If you're reading this column, there are just two responses I have for you:
Congrats!
And/or ...
Thank you!
The congrats part of the calculation is likely pretty easy to understand: you've made it to the fantasy football playoffs and have your sights set on a championship belt. That's awesome. A little roster tinkering here or there via the waiver wire could be the push you need to win it all.
The thank you part is: if you didn't make the playoffs but just enjoy the content, that is also awesome. We appreciate your support! And perhaps a few of these names you'll read about over the next few weeks will become bigger fantasy factors in 2022.
We'll keep things rolling all the way through Week 18 of this season, providing you with the names you need to know.
Note: all players on this list are available in more than 50% of leagues on ESPN.com.
Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks (5.7% rostered): What a day for Penny, who has emerged over the past two weeks to give Seattle its best option at running back since Chris Carson was healthy. Penny scored twice in Week 14 and rushed for a career-high 137 yards on 16 carries. While Penny's career has not gone as planned after being a 2018 first-round pick, he does have some obvious natural talent and ability. Seattle has been looking for some stability at running back for a while and Penny gives them that. I'd add Penny in leagues of any size.
Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons (44.6%): It's been a solid seven-game run for Gage, who has picked up a total of 50 targets in that stretch and has at least 9.9 fantasy points in six of those seven outings. The Falcons continue to A.) throw the ball plenty and B.) utilize Gage as their top receiver, meaning this sort of target share should not diminish in any subsequent weeks. That continues to keep Gage in the flex conversation for those looking for a pass-catcher in a PPR format.
K.J. Osborn, WR, Minnesota Vikings (26.5%): With Adam Thielen uncertain to play in Week 15 due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 13, Osborn is on deck for a potential full-time role once again for Minnesota. In essentially two full games filling in for Thielen since he got hurt early in Week 13, Osborn has four catches on seven targets and then three catches on nine targets, plus a touchdown scored in each game. Minnesota remains a team that is always in close games at the end (only one game this season has not been decided by one score), which ups the chances of Kirk Cousins continuing to have to throw plenty. Osborn is a talented guy who can slide into your flex if Thielen is out again.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, San Francisco 49ers (44.5%): While it's unclear when Elijah Mitchell will return to the lineup, Wilson stepped up into a busy role in his absence in Week 14. Wilson saw all 13 running back rushing attempts for San Francisco, piecing together a 56-yard effort. Deebo Samuel handled eight carries and found the end zone and Wilson did not catch a pass, both of which were mitigating factors to Wilson's overall output in Week 14. But the volume was solid and the matchup looks good on Sunday against Atlanta if Mitchell is unavailable, making Wilson a flex consideration.
Justin Jackson (1.6%) and Joshua Kelley, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (0.4%): At the time of this piece going up, there is not full clarity on the severity of Austin Ekeler's ankle injury suffered on Sunday against the Giants, but it's worth noting that the Chargers play on Thursday in a home game against the Chiefs. Neither backup plays the same style as Ekeler, one of the league's preeminent play-making backs, and expecting just one of them to shoulder Ekeler's entire complement of snaps is unlikely. The best bet is a committee approach, if needed, by Los Angeles, but if I had to choose just one, my preference would be Jackson because of his better receiving and explosive-play ability.
Malcolm Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins (3.3%): I'll be clear to start: it's uncertain how much value there is in any Miami running back right now, as the team's top three players at the position -- Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed and Phillip Lindsay -- are all currently on the COVID-19 list and uncertain to play Sunday against the Jets. Duke Johnson has already been elevated from the practice squad, while a Miami Herald report indicates Brown will resume practicing this week and could play on Sunday after spending several weeks on injured reserve due to a quad injury. It's possible that Gaskin, Ahmed or Lindsay is available as well and if any of them are -- especially Gaskin -- then each would be the top option at running back for Miami. This is a moving target pickup, but based on the present circumstances, Brown is a deeper-league add.
Rex Burkhead, RB, Houston Texans (27.1%): The Texans' backfield has been thinned out dramatically of late, especially with the news that David Johnson was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday morning, putting his Week 15 status is question. Burkhead tied with Royce Freeman for the team lead with 11 carries, good enough for 40 yards, and also added four catches for 26 yards. While the ceiling is low here (the Texans aren't frequent visitors to the end zone), volume matters in fantasy football and Burkhead gets enough of it to be a deeper-league consideration.
Gabriel Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills (2.5%): Davis is a solid player who has found himself in a more limited role this season by virtue of playing in a talented Bills receiver room. He had just 20 catches in his first 12 games of the season, but posted five catches on eight targets and a touchdown in Week 14, the second straight game in which he has found the end zone. Emmanuel Sanders left the game in Week 14 early due to a knee injury, which would likely lead to more snaps for Davis if Sanders misses time going forward. He's a talented, physical wideout who can work his way into flex consideration if he sees consistent snaps.
Craig Reynolds, RB, Detroit Lions (0.0%): The Lions have dealt with a litany of running back health issues of late, as D'Andre Swift is nursing a shoulder injury and Jamaal Williams was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday of Week 14. That opened the door for Reynolds to step into a featured role, as he carried the ball a team-high 11 times in Week 14 and rushed for 83 yards. The Kutztown product qualifies as one of the more unlikely contributors we've seen in fantasy football this year, but that's the nature of fantasy football. He's a deeper-league add in the event that Swift and Williams are unavailable in Week 15.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions (10.5%): The Lions have found a solid, young player in St. Brown, who has been especially busy over the past two weeks. He has back-to-back games with 12 targets, totaling 18 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown during that time. I believe the target share should remain solid going forward -- not 12 targets per game solid, but somewhere in the range of eight per game -- as the Lions find themselves frequently playing from behind and having to throw. If you're in a 12-team league or larger, keep St. Brown on the flex radar.
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears (15.4%): The Bears' offense had a strong start in Week 14 as they held a lead on the road at Lambeau Field and kept piling up explosive plays. Fields finished his night with just over 18 fantasy points on 224 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, both of which were short throws where his receiver scampered a long ways. But the nine rushing attempts for 74 yards is what has caught my eye again. Those set a floor for Fields, who now has at least 18 fantasy points in each of the last three games he has started and finished. If you're looking for a potential Lamar Jackson replacement this week, Fields is on the list.