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 rostered in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the roster percentages coming from Yahoo.com.
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford, Rams (48% Rostered): Stafford finally had the game he’s been on the cusp of all season. He hadn’t thrown for more than two touchdowns in a game all season, but he’s been over 300 yards three times, and is averaging just under 250 per game, so this was due. While he didn’t really feed the players most of us have on our rosters, the explosion was nice to see, and gives some confidence moving forward. Even with Cooper Kupp clearly not 100%, his presence on the field commands attention and opens things up for him to put up numbers. Stafford might be in play in Week 13 with a lot of teams on bye.
Gardner Minshew, Colts (16% Rostered): Minshew is a roller coaster ride, and by no means a long term option, but a date with the Titans in Week 13 when a lot of good QBs are on bye makes him a playable option.
Running Backs
Tyjae Spears, Titans (39% Rostered): Spears right now has no standalone value, even when Tennessee is in negative game scripts because in those games he’s still seeing limited usage. Still, he has explosive capabilities, and remains a candidate for a massive workload in the event of a Derrick Henry injury. This offense has regressed as the season’s worn on, likely because rookie QB Will Levis is learning on the job, but Spears’ upside if he got the gig is really high. Henry managers should really get on this add before an injury hits and then he costs the rest of your FAAB.
Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles (27% Rostered): Gainwell’s still making cameos, and while he can’t be played right now, he’s the next man up if D’Andre Swift gets hurt, and he’d be running behind the best run blocking line in the league.
Rico Dowdle, Cowboys (12% Rostered): Dowdle’s usage is a bit of a mirage, due to some recent blowouts, but he is very clearly the next in line should misfortune befall Tony Pollard. The lead RB in a good offense is always worth having, and as the playoffs near, it’s time to start reinforcing your big guns. Handcuffs gain value around this time of year, and it’s wise to add these guys now when they’re cheap.
Royce Freeman, Rams (13% Rostered): Freeman is far less exciting than Spears or Dowdle, and isn’t in as good a situation as Gainwell, but he is another RB who is in line to be productive if the starter goes down. Kyren Williams dominated in his return, but Freeman still saw work in a blowout. Most weeks, he’ll be glued to the bench except for spelling Williams briefly, and the threat of re-signing Darrell Henderson also exists if injury hits again, but for now, he is the obvious No. 2.
D’Ernest Johnson, Jaguars (1% Rostered): Johnson is the last handcuff that managers should consider. He’s actually a really talented RB who has been stuck behind studs his whole career, primarily Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in Cleveland, and now Travis Etienne in Jacksonville. If given a chance, I believe he could be a league-winner, but for now he’s pure insurance.
Wide Receivers
Jayden Reed, Packers (48% Rostered): Reed is the clear impact add this week in a group that is mostly about speculation and upside in the event of injury. Reed has come on strong for this offense as Jordan Love’s shown improvement, and scored in three straight games. The receiving numbers aren’t eye popping, but he’s becoming consistent on that end, while also seeing some usage as a rusher. You can’t count on receiver rushing production, but it does show that Green Bay recognizes his playmaking ability and is ensuring that he gets his touches. The offense is still not high-scoring enough for him to be fully trusted beyond a FLEX play, but he’s absolutely someone you can play in any matchup now.
Noah Brown, Texans (45% Rostered): Brown’s missed two weeks now, rendering his back-to-back 150+-yard outbursts a distant memory, but they happened. Brown is still the No. 3 receiving option in Houston behind Tank Dell and Nico Collins, but he’s shown his whole career he can make big, explosive plays, and in Houston he’s paired up with a monster rookie QB in C.J Stroud and he’s in an offense that’s unafraid to wing it enough to support three pass-catchers. Like Reed, he’s not a must-play, but he’s a can-play in any game.
Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens (49% Rostered): Beckham’s three-catch, 34-yard effort vs. the Chargers was more in line with his 2023 season. Beckham’s decline was masked of late by the touchdowns, and then the 116 yards vs. Cincinnati, but he only has two games with five receptions, and two games with even 50 receiving yards. He’s become the rare TD-dependent WR, which is not an interesting play most weeks when Baltimore has so many capable options on the ground, and a breakout rookie WR in Zay Flowers.
Elijah Moore, Browns (42% Rostered): Moore has been seeing a ton of empty targets all season, with some mild improvement of late. Amari Cooper hurt his ribs Sunday, meaning Moore might be the WR1 for Cleveland in his absence. Some key things to remember here: Moore’s seen seven or more targets in eight of 11 games, and his QB will likely be P.J. Walker. So while the role sounds good, be advised that his target share has been fine all year with multiple QBs and led to very little, and now he’s catching the rock from Cleveland’s third-string QB. I’d avoid playing him if I could, but, there will be targets.
Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (48% Rostered): Freiermuth roasted the Bengals this week for nine catches and 120 yards. We’ve seen Freiermuth be a productive fantasy TE before, although it’s mostly been dependent on scoring TDs, which we can’t count on from any Steelers pass catchers as long as Kenny Pickett is QB. Still, Freiermuth has the potential to be a consistent option at the position, which is all we can ask from anyone these days playing fantasy’s most volatile role.
Cade Otton, Buccaneers (29% Rostered): Otton is a pretty gross play, mostly because the Bucs’ offense just isn’t that good for anyone not named Mike Evans, but the upcoming schedule is solid – vs. Carolina, at Atlanta, at Green Bay -- and his usage of late has been fairly consistent. Low ceiling here, and honestly, a fairly low floor, but it is what it is at TE.
Possibly Available
Jordan Love, QB, Packers (52% Rostered)
Miles Sanders, RB, Panthers (51% Rostered)
Antonio Gibson, RB, Commanders (50% Rostered)
Romeo Doubs, WR, Packers (57% Rostered)
Isaiah Likely, TE, Ravens (52% Rostered)
Drop Candidates – HODL or Say Goodbye?
Tyler Boyd, WR, Bengals (64% Rostered): Say Goodbye. He’s a decent talent, but the third receiving option once Tee Higgins is back, and that’s not playable with Jake Browning at QB.
George Pickens, WR, Steelers (85% Rostered): Say Goodbye. The big play potential is crazy, but as long as Pickett is the QB, it’s going to be wasted far more often than not.