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Week 13 will prove to be the last shot at making the playoffs for most fantasy owners. Week 13 is also the final bye week, with the Tennessee Titans and the winless Cleveland Browns off from action, leaving fantasy owners of Terrelle Pryor, Rishard Matthews, and Delanie Walker in need of a replacement.
Here is a look at the surprise target grabbers from Week 12, and a look at possible wide receiver breakout options for Week 13 based on the usage they are seeing in the passing game. You can ask me more waiver wire and game day questions on Twitter @DemetriRafto.
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Surprise Week 12 Target Grabbers
Marquess Wilson - (WR, CHI)
In the absence of the injured Zach Miller and the suspended Alshon Jeffery, Marquess Wilson emerged as backup quarterback Matt Barkley's favorite target against the Tennessee Titans. In only his second game played this season, Wilson broke out, hauling in eight catches on 11 targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. He would have had an even more productive performance but he dropped two sure-thing touchdowns.
Eleven Bears were targeted with at least one pass on Sunday, although Wilson remains the only fantasy-relevant option moving forward (besides Jordan Howard) on a team hurt by injuries. With Jeffery still serving his suspension and Cameron Meredith, the perceived favorite to carry the workload, unable to recapture any of his early season magic, Wilson remains a streaming play against the San Fransisco 49ers. The Niners have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Dorial Green-Beckham - (WR, PHI)
For the second straight week, Dorial Green-Beckham produced. During Monday night's showdown against the Green Bay Packers, Green-Beckham reeled in six of his team-leading 10 targets for 82 yards. Green-Beckham was held out of the end zone, as were the rest of Philadelphia's offensive weapons (besides Carson Wentz), but he could see another boost in his target-volume against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13.
Jordan Matthews exited Monday night's contest in the second quarter with an ankle injury and is now listed as questionable. If Matthews is unable to suit up, look for Green-Beckham and Zach Ertz to pick up the slack. Both are streaming options, even against a tough Bengals secondary.
Jermaine Gresham - (TE, ARI)
In a blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Jermaine Gresham turned in his best fantasy performance of the season. Gresham, with only 27 looks in 10 prior games this season, was targeted 10 times against the Falcons, reeling in five for 35 yards and a score; his second touchdown in as many games. The Cardinals attempted to pick apart a Falcons defense that has struggled to defend tight ends all season, and will likely do the same against a Washington Redskins squad that has surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points to the position. Despite the matchup and the recent production, Gresham should be overshadowed by a lot of other safer tight ends heading into Week 13.
Possible Week 13 Breakout Options
Tyler Boyd - (WR, CIN)
According to Yahoo Sports and head coach Marvin Lewis, A.J. Green is unlikely to play in Week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Brandon LaFell was expected to see a boost in production in Green's absence but he has been unable to surge past 40 yards in two straight showings consisting of nine targets in each. Tyler Boyd, on the other hand, has made the most of his increased role and enters this week as a streaming WR3 option in PPR leagues.
Against the Baltimore Ravens, Boyd reeled in five of his nine targets for 62 yards; a solid stat line as a fill-in in PPR formats. The week before, he scored a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills. Even though Tyler Eifert will likely get most of the looks, Boyd is in line for a bulk of targets in Week 13.
Malcolm Mitchell - (WR, NE)
It seems as if the New England Patriots reproduce fantasy options, or simply, football players. Malcolm Mitchell posted his second straight impressive fantasy showing, finding the end zone twice against the New York Jets last Sunday; his second consecutive game with at least one score. Mitchell did play on only 47% of snaps, but that number could go up if Rob Gronkowski is unable to suit up this week.
Gronk put up the unforgivable goose egg last week after leaving Sunday's game early with back pains. He was seen needing the support of a railing to walk down stairs, according to Yahoo Sports, but the injury is not being deemed as serious just yet. Mitchell's value will certainly increase if Gronk can't take the field, but he's a solid waiver wire add either way.
Kenny Stills - (WR, MIA)
Here is another situation where fantasy owners await the fate of a player before scooping someone up off the waiver wire. The recently emergent DeVante Parker is listed as questionable heading into Sunday's contest against the Baltimore Ravens. We should know more about his status by Wednesday or Thursday.
Kenny Stills has been a home run threat for the Miami Dolphins and has tallied five touchdowns on the season, three coming over the last five games. He is certainly handcuffed to the status of Parker in standard formats and remains just a boom-or-bust option in PPR leagues. If Parker doesn't suit up, look for Stills to inherit more targets alongside Jarvis Landry.
Other Options: Lance Kendricks (TE, LA) @NE, Zach Ertz (TE, PHI) @CIN, Coby Fleener (TE, NO) vs DET
