We’re coming down to the wire in fantasy football. With most leagues starting their playoffs in week 15, it’s probably starting to become clear whether your team will make the playoffs or not.
The best fantasy managers are those that continue to stay active as the season winds down, preparing for future weeks and discarding the useless players on their roster. These are some of the best players to consider picking up for the playoffs.
1% chance to make fantasy football playoffs pic.twitter.com/caX9EyBkUb
— Not a Bartender (@jolmos1995) December 1, 2023
Quarterback: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield has quietly been very steady this season in Tampa Bay. He is the 16th ranked quarterback on the season, and somebody that should be a target for somebody that doesn’t have a top flight quarterback on their roster. The good thing with Mayfield is that he has some exploitable matchups in week 14 (Atlanta) as well as week 16 (Jacksonville).
Running Back: Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
With superstar Christian McCaffrey in front of him on the depth chart, I won’t blame you for leaving Mitchell out on the waiver wire. However, there may not be a handcuff running back with more potential. Last Sunday was a reminder that he’s still a good player, taking his 7 carries for 39 yards. It could be worth holding Mitchell for the week 14 and 15 matchups (vs. Seattle and Arizona), as those seem like prime matchups for the team to lean on it’s running backs. Especially against Arizona, it could be a game where they allow McCaffrey to rest up and instead ride Mitchell.
Wide Receiver: Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
Williams has yet to burst onto the scene as many thought he would after being drafted in 2022. Initially recovering from a torn ACL, and then a suspension for gambling, Williams has been a little used weapon for the Lions. This could be on the verge of changing, as the former Alabama-product has seen his snap counts rise each of the past three weeks. It might be wise to pick him up now, since everybody and their cousin Vinny would be lining up to grab him if he has a big game this week.
Tight End: Flip a coin
Seriously, if you’re looking for a tight end to pick up at this point of the year, there isn’t really anybody that offers much upside. As its been for several seasons now, the tight end position group is top heavy, with a massive drop off thereafter. The best idea might be to pick up a tight end from a good passing offense (Noah Gray? Isaiah Likely? Donald Parham Jr.?) and pray that they score a touchdown.
Defense: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are a hot pickup around fantasy football, with their enviable matchup against the Joe Burrow-less Bengals this week, followed by a juicy matchup against the Carolina Panthers during championship week (week 17).
The Jaguars have had a few spike weeks this year, but starting them would mostly be about taking advantage of the opponent’s offense.