The fantasy football playoffs are now starting in earnest. If you’re still in the title race and have a steady quarterback you want to ride the next two weeks, then congratulations, this list isn’t for you. If you’re in a keeper/dynasty league and looking for 2015 options, this list might be for you. If you’re playing in daily streaming leagues, this is a nice list of potential bargains. With the season winding down, I plan on catering this list towards that kind of fantasy player, the one looking more for a one-week spike or long-term potential.
Fantasy football waiver wire: 5 quarterbacks to target for Week 15
The fantasy playoffs are in full swing, and daily streaming leagues are still going strong. Here are some quarterbacks who could help for the stretch run.
For those players, here are five quarterbacks owned in less than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues that might be of service.
Robert Griffin III, Washington (31 percent) -- Yes, we're going back to this well. Colt McCoy has a strained neck and was playing poorly even before the injury, so Griffin could get the start against the New York Giants even after all the drama over the past month. He's not an exciting option at all, and if you're in the fantasy playoffs you really shouldn't be using him, so Griffin is more of a bargain dart throw in daily leagues against a middling Giants' defense.
Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns (22 percent) -- The Browns haven't made it official yet, but it should be soon -- Johnny Football is all but set to make his first start against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns have done just about everything they could to keep Manziel off the field, even going so far as to plant a TMZ-esque scandal about him attending NBA games.
This might be okay if Brian Hoyer is playing competent football, but he has cratered, throwing zero touchdowns to seven interceptions over the past three games. With the Browns' playoff hopes dwindling, they're running out of excuses -- Manziel should start, and he probably will start this week. Should he start for your fantasy league? We don't know! That's part of JFF's magic, that you don't know what you're getting on any one play, but it makes him impossible to predict for fantasy purposes. At the very least, let's assume that he can give Josh Gordon more consistent targets and put up decent rushing yards. That should be enough for consideration in two-quarterback leagues.
Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings (nine percent) -- Bridgewater's gradual week-to-week improvement culminated in Week 14, when he threw for 309 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 19-of-27 passing. There is one big caveat to those numbers -- 87 of Bridgewater's yards came on a catch-and-run from Jarius Wright that won the game in overtime -- but the rookie quarterback is becoming one of the more steady QB2s in fantasy. He'll have one of his toughest tests yet against the Detroit Lions' defense this week.
Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders (seven percent) -- If you told me in August that Derek Carr would outperform Colin Kaepernick in an upset win in Week 14, I would've slapped you silly. Yet, here we are. Carr had his most confident performance yet against a supposedly vaunted 49ers' defense, completing 22-of-28 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns. We don't recommend chasing those stats against the Kansas City Chiefs this week, but with Latavius Murray back healthy, there are worse options to consider in daily fantasy leagues.
Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans (two percent) -- Zach Mettenberger is done for the season, so the Titans are going back to Locker. He's set for free agency in the spring, so these last three games will be little more than a mixtape to show potential suitors. The Jets' secondary provides a prime opportunity for Locker to get some decent tape, even without Justin Hunter and possibly Kendall Wright. You shouldn't use him in 12-team leagues, but Locker is a worthy bargain in daily streaming formats.
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