Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickup Advice

Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? Each week I’ll bring to you the best pickups to make ahead of the waiver deadline. All the players I list will be owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the ownership percentage coming from Yahoo.com.

Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson, Ravens (42% Owned): Jackson is a fantasy stud, and this ownership percentage is inexplicable to me. While Jackson has miles of development ahead of him as a passer, his rushing usage is something we haven’t seen since Tim Tebow; and Jackson is far more explosive than Tebow ever was. While Jackson could be hindered by the looming return of Joe Flacco, remember two things. First, Flacco was underwhelming this season, and he was already on the hot seat. Second, Baltimore has won both of Jackson’s starts.

Jackson has run the ball 38 times in the last two games combined, rushing for 190 yards and a score, and averaging five yards per rush. He’s yet to top 200 yards passing so far, but with every start comes familiarity with the offense. John Harbaugh would be wise to ride the young stud, as his skill set has unlocked a bruising, run-heavy style that complements the Ravens’ rough defense.

Case Keenum, Broncos (16% Owned): Keenum hasn’t been as prolific as he was last year in Minnesota, but if you’re looking for good matchups, Keenum’s your guy. He will be on the road the next two weeks, but against the Bengals and 49ers. It looks like he’s become a bit of a low-ceiling option, but he’s topped out at 377 yards this year, so perhaps with these soft matchups he can surprise you. Hopefully you’re not relying on him, but you can do worse as a backup.

Running Backs

Carlos Hyde, Jaguars (37% Owned): Hyde is arguably the pickup of the week, although beware, he’s likely only good for this week. Expect a huge surge in work for Hyde, following the suspension of Leonard Fournette, who stupidly threw punches at Shaq Lawson of the Bills during a brawl last week. Not only did he risk breaking his hand on Lawson’s helmeted head, he got tossed and suspended for this week, a crucial one for playoff contention/seeding. Fournette owners need to spend all their remaining FAAB on Hyde if they don’t have a spot clinched, which is pretty annoying. On the plus side, the Jaguars also benched QB Blake Bortles, so expect Hyde to get 20+ carries as they try to have Cody Kessler do as little as possible.

LeGarrette Blount, Lions (14% Owned): Blount continued to be unwanted even with Kerryon Johnson ruled out, and he went and hung 88 yards and two touchdowns on the top-rated run defense in the NFL (Bears). We don’t know how much longer Johnson will be out, but Detroit’s next two matchups are home for the Rams and at the Cardinals, two exploitable matchups if Blount is the guy. He’ll cede passing downs to Theo Riddick, but he’ll get all goal line work, and see healthy usage now that WR Marvin Jones further depleted the pass-catching corps.

Frank Gore, Dolphins (25% Owned): Gore saw another 14 carries last week, and Kenyan Drake aggravated a shoulder injury. If Drake is out, Gore could see 20+ carries; if that’s the case he’ll be startable even against the Bills, and he’ll get the Patriots in Week 14. His upside is severely capped with Drake playing, but if he’s wiped from the equation then Gore is a FLEX at worst, and a good RB2 at best.

Wide Receivers

Anthony Miller, Bears (39% Owned): Miller is much better if Mitch Trubisky is there to scramble and buy time for big plays. With that said, the rookie has engineered a hostile takeover of the No. 2 receiver role in Chicago, and has three beautiful matchups coming up (at Giants, vs. Rams, vs. Packers). Assuming Trubisky’s health, he’s a legitimate WR2.

Adam Humphries, Buccaneers (30% Owned): Humphries has continued to draw targets – and make the most of them – despite a crowded group of pass-catchers. Now, Tampa Bay is down O.J. Howard and likely DeSean Jackson, freeing up more looks from Jameis Winston. He’s scored in back-to-back games, and scored four times in the last four weeks. His next two matchups are against the Panthers, who have had a surprisingly soft pass defense this year, and the Saints, who have dramatically improved, but may score so much that passing yardage against them becomes inevitable. Aside from Mike Evans, there’s no other Bucs skill player I prefer to Humphries.

Tight Ends

Chris Herndon, Jets (8% Owned): Herndon has bad matchups on deck, but he’s a desperation play. He will see targets regardless of who is throwing passes, and he posted a three-game stretch in which he scored in every game. In a year when even Top 5 TEs can post goose eggs, Herndon is not as bad an option as his ownership would suggest.Quarterbacks