Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

—Written by Brad Berreman
—Edited by Marc Caviglia
—Predictions are based on Staff Consensus

Week 15 finds us in the middle of the playoffs in fantasy football, at least for those who were able to advance past the first round, and the start of the playoffs in leagues that use Week 17. By this point, most of the usable players are already on rosters and unavailable to be picked up. That said, looking a little bit deeper and trying to take advantage of matchups or situations where NFL teams are looking deeper down their own rosters can yield players who could be viable fantasy options.

If you still have something at stake in the 2011 fantasy football season and are looking for some suitable options that may left on the waiver wire in your league, check out the Week 15 edition of our “Pick Them Ups” h

Quick Note: Not all players that had strong Week 14 outings are on this list, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have value. If you have any questions about free agents not discussed in this article, head over to the forums and we’ll help you with the answers.

Quarterbacks-Pick Them Up

Mark Sanchez (New York Jets)

Sanchez threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14, and he also added two rushing touchdowns for good measure. He has now thrown for seven touchdowns over his past three games, with just one interception over that span. Sanchez has a decent chance to continue his recent run in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, who rank in the bottom half of the league against opposing quarterbacks entering Week 14 (15 fantasy points per game). That is followed by a very favorable matchup against the New York Giants, who have allowed 12 passing touchdowns in their last three games and over 300 passing yards in each contest. Sanchez should beowned in nearly all 12 and 14-team leagues, but he should draw plenty of interest in 10-team leagues this week.

Consider Adding In: 10-Team Leagues

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T.J. Yates (Houston Texans)

Yates went 26-for-44 for an even 300 yards with two touchdowns and one interception along with 36 rushing yards against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, as he was much more productive in his second NFL start even without wide receiver Andre Johnson (hamstring). The Texans take on the Carolina Panthers, who have allowed at least 12 fantasy points (ESPN scoring) to an opposing quarterback in eight of their last nine games along with 11 passing touchdowns in their last four contests. After that another favorable matchup is coming for Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts, who entered Week 14 allowing 17.3 fantasy points per game (fourth-most in the league) to opposing quarterbacks. Yates’ value is limited to deep, two-quarterback leagues, but those looking for a starting option with some upside should take a long look at the rookie out of North Carolina.

Consider Adding In: 12-Team and 14-Team Leagues, especially two-quarterback leagues

Jake Locker (Tennessee Titans)

Locker went 13-for-29 for 282 yards and a touchdown along with six carries for 36 yards and a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in Week 14, as he came into the game in place of an injured Matt Hasselbeck (calf). Hasselbeck is slated for an MRI on Monday, but he did suggest he could have come back in the game if needed but that Locker was obviously not limited physically. If Hasselbeck is unable to start in Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts, Locker would get his first NFL start in a very favorable matchup. The Colts have now allowed 23 passing touchdowns this season, and have only intercepted six passes all season. They have also allowed two rushing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks, so Locker’s mobility stands to pose an added threat. Anyone considering adding the rookie out of Washington needs to keep any eye on Hasselbeck’s status as the week goes on, but those in deep leagues with enough rosters space can consider stashing him.

Consider Adding In: 12-Team and 14-Team Leagues, particularly for Matt Hasselbeck owners

Quarterbacks Watch List: Joe Webb (Minnesota Vikings), John Skelton (Arizona Cardinals), Caleb Hanie (Chicago Bears)