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- Week 13 Waiver Targets
By: Tony Kneepkens (@tonytk44)
These are the top players to consider adding from waivers this week. Unless otherwise noted, all players below are available in greater than 50% of Yahoo leagues (as of Sunday evening).
Week 13 teams on bye: none
QB Streamer of the Week
Drake Maye, NE, Week 13 vs IND
Maye has had a nice start to his rookie campaign for the last-place Patriots and his game looks like it’s going to be very fantasy-friendly. He’s accounted for at least one TD in each of his seven starts. In five of those games Maye has either multiple TD passes (3x) or huge rushing production (95 yards, 46 yards and a TD).
Medium-priority add. “The Drake” presents a fantasy-friendly combination of passing talent and rushing ability at QB. This week, the Pats host the Colts, whose defense is among the most generous in the league in both total yards allowed per game and passing yards allowed per game, setting up as a nice potential streaming spot for the young signal-caller at home.
10% or less of FAAB.
RB Pickups
Jeremy McNichols, WAS, Week 13 vs TEN
The Commanders’ top two RBs each left last week's game banged up. Brian Robinson injured his ankle early and came back before limping off again, and he only handled five carries. Complementary RB Austin Ekeler suffered a nasty concussion on a kick return late in the game.
Medium-priority add. McNichols has been solid in his limited opportunities this season. He's averaging nearly 5.0 yards per carry and has scored four rushing TDs. If both of his RB teammates miss the game, which seems likely to me, he would be a reasonable spot start this week as a home favorite against the Titans.
10 - 20% of FAAB.
Ameer Abdullah and Sincere McCormick, LV, Week 13 at KC
Ameer and Sincere handled all of the Raiders’ RB touches last week with Alexander Mattison and Zamir White each sidelined with leg injuries. The veteran Abdullah had more opportunities and had a nice fantasy day with 65 scrimmage yards and a TD. He also handled all of the RB receiving work. McCormick had an efficient 5/33 rushing line.
Low-priority adds. If these two are slated to lead the Vegas backfield again this week, Abdullah could be a deep-league PPR Flex option while Mattison and White remain sidelined. McCormick is a deep-league stash to see if he is afforded more opportunities down the stretch for an imploding Raiders team.
5% or less of FAAB.
Some additional lower-priority RB adds to consider:
Tank Bigsby (JAX) - The young runner has missed time with an ankle injury but had been one of the team’s few bright spots this season before his injury woes. The Jags are coming off of their bye.
Roschon Johnson (CHI) - The second-year RB leads the Bears with six rushing TDs and has scored in back-to-back games.
Emanuel Wilson (GB) - Continues to work as the Packers’ top backup RB with rookie MarShawn Lloyd now on the NFI list.
WR Pickups
Dontayvion Wicks, GB, Week 13 vs MIA
Here we go again! Wicks makes yet another appearance as a top WR waiver recommendation after his WR teammate Romeo Doubs suffered a concussion last week. Wicks has three games with 6+ targets this season; he’s finished as WR3, WR17, and WR74 in those contests.The Packers have a quick turnaround, hosting the Dolphins on Thanksgiving night.
Medium-to-high priority add. Wicks is a near lock for an increased role and snap share among GB WRs if Doubs misses Thursday’s game, which seems likely on short rest. My guess is that Watson and Wicks would become closer to full-time perimeter WRs (instead of sharing the spot opposite Doubs) and star slot man Jayden Reed’s role will remain unchanged. Bo Melton and Malik Heath should mix in as well for those in the deepest of PPR formats.
15 - 25% of FAAB.
Devaughn Vele, DEN, Week 13 vs CLE
Vele, a 26-year-old rookie WR, has double-digit PPR points in each of his past three games, catching 14 of 18 targets over that stretch. His breakout has overlapped with the best three weeks of rookie QB Bo Nix’s young career (70% completions, 8 TDs, 0 INTs). Denver won two of those games by double figures and lost the third by two points on the road at Kansas City.
Medium-priority add. This week’s matchup with Cleveland is fine and then the Broncos go on bye. After that, it’s the fantasy playoffs where the Broncos schedule looks good (vs IND, at LAC, at CIN). This is a case where Vele is probably already rostered in his most optimal formats (deeper PPR leagues, start 3+ WRs, etc.) and will be a tough click in the fantasy playoffs, even with favorable matchups, in many leagues he’s still available in (12 teams or less, start two WRs).
5 - 15% of FAAB.
Some additional lower-priority WR adds to consider:
Keon Coleman (BUF) - The rookie WR is the type I’d be willing to stash for cheap, as he should be getting healthy coming out of the Bills bye week.
Tre Tucker (LVR) - Had a solid 7/82 stat line for the depleted Raiders offense last week, his best performance since Week 3.
All of the Panthers WRs (CAR) - I only mentioned three names here last week (Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, Adam Thielen), so obviously David Moore led CAR in all major receiving categories Sunday. If all four are healthy, I like them in the order they’re listed above, with Moore fourth.
TE Pickups
Zach Ertz, WAS, Week 13 vs TEN
The veteran TE continues to produce for Washington. He's second on the team in catches and receiving yards this year. He has back-to-back games with six catches and a TD.
Low-priority add. Ertz is still readily available to be added to fantasy rosters and is my favorite streaming option this week. The Commanders are on bye Week 14.
10% or less of FAAB.
Luke Schoonmaker, DAL, Week 13 vs NYG
The Schoon-man has racked up a healthy 9/111/1 receiving line filling in for the injured Jake Ferguson the last two games for the Cowboys.
Low-priority add. Dallas has indicated it seems like a “long shot” for Ferguson to play on Thursday on a short week. Assuming Fergy sits, we can fire up Schoonmaker as a streamer this week against the Giants, as needed.
10% or less of FAAB.
Some additional lower-priority TE adds to consider:
Theo Johnson (NYG) - The athletic rookie TE has three straight games with six targets. It would seem logical to continue to feature Theo down the stretch of a lost Giants’ season.
Cole Kmet (CHI) - Kmet has 10 catches the last two games after the Bears changed their OC/play caller. He was afforded 10 targets last week alone.
Noah Gray (KC) - Back-to-back games with a pair of receiving TDs for the conference-leading Chiefs.
DEFENSE (Top pickups for Week 13)
Cowboys (vs Giants)
Packers (vs Dolphins)
Browns (at Broncos)