Rush Nation, we are here! It is championship week! 5 months of work has led to a huge 8 days ahead. By this time next week, you should know (baring Monday Night Football) whether you have won your league or not. And this weeks Waiver Wire is massive to make sure this happens.

If you do play in a Week Seventeen final league then we will have a Waiver Wire article for next week. However, have a word with your commish! There is a chance all teams have clinched their playoff berths. That would mean a lot of rest for the best teams in the NFL and their best players. This is why we do not advocate playing in a Week Seventeen league.

Quite a lot of you are finished for the season. You might have been eliminated from either your consolation brackets or championship brackets. Let me take this opportunity to thank you for your support of this column. I, and all the team here at 5 Yard Rush, really appreciate the love and support we get for all our work. If you are still alive, go and win that championship. Or win that Toilet Bowl game, or consolation bracket. Whatever it is, this is your last for 9 months to do it.

QUARTERBACKS

RYAN FITZPATRICK – 15.3% OWNED

Week 15- 23/41 279 Yards, 2TDs, 1 Fumble Lost,  4 Carries, 33 Yards, 

Fitz didn’t crush it as expected. However, he also didn’t bomb also. Those numbers above are currently good enough for QB6 overall with Monday Night Football to come. Ultimately this is all you are looking for off the Waiver Wire. Fitzmagic has a wonderful matchup next weekend as he plays the Bengals. The Bengals are the 8th worst defense when it comes to Fantasy Quarterbacks and they give up a lot of points on defense. So fire up Fitz and he will get you another top 10 performance, if you need to stream this week.

GARDNER MINSHEW II- 15.9% OWNED

Week 15- 17/29 201 Yds, 2 TD,  5 Carries, 27 Yards

Minshew struck late to sink Raider hearts on Sunday. His last minute Touchdown pass ensured the Raiders lost their last game in Oakland before they move to Las Vegas. He didn’t look incredible out there. However, he plays error free football a lot of the time, which means he has a pretty safe floor most of the time. Minshew is currently the QB11 on the week but he only scored 1.8 points less than Fitz in 6th. It was a close bunch of scoring this week, meaning Minshew didn’t kill you if you started him. He has Atlanta this week. And whilst they are improved, they are still prone to giving up scores. I expect Minshew to have another solid, if slightly unspectacular week. He is a safe add off of the Waiver Wire.

RUNNING BACKS

MIKE BOONE– 0.1% OWNED

Week 15- 56 Yds Rushing, 2 TDs

Mike Boone has become relevant due to an injury for Dalvin Cook that the fantasy football community has feared since they drafted him this summer. Cook fell awkwardly on his shoulder. It didn’t look good and he left the game. I would be surprised to see Dalvin Cook appear on the field this weekend against the Packers. However, they didn’t miss him. Because Mike Boone made light work of the Chargers and found the end zone twice. Boone could get the start on Sunday. However, it will all depend on the health of Cook and Alexander Mattison. Still, stash Boone just in case.

WES HILLS – 0.0% OWNED

Week 15- 21 Yards Rushing, 2 TDs, 2 Rec 1 Yard

This isn’t one you need to concern yourself with too much. Wes Hills, added off the practice squad on Wednesday ended up with 2 scores on Sunday against the Buccaneers. However, except for being a goal-line back, he didn’t look good at all. He struggled to find holes and make big strides. However, if you are injury decimated, or your opponent is, stash Hills and grab off the Waiver Wire. The Lions could use him as a goal-line back and there are very limited options on the wire. Therefore, he could be someone you stash instead of your backup QB.

WIDE RECEIVERS

BRESHARD PERRIMAN – 7.4% OWNED

Week 15- 5 Rec, 113 Yards 3 TDs, 1 Carry, 3 Yards

I didn’t see the Perriman game coming. Sometimes it is easier to write about players who are not on your team than ones that are. I’ve watched Perriman all year and it’s safe to say that not only have I not been impressed with him. However, he also has not built any chemistry with Jameis either. I got this wrong. He clearly just needed an opportunity to shine. 3 TDs is impressive. And he ran his routes better than he has done all season. Now, he has the opportunity to be the number 1 receiver in Tampa as Godwin looks like he will be out for the season. Go get yourself some Perriman this week off the Waiver Wire.

ANTHONY MILLER – 24.2% OWNED

Week 15- 9 Rec, 118 Yds, TD

For the last month or so I have told you to grab Anthony Miller. He is in this Waiver Wire column again after another excellent performance. As a result, he is in here again. I don’t know why his ownership is under 30% still. He does have Kansas City next. However, Trubisky is finding Robinson and Miller with ease at the moment. And Miller is getting plenty of targets. Add him off your Waiver Wire. He shouldn’t be there. And if you play in a league with me, he won’t be.

TIGHT END

JONNU SMITH– 7% OWNED

Week 15- 5 Rec, 60 Yards, 1 Carry, 57 Yards

Jonnu Smith finally looked healthy on Sunday. That run was something I never expected to see. But it showed his true athletic profile in his full form. As a result, he is someone I will be targeting as my streaming Tight End this week off of the Waiver Wire. Even though he does have New Orleans this week, it seems Tannehill and the Offensive Coordinator are scheming plays for Smith. I expect he will have a big impact in this do or die game for the Titans. 

KICKER

JASON SANDERS – 2.8% OWNED

Week 15- 2/3 FGs 2/2 XPs

I am back in on Sanders. Ok he only got 8 Fantasy Points this week but he didn’t kill you from the Kicker position, unlike someone like Greg the Leg. As a result, fire him up again. Sanders will be at home against the Bengals, in ideal kicking conditions. I don’t hate this matchup for him. It is worth pointing out he has kicked as many Field Goals in MetLife Stadium this season as Sam Ficken the Jets kicker and more Field Goals than Aldrick Rosas has kicked at the same stadium. Funny few weeks for Sanders, that is for sure.

D/ST

DENVER BRONCOS– 18.4% OWNED

Playing vs. Detriot Lions Next

Last week I put in my favourite team as the D/ST option and now I am going to put Stocks team in this week. The common thread is the Lions. They have hardly anyone left. It worked last week with Tampa getting Sacks, INTs and a Pick Six. And I expect it to work this week also. Playing at Mile High vs the hapless Lions who own the longest losing streak in the NFL with a 3rd string Quarterback and barely anyone to play the skill positions. Expect these defensive players to bounce back from a crushing Snow Bowl defeat to Kansas City and turn it on for the home fans. I expect sacks galore in this one and a couple of turnovers as well.

That’s it for this week. We hope you get a lot out of this article and are seeing some success. You can listen to the audio show on your favourite podcast app. We also answer questions on Twitter @5yardrush so do get in touch there. However, until next week, Keep Rushing.