Fantasy: Top waiver-wire pickups for the fantasy playoffs

Finding studs on waivers is often the key to winning a fantasy championship. Check back every week to learn who is trending up.

Roster percentages are based on Sleeper leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Shedeur Sanders, Browns

Sanders delivered the first 300-yard game of his career Sunday, throwing for 364 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception in a 31-29 loss to the Tennessee Titans. While his 54.8% completion rate is a bit underwhelming, that stat thankfully doesn't matter for most fantasy leagues.

The 23-year-old's next game comes against a Bears unit that has allowed more passing touchdowns than every team except the Cowboys. But Chicago's defense also leads the league with 18 interceptions. One way or another, that could mean a lot of explosive plays, which makes Sanders a low-floor, high-ceiling option as the fantasy playoffs get started.

Other QBs to pick up:

• Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (32%): Rodgers bounced back from four consecutive subpar games to score 20.96 points against the Ravens last weekend. He has another solid matchup against the Dolphins this week.

• Riley Leonard, Colts (0%): Leonard should be the Colts' quarterback moving forward after Daniel Jones tore his Achilles. However, he's dealing with a knee injury and is almost entirely unproven as a sixth-round rookie.

Running backs

Jaylen Wright/Ollie Gordon, Dolphins

Both Dolphins tailbacks are worth adding this week if De'Von Achane remains sidelined with the rib injury that knocked him out of Miami's win over the Jets. Gordon remained in a reserve role even after the Dolphins ruled Achane out, but he still scored a touchdown. Wright, on the other hand, took over the backfield, recording 24 carries for 107 yards and a TD.

The matchup against the Steelers isn't perfect, but it's not terrible. With a potential starting role available for Wright this week, his price will be high. Although Pittsburgh has given up only six scrimmage scores to tailbacks this season, it has surrendered the eighth-most rushing yards to running backs.

Blake Corum, Rams

Corum showcased elite upside in the Rams' blowout win over the Cardinals, finishing with 128 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. But a large portion of that production came when the game was already out of hand. With a challenging date against the Lions in Week 15, Corum remains more valuable as a handcuff option.

Detroit has conceded the ninth-fewest rushing yards and the second-fewest receiving yards to running backs in 2025, giving up just six touchdowns to the position all season. Sunday's matchup between the Lions and Rams should be much closer than Los Angeles' previous contest versus Arizona, which will likely limit Corum's opportunities behind Kyren Williams.

Other RBs to pick up:

• Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (45%): Allgeier remains a solid handcuff and a potential touchdown vulture, but he won't move out of that role while Bijan Robinson is healthy.

• Sean Tucker, Buccaneers (30%): Tucker is a Hail Mary flex option. He found the end zone last weekend for the sixth time this campaign, but he recorded only seven carries. Still, he's shown that he can take over games, accumulating 33 fantasy points against the Bills while Bucky Irving was sidelined.

Wide receivers

Jerry Jeudy, Browns

Jeudy was one of the primary beneficiaries of Sanders' big game against the Titans, posting three receptions, 76 yards, and a touchdown on five targets. The 26-year-old's yardage represents his best outing of the year, and the score was just his second of the campaign.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder has a lot of upside against the Bears. Only two teams have given up more receiving touchdowns to wideouts, and Chicago is surrendering 224.8 passing yards per contest. Jeudy is a strong flex option this week.

Jayden Reed, Packers

Reed returned last weekend against the Bears after missing 11 games with foot and shoulder injuries, hauling in all four of his targets for 31 yards while playing 47% of the offensive snaps. He also added 22 yards on two carries. I expect Reed's target, yardage, and snap share percentage to increase in his second game back.

The 25-year-old will need to be more involved for the Packers to find a rhythm against the Broncos' elite defense. Denver ranks fourth in total yards (282) and points (18.1) allowed per game. But Reed's skills as a deep threat will likely see him draw a couple of downfield targets when he has a favorable matchup, and he could take advantage of those. His true value comes in Weeks 16 and 17, but you may need to scoop him up now.

Other WRs to pick up:

• Ryan Flournoy, Cowboys (2%): Flournoy had a monster 9/115/1 outing against the Lions, and he could be a big part of Dallas' game plan for the next few weeks with CeeDee Lamb in concussion protocol. However, upcoming contests against the Vikings and Chargers limit his ceiling.

• Luther Burden, Bears (37%): Burden has a subpar matchup with the Browns, but he's received a snap share of at least 51% in each of the last three games, turning those opportunities into 167 scrimmage yards. The Missouri product is a risky flex option if you're desperate this week.

Tight ends

Dalton Schultz, Texans

I expect Schultz to bounce back from a 22-yard outing against the Chiefs in a big way. He remained relatively involved despite the modest yardage, earning four targets while playing 74% of the offensive snaps. But the 29-year-old could be in store for his fifth top-10 finish of the season against the Cardinals' defense.

Only seven teams have given up fewer touchdowns to tight ends than Arizona, and only nine have allowed fewer yards. Rams tight end Colby Parkinson finished with double-digit fantasy points in Week 14 after hauling in three of his five targets for 32 yards and a touchdown versus the Cardinals, and Schultz should be able to put up a similar stat line, if not better.

Other TEs to pick up:

• Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (66%): Fannin would've been the top tight end to target this week if he were below the 50% threshold, but he's too valuable not to be mentioned. The rookie has already been one of the better tight ends in fantasy (59/619/4), and he could see an even bigger uptick in usage and scoring if David Njoku misses time. Fannin could be worth the bulk of your remaining FAB if you don't have a reliable weekly tight end.

• Isaiah Likely, Ravens (13%): The 25-year-old has posted consecutive games with at least 10 fantasy points, and he faces the worst defense at guarding tight ends this week in the Bengals. Likely is still splitting time and snaps with Mark Andrews, but I love his upside this week and beyond.

Andrew Dixon is a contributing fantasy analyst for theScore.