X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Sneaky Starts, Pivot Plays, and Post-Waiver Pickups for Week 15 - Ty Chandler, Zamir White, Jake Browning, Zay Jones, and More!

Ty Chandler - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, Draft Sleepers

Michael Florio's fantasy football sneaky starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 15 of the NFL season. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers this upcoming week.

Playoffs? Playoffs?!? That is right, Jim Mora, it's playoff season in fantasy land! 

If you are reading this, I am assuming you made the fantasy playoffs in your league. Congratulations -- that is an accomplishment in itself! Of the 10 or 12 or 14 people in your league, you are one of the few to still be playing meaningful fantasy games. But, in the infamous words of Kobe Bryant, “job's not finished.” 

Our goal to become a fantasy football champion is just getting started. While the byes are behind us, injuries continue to pile up and plenty of managers are searching for pivot options to fill out their lineup. As always, there are plenty of options for you, if you know where to look! 

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Quarterback Pivot Options for Fantasy Football

Jake Browning has topped 23 fantasy points in each of the last two games. In Week 13, he threw for 354 yards. Last week, he went for 275 and two touchdowns -- and he has a rushing touchdown in each. His 79.3 completion percentage is the highest in a player's first three starts since 1950. He has a tough matchup against the Vikings, but Browning has been productive as of late and has plenty of playmakers of his own. If you need a streaming option -- perhaps a Justin Herbert replacement -- Browning is someone you can grab from the waiver wire and stream. 

Joe Flacco has played well not just for a 38-year-old who was out of the league for most of the year, but just for a QB in general. In his first start, he threw for 254 and two. Last week, he went for 311 yards and three scores, topping 20 fantasy points. He is the QB6 in total points in that span and averaged over 18 per game. Plus, the Bears have allowed the third-most touchdown passes this season. Flacco is certainly in play this week.

Baker Mayfield snapped his three-week down stretch by throwing two touchdowns and rushing for another going to go over 20 fantasy points. He has multiple touchdown passes in five of his last seven games. Last week is probably the ceiling for Baker, but if you are looking for a safe 16 points, he is good for that more often than not. He has a great matchup next week if you are looking to get out in front of that. 

Tommy Devito ayyyy! Since Week 10, DeVito has given you the same amount of fantasy points as reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes. What a world. What is going under the radar is DeVito’s ability to run. He ran for 71 yards last week, 41 in Week 10, and has a rushing touchdown. I am not going to tell you that the floor or ceiling is all that high, but in Superflex or two QB leagues, he is certainly in play. 

Zach Wilson and Will Levis are more options best left for two QB or Superflex formats. But in a league where I lost Justin Herbert, the best available option on the waiver wire was Wilson to join Levis, who was my QB3. Both are coming off arguably their best games as pros. Levis has a good matchup this week against the Texans. Wilson has a tougher one, but it should be a game where he has to throw plenty. He gets the Commanders next week and then Levis plays the Texans again in Week 17. It's not pretty, but it can help you piece things together if you lost Herbert or another QB earlier in the season. 

 

Running Back Pivot Options for Fantasy Football

Ty Chandler is in play with Alexander Mattison officially ruled out for Week 15. Last week, Chandler played nearly 80 percent of the snaps after Mattison exited. Chandler was already involved, seeing 14-plus touches in three of four games and now should see a much larger workload. Plus, Chandler is more explosive and the Bengals have struggled to contain explosive runs this season. 

Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are both in play if Isiah Pacheco sits again this week. If he suits up, only McKinnon would be in play as the pass-catching option. This is a game where the Chiefs very likely look to take their frustration out on the Patriots. I expect them to have a lead -- likely a multiple-score one -- and that means plenty of scoring opportunities and touches for the backs. McKinnon is my preferred option, just like last week, as he is a favorite of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes near the goal line. 

Antonio Gibson and Chris Rodriguez Jr. would be in play if Brian Robinson Jr. sits this week. And he did miss practice to start the week. Gibson would become a great RB2 or flex option as we know he can be heavily involved in the passing game, especially if they are trailing, as well as their lead runner. Rodriguez becomes more of a deeper option that comes with a low floor but some upside. 

Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah are in play against the Chargers, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG to running backs this season. The only issue is that this will be the first time Josh Jacobs may miss a game in the last two seasons. So we do not have any sort of clue on how the work may be distributed. My guess is that White sees more ground work, while Abdullah plays passing downs such as third down and in the two-minute drill. White brings the safer floor, but Abdullah brings some upside. Both are deeper options this week. 

D'Onta Foreman played 56 percent of the snaps last week with 11 carries and three targets. He only turned it into 72 yards, but the other two Bears backs combined had four carries and no targets. Foreman seems to have won the starting gig in this backfield, although there is always a chance they change it up at any point. Volume has him in play as a pivot option this week. 

 

Wide Receiver Pivot Options for Fantasy Football

Noah Brown would be in play if C.J. Stroud suits up this week. If he sits, then you can get away from Brown, who would be too boom-or-bust while relying on Davis Mills to help him go boom. If Stroud ends up suiting up, Brown becomes in play as a high-upside WR3 or flex option.

Odell Beckham Jr. has been very productive as of late. Since Week 9, he has averaged 13.5 fantasy PPG and is coming off his best fantasy game of the season where he scored 19.7 points on a season-high 10 targets. Now, he gets the Jags, who have allowed the second-most yards and fourth-most touchdowns to receivers since Week 10. Beckham is in play in what could be a high-scoring game. 

Zay Jones has a tough matchup this week against the Ravens, but his volume last week cannot be ignored. He saw 14 targets and somehow managed to catch just five for 29 yards. That would have to be a floor game. But, if you are diving deeper, double-digit targets are too good to pass up on. His teammate, Parker Washington, has nine targets in the last two games without Christian Kirk but has a touchdown in each. He is playing in the slot and is the Kirk replacement in this offense. He is a deeper pivot option. 

Elijah Moore has 18 targets in his last two games with Joe Flacco. While neither week has led to huge fantasy numbers, he has shown to have a safe floor. The lack of upside has been the problem for Moore this season, but in the fantasy playoffs, the floor is very important. Moore provides that and volume, which means he is in play as a streaming option. 

Curtis Samuel was playing good ball before the Commanders' bye. Two games ago, he saw 12 targets, nine catches for 100 yards, and scored 19 fantasy points. In the last game, the targets dipped, but he still managed to crack double-digit fantasy points. There certainly is some volatility in this passing attack, but in a game where they will have to put up points, Samuel is a streaming or pivot option. 

Other pivot options: Demario Douglas, Jonathan Mingo, Wan'Dale Robinson, Demarcus Robinson

 

Tight End Pivot Options for Fantasy Football

Logan Thomas saw his volume dip a bit before the Commanders' bye week, but before that, he had a near lock for five-plus targets each game. He gets the Rams, who are in the top three in yards, touchdowns, and fantasy PPG allowed to tight ends. They just allowed a big day to Isaiah Likely. Plus, this one should have a lot of points. 

Tucker Kraft is coming off his best game as a pro, with four catches for 64 yards, both season-highs. He has 10 targets in his last two games and caught a TD in the one before that. He faces a Bucs team that is in the top five in passing yards allowed. Tampa Bay has allowed the 10th-most fantasy PPG to TEs this season. He is a pivot tight end option.

Cade Otton has a matchup against the Packers, who rank middle of the pack against tight ends. But his schedule opens up after this week with a matchup against the Jags, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy PPG to tight ends, and then the Saints, who have especially struggled lately. Otton has scored eight-plus PPR points in six of his last eight games, which as far as streaming tight ends go, is a very safe floor. He remains a streaming option for the rest of the season.

Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Kyren Williams

Rams Not Willing to Pay Kyren Williams Top-Market Money?
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Christian Kirk

the No. 2 WR in Houston?
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Jerome Ford

the Likely Starter for Cleveland to Begin 2025
Chig Okonkwo

"Poised" for Best Season of Career
Xavier Watts

Falcons High on Xavier Watts
Xavier Restrepo

Training With Star Wideouts
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Tristan Wirfs

Undergoes Knee Surgery, Likely to Miss Start of Season
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic to Delay Extension Talks Until 2026
Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early On Tuesday With Left Hand Contusion
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
Laken Tomlinson

Confident in Texans Offensive Line
J.K. Dobbins

the Starter in Denver?
JT Woods

Seahawks Release JT Woods
Darren Waller

Trade to Miami Becomes Official
Asante Samuel Jr.

Dolphins Interested in Asante Samuel Jr.
Nyheim Hines

Seeking Return to NFL
Dak Prescott

Expects to be Full-Go for Training Camp
Ajay Mitchell

Posts 16 Points in Summer League Win on Monday
Milwaukee Bucks

Vasilije Micic Waived by Bucks
Brice Sensabaugh

Logs 37 points in Summer League Win on Monday
Luis Garcia

Fans Four in Rehab Outing
GG Jackson II

Collects 27 Points in Summer League Loss
Ace Bailey

Scores 18 Points in Summer League Victory
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Kobe Bufkin

Cleared for Summer League Action
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Milwaukee Bucks

Vasilije Micic Agrees to Contract Buyout with Bucks
Anthony Santander

Hoping to Hit Soon
Luis Robert Jr.

Returning in Short Order
Alex Bregman

Could Return Later This Week
Ketel Marte

Day-to-Day with Groin Tightness
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Hunter Greene

Suffers Setback on Monday
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF