Tell your friends (just not your leaguemates until next week)

by Optimus Staff

Published On: December 8th, 2025

You’ve made it. From the opening horn, all the way to now, you’ve survived. Through cunning, wit, guile, and luck, here you stand on the precipice of fantasy greatness. But the job is not done. These will be the biggest tests of the entire season. You will be tempted by false glory. You will be tried by fire at every turn. You will be deluged by false information. Stay true, stay strong, and you will prevail.

With that, we bring you the Optimus Week 15 waiver wire recommendations.

One thing to keep in mind with all of these FAAB recommendations: We are at the point where every game may be your last. These are general evaluations, but you know your needs and your league best. If you need this guy to have a shot at advancing? Spend whatever you need to spend. If you don’t win, there’s no point in holding back anyway.

Week 15 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we transition from the regular season to deep playoff runs, now is the time to ensure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you lose your high-end RB to injury. For the next two weeks, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams | Sleeper 49% | ESPN 22.1% | FAAB 25%

As you know, Blake Corum was a feature in my “Handcuffs Who Matter” series a couple of weeks ago. In Weeks 13 and 14, he proved why, coming in at RB17 in Week 13 and RB3 pending MNF in Week 14. The kicker? No, I don’t mean Harrison Mevis. It’s that Corum accomplished both on no more than 13 touches in either week. That’s the definition of a “Handcuff Who Matters,” right there!

Now, a quick word of warning. You should roster Corum. And I do not recommend starting him in Week 15 or Week 16. The Panthers and Cardinals, his Week 13 and 14 opponents, were the 6th and 10th-worst at limiting opposing RBs’ fantasy points. His Week 15 opponent, the Lions? They’re the best at limiting opposing RBs. What about their Week 16 opponent, the Seahawks? They’re the 7th stingiest.

It all depends on your roster, of course, so keep an eye out for our projections and rankings to make your starting decisions. He’s worth rostering, but unless you’ve suffered some losses at RB and limped into the playoffs, Corum should remain on your bench as we roll into the playoffs.

Dare Ogunbowale, Houston Texans | Sleeper 0% | ESPN 0.1% | FAAB 0%

This is entirely about opportunity. Both Nick Chubb and Woody Marks missed time in Week 14 with various injuries, and while Marks was able to return to the game, it was Dare Ogunbowale who found his way into the end zone in the interim. If Marks and/or Chubb can get through practice and actually play in Houston’s Week 15 game against the Cardinals, Ogunbowale isn’t even an afterthought and should stay where he is on the waiver wire.

But!

Sometimes injuries flare up after the adrenaline of a game subsides. If Marks in particular can’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday, then Ogunbowale should be a priority add. Houston gets the Cardinals in Week 15. You know, the team Blake Corum and Co. just ran all over? So monitor @new.optimusfantasy.com on BlueSky for updates and act accordingly.

Week 15 Handcuff Who Matters:

Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 4% | ESPN % | FAAB 50%

“If De’Von Achane goes down, how will the Miami backfield look?” Well, we finally got our answer. It turns out, the answer is a resounding “Jaylen Wright.” When Achane got sidelined in Week 14 with a rib injury, Ollie Gordon‘s role didn’t change at all. Instead, it was Wright who took over the backfield duties. Wright notched 24 carries throughout the contest, compared to only five from Gordon. 

Now, Achane seems to be OK and claims he could have returned to the game. So this isn’t a “pick up Wright and start him in Week 15” type of recommendation. However, given how much Miami has focused on its running game over the last two months, combined with Achane’s slight build, Wright is the name to know and roster in case his injuries linger. 

Wide Receivers:

Unless you have three or four bona fide starters at running back with consistent workloads, you’re likely putting wide receivers in the flex spot. That makes getting enough wide receivers outside of your starters a must in playoff weeks. Injuries and general volatility shake up each week’s landscape at the wide receiver position, so even some of the risers at the position become viable. Not everybody’s fantasy playoff situation is crystal clear, so we’ll be highlighting some high-upside options that can boost your team in these playoff weeks.

Luther Burden, Chicago Bears | Sleeper 37% | ESPN 13.9% | FAAB 4-6%

Without Rome Odunze, Burden was a solid contributor for the Bears with a 4-67 line on team-leading six targets in Chicago’s loss ot the Packers in Week 14. Burden had season-highs in routes (69%), percentage of air yards (26%), and a 21.4% target share. Odunze is “week-to-week” with his heel and foot injury, so if he remains out, Burden is yet again a high-upside option for Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns.

Burden’s workload is trending up at the right time, and with Chicago in the thick of the NFC race for the top seed, they’ll need all hands on deck. We’d like to see Burden run more routes, but trending up in his workload is always a good sign for a rookie in a productive offense with a clear gap without Odunze. If Burden isn’t already stashed on a roster, get him on yours. He’s worth starting as an upside flex as long as Odunze remains out.

Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.4% | FAAB 2-3%

Adding Ryan Flournoy here in the playoff weeks is purely speculative. What Flournoy did with CeeDee Lamb out of the game on Thursday night was obviously massive, but it didn’t help anybody in fantasy. Now you have the chance to make it benefit you this week. With nine receptions for 115 yards and a score, it was a clear breakout performance with that obviously “not having Lamb” caveat. Flournoy finished as the overall WR5 entering MNF, and he was the key beneficiary, not George Pickens. 

The speculative part is that if Lamb cannot make it through concussion protocol in time for their Week 15 game against the Minnesota Vikings, Flournoy becomes an instant fantasy WR3 and would be well-positioned as a key cog in the Cowboys’ passing game. With Lamb out in Week 5 against the Jets, Flournoy put up a 6-114 line on eight targets. Keep tabs on Lamb this week, and if he doesn’t play, Flournoy is in a good spot for fantasy production.

Quarterbacks:

If you’re hunting for a QB right now, we’re assuming you’re looking for a one-week fix because of injury, or you’ve been streaming your QB2/Superflex roster spot all season. These recommendations are for one-week rentals to get you through your first fantasy playoff matchup. If you’re hunting for a QB in 1QB leagues, you likely have much better options not covered here.

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints | Sleeper 16% | ESPN 5.7% | FAAB 3-5%

The New Orleans Saints are a dumpster fire. However, rookie QB Tyler Shough has somehow managed to calm the flames a bit and is making a medium splash in fantasy football while doing so. While he has won only one game, Shough is the overall QB14 since taking the reins of the Saints’ offense in Week 9.

To be fair, Shough has been the recipient of a fairly easy schedule, with three of his first five NFL starts coming against teams in the bottom half of fantasy points allowed to QBs. In those three games, Shough is averaging 16.5 fantasy points. And it’s not just the easy matchups where he has excelled. Even in tougher contests, Shough has been serviceable, logging double-digit points against the Rams (10.2) and Panthers (19).  

This week, the Saints host Carolina for round two of their season series. While the Panthers defense has been good against QBs this season – the unit is giving up the sixth fewest fantasy points to the position (14.1) – this is a division game, and Shough showed out against them in Week 10 in Carolina. Firing up a rookie on a bad offense in the fantasy playoffs always carries risk with it. However, Shough has a safe double-digit fantasy point floor and should help get you to round two next weekend.

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers | Sleeper 32% | ESPN 23.3% | FAAB 1-3%

The 2025 season has made it clear that future Hall-of-Fame QB Aaron Rodgers’ best days are behind him. Currently sitting as the overall QB18, Rodgers has been a rollercoaster this season, and his last four games have been the worst of it. Since Week 10, the Steelers’ signal caller ranks as QB35 in fantasy points per game (10.3). That rank is bolstered by a solid 20.5 fantasy point performance this past weekend against Baltimore, who are one spot worse against fantasy QBs than the Steelers’ Week 15 opponent, the Miami Dolphins.

Rodgers isn’t going to be a fantasy asset you’ll want to hold past Week 15, but if you’re looking for a plug-and-play QB for round one, the 42-year-old QB is a solid streamer against the Dolphins. The Miami defense has allowed 15 or more fantasy points to opposing QBs in four of the last five games, and 25 or more points five times this season. If all you need from a streaming QB this week is a reliable floor, Rodgers provides one with an almost baked-in double-digit fantasy point output in this match-up against the Dolphins.  

Tight Ends:

BONUS: Harold Fannin, Cleveland Browns

David Njoku is hurt, and Shedeur Sanders is enough of a QB that Fannin is a solid TE1 for the rest of the season. His ownership is high, over 50%, but he’s good enough that you need to check your leagues in case he’s available for some reason. If he’s out there and you’re wondering how much to spend on him, the limit doesn’t exist. Go get him.

Browns follow up a great TD catch by Harold Fannin Jr with an absolutely hilarious 2 point conversion attempt

[image or embed]

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) December 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM

Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 5% | ESPN 1.1% | FAAB 15%

You wouldn’t know it from the way the Bills played, but they were the top-scoring defense against TEs coming into Week 14. Naturally, Mike Gesicki goes and puts up a 6/86/1 against them. 

‼️‼️‼️ INJURY NEWS ‼️‼️‼️

Tee Higgins has been placed in concussion protocol.

— 🏈Optimus FF News (@news.optimusfantasy.com) December 8, 2025 at 2:08 PM

Oh, what’s this, you say? Well, well, well. 

As a frame of reference, the approximately 11 HPPR Gesicki’s average statline without Tee Higgins (pictured above) is equivalent to TE4 in terms of PPG. For a TE you can find on the waiver wire in Week 15, that’s well worth taking a shot unless you have one of Brock Bowers or Trey McBride at your lineup’s disposal. 

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens | Sleeper 13% | ESPN 8.1% |  FAAB 10%

Insert cheesy “Likely” pun here.

Alright, everybody got that one out of their systems? Are we good? OK, great, time to pay attention.

Don’t let Mark Andrews‘ contract extension throw you off the scent. Isaiah Likely is one of Baltimore’s most important receiving options. RB Keaton Mitchell now has a knee injury, and Baltimore is sorely lacking explosive playmakers with Lamar Jackson (knee, hamstring, toe, foot) and Derrick Henry (old) outside of Zay Flowers. While Likely will probably always be second to Flowers in target priority, but Likely is capable of turning even a handful of targets into a productive day.

And this week, he gets Cincinnati. You know, the team that allowed Buffalo’s TEs to combine for 11 catches for 137 yards and 2 TDs. You start your TEs against Cincinnati – all of them. In fact, we saw this matchup in Week 13, when Likely went for five catches and 95 yards on six targets, and was thiiiis close to adding a TD to it, too.

Isaiah Likely fumbles the ball before crossing the line, touchback

[image or embed]

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) November 27, 2025 at 8:23 PM

Likely is a big enough name that you probably can’t sneak him through for free, but there are enough distractions out there that you probably don’t need to spend top dollar, either. 

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:

Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Carolina Panthers | Sleeper 4% | ESPN 3.9% | FAAB 0-1%

Need a sign that this has been a strange season? Here we are. The Carolina Panthers are a legit streaming option for your fantasy football playoff teams as they head into a Week 15 matchup against Tyler Shough and the New Orleans Saints.

To the surprise of many, Carolina’s defense has picked up some steam in their last two games, logging five INTs, including one pick-six and one fumble recovery. And despite all the positives outlined above in the QB section, Shough has been turning the ball over. In five starts and six total games, he’s thrown five INTs and lost two fumbles. In addition, the porous Saints’ offensive line has allowed the rookie to get sacked 12 times in the last three games.

The best part is, Carolina is not only a safe streamer for your Week 15 matchups, but they are also an option to carry you through the rest of the way. They’re remaining schedule has them with an A grade, and the fifth-best schedule among fantasy D/ST units, per our fantasy playoff projections courtesy of Lou Brunson. The Panthers’ late blooming is an opportunity for you to lock down a decent defense for your push towards a fantasy football championship.

Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 38% | ESPN 23.9% | FAAB 0-1%

Yet another unlikely candidate for a streaming defense is gracing these pages ahead of Week 15, folks. Yes, the Miami Dolphins, who last week exploded for 16 fantasy points against the New York Jets, are again on the wire as a viable fantasy defense this weekend, and possibly for the rest of your playoff journey.

Despite what you may think, the Dolphins’ defense has been fairly solid this season, ranking as the overall D/ST12 through 14 weeks. Since Week 10, they’ve been even better, ranking as the D/ST2 in fantasy points per game (12.3) with 14 sacks, three fumble recoveries and six INTs.

This weekend, Miami heads to Pittsburgh to face off with the Steelers and the ghost of Aaron Rodgers. While I expect Rodgers to play well enough to be fantasy-relevant – as outlined above – I also expect this Miami defense to do what it does best and pressure the QB. They might not knock your socks off, but they have a reliable double-digit floor as a streaming fantasy D/ST this week. If you’d like to end streaming and stick with this unit, our fantasy playoff projections have Miami with a B grade and the seventh-best remaining schedule for fantasy D/STs the rest of the way.   

Kickers:

Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings | Sleeper 25% | ESPN 15.6% | FAAB 0-1%

The Minnesota Vikings got QB J.J. McCarthy back this past weekend, and to the surprise of everyone, it was actually good for the team. Minnesota managed to blank the Washington Commanders and put up 31 total points on an atrocious defense, allowing kicker Will Reichard to be fantasy relevant after notching a big zero in Week 13 against Seattle. 

Reichard went 4-for-4 on extra point attempts and made his lone field goal attempt in the Vikings’ win, logging eight fantasy points. This coming weekend, Minnesota heads to Dallas to take on the Cowboys, whose defense is also notably bad. While the McCarthy showing from last week is unlikely to be repeated, they should do well enough to get Reichard more opportunities to kick, especially with the Vikings’ penchant for stalled drives.

Reichard won’t be a hot commodity on the waiver wire, and you might even be able to get away with a $0 FAAB bid. If you need to hang on to past this week, the Vikings head to MetLife Stadium in Week 16 to face the Giants. The second-year kicker will also be viable in that match-up, per our fantasy playoff projections, and can save you the hassle for one more week, but you’ll want to dump him ahead of their Week 17 game against Detroit.

Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 43% | ESPN 25.4% | FAAB 3-5%

I don’t think I’ve written about one player more this season than I have about Bengals kicker Evan McPherson. Somehow, despite his rank as K7 through 14 weeks, he is still rostered in less than 50 percent of leagues, and if you need a kicker to stream this week, McPherson is the one you want to grab. 

Not only is McPherson a solid option in the Bengals’ Week 15 matchup against Baltimore, but he’s an option to keep on your roster through the fantasy football playoffs. Our fantasy playoff projections have McPherson with an A grade and the fifth-best schedule for kickers down the championship stretch. It makes sense, given that this Bengals offense is a scoring machine, having notched 30 or more points in five of their last seven games. 

Regardless of the game’s outcome, McPherson is going to get plenty of opportunities to score for your fantasy squads. Over the last three weeks, the veteran kicker has attempted – and made – eight extra points and eight field goals, including three of 40 or more yards. He won’t be as cheap as some other options on the waiver wire this week, but McPherson is as automatic as they come, and a true set-it-and-forget-it option to help navigate the fantasy football playoffs.

For more wavier wire advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

You’ve made it. From the opening horn, all the way to now, you’ve survived. Through cunning, wit, guile, and luck, here you stand on the precipice of fantasy greatness. But the job is not done. These will be the biggest tests of the entire season. You will be tempted by false glory. You will be tried by fire at every turn. You will be deluged by false information. Stay true, stay strong, and you will prevail.

With that, we bring you the Optimus Week 15 waiver wire recommendations.

One thing to keep in mind with all of these FAAB recommendations: We are at the point where every game may be your last. These are general evaluations, but you know your needs and your league best. If you need this guy to have a shot at advancing? Spend whatever you need to spend. If you don’t win, there’s no point in holding back anyway.

Week 15 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we transition from the regular season to deep playoff runs, now is the time to ensure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you lose your high-end RB to injury. For the next two weeks, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams | Sleeper 49% | ESPN 22.1% | FAAB 25%

As you know, Blake Corum was a feature in my “Handcuffs Who Matter” series a couple of weeks ago. In Weeks 13 and 14, he proved why, coming in at RB17 in Week 13 and RB3 pending MNF in Week 14. The kicker? No, I don’t mean Harrison Mevis. It’s that Corum accomplished both on no more than 13 touches in either week. That’s the definition of a “Handcuff Who Matters,” right there!

Now, a quick word of warning. You should roster Corum. And I do not recommend starting him in Week 15 or Week 16. The Panthers and Cardinals, his Week 13 and 14 opponents, were the 6th and 10th-worst at limiting opposing RBs’ fantasy points. His Week 15 opponent, the Lions? They’re the best at limiting opposing RBs. What about their Week 16 opponent, the Seahawks? They’re the 7th stingiest.

It all depends on your roster, of course, so keep an eye out for our projections and rankings to make your starting decisions. He’s worth rostering, but unless you’ve suffered some losses at RB and limped into the playoffs, Corum should remain on your bench as we roll into the playoffs.

Dare Ogunbowale, Houston Texans | Sleeper 0% | ESPN 0.1% | FAAB 0%

This is entirely about opportunity. Both Nick Chubb and Woody Marks missed time in Week 14 with various injuries, and while Marks was able to return to the game, it was Dare Ogunbowale who found his way into the end zone in the interim. If Marks and/or Chubb can get through practice and actually play in Houston’s Week 15 game against the Cardinals, Ogunbowale isn’t even an afterthought and should stay where he is on the waiver wire.

But!

Sometimes injuries flare up after the adrenaline of a game subsides. If Marks in particular can’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday, then Ogunbowale should be a priority add. Houston gets the Cardinals in Week 15. You know, the team Blake Corum and Co. just ran all over? So monitor @new.optimusfantasy.com on BlueSky for updates and act accordingly.

Week 15 Handcuff Who Matters:

Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 4% | ESPN % | FAAB 50%

“If De’Von Achane goes down, how will the Miami backfield look?” Well, we finally got our answer. It turns out, the answer is a resounding “Jaylen Wright.” When Achane got sidelined in Week 14 with a rib injury, Ollie Gordon‘s role didn’t change at all. Instead, it was Wright who took over the backfield duties. Wright notched 24 carries throughout the contest, compared to only five from Gordon. 

Now, Achane seems to be OK and claims he could have returned to the game. So this isn’t a “pick up Wright and start him in Week 15” type of recommendation. However, given how much Miami has focused on its running game over the last two months, combined with Achane’s slight build, Wright is the name to know and roster in case his injuries linger. 

Wide Receivers:

Unless you have three or four bona fide starters at running back with consistent workloads, you’re likely putting wide receivers in the flex spot. That makes getting enough wide receivers outside of your starters a must in playoff weeks. Injuries and general volatility shake up each week’s landscape at the wide receiver position, so even some of the risers at the position become viable. Not everybody’s fantasy playoff situation is crystal clear, so we’ll be highlighting some high-upside options that can boost your team in these playoff weeks.

Luther Burden, Chicago Bears | Sleeper 37% | ESPN 13.9% | FAAB 4-6%

Without Rome Odunze, Burden was a solid contributor for the Bears with a 4-67 line on team-leading six targets in Chicago’s loss ot the Packers in Week 14. Burden had season-highs in routes (69%), percentage of air yards (26%), and a 21.4% target share. Odunze is “week-to-week” with his heel and foot injury, so if he remains out, Burden is yet again a high-upside option for Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns.

Burden’s workload is trending up at the right time, and with Chicago in the thick of the NFC race for the top seed, they’ll need all hands on deck. We’d like to see Burden run more routes, but trending up in his workload is always a good sign for a rookie in a productive offense with a clear gap without Odunze. If Burden isn’t already stashed on a roster, get him on yours. He’s worth starting as an upside flex as long as Odunze remains out.

Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.4% | FAAB 2-3%

Adding Ryan Flournoy here in the playoff weeks is purely speculative. What Flournoy did with CeeDee Lamb out of the game on Thursday night was obviously massive, but it didn’t help anybody in fantasy. Now you have the chance to make it benefit you this week. With nine receptions for 115 yards and a score, it was a clear breakout performance with that obviously “not having Lamb” caveat. Flournoy finished as the overall WR5 entering MNF, and he was the key beneficiary, not George Pickens. 

The speculative part is that if Lamb cannot make it through concussion protocol in time for their Week 15 game against the Minnesota Vikings, Flournoy becomes an instant fantasy WR3 and would be well-positioned as a key cog in the Cowboys’ passing game. With Lamb out in Week 5 against the Jets, Flournoy put up a 6-114 line on eight targets. Keep tabs on Lamb this week, and if he doesn’t play, Flournoy is in a good spot for fantasy production.

Quarterbacks:

If you’re hunting for a QB right now, we’re assuming you’re looking for a one-week fix because of injury, or you’ve been streaming your QB2/Superflex roster spot all season. These recommendations are for one-week rentals to get you through your first fantasy playoff matchup. If you’re hunting for a QB in 1QB leagues, you likely have much better options not covered here.

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints | Sleeper 16% | ESPN 5.7% | FAAB 3-5%

The New Orleans Saints are a dumpster fire. However, rookie QB Tyler Shough has somehow managed to calm the flames a bit and is making a medium splash in fantasy football while doing so. While he has won only one game, Shough is the overall QB14 since taking the reins of the Saints’ offense in Week 9.

To be fair, Shough has been the recipient of a fairly easy schedule, with three of his first five NFL starts coming against teams in the bottom half of fantasy points allowed to QBs. In those three games, Shough is averaging 16.5 fantasy points. And it’s not just the easy matchups where he has excelled. Even in tougher contests, Shough has been serviceable, logging double-digit points against the Rams (10.2) and Panthers (19).  

This week, the Saints host Carolina for round two of their season series. While the Panthers defense has been good against QBs this season – the unit is giving up the sixth fewest fantasy points to the position (14.1) – this is a division game, and Shough showed out against them in Week 10 in Carolina. Firing up a rookie on a bad offense in the fantasy playoffs always carries risk with it. However, Shough has a safe double-digit fantasy point floor and should help get you to round two next weekend.

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers | Sleeper 32% | ESPN 23.3% | FAAB 1-3%

The 2025 season has made it clear that future Hall-of-Fame QB Aaron Rodgers’ best days are behind him. Currently sitting as the overall QB18, Rodgers has been a rollercoaster this season, and his last four games have been the worst of it. Since Week 10, the Steelers’ signal caller ranks as QB35 in fantasy points per game (10.3). That rank is bolstered by a solid 20.5 fantasy point performance this past weekend against Baltimore, who are one spot worse against fantasy QBs than the Steelers’ Week 15 opponent, the Miami Dolphins.

Rodgers isn’t going to be a fantasy asset you’ll want to hold past Week 15, but if you’re looking for a plug-and-play QB for round one, the 42-year-old QB is a solid streamer against the Dolphins. The Miami defense has allowed 15 or more fantasy points to opposing QBs in four of the last five games, and 25 or more points five times this season. If all you need from a streaming QB this week is a reliable floor, Rodgers provides one with an almost baked-in double-digit fantasy point output in this match-up against the Dolphins.  

Tight Ends:

BONUS: Harold Fannin, Cleveland Browns

David Njoku is hurt, and Shedeur Sanders is enough of a QB that Fannin is a solid TE1 for the rest of the season. His ownership is high, over 50%, but he’s good enough that you need to check your leagues in case he’s available for some reason. If he’s out there and you’re wondering how much to spend on him, the limit doesn’t exist. Go get him.

Browns follow up a great TD catch by Harold Fannin Jr with an absolutely hilarious 2 point conversion attempt

[image or embed]

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) December 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM

Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 5% | ESPN 1.1% | FAAB 15%

You wouldn’t know it from the way the Bills played, but they were the top-scoring defense against TEs coming into Week 14. Naturally, Mike Gesicki goes and puts up a 6/86/1 against them. 

‼️‼️‼️ INJURY NEWS ‼️‼️‼️

Tee Higgins has been placed in concussion protocol.

— 🏈Optimus FF News (@news.optimusfantasy.com) December 8, 2025 at 2:08 PM

Oh, what’s this, you say? Well, well, well. 

As a frame of reference, the approximately 11 HPPR Gesicki’s average statline without Tee Higgins (pictured above) is equivalent to TE4 in terms of PPG. For a TE you can find on the waiver wire in Week 15, that’s well worth taking a shot unless you have one of Brock Bowers or Trey McBride at your lineup’s disposal. 

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens | Sleeper 13% | ESPN 8.1% |  FAAB 10%

Insert cheesy “Likely” pun here.

Alright, everybody got that one out of their systems? Are we good? OK, great, time to pay attention.

Don’t let Mark Andrews‘ contract extension throw you off the scent. Isaiah Likely is one of Baltimore’s most important receiving options. RB Keaton Mitchell now has a knee injury, and Baltimore is sorely lacking explosive playmakers with Lamar Jackson (knee, hamstring, toe, foot) and Derrick Henry (old) outside of Zay Flowers. While Likely will probably always be second to Flowers in target priority, but Likely is capable of turning even a handful of targets into a productive day.

And this week, he gets Cincinnati. You know, the team that allowed Buffalo’s TEs to combine for 11 catches for 137 yards and 2 TDs. You start your TEs against Cincinnati – all of them. In fact, we saw this matchup in Week 13, when Likely went for five catches and 95 yards on six targets, and was thiiiis close to adding a TD to it, too.

Isaiah Likely fumbles the ball before crossing the line, touchback

[image or embed]

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) November 27, 2025 at 8:23 PM

Likely is a big enough name that you probably can’t sneak him through for free, but there are enough distractions out there that you probably don’t need to spend top dollar, either. 

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:

Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Carolina Panthers | Sleeper 4% | ESPN 3.9% | FAAB 0-1%

Need a sign that this has been a strange season? Here we are. The Carolina Panthers are a legit streaming option for your fantasy football playoff teams as they head into a Week 15 matchup against Tyler Shough and the New Orleans Saints.

To the surprise of many, Carolina’s defense has picked up some steam in their last two games, logging five INTs, including one pick-six and one fumble recovery. And despite all the positives outlined above in the QB section, Shough has been turning the ball over. In five starts and six total games, he’s thrown five INTs and lost two fumbles. In addition, the porous Saints’ offensive line has allowed the rookie to get sacked 12 times in the last three games.

The best part is, Carolina is not only a safe streamer for your Week 15 matchups, but they are also an option to carry you through the rest of the way. They’re remaining schedule has them with an A grade, and the fifth-best schedule among fantasy D/ST units, per our fantasy playoff projections courtesy of Lou Brunson. The Panthers’ late blooming is an opportunity for you to lock down a decent defense for your push towards a fantasy football championship.

Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 38% | ESPN 23.9% | FAAB 0-1%

Yet another unlikely candidate for a streaming defense is gracing these pages ahead of Week 15, folks. Yes, the Miami Dolphins, who last week exploded for 16 fantasy points against the New York Jets, are again on the wire as a viable fantasy defense this weekend, and possibly for the rest of your playoff journey.

Despite what you may think, the Dolphins’ defense has been fairly solid this season, ranking as the overall D/ST12 through 14 weeks. Since Week 10, they’ve been even better, ranking as the D/ST2 in fantasy points per game (12.3) with 14 sacks, three fumble recoveries and six INTs.

This weekend, Miami heads to Pittsburgh to face off with the Steelers and the ghost of Aaron Rodgers. While I expect Rodgers to play well enough to be fantasy-relevant – as outlined above – I also expect this Miami defense to do what it does best and pressure the QB. They might not knock your socks off, but they have a reliable double-digit floor as a streaming fantasy D/ST this week. If you’d like to end streaming and stick with this unit, our fantasy playoff projections have Miami with a B grade and the seventh-best remaining schedule for fantasy D/STs the rest of the way.   

Kickers:

Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings | Sleeper 25% | ESPN 15.6% | FAAB 0-1%

The Minnesota Vikings got QB J.J. McCarthy back this past weekend, and to the surprise of everyone, it was actually good for the team. Minnesota managed to blank the Washington Commanders and put up 31 total points on an atrocious defense, allowing kicker Will Reichard to be fantasy relevant after notching a big zero in Week 13 against Seattle. 

Reichard went 4-for-4 on extra point attempts and made his lone field goal attempt in the Vikings’ win, logging eight fantasy points. This coming weekend, Minnesota heads to Dallas to take on the Cowboys, whose defense is also notably bad. While the McCarthy showing from last week is unlikely to be repeated, they should do well enough to get Reichard more opportunities to kick, especially with the Vikings’ penchant for stalled drives.

Reichard won’t be a hot commodity on the waiver wire, and you might even be able to get away with a $0 FAAB bid. If you need to hang on to past this week, the Vikings head to MetLife Stadium in Week 16 to face the Giants. The second-year kicker will also be viable in that match-up, per our fantasy playoff projections, and can save you the hassle for one more week, but you’ll want to dump him ahead of their Week 17 game against Detroit.

Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 43% | ESPN 25.4% | FAAB 3-5%

I don’t think I’ve written about one player more this season than I have about Bengals kicker Evan McPherson. Somehow, despite his rank as K7 through 14 weeks, he is still rostered in less than 50 percent of leagues, and if you need a kicker to stream this week, McPherson is the one you want to grab. 

Not only is McPherson a solid option in the Bengals’ Week 15 matchup against Baltimore, but he’s an option to keep on your roster through the fantasy football playoffs. Our fantasy playoff projections have McPherson with an A grade and the fifth-best schedule for kickers down the championship stretch. It makes sense, given that this Bengals offense is a scoring machine, having notched 30 or more points in five of their last seven games. 

Regardless of the game’s outcome, McPherson is going to get plenty of opportunities to score for your fantasy squads. Over the last three weeks, the veteran kicker has attempted – and made – eight extra points and eight field goals, including three of 40 or more yards. He won’t be as cheap as some other options on the waiver wire this week, but McPherson is as automatic as they come, and a true set-it-and-forget-it option to help navigate the fantasy football playoffs.

For more wavier wire advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

You’ve made it. From the opening horn, all the way to now, you’ve survived. Through cunning, wit, guile, and luck, here you stand on the precipice of fantasy greatness. But the job is not done. These will be the biggest tests of the entire season. You will be tempted by false glory. You will be tried by fire at every turn. You will be deluged by false information. Stay true, stay strong, and you will prevail.

With that, we bring you the Optimus Week 15 waiver wire recommendations.

One thing to keep in mind with all of these FAAB recommendations: We are at the point where every game may be your last. These are general evaluations, but you know your needs and your league best. If you need this guy to have a shot at advancing? Spend whatever you need to spend. If you don’t win, there’s no point in holding back anyway.

Week 15 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we transition from the regular season to deep playoff runs, now is the time to ensure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you lose your high-end RB to injury. For the next two weeks, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams | Sleeper 49% | ESPN 22.1% | FAAB 25%

As you know, Blake Corum was a feature in my “Handcuffs Who Matter” series a couple of weeks ago. In Weeks 13 and 14, he proved why, coming in at RB17 in Week 13 and RB3 pending MNF in Week 14. The kicker? No, I don’t mean Harrison Mevis. It’s that Corum accomplished both on no more than 13 touches in either week. That’s the definition of a “Handcuff Who Matters,” right there!

Now, a quick word of warning. You should roster Corum. And I do not recommend starting him in Week 15 or Week 16. The Panthers and Cardinals, his Week 13 and 14 opponents, were the 6th and 10th-worst at limiting opposing RBs’ fantasy points. His Week 15 opponent, the Lions? They’re the best at limiting opposing RBs. What about their Week 16 opponent, the Seahawks? They’re the 7th stingiest.

It all depends on your roster, of course, so keep an eye out for our projections and rankings to make your starting decisions. He’s worth rostering, but unless you’ve suffered some losses at RB and limped into the playoffs, Corum should remain on your bench as we roll into the playoffs.

Dare Ogunbowale, Houston Texans | Sleeper 0% | ESPN 0.1% | FAAB 0%

This is entirely about opportunity. Both Nick Chubb and Woody Marks missed time in Week 14 with various injuries, and while Marks was able to return to the game, it was Dare Ogunbowale who found his way into the end zone in the interim. If Marks and/or Chubb can get through practice and actually play in Houston’s Week 15 game against the Cardinals, Ogunbowale isn’t even an afterthought and should stay where he is on the waiver wire.

But!

Sometimes injuries flare up after the adrenaline of a game subsides. If Marks in particular can’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday, then Ogunbowale should be a priority add. Houston gets the Cardinals in Week 15. You know, the team Blake Corum and Co. just ran all over? So monitor @new.optimusfantasy.com on BlueSky for updates and act accordingly.

Week 15 Handcuff Who Matters:

Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 4% | ESPN % | FAAB 50%

“If De’Von Achane goes down, how will the Miami backfield look?” Well, we finally got our answer. It turns out, the answer is a resounding “Jaylen Wright.” When Achane got sidelined in Week 14 with a rib injury, Ollie Gordon‘s role didn’t change at all. Instead, it was Wright who took over the backfield duties. Wright notched 24 carries throughout the contest, compared to only five from Gordon. 

Now, Achane seems to be OK and claims he could have returned to the game. So this isn’t a “pick up Wright and start him in Week 15” type of recommendation. However, given how much Miami has focused on its running game over the last two months, combined with Achane’s slight build, Wright is the name to know and roster in case his injuries linger. 

Wide Receivers:

Unless you have three or four bona fide starters at running back with consistent workloads, you’re likely putting wide receivers in the flex spot. That makes getting enough wide receivers outside of your starters a must in playoff weeks. Injuries and general volatility shake up each week’s landscape at the wide receiver position, so even some of the risers at the position become viable. Not everybody’s fantasy playoff situation is crystal clear, so we’ll be highlighting some high-upside options that can boost your team in these playoff weeks.

Luther Burden, Chicago Bears | Sleeper 37% | ESPN 13.9% | FAAB 4-6%

Without Rome Odunze, Burden was a solid contributor for the Bears with a 4-67 line on team-leading six targets in Chicago’s loss ot the Packers in Week 14. Burden had season-highs in routes (69%), percentage of air yards (26%), and a 21.4% target share. Odunze is “week-to-week” with his heel and foot injury, so if he remains out, Burden is yet again a high-upside option for Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns.

Burden’s workload is trending up at the right time, and with Chicago in the thick of the NFC race for the top seed, they’ll need all hands on deck. We’d like to see Burden run more routes, but trending up in his workload is always a good sign for a rookie in a productive offense with a clear gap without Odunze. If Burden isn’t already stashed on a roster, get him on yours. He’s worth starting as an upside flex as long as Odunze remains out.

Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.4% | FAAB 2-3%

Adding Ryan Flournoy here in the playoff weeks is purely speculative. What Flournoy did with CeeDee Lamb out of the game on Thursday night was obviously massive, but it didn’t help anybody in fantasy. Now you have the chance to make it benefit you this week. With nine receptions for 115 yards and a score, it was a clear breakout performance with that obviously “not having Lamb” caveat. Flournoy finished as the overall WR5 entering MNF, and he was the key beneficiary, not George Pickens. 

The speculative part is that if Lamb cannot make it through concussion protocol in time for their Week 15 game against the Minnesota Vikings, Flournoy becomes an instant fantasy WR3 and would be well-positioned as a key cog in the Cowboys’ passing game. With Lamb out in Week 5 against the Jets, Flournoy put up a 6-114 line on eight targets. Keep tabs on Lamb this week, and if he doesn’t play, Flournoy is in a good spot for fantasy production.

Quarterbacks:

If you’re hunting for a QB right now, we’re assuming you’re looking for a one-week fix because of injury, or you’ve been streaming your QB2/Superflex roster spot all season. These recommendations are for one-week rentals to get you through your first fantasy playoff matchup. If you’re hunting for a QB in 1QB leagues, you likely have much better options not covered here.

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints | Sleeper 16% | ESPN 5.7% | FAAB 3-5%

The New Orleans Saints are a dumpster fire. However, rookie QB Tyler Shough has somehow managed to calm the flames a bit and is making a medium splash in fantasy football while doing so. While he has won only one game, Shough is the overall QB14 since taking the reins of the Saints’ offense in Week 9.

To be fair, Shough has been the recipient of a fairly easy schedule, with three of his first five NFL starts coming against teams in the bottom half of fantasy points allowed to QBs. In those three games, Shough is averaging 16.5 fantasy points. And it’s not just the easy matchups where he has excelled. Even in tougher contests, Shough has been serviceable, logging double-digit points against the Rams (10.2) and Panthers (19).  

This week, the Saints host Carolina for round two of their season series. While the Panthers defense has been good against QBs this season – the unit is giving up the sixth fewest fantasy points to the position (14.1) – this is a division game, and Shough showed out against them in Week 10 in Carolina. Firing up a rookie on a bad offense in the fantasy playoffs always carries risk with it. However, Shough has a safe double-digit fantasy point floor and should help get you to round two next weekend.

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers | Sleeper 32% | ESPN 23.3% | FAAB 1-3%

The 2025 season has made it clear that future Hall-of-Fame QB Aaron Rodgers’ best days are behind him. Currently sitting as the overall QB18, Rodgers has been a rollercoaster this season, and his last four games have been the worst of it. Since Week 10, the Steelers’ signal caller ranks as QB35 in fantasy points per game (10.3). That rank is bolstered by a solid 20.5 fantasy point performance this past weekend against Baltimore, who are one spot worse against fantasy QBs than the Steelers’ Week 15 opponent, the Miami Dolphins.

Rodgers isn’t going to be a fantasy asset you’ll want to hold past Week 15, but if you’re looking for a plug-and-play QB for round one, the 42-year-old QB is a solid streamer against the Dolphins. The Miami defense has allowed 15 or more fantasy points to opposing QBs in four of the last five games, and 25 or more points five times this season. If all you need from a streaming QB this week is a reliable floor, Rodgers provides one with an almost baked-in double-digit fantasy point output in this match-up against the Dolphins.  

Tight Ends:

BONUS: Harold Fannin, Cleveland Browns

David Njoku is hurt, and Shedeur Sanders is enough of a QB that Fannin is a solid TE1 for the rest of the season. His ownership is high, over 50%, but he’s good enough that you need to check your leagues in case he’s available for some reason. If he’s out there and you’re wondering how much to spend on him, the limit doesn’t exist. Go get him.

Browns follow up a great TD catch by Harold Fannin Jr with an absolutely hilarious 2 point conversion attempt

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— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) December 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM

Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 5% | ESPN 1.1% | FAAB 15%

You wouldn’t know it from the way the Bills played, but they were the top-scoring defense against TEs coming into Week 14. Naturally, Mike Gesicki goes and puts up a 6/86/1 against them. 

‼️‼️‼️ INJURY NEWS ‼️‼️‼️

Tee Higgins has been placed in concussion protocol.

— 🏈Optimus FF News (@news.optimusfantasy.com) December 8, 2025 at 2:08 PM

Oh, what’s this, you say? Well, well, well. 

As a frame of reference, the approximately 11 HPPR Gesicki’s average statline without Tee Higgins (pictured above) is equivalent to TE4 in terms of PPG. For a TE you can find on the waiver wire in Week 15, that’s well worth taking a shot unless you have one of Brock Bowers or Trey McBride at your lineup’s disposal. 

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens | Sleeper 13% | ESPN 8.1% |  FAAB 10%

Insert cheesy “Likely” pun here.

Alright, everybody got that one out of their systems? Are we good? OK, great, time to pay attention.

Don’t let Mark Andrews‘ contract extension throw you off the scent. Isaiah Likely is one of Baltimore’s most important receiving options. RB Keaton Mitchell now has a knee injury, and Baltimore is sorely lacking explosive playmakers with Lamar Jackson (knee, hamstring, toe, foot) and Derrick Henry (old) outside of Zay Flowers. While Likely will probably always be second to Flowers in target priority, but Likely is capable of turning even a handful of targets into a productive day.

And this week, he gets Cincinnati. You know, the team that allowed Buffalo’s TEs to combine for 11 catches for 137 yards and 2 TDs. You start your TEs against Cincinnati – all of them. In fact, we saw this matchup in Week 13, when Likely went for five catches and 95 yards on six targets, and was thiiiis close to adding a TD to it, too.

Isaiah Likely fumbles the ball before crossing the line, touchback

[image or embed]

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) November 27, 2025 at 8:23 PM

Likely is a big enough name that you probably can’t sneak him through for free, but there are enough distractions out there that you probably don’t need to spend top dollar, either. 

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:

Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Carolina Panthers | Sleeper 4% | ESPN 3.9% | FAAB 0-1%

Need a sign that this has been a strange season? Here we are. The Carolina Panthers are a legit streaming option for your fantasy football playoff teams as they head into a Week 15 matchup against Tyler Shough and the New Orleans Saints.

To the surprise of many, Carolina’s defense has picked up some steam in their last two games, logging five INTs, including one pick-six and one fumble recovery. And despite all the positives outlined above in the QB section, Shough has been turning the ball over. In five starts and six total games, he’s thrown five INTs and lost two fumbles. In addition, the porous Saints’ offensive line has allowed the rookie to get sacked 12 times in the last three games.

The best part is, Carolina is not only a safe streamer for your Week 15 matchups, but they are also an option to carry you through the rest of the way. They’re remaining schedule has them with an A grade, and the fifth-best schedule among fantasy D/ST units, per our fantasy playoff projections courtesy of Lou Brunson. The Panthers’ late blooming is an opportunity for you to lock down a decent defense for your push towards a fantasy football championship.

Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 38% | ESPN 23.9% | FAAB 0-1%

Yet another unlikely candidate for a streaming defense is gracing these pages ahead of Week 15, folks. Yes, the Miami Dolphins, who last week exploded for 16 fantasy points against the New York Jets, are again on the wire as a viable fantasy defense this weekend, and possibly for the rest of your playoff journey.

Despite what you may think, the Dolphins’ defense has been fairly solid this season, ranking as the overall D/ST12 through 14 weeks. Since Week 10, they’ve been even better, ranking as the D/ST2 in fantasy points per game (12.3) with 14 sacks, three fumble recoveries and six INTs.

This weekend, Miami heads to Pittsburgh to face off with the Steelers and the ghost of Aaron Rodgers. While I expect Rodgers to play well enough to be fantasy-relevant – as outlined above – I also expect this Miami defense to do what it does best and pressure the QB. They might not knock your socks off, but they have a reliable double-digit floor as a streaming fantasy D/ST this week. If you’d like to end streaming and stick with this unit, our fantasy playoff projections have Miami with a B grade and the seventh-best remaining schedule for fantasy D/STs the rest of the way.   

Kickers:

Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings | Sleeper 25% | ESPN 15.6% | FAAB 0-1%

The Minnesota Vikings got QB J.J. McCarthy back this past weekend, and to the surprise of everyone, it was actually good for the team. Minnesota managed to blank the Washington Commanders and put up 31 total points on an atrocious defense, allowing kicker Will Reichard to be fantasy relevant after notching a big zero in Week 13 against Seattle. 

Reichard went 4-for-4 on extra point attempts and made his lone field goal attempt in the Vikings’ win, logging eight fantasy points. This coming weekend, Minnesota heads to Dallas to take on the Cowboys, whose defense is also notably bad. While the McCarthy showing from last week is unlikely to be repeated, they should do well enough to get Reichard more opportunities to kick, especially with the Vikings’ penchant for stalled drives.

Reichard won’t be a hot commodity on the waiver wire, and you might even be able to get away with a $0 FAAB bid. If you need to hang on to past this week, the Vikings head to MetLife Stadium in Week 16 to face the Giants. The second-year kicker will also be viable in that match-up, per our fantasy playoff projections, and can save you the hassle for one more week, but you’ll want to dump him ahead of their Week 17 game against Detroit.

Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 43% | ESPN 25.4% | FAAB 3-5%

I don’t think I’ve written about one player more this season than I have about Bengals kicker Evan McPherson. Somehow, despite his rank as K7 through 14 weeks, he is still rostered in less than 50 percent of leagues, and if you need a kicker to stream this week, McPherson is the one you want to grab. 

Not only is McPherson a solid option in the Bengals’ Week 15 matchup against Baltimore, but he’s an option to keep on your roster through the fantasy football playoffs. Our fantasy playoff projections have McPherson with an A grade and the fifth-best schedule for kickers down the championship stretch. It makes sense, given that this Bengals offense is a scoring machine, having notched 30 or more points in five of their last seven games. 

Regardless of the game’s outcome, McPherson is going to get plenty of opportunities to score for your fantasy squads. Over the last three weeks, the veteran kicker has attempted – and made – eight extra points and eight field goals, including three of 40 or more yards. He won’t be as cheap as some other options on the waiver wire this week, but McPherson is as automatic as they come, and a true set-it-and-forget-it option to help navigate the fantasy football playoffs.

For more wavier wire advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

By Published On: December 8th, 2025

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