Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 13
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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.
Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.
Bye Weeks- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Chicago Bears
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Minnesota Vikings
- New York Giants
Perry Knotts / Getty Images Sport / GettyGardner Minshew, Colts| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at TEN | 16% | $1 |
The streaming options for fantasy quarterbacks are thin this week, so keep your expectations in check.
We'll highlight Minshew since he plays in an up-tempo Colts offense that gets a positive matchup with the Titans' pass-funnel defense this week.
While stepping in mid-game for an injured Anthony Richardson in Week 5, Minshew completed 11 of 14 passes for 155 yards against this same unit.
Tennessee's defense has also allowed 540 passing yards and four passing touchdowns over the last two weeks. Minshew is a viable streamer.
Russell Wilson, Jordan Love, and Baker Mayfield are above the 50% rostered mark but would be the top adds this week if available.
Risky streaming options: Kenny Pickett vs. ARI (16% rostered), Matthew Stafford vs. CLE (48% rostered), Derek Carr vs. DET (44% rostered)
Desperation streaming options: Jake Browning at JAX (8% rostered), Will Levis vs. IND (25% rostered), Bryce Young at TB (15% rostered), Desmond Ridder at NYJ (7% rostered), Tim Boyle vs. ATL (2% rostered)
Desperation streaming options (if starting): P.J. Walker at LAR (1% rostered), Bailey Zappe vs. LAC (1% rostered)
2QB or Superflex stashes: Aidan O'Connell (5% rostered), Tommy DeVito (4% rostered), Joe Flacco (0% rostered), Trevor Siemian (0% rostered)
Running backs
Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyZack Moss, Colts| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at TEN | 49% | $100 |
Moss is just under the 50% rostered cutoff to make it into this column, so he's likely already on a team in competitive leagues.
However, if he's available, you should be bidding every dollar you have left to get him. Jonathan Taylor played the full game in Week 12 but is reportedly dealing with a thumb injury that could cause him to miss time.
In the first eight weeks of the season before Taylor got back to playing his regular complement of snaps, Moss was thriving as the RB7 overall in fantasy points per game.
If Taylor is out, Moss immediately becomes a top-20 fantasy back with RB1 upside.
Roschon Johnson, Bears| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| on bye | 23% | $24 |
Normally, I'd be more excited about a rookie who just assumed the lead back role in his offense - but there are a few things holding down Johnson's fantasy outlook.
The 22-year-old is on bye in Week 13 and, when he returns, he'll face three of the top-10 worst matchups for fantasy backs in the Lions, Browns, and Falcons.
We also don't know what this backfield would have looked like if D'Onta Foreman was healthy for the Monday nighter, but it's safe to assume the coaching staff wants to see what they have in Johnson.
Regardless, there aren't many standout options on the waiver wire, so Johnson is an intriguing add as a potential low-end RB2/high-end RB3 from Week 14 on.
Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at WAS | 17% | $9 |
Wilson's fantasy value will depend entirely on De'Von Achane's status. With Achane out of the lineup due to a knee injury in Week 12, Wilson turned his 14 touches into 73 scrimmage yards while splitting time with Raheem Mostert. He'll maintain that RB3/flex status if Achane is sidelined again.
The Dolphins also have one of the easiest remaining schedules, so rostering their running backs could be a key to advancing down the stretch.
However, Wilson will revert to No. 3 on the depth chart if Achane suits up this week. In that case, he'd be nothing more than a bench stash.
Tyler Allgeier, Ty Chandler, and Antonio Gibson are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.
High-upside backups like Tyjae Spears (39% rostered) and Elijah Mitchell (17% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.
Flex options: Samaje Perine at HOU (20% rostered), Rico Dowdle vs. SEA (12% rostered), Ezekiel Elliott vs. LAC (40% rostered)
Risky flex options: D'Ernest Johnson vs. CIN (1% rostered), Royce Freeman vs. CLE (13% rostered)
Desperation flex options: Kenneth Gainwell vs. SF (27% rostered), Joshua Kelley at NE (15% rostered), DeeJay Dallas at DAL (1% rostered)
Desperation flex options (if healthy): Jerick McKinnon at GB (27% rostered), Jamaal Williams vs. DET (19% rostered)
Bye-week stashes: Latavius Murray (18% rostered), Leonard Fournette (13% rostered), Zamir White (2% rostered)
Other backups to roster: Kendre Miller (5% rostered), Jaleel McLaughlin (17% rostered), Emari Demercado (7% rostered), Dalvin Cook (22% rostered), Justice Hill (21% rostered)
Deep stashes: Trey Sermon (0% rostered), Matt Breida (2% rostered), Trayveon Williams (0% rostered), Michael Carter (2% rostered), Cordarrelle Patterson (2% rostered), Patrick Taylor (0% rostered), Chase Edmonds (3% rostered), Jordan Mason (2% rostered), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (1% rostered), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (5% rostered), Israel Abanikanda (0% rostered)
Wide receivers
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyCurtis Samuel, Commanders| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. MIA | 28% | $14 |
Samuel appears to be healthy again, and fantasy managers should take notice.
The 27-year-old posted at least 50 yards and/or a touchdown in five of his first six games. However, a toe injury derailed Samuel's playing time and sapped his production.
Thankfully, he regained his form in last week's loss to the Cowboys, playing his highest snap count since Week 7 and reaching season highs in targets (12), catches (nine), and yards (100).
Consider him a solid flex option the rest of the way.
Jayden Reed, Josh Downs, Brandin Cooks, and Odell Beckham Jr. are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.
Flex options (if healthy): Demario Douglas vs. LAC (36% rostered), Josh Palmer at NE (27% rostered)
Flex options (if starter is out): Elijah Moore at LAR (42% rostered), Greg Dortch at PIT (2% rostered)
Risky flex options: Jonathan Mingo at TB (5% rostered), Tutu Atwell vs. CLE (27% rostered), Jameson Williams at NO (22% rostered), Zay Jones vs. CIN (21% rostered), DeVante Parker vs. LAC (1% rostered), Rondale Moore at PIT (16% rostered), Robert Woods vs. DEN (7% rostered)
Risky flex options (if starter is out): Cedric Tillman at LAR (0% rostered), A.T. Perry vs. DET (3% rostered)
Risky flex options (if healthy): Michael Wilson at PIT (10% rostered), Noah Brown vs. DEN (45% rostered)
Dart-throw flex options: Justin Watson at GB (4% rostered), Jalen Guyton at NE (4% rostered), Kalif Raymond at NO (2% rostered), DJ Chark at TB 97% rostered), Jalen Tolbert vs. SEA (0% rostered)
Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Lynn Bowden Jr. vs. DET (0% rostered), Keith Kirkwood vs. DET (0% rostered)
Bye-week stashes: Khalil Shakir (17% rostered), Jalin Hyatt (3% rostered)
Deep stashes: Trey Palmer (1% rostered), Tyquan Thornton (0% rostered)
Tight ends
Chris Unger / Getty Images Sport / GettyPat Freiermuth, Steelers| Next up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. ARI | 48% | $19 |
Despite reports that George Pickens and Jaylen Warren would feature more under new offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner, Freiermuth turned out to be the one who starred in the team's first game following Matt Canada's firing.
Freiermuth carved up the Bengals over the middle of the field en route to nine catches for 120 yards on 11 targets. For comparison, he hadn't topped four targets in any of the other five games this season and had only gone over 10 yards once prior to this week.
At this point in the year when quality fantasy starters are scarce on the waiver wire, Freiermuth is a must-add for tight end-needy managers.
While it's unlikely he'll keep up this kind of production, it doesn't take much to crack the TE1 ranks, and Freiermuth is back in the conversation as a high-end TE2 with TE1 upside.
Isaiah Likely is above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.
Streamer options: Gerald Everett at NE (21% rostered), Tyler Higbee vs. CLE (39% rostered), Cade Otton vs. CAR (29% rostered), Juwan Johnson vs. DET (9% rostered)
Risky streamer options (if starter is out): Tucker Kraft vs. KC (1% rostered)
Risky streamer options: Hunter Henry vs. LAC (29% rostered), Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. IND (26% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. ATL (16% rostered)
Desperation streamer options: Jonnu Smith at NYJ (28% rostered), Noah Gray at GB (1% rostered), Tanner Hudson at JAC (4% rostered)
Bye-week stashes: Michael Mayer (11% rostered)
Deep stashes: Greg Dulcich (8% rostered)
Defenses
Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport / GettyWeek 13 streamers| Team | Next up | Rostered |
|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | vs. CAR | 31% |
| Falcons | at NYJ | 10% |
| Jaguars | vs. CIN | 33% |
| Rams | vs. CLE | 7% |
| Chargers | at NE | 16% |
Favorable upcoming schedules: Saints DEF vs. CAR (49% rostered), Bengals DEF vs. IND (33% rostered)
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