Stock Up, Stock Down: Jaylen Waddle is back just in time for the fantasy playoffs

What a Week 14 we just had! The Rams-Bills game provided us with the type of fantasy points you needed if you were trying to make that playoff push. Meanwhile, the games between the Dolphins-Jets and Falcons-Vikings also provided us with even more fireworks. As always, the fantasy rankings spoken about for the week are with Monday Night Football pending, but we’ll certainly get a good measure of who can and who can’t help us in the fantasy playoffs. In the fantasy football world, now is the time for an early Christmas, so let’s get after it.

STOCK UP

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Dolphins

It took a while, but Waddle is turning it on just in time for the fantasy playoffs. He’s averaged 98.6 receiving yards in his last three games which has helped him to WR9 on a points per game basis in that span. In Week 14 against the Jets, Waddle caught 9-of-12 targets (both season-highs) for 99 yards. Tua Tagovailoa has averaged 44.3 passing attempts and 337.6 yards in his last three games (QB3), which should tell you that the Dolphins’ offense is getting back to their old ways of great passing volume. This bodes well for Waddle in the fantasy playoffs, despite the fact they’ll face the Texans, 49ers and Browns over their next three games. It’s been a tough season for Waddle, but if you held onto him, he can help you down the stretch.

Sincere McCormick, RB, Raiders

It’s not often you find a running back off the waiver wire that you can throw into your FLEX spots come fantasy playoff time. McCormick just might be that guy as he’s gotten more touches and produced more in each of the Raiders’ last three games. Week 14 saw him have his best game to date with 89 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches. Now, you’ll have to take into consideration that both Zamir White and Alexander Mattison were out, but McCormick has been the best looking back for the Raiders this season. With the Raiders far away from playing for anything meaningful (besides draft position), the Raiders should get a better look at their young back in McCormick.

Sam Darnold, QB, Vikings

Darnold started the season off great, hit a wall midseason and has now been on an absolute tear in the Vikings’ last four games. In this span he’s averaged 289.5 passing YPG while throwing a total of 11 touchdowns and no interceptions, good for QB4 in fantasy. Darnold will continue his career year against the Bears, Seahawks and Packers over the next three weeks during the fantasy playoffs. This schedule isn’t a cake walk nor is it some type of death gauntlet. With how Darnold and the Vikings’ offense have been playing it won’t matter who they line up against. He’s ready for the real and fantasy playoffs.

STOCK DOWN

Nick Chubb, RB, Browns

This is a tough one, but it’s just not happening for our guy Chubb. The good news is, he had his best run of the season in Week 14 against the Steelers (a 19-yard run where he looked semi-explosive). However, the facts are in seven games played this season Chubb has failed to reach 60 rushing yards and is averaging under 4,0 yards per carry. While Chubb’s still likely to lead the team in carries each week, Jerome Ford did tie his season high with 10 carries this week and will be a factor in the receiving game. Chubb is only worth a start going forward, if you are desperate.

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Cardinals

It’s quite simple when it comes to Harrison in fantasy, if he doesn’t score a touchdown, you’re out of luck buddy. In games in which he doesn’t score a touchdown this season, Harrison averages only 6.5 fantasy points per game. It’s been an up and mostly down year for Harrison managers who likely took him in the second round of fantasy drafts. The reality is, you can’t trust the talented young receiver in the fantasy playoffs as his role in the Cardinals’ offense is inconsistent on a week to week basis. Find other options and may the force be with you.

Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers

Can you even start Samuel anymore in fantasy? I wouldn’t start a player who’s averaging 21.2 receiving yards over his last four games (while also being WR88 in that span) and who hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 6. It’s been a very tough go fantasy wise for the multi-talented Samuel and things didn’t look any better in Week 14. It was very discouraging to see the 49ers score 38 points against the Bears yet Deebo managed a meager 5.5 fantasy points. Jauan Jennings is the clear WR1 for the 49ers and it’s been that way for a while now. If anything, Samuel seems to be operating as the fourth option behind George Kittle, Jennings and whoever is at running back. Find yourself another option if possible.