Every week, Nate Hamilton will cover fantasy football waiver wire pickups. Read his Week 14 Waiver Wire picks and FAAB tips (Free-Agent Acquisition Budget) for fantasy football.
DomiNate the Waiver Wire for Week 14
You did it! You’ve made it to the fantasy football playoffs!
I’ve been saying it every week, “now is the most important time to cut the weak links and add better production to your rosters." Well, there is no more important time to exercise this than right now.
You’ve survived the 2020 regular season and have made it to the big dance. This is not where your story ends. There are players on your waiver wire that will help you win your playoff matchups and lead you to the championship. You’ll want to consider adding the players below.
(Note: Roster % is as listed for Yahoo! leagues. FAAB bid range is based on a $100 budget.)
Week 14 Waiver Wire Fantasy Football Pickups
Keke Coutee, WR, Houston Texans (27% rostered)
I’ve been talking Keke Coutee up since before the Week 13 episode of Fantasy Dilemma LIVE. I even mentioned him in last week’s waiver wire article when he was just 1% rostered. His roster percentage has already increased by 26% since.
After his season-best performance in Week 13, you’ll have to pay up if you want him on your playoff rosters.
Last week, Keke Coutee had season highs in targets (9), receptions (8), and receiving yards (141). The only thing he didn’t do was score a touchdown.
Considering the Texans current wide receiver options, there is no doubt Coutee will see a heavy target share from quarterback Deshaun Watson going forward.
- Keke Coutee FAAB bid range: $18-$22
Ty Johnson, RB, New York Jets (2%)
For those who have Miles Sanders, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Joe Mixon, or any other disappointing running back you spent high draft capital on, you may be looking for a flyer to throw in the first round of the playoffs.
Ty Johnson of the New York Jets certainly took advantage of his opportunities last weekend. Frank Gore left the game early with a concussion which left Johnson with the majority of touches.
He went on to have 104 rushing yards on 22 carries and a touchdown versus the Raiders who have the 4th worst defense against the running back position.
With the way the Jets season has gone, they may want to move on from showcasing a 37-year-old back and turn the page to a 23-year-old who just put up the Jets first 100+-rushing yard performance.
- Ty Johnson FAAB bid range: $8-$12
Philip Rivers, QB, Indianapolis Colts (40%)
Philip Rivers has been a fairly consistent option in his last seven games. He’s thrown for more than 260 yards in six of those seven games and has multiple touchdown passes in five, including the last three games.
T.Y. Hilton is looking like his old self the past two games and that’s great news for Rivers. If the two of them can continue on the same page, you’ll want to have that production on your playoff roster. If you can add T.Y. Hilton (45% rostered) as well, I’d recommend the stack.
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Philip Rivers and the Colts will face the Raiders (given up the 11th most fantasy points to QBs), Texans (given up the 12th most fantasy points to QBs), and Steelers (given up the fewest fantasy points to QBs) in the next three weeks (fantasy playoffs).
If you do add Rivers, you’ll want to have another quarterback on the back burner for Week 16 due to his matchup against the Steelers.
- Philip Rivers FAAB bid range: $6-$10
Henry Ruggs III, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (32%)
Henry Ruggs has not been what most fantasy managers hoped for this season. He is trending up at the right time though. Ruggs has now been targeted nine times in the last two games and has totaled six receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown.
(Sure, his deep TD catch to clinch Las Vegas’ Week 13 win might’ve had help from the Jets and ex-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, but he still has the talent to come up big in situations like that.)
Quarterback Derek Carr has thrown the ball a ton in the last three games and has begun looking Henry Ruggs’ way. Rookie wide receivers do typically take some time to adjust to the pace of the NFL. If Ruggs has hit his stride, you’re going to want his upside at your disposal. Add him to your roster and play him as a “high-risk high-reward" option or at the very least, keep him away from your opponents.
- Henry Ruggs III FAAB bid range: $4-$8
Week 13 Waiver Wire: Pickups for Deep Leagues ($1-$6 FAAB)
Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles (3%)
If you are in super-flex or 2-QB leagues, throw a bid at Jalen Hurts. Head coach Doug Pederson has not announced the starter for Week 14, but there is a good chance the Eagles bench the struggling Carson Wentz.
Hurts completed five passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in relief of Wentz during Week 13. Outside of that, he really hasn’t been an option for fantasy this year. If he gets the nod this week, at least you picked him up on the cheap, and you could end up with the “hot hand" in Philadelphia.
Chad Hansen, WR, Houston Texans (0%)
As I mentioned in my love for Keke Coutee going forward, the Texans are limited at the wide receiver position. Chad Hansen was elevated from the practice squad just one day before the Texans Week 13 game. He made a great first impression with Deshaun Watson as he caught five of his seven targets for 101 in his 2020 Texans debut.
If you are hurting at the wide receiver position, Hansen is primed for a decent workload just in time for the fantasy playoffs.
Nate Hamilton is a regular contributor to the fantasy football industry and brings his nearly two decades of experience as a fantasy football player to The Game Day. He also writes The Game Day’s weekly DFS tips article.
He provides advice & analysis on a daily basis via Twitter (@DomiNateFF). He has previously written content for FantasyPros, The Fantasy Footballers, and Fantrax. He is a co-author of Amazon’s #1 Best Selling “The Fantasy Football Black Book” with Joe Pisapia. Nate hosts his solo podcast “The DomiNate Fantasy Football Show" and performs weekly AMA live streams on Twitter/Periscope. He is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA).
Prepare for your Week 14 fantasy football and betting
- Read our latest NFL news, analysis, tips, predictions and betting tips.
- Learn how to bet on sports, including strategies, key terms, and betting process.
- Watch videos of our latest NFL analysis and predictions from experts.
- Choose the sportsbook and betting offer that fits your budget and strategy.
