Fantasy Football Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups: Lynn Bowden’s Versatility Makes Him Intriguing Flyer

It's "go" time.

Week 15 is here and it means just one win away from the ultimate goal:  the fantasy football championship. Whether you won your Week 14 matchup or enjoyed a bye week, this waiver wire is the most important of the season.

Fine-tuning?  Injury replacement?  We have you covered.

Here are the essential Week 15 pickups to win the penultimate fantasy football matchup.

Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

Note: We've limited recommendations to players owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. All data as of Monday.

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Running Backs

DeAndre Washington, Dolphins

Ownership: 24%

Washington jumped into the spotlight when Myles Gaskin was placed on the resereve/COVID-19 list on Saturday. While he only gained 39 yards, Washington did the see the 13 of the Dolphins' 18 rushing attempts. He also added two receptions for 17 yards.

If Gaskin and the other Miami backs remain out in Week 15, Washington is worth consideration as a Flex play at home against New England. The Patriots have been surprisingly generous to opposing RBs, allowing the fifth-most rushing yards to the position.

Even if rookie quarterback Tua Tagavailoa struggles against Bill Belichick's defensive schemes, Washington is worth consideration in a very shallow RB waiver wire.

Lynn Bowden, Dolphins

Ownership: 1%

Rookie WR Lynn Bowden actually has RB eligibility on both Yahoo! and ESPN. That makes him an interesting target in full PPR formats, especially if you're in a pinch at running back and still alive.

With lead WR DeVante Parker exiting the game due to injury, Bowden actually led the Dolphins in both receptions (seven) and receiving yards (82). 

Bowden was primarily a wide receiver at Kentucky before becoming their full-time quarterback in 2019. He piloted a ground-based offense, running for 1,468 yards on 7.9 yards per carry (in the SEC, mind you).

Dolphins coach Brian Flores will need offensive playmakers against New England, and if Bowden maintains his lead WR role, he could be a difference-maker for the fantasy championship.  

Wide Receivers

Keke Coutee, Texans

Ownership: 45%

With Will Fuller suspended for the remainder of the season, fantasy owners were hoping Keke Coutee would finally get his chance to shine.

And he did, for the second consecutive week.

On a day when the Texans offense struggled, Coutee caught all three of his targets for 24 yards, and found the end zone yet again.

The Houston receiving core is very much in flux. Fuller is out, and Brandin Cooks missed this game with foot/neck injuries. Coutee will face an Indianapolis defense that he just torched in Week 13 for eight receptions and 141 receiving yards.

Coutee projects as a WR3 against the Colts, with a fantastic home matchup in Week 16 against the Bengals looming on the horizon.

Emmanuel Sanders, Saints

Ownership: 40%

Taysom Hill finally connected with Emmanuel Sanders in Week 14. The veteran wideout caught three passes for 48 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown.

Sanders has started to show a rapport with Hill, with 11 targets over the past two weeks.

The big question in New Orleans with be who is the starting quarterback for their big showdown against Kansas City at home?

If Drew Brees returns, Sanders is a WR3/Flex play. If it remains Hill, I downgrade Sanders to a WR4/5 option.

A.J. Green, Bengals

Ownership: 37%

Green caught just his second touchdown of the year and finished with six receptions for 62 yards. It was a welcome sight for the veteran wide receiver who failed to register a single catch over the past two games.

He is a future Hall of Famer, but it's impossible to trust him with quarterback Brandon Allen against the Steelers in Week 15.

Nelson Agholor, Raiders 

Ownership: 36%

The unpredictable Nelson Agholor produced a strong five-reception, 100-receiving yard stat line with a 21-yard touchdown catch.

After tight end Darren Waller, Agholor is the team's next receiving option. However, it is impossible to trust him after overall WR41 and WR64 performances in Weeks 12 and 13.

If you are willing to roll the dice at home against the Chargers in Week 15, he is a WR3 with WR2 or better upside. The quintessential fantasy gamble.

Keelan Cole, Jaguars 

Ownership: 24%

The mid-game return of Gardner Minshew makes Keelan Cole worthy of a Week 15 waiver wire mention.

Cole battled his way to seven receptions, 67 yards, and a fourth quarter five-yard touchdown from Minshew.

With a Week 15 road game against a tough Baltimore defense, the Jaguars will likely be playing from behind for the majority of the game. This makes Cole a WR4/5 option in deeper leagues.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers 

Ownership: 20%

Valdes-Scantling certainly has weekly big play ability, when he actually catches the ball.

He did just that in Week 14, with six receptions, 85 yards, and a touchdown.

Teammate Allen Lazard has been slow to acclimate to the offense after coming off the injured reserve, making MVS an upside WR3/4 play at home against Carolina and Tennessee the next two weeks.

Russell Gage, Falcons

Ownership: 11%

With the rumor that All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones is done for the season, Gage becomes a very intriguing option in the Falcons explosive offense.

Gage caught five passes for 82 yards and actually threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley.

Gage figures to see volume in a potential shootout against the Bucs this week.

If you have injured wide receivers, Gage's versatility makes him a low-end WR3 with a much higher upside.

Gabriel Davis, Bills 

Ownership: 7%

Another week, another touchdown for Gabriel Davis.

The fourth-round rookie from UCF has now caught a touchdown pass in three straight games, and four of the last five Bills' contests.

Veteran wideout John Brown is eligible to return off the injured reserve this week, which would crush Davis' fantasy value.

While he is still behind Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley in target share, his big play ability (16.1 yards per receptions) is a valuable weapon for the Bills.

Buffalo faces another stiff run defense at Denver in Week 15, making Davis a low-end WR3 if Brown is again ruled out.

Kendrick Bourne, 49ers

Ownership: 3%

Bourne caught three passes for 42 yards, including a two-point conversion. While those stats are not reason along for a waiver pickup, the likely season-ending hamstring injury to Deebo Samuel certainly is.

With an eight-catch, 82 yards performance against Seattle in Week 8, Bourne merits consideration in PPR formats.

He still remains behind rookie Brandon Aiyuk in the target order, but is an decent WR4/5 pickup for Week 15 at Dallas.

KJ Hamler, Broncos

Ownership: 3%

The rookie speedster turned just two receptions into 86 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Denver's 32-27 win over Carolina

The explosive Hamler is certainly exciting, but only has four total receptions over the past three weeks.

He is simply a dart-throw WR4/5 play at home against Buffalo in Week 15.

Tight Ends

Tyler Higbee, Rams

Ownership: 48%

Higbee only had two receptions for 34 receiving yards in the Rams' 24-3 Week 14 win over New England. Regardless, he remains the best waiver wire TE option available.

Los Angeles still deploys both Higbee and Gerald Everett together, limiting the upside of both players. But Higbee is the only waiver option available at tight end that has multi-touchdown weekly upside.

He has a great matchup in Week 15 at home against the Jets.

Irv Smith Jr., Vikings 

Ownership: 6%

Returning from a back injury, Smith notched his best game of the season with four receptions, 63 yards, and a touchdown.

If teammate Kyle Rudolph (foot) remains out in Week 15, Smith is a fine streaming choice at home against Chicago.

Dan Arnold, Cardinals 

Ownership: 1%

Flying under the fantasy radar, Arizona tight end Dan Arnold has three touchdowns in the past two weeks, and four scores in the past four weeks.

He is a low-volume play, with just 22 receptions on the season. But if you need a pickup in a two-TE league, Arnold is a great option with upcoming home games against Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Defense

New England Patriots

Ownership: 48%

If you are streaming defenses, don't be afraid to go back to the Patriots in Week 15.

After a disastrous performance against the Rams on Thursday Night Football, fantasy owners have forgotten about their dominance in Week 13.

The Patriots turned in an elite defense/special teams performance against the Chargers, with three sacks, two interceptions, and two total touchdowns in their 45-0 blowout win.

New England travels to Miami to face rookie quarterback Tua Tagavailoa. Head coach Bill Belichick has a history of frustrating young signal-callers, making the Patriots a risky but possibly rewarding Week 15 pickup.

Washington

Ownership: 36%

Head coach Ron Rivera has overcome a serious health battle and has this Washington defense among the league's best. They have 24 sacks over their past seven games and had a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown in Sunday's 23-15 win over San Francisco.

Week 15 brings Seattle, but Rivera's defense is playing so well, they are still in consideration if you're in a pinch.