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It's time for lucky Week 13 with the fantasy playoffs on the horizon. At this point, waiver wire adds should be made with the final stretch in mind. Insurance policies at running back are worth stashing and streamers at QB/TE/DST should be made based on the upcoming schedule.
In this column, we always identify as many noteworthy waiver wire targets as possible at every position with a brief explanation of each player's current path to fantasy relevance.
All rostered percentages are taken from Yahoo and players are listed in descending order, not in order of priority. Only players who are rostered in approximately 40% or fewer leagues are considered.
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Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options to Pickup
Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions - 39% rostered
It looks like D'Andre Swift won't be out for an extended time but his availability for Week 13 is in question after leaving early on Thanksgiving with a shoulder injury. It's the same shoulder that bothered him earlier in the season and the Lions have nothing to play for, other than avoiding a winless season, so we could see a big dose of Williams again. He was fairly effective against Chicago, running for 65 yards on 15 totes while catching five balls. The ceiling isn't too high but if he owns the backfield, then he's got to be a pickup consideration.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers - 36% rostered
We can spend all offseason arguing about whether Christian McCaffrey is made of glass or if the Panthers are being too cautious with their franchise back but for now, fantasy GMs have to face the prospect of replacing him again. CMC was put on the Injured Reserve list on Monday afternoon so after the Week 13 bye it will be Hubbard taking over as he did between Weeks 4-8. He is averaging 3.5 yards per carry in his rookie year but from a fantasy standpoint, he was solid as a starter, averaging 83.4 total yards and 2.6 receptions per game in that span with two touchdowns. The attrition at running back makes Hubbard a weekly RB2 the rest of the year but he won't be a league winner with Cam Newton culturing goal-line work.
Dontrell Hilliard, Tennessee Titans - 28% rostered
Looks like the Titans found their Derrick Henry replacement (just kidding, relax)! Hilliard was brought up from the practice squad prior to Week 11 and took Adrian Peterson's spot on the roster after the vet was released. Hilliard caught eight balls against the Texans but didn't do much on the ground with just 35 yards. In Week 12, he broke out with a 68-yard touchdown run and finished with 131 rushing yards. He would be a must-add except that he can't be used in Week 13 because Tennessee has their bye week. Consider adding him nonetheless if you can do so without sacrificing an important roster piece.
Matt Breida, Buffalo Bills - 23% rostered
For most of the season, Zack Moss was a safe but uninspiring RB2 because of his place in Buffalo's offense. Now, he's been relegated to a healthy scratch because of journeyman Matt Breida. On Turkey Day, Breida touched the ball 11 times and turned them into 55 yards with a touchdown. He did run behind Devin Singletary but Breida looked explosive with the ball in his hands and now has scoring upside based on his place in this offense. The Patriots have been good defensively but just allowed over 100 yards rushing to two different Titans running backs not named Henry, so they are definitely exploitable.
Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 19% rostered
Consecutive games with a touchdown for Jones - something or nothing? In terms of his role, it's mostly nothing because Leonard Fournette scored four times in Week 12 and has dominated touches most of the season. Still, 'tis the season to handcuff your RB1 and Jones had a good showing in 2020 so we know what he is capable of as a runner. There isn't standalone value but he is one of the top stashes before the fantasy playoffs.
DeeJay Dallas, Seattle Seahawks - 8% rostered
Seattle hasn't played their Week 12 matchup as of this writing but we know former Miami Hurricane DeeJay Dallas will be involved in the offense. Chris Carson is out for the year, Rashaad Penny is (brace yourself) injured again, and fellow former Cane Travis Homer has also been ruled out. Alex Collins remains the lead back but Dallas is a better pass-catcher and could be active in the red zone. If injuries continue to riddle the Seattle backfield, there is some deep-league PPR intrigue with Dallas.
Kene Nwangwu, Minnesota Vikings - 0% rostered
Tests revealed another torn labrum for Dalvin Cook and it appears he will be unavailable for the fantasy playoffs. Alexander Mattison should be universally rostered by midweek if he isn't already, but who is the backup to the backup? In this case, fourth-round rookie Kene Nwangwu is the next man up. He made a splash with a 98-yard kick return touchdown in Week 9 but saw just his second carry of the season in Week 12. If you roster Mattison, it makes sense to add Nwangwu as well.
Others to consider: Sony Michel, Los Angeles Rams (26% rostered); Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears (26% rostered); Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals (5% rostered); Ameer Abdullah, Carolina Panthers (2% rostered)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options to Pickup
Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots - 22% rostered
The former Niner wideout has stepped up in his first season with the Pats. His sideline tiptoe touchdown was one of two scores on the day against Tennessee but not his first highlight-worthy play of the year. Bourne has previously caught a 75-yard score, thrown for a touchdown, and put together a few fantasy-relevant games on the year. The matchup with the Titans' secondary was great on paper as they entered the week allowing the most fantasy points to receivers but the Bills are up next and they are the polar opposite, allowing the least. The loss of Tre'Davious White will hurt but it's still a risky spot to stream Bourne and a bye week follows in Week 14. Add him if you're hurting at the position or looking ahead to Week 17 when the Pats face Jacksonville.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans - 20% rostered
The de facto WR1 for Tennessee now, he did lead the team in receiving. Unfortunately, that only meant 25 yards and two receptions on five targets as the team went run-heavy to the extreme. He salvaged his fantasy day for speculative streamers with a touchdown but it was still a disappointing output. Don't feel obligated to have a piece of this passing offense but if you must, Westbrook-Ikhine is the one to target. That said, it can wait a week after the team enjoys its break.
Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons - 17% rostered
The goose egg he put up in Week 10 obscured an otherwise solid run where Gage has caught five passes in three of the last four games. With Calvin Ridley out and no return date in sight, Gage should continue to serve as the leading receiver for ATL. Back in Week 2, he caught five passes for 28 yards against their upcoming opponent, Tampa Bay. The target share is solid but he hasn't exceeded 67 yards in a game yet this year, making him a WR4 floor play for PPR leagues only.
Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team - 13% rostered
Whatever Samuel does on Monday Night Football isn't likely to get the juices flowing before waivers run because he is likely to be on a "pitch count" in his first game back from injury. That could make him a nice bargain and sneaky stash. We've seen what he is capable of as a dual-threat skill player when he totaled 1,051 scrimmage yards last year in Carolina. He could slide into the WR2 role for Washington by Week 13 when they take on the Raiders and become a startable Flex play the remainder of the season.
DeSean Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders - 4% rostered
Zero yards one week, 100+ with a TD the next. That's what you'll get out of perennial deep threat D-Jax. If you need a dice roll for a big play to replace a receiver on bye or due to injury, he's always available. It's a good spot for him, as the Washington defense allows the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions - 1% rostered
If DeSean Jackson is a roll of the dice, Reynolds is a scratch-off ticket bought at the corner gas station. He was let go by the Titans and landed on the receiver-needy Lions with former Rams teammate Jared Goff as his quarterback again. The connection was reignited on Thanksgiving, as Reynolds led the team with 70 yards, tied for the team lead with five targets, and found the end zone. That gives him more touchdowns in two games with Detroit than Amon-Ra St. Brown in 11 games. It's a longshot to think that he or any Detroit receiver could sustain fantasy value but in the Year of our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-One, anything is possible.
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers - 1% rostered
The groin strain Deebo Samuel suffered in Week 12 has been deemed "mild" but we still could be looking at missed games. The last thing anyone wants is to have to find a replacement for this year's breakout player but here we are. Aside from uninspiring veterans like Trent Sherfield and Mohamed Sanu, the Niners have second-year man Jauan Jennings. He didn't see the field in his rookie year and hasn't had more than two receptions in a game this year but he did register his second NFL touchdown after Deebo went down and seems to be next in line for targets.
Others to consider:
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts - (28% rostered); Jamison Crowder, New York Jets (20% rostered); Deonte Harris, New Orleans Saints (18% rostered); Zay Jones, Las Vegas Raiders (0% rostered)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options to Pickup
Evan Engram, New York Giants - 34% rostered
Maybe a new offensive coordinator will give Engram a new lease on life, or at least fantasy value. His Week 12 output was pretty similar to what he's done all year - three receptions, 37 yards, no touchdowns on six targets. Hoping Engram will break through is probably overly optimistic at this point but he remains one of the most gifted athletes at the position.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears - 24% rostered
One of the few bright spots for Chicago's offense these days, Kmet caught eight passes for 65 yards on Thanksgiving. His 11 targets are eye-opening and not a fluke either; he caught six of eight targets two games ago. As long as Allen Robinson is out and Andy Dalton is starting, Kmet can be a streamable TE1.
Brevin Jordan, Houston Texans - 1% rostered
Another product of Tight End U, Jordan didn't see game action until Week 8 but is starting to become part of Houston's offense. In the latest contest against the Jets, he caught his second NFL touchdown and tied multiple players for the team lead with three receptions. It's not a dynamic offense and his value mostly lies in dynasty leagues, but those desperately seeking a tight end streamer might take a chance that he finds the end zone again.
Others to consider: Tyler Conklin, Minnesota Vikings (36% rostered); Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks (26% rostered); Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts (1% rostered)
Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options to Pickup
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins - 34% rostered
The Dolphins are rolling but not necessarily because of their QB. Tagovailoa was very efficient in the win over Carolina, completing 27 of 31 pass attempts, but it resulted in just 230 yards and one TD. He's proving to be a solid midrange QB2 and streamable in a pinch based on his mistake-free play but the upside is limited.
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers - 34% rostered
The return of Elijah Mitchell led to a run-first offensive gameplan in Week 12, as the Niners were able to control the game against Minnesota. That meant only 230 passing yards on 26 pass attempts for Jimmy G. Additionally, he lost top offensive weapon Deebo Samuel late in the game to injury. If Samuel is out for Week 13, that puts a big dent in Garoppolo's potential despite a plus matchup with Seattle and relegates him to Superflex value.
Others to consider: Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans (11% rostered); Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team (34% rostered)
Team Defense (D/ST) - Waiver Wire Options to Pickup
Arizona Cardinals Defense - 62% rostered
If the Cards' D/ST was dropped during the bye week, scoop them up. Arizona entered Week 12 fourth in points allowed and tied for fourth in sacks. The fact they match up with the Bears next is just gravy. They get the Rams in Week 14 and Lions in Week 15, so if you believe they can pick up a few points off Matthew Stafford, then they could be a set-and-forget for the next three weeks.
Miami Dolphins Defense - 43% rostered
The Fins are back. The same defense that was a top-five fantasy unit in 2020 looked like a shell of itself the first half of this year but has now strung together four straight games allowing 17 points or fewer. They forced Cam Newton to the bench after picking him off twice and limiting Superman to five completions on 20 pass attempts and then picked off P.J. Walker too for good measure. Miami's defense looks like a must-start with another home game in Week 13, this time against the turnover-prone New York Giants.
Minnesota Vikings Defense - 16% rostered
Your deep-league streamer of the week is a simple choice - the one that faces Detroit. Back in Week 5, they held the Lions to 17 points and accumulated four sacks and two turnovers. Detroit's offense is arguably worse than it was back then and D'Andre Swift will be questionable heading into the game.
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