo: 53%): Thielen is the overall WR13 in standard formats (WR10 in PPR) since returning from injury in Week 12. He has 17 receptions (21 targets) for 201 yards and a TD in the last two games and features WR3/flex upside going forward.

RB Tank Bigsby, Jaguars (ESPN: 36%; Yahoo: 46%): Both Bigsby and Travis Etienne were healthy on Sunday against the Titans and it sure seemed like Etienne was primarily involved on passing downs, catching four passes out of the backfield. Bigsby had 18 carries compared to Etienne’s four, and finished with 55 yards and a touchdown.

WR Romeo Doubs, Packers (ESPN: 41%; Yahoo: 38%): Doubs missed the last two games with a concussion, but should be back this week. All of Jordan Love’s principal targets in Green Bay’s passing game need to be rostered, especially with a potentially high-scoring matchup at Minnesota during fantasy championship week.

TE Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (ESPN: 48%; Yahoo: 62%): Freiermuth is the overall TE7 in standard formats (TE10 in PPR) since Week 10 with at least four receptions, 59 yards or a TD in four of the last five games.

BONUS: QB Anthony Richardson, Colts (ESPN: 52%; Yahoo: 55%): Since getting his starting gig back, Richardson has finished as the weekly QB4, QB21 and QB9. If you need upside in your playoff matchup this week, and don’t have a set-it-and-forget-it QB, if Richardson is available, you’d be hard-pressed to find a signal-caller with more upside on the waiver wire.

BONUS: RB Braelon Allen, Jets (ESPN: 49%; Yahoo: 58%): Allen produced 81 total yards on 15 touches, including four receptions, after Breece Hall was ruled out with a knee injury against the Dolphins. There’s a chance Hall misses more time, especially with the Jets eliminated from playoff contention. Their next three games are a cakewalk for running backs: the Jaguars, Rams and Bills. All three are among the bottom 13 teams at preventing fantasy points to running backs. Isaiah Davis (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 11%) also had a productive day at Miami with 67 total yards and a TD.

BONUS: WR Cedric Tillman, Browns (ESPN: 36%; Yahoo: 34%): Tillman missed the last two games with a concussion, but remember he was Cleveland’s No. 1 WR before missing time, at least statistically. The volume in the Browns’ passing game with Jameis Winston at the helm dictates all of his principal pass catchers be universally rostered, including Elijah Moore (ESPN: 24%; Yahoo: 22%). Moore only had three receptions for 34 yards at Pittsburgh on Sunday, but Cleveland’s next two opponents, the Chiefs and Bengals, have struggled mightily with defending the slot.

BONUS: QB Aaron Rodgers, Jets (ESPN: 40%; Yahoo: 34%): Rodgers threw for 339 yards and TD at Miami on Sunday. He topped 300 passing yards for the first time since December 2021. Rodgers faces the Jaguars this week, who are allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

BONUS: WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers (ESPN: 56%; Yahoo: 40%): Even if Ladd McConkey is healthy enough to go, Johnston has WR3/flex upside against the Buccaneers this week. Since Week 8, the Bucs have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to perimeter wide receivers, according to Fantasy Pros. If McConkey (knee/shoulder) remains out, Joshua Palmer (ESPN: 12%; Yahoo: 16%) would have flex appeal as well.

BONUS: RB Patrick Taylor, 49ers (ESPN: 4%; Yahoo: 5%): Isaac Guerendo suffered a foot sprain in the blowout of the Bears and might not be ready to go on a short week. Taylor had 25 yards and a TD on seven carries on Sunday, and is the next man up, but if Guerendo is out, San Francisco will likely go with a committee approach, including Ke’Shawn Vaughn (ESPN:

BONUS: TE Hunter Henry, Patriots (ESPN: 58%; Yahoo: 40%): Henry was the overall TE14 in standard formats (TE9 in PPR) before New England’s bye last week. He has effectively operated as New England’s WR1 with Drake Maye under center and should continue to do so. Henry has at least eight targets in five of Maye’s seven starts at QB.

BONUS: WR Mike Williams, Steelers (ESPN: 21%; Yahoo: 9%): George Pickens has a Grade 2 hamstring injury and it could cause him to miss a second straight game. Williams had three receptions (four targets) for 36 yards in Pickens’ absence against the Browns, but will likely be needed much more against the Eagles this week. Calvin Austin (ESPN: 4%; Yahoo: 11%) has a TD in two of the last three games, and would deserve flex consideration as well if Pickens remains out.

BONUS: RB Kendre Miller, Saints (ESPN: 6%; Yahoo: 4%): Miller finished with 32 yards and a TD on 10 carries against the Giants on Sunday. I anticipate New Orleans featuring a run-heavy offense without Derek Carr, which means the second-year tailback could see double-digit touches going forward.

BONUS: QB Jameis Winston, Browns (ESPN: 20%; Yahoo: 34%): In true Winston fashion, the former No. 1 overall pick has produced three great fantasy weeks, including a monster 497 yards and four TD performance on Monday Night Football in Week 13, a decent game in a loss at Pittsburgh last week, and two bad ones so far. I’m hearing rumblings Cleveland might make a switch to Dorian Thompson-Robinson at some point to see if the young signal-caller will factor into any post-Deshaun Watson plans. Until then, Winston will deserve weekly streaming consideration. The Browns’ next two opponents, the Chiefs and Bengals, are each in the bottom-12 in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.

BONUS: TE Grant Calcaterra, Eagles (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 4%): Calcaterra finished as the weekly TE7 in standard formats (TE9 in PPR) with Dallas Goedert sidelined against the Panthers. Goedert is out at least until Week 18, so for fantasy purposes, the rest of the season.

BONUS: WR Rashod Bateman, Ravens (ESPN: 19%; Yahoo: 25%): If you need a flex option with upside for your playoff matchup, Bateman is second on Baltimore in deep targets, and this week, faces a Giants team who can’t defend the deep pass.

BONUS: TE Juwan Johnson, Saints (ESPN: 14%; Yahoo: 10%): Johnson has at least five receptions or a TD in the last three games, and should compete for the team lead in targets going forward in New Orleans’ depleted pass attack.

BONUS: WR Ray-Ray McCloud, Falcons (ESPN: 12%; Yahoo: 18%): McCloud finished with at least four receptions and 95 receiving yards for the second straight game. Atlanta faces the Raiders this week, who have allowed the most fantasy points per game and the third-most receiving yards per game to slot receivers since Week 8.

BONUS: D/ST Ravens (ESPN: 48%; Yahoo: 66%): Baltimore’s defense hasn’t been itself this season, but if it’s available in your league, it’s a premium streaming option against the Giants and whomever they line up under center. The G-Men are allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season.

BONUS: D/ST Packers (ESPN: 30%; Yahoo: 37%): Green Bay is the seventh-highest scoring defense in fantasy through 14 weeks and has two premium matchups on deck. The Seahawks have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses and the Saints might be lucky to field a team in Week 16 at their current rate of sustaining injuries.

BONUS: D/ST Falcons (ESPN: 9%; Yahoo: 10%): Atlanta’s next two opponents are fourth (Raiders) and third (Giants) in allowing the most fantasy points to opposing defenses.

DROP

QB Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: Jacksonville placed Lawrence on injured reserve last Wednesday after he suffered a concussion against the Texans in Week 13. Coach Doug Pederson said it was primarily for Lawrence’s shoulder to get a jump start on healing, which makes me wonder why he was playing against Houston in the first place.

WR Diontae Johnson, Ravens: Baltimore suspended Johnson one game for conduct detrimental to the team, after he refused to enter the game against the Eagles in Week 13. He’ll miss this week against the Giants and then who knows after that.

TE Dallas Goedert, Eagles: Philadelphia placed Goedert on the IR with a knee injury on Saturday. The earliest he could return is Week 18, which likely wouldn’t do you any good in fantasy.

QB Derek Carr, Saints: Carr suffered a significant fracture on his non-throwing hand and is expected to miss several weeks.

RB Jonathon Brooks, Panthers: Brooks’ rookie season lasted just three games after he tore the ACL in his right knee for the second time in 13 months.

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