(Audacy) "They're heeeeeeere!"
But it isn't static that's on the television in the background of this iteration of the famous "Poltergeist" scene. It's football, football and more football. The fantasy football playoffs are the "they" in the above sentence, and for some NFL fans, this marks the most exciting point in the season in their football-watching schedules — I'm looking at you, Lions and Jets nations.
For the most part, the playoffs truly separate the good teams from the bad teams, save for the unlucky "I have by far the most points against" member of the league (there's always one). And because of that simple fact, you need to be as sharp as ever with the cash prize, trophy and whatever else on the line over the next few weeks.
Just because it's this late in the season doesn't mean that there aren't diamonds in the rough out there on waivers. It does mean, however, that there isn't really time for speculative adds. There's no time to be wishy-washy with your FAAB, if you still have some left. You've got to make immediate impact moves, and the four names below could fit that bill.
K.J. Osborn is a name that we featured on our suggested pickups last week, and he's one of the players who should again be considered this time around.
Players must be owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues to be considered eligible as waiver wire targets. All stats/info courtesy of FantasyPros.
Rashaad Penny | Seattle Seahawks, RB
Tim Warner/Getty ImagesYahoo: 22% owned | ESPN: 9% owned
Toward the end of the 2019 fantasy football season, Penny saw an increased workload after Chris Carson's fumbling issues got the best of him. He was the No. 2 running back in all of fantasy football, behind only Derrick Henry, across Weeks 12 and 13, so we know he's capable of producing as a lead runner. It's just that earning that lead runner spot hasn't been easy for Penny to do.
Right now, however, it looks like he has done just that. After leading the Seahawks' backfield with 41% of the snaps in Week 13, though without much production, Penny saw his snap count go up to 57% in Week 14, and he made them count.
The defensive schedule over the next two weeks is a lot tougher than it was in Week 14, as the Seahawks match up against the Rams and Bears going forward before a juicy game against the Lions in what will be the fantasy championship for many leagues. Still, Penny has to be seen as the biggest add this week based on the value at his position.
DeVante Parker | Miami Dolphins, WR
Mark Brown/Getty ImagesYahoo: 46% owned| ESPN: 50% owned
Some began picking up Parker last week, with the Dolphins on a bye, and that was a pretty smart move (if a little bit antsy) in hindsight. But he's still available in more than half of leagues, and he's a solid add if you're in need of a wideout.
Parker brought in all five of his targets for 62 yards in his return to action in Week 13, which was a promising display, especially seeing as five targets was his low on the season. His floor seems to be pretty high with Tua Tagovailoa trusting him as a top target, and it isn't hard to see him drawing closer to 10 looks per game going forward. You can't do much better as a solid flex play, with both a nice floor and ceiling, available for free in half of leagues.
Kendrick Bourne | New England Patriots, WR
Billie Weiss/Getty ImagesYahoo: 31% owned | ESPN: 26% owned
I like Parker a whole lot more, but that's not to say that Bourne isn't still worth a look. After all, you might be surprised to learn that Bourne was one of just 18 wide receivers to average double-digit standard fantasy points from Week 6 to Week 12.
He isn't a top-18 receiver, even if that was the stretch he went on for a time. But a flex play? Absolutely, especially with a bottom-10 fantasy defense against wide receivers on tap for Week 15 in the Colts.
Smart D/ST pickups
Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesChicago Bears
Yahoo: 15% owned | ESPN: 14% owned
The Bears rank in the middle of the pack (14th) among defenses this season, but matchups against bottom-tier offenses in Week 16 (Seahawks) and Week 17 (Giants) make them a good add-and-stash, especially if you have a bye week in the first round.
Philadelphia Eagles
Yahoo: 20% owned | ESPN: 27% owned
This is one that I suggested a few weeks ago, when the Eagles had matchups with the Saints, Giants and Jets on the horizon. Their fantasy playoff matchups might be even friendlier than that trio, with the Washington Football Team in Weeks 15 and 17 sandwiching a second date with the Giants in Week 16.
Miami Dolphins
Yahoo: 49% owned | ESPN: 44% owned
The Dolphins get the Jets and the Saints over the next two weeks, and they're as hot a unit as any coming out of a Week 14 bye. From Week 9 to Week 13, Miami was the second-best defense in fantasy football, trailing only the dominant unit of New England.
LISTEN on the Audacy app
Sign up and follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram