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By this point in the season, your core team had better be set in stone because the waiver wire options keep getting thinner. It's still advisable to stash running backs whenever possible, as injuries continue to take their toll at the position. Some popular streamers like Brian Hill and Jordan Wilkins failed to deliver in Week 12 but the recommended course of action for each is going to be very different this coming weekend.
Working the waiver wire is more important this season than ever before. The players suggested here should be your top priorities for early-week waiver claims but we will also list others as possible stash options. As always, check our NFL news feed for the latest injury updates. This column will also be updated through mid-week.
Players listed include only those rostered in approximately 50% or fewer Yahoo leagues. For a deeper look at each position, check out our separate weekly waiver wire columns at QB, RB, WR, and TE.
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Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams - 29% rostered
My only thoughts watching Akers rip off a 61-yard run and cap off a drive with a touchdown:
One can only wonder what could have been had Akers not suffered a rib injury early in the year and if he had someone other than Sean McVay as his head coach. It took damn near the entire fantasy regular season but Akers should finally have proven himself to the extent that McVay has no choice but to give him more work the next few weeks. He's averaging 4.83 yards per carry and has shown the explosive ability that inspired the team to draft him in the first place. It doesn't hurt that Darrell Henderson only totaled 19 yards on 10 carries and Malcolm Brown coughed up a fumble in this game. If nothing else, Akers remains a lotto ticket worth claiming in hopes he pays off down the stretch.
Devontae Booker, Las Vegas Raiders - 8% rostered
Josh Jacobs is one of the few workhorse backs left in the NFL, ranking third in the league in rush attempts and fourth in rushing yardage. He should be a dependable RB1 down the stretch but those carries may be taking a toll. He was battling a hip injury all week and then left the game with Atlanta after suffering an ankle injury.
Early word is that his injury is not severe and he says he is confident he can play in Week 13. This may not be the case but even so, the team could limit his usual workload. Either way, Booker appears to be a smart add for a run-first offense. He's been effective in spurts, racking up 60+ rushing yards on three occasions while serving as the backup. A full workload of carries against the Jets next week would make Booker a solid RB2 in fantasy.
Frank Gore, New York Jets - 25% rostered
With Lamical Perine on IR, Adam Gase showed no interest in giving the ball to running backs not bound for the Hall of Fame. Gore took 18 of the 21 rush attempts by running backs in Week 12, rolling up 74 yards without a score. Of course, the Jets didn't reach the end zone at all so it's through no fault of Gore that he isn't scoring. Say what you will about a 37-year-old starting at RB for an 0-11 team but Gore owns the backfield to himself and his two best fantasy days have come in the past two weeks. He is at least an RB3 in standard leagues against a Raiders defense that gives up a TD per game to running backs.
Ito Smith, Atlanta Falcons - 1% rostered
While everyone scrambled to add Brian Hill once Todd Gurley was ruled out, the rug was pulled out from under the fantasy community. Ito Smith had been long forgotten about for good reason; Smith had not touched the ball more than five times in a game all year long and had touched it once since Week 6. So naturally, it was a 50-50 split between Smith and Hill, who was the clear backup until now. Smith outgained Hill by 10 yards and was the one who found the end zone, delivering fantasy points to absolutely nobody. Hill has shown he can't handle the spotlight as a lead back so if Gurley is still held out next week, Smith would be the running back to add. With a tough matchup against New Orleans in Week 13, either back is nothing more than a desperation play.
Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers - 3% rostered
Both Wilson and Raheem Mostert returned in Week 12 while Tevin Coleman remains out. Jerick McKinnon ran clearly behind the other two and seems droppable at this point. While Mostert ran for 43 yards on a team-high 16 carries, Wilson managed the same yardage on 12 carries. There's always risk in trusting a 49ers running back in your lineup but Wilson has been effective when given extended work and looks to be the RB2 for the time being.
Jordan Wilkins, Indianapolis Colts - 17% rostered
The disappointment of his Week 12 output (six carries, 22 yards) without Jonathan Taylor may cross him off the list for many fantasy GMs but there are a couple of reasons to keep him in mind for Week 13. First, the Colts were behind all game and unable to generate much of a running game at all. Nyheim Hines was even less effective on the ground, running for 29 yards on 10 carries. Second, he was also involved in the passing game, catching three balls for 35 yards.
The final and most important reason to watch Wilkins is the plus-plus matchup with Houston, which allows the second-most fantasy points to running backs this year and just gave up two scores to ancient Adrian Peterson. While many are dropping Wilkins from their roster after this week, make the smart play and scoop him up for minimal FAB.
UPDATE: Wilkins has been officially diagnosed as being "pretty banged up" according to head coach Frank Reich. Coupled with the fact that Jonathan Taylor appears set to return to the lineup after passing COVID close-contact protocol, Wilkins is simply a bench stash.
Others to consider: Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings (32% rostered); D'Onta Foreman, Tennessee Titans (0% rostered)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers - 38% rostered
The final stat line of four catches for 23 yards on six targets in Week 12 isn't outstanding but he added a touchdown and was the second-most targeted receiver for Green Bay. If he can do that against the Bears, it will only get better as the schedule eases up each passing week. Lazard has the highest upside of any receiver widely available on the wire before the fantasy playoffs get underway.
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts - 38% rostered
We finally have a Hilton sighting. Although he was fourth on the team in targets, Hilton finally connected on a deep ball with Philip Rivers and came away with a team-high and season-high 81 yards. He also scored on a short pass later in the game for what is unbelievably his first touchdown of the year. This could be a mirage in an otherwise desolate season for the veteran receiver but Rivers has been on fire lately and this could be a sign of better days to come. With Houston's beleaguered pass defense on the schedule two of the next three weeks, it's time to take a flier.
Keke Coutee, Houston Texans - 5% rostered
On Monday afternoon, the shocking news came down that Will Fuller was being suspended six games for violating the league's illegal substance policy. This prematurely ends what could have been a top-10 fantasy finish at wide receiver for someone who ironically had managed to stay healthy all year for the first time. His absence along with Randall Cobb's IR status will make Coutee a full-time starter and an intriguing pickup. Although he's been inconsistent through his first two seasons, Coutee is tied to Deshaun Watson on a team that will continue to pass the ball at a high rate due to deficiencies on defense and in the run game. Coutee's ceiling isn't the highest but in PPR leagues, he is worth a claim.
Breshad Perriman, New York Jets - 24% rostered
We thought the move back to Sam Darnold would help Jamison Crowder and hurt Perriman but it turns out that Darnold fancies the deep ball these days too. Perriman and rookie Denzel Mims (see below) tied with eight targets apiece while Crowder caught three of five passes thrown his way for a mere 31 yards. He didn't hit paydirt but Perriman has at least provided 10 fantasy points in PPR leagues for three straight games despite a couple of tough divisional matchups. The Raiders and Seahawks figure to be easier tests for this offense and Perriman can be considered a high-upside WR3.
Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills - 3% rostered
John Brown landing on IR makes Davis an interesting pickup in deeper leagues, especially after he posted 79 yards and a score in Week 12. Cole Beasley will likely outproduce him going forward but Davis has shown a propensity for making big plays downfield, averaging 16 yards per reception. The schedule isn't particularly favorable, so a receiver like Perriman is preferable.
Denzel Mims, New York Jets - 8% rostered
Mims has gone for 60 or more yards in three straight games and hasn't failed to reach 40 yards yet in his first five NFL contests. Unfortunately, he hasn't found the end zone yet and chances are low considering he wears a Jets uniform. Mims is a less-appealing version of Perriman and should only be considered in deep standard leagues.
Nelson Agholor, Las Vegas Raiders - 43% rostered
Agholor bucked his boom-or-bust label in Week 12 by producing a thoroughly mediocre line of five receptions for 54 yards without a touchdown. Despite the game flow necessitating heavy pass volume, Agholor was outdone by Hunter Renfrow in this contest. If there's a time to trust Agholor, it would be Week 13, however, as the Raiders get to face a Jets Defense that has allowed the fourth-most yards to wide receivers.
Josh Reynolds, Los Angeles Rams - 9% rostered
He didn't do much for a second straight week but did see at least six targets in each game. This is mainly a reminder that Reynolds faces the Jets and Seahawks in Week 15-16, so stash him now as a high-end WR4.
Isaiah Coulter, Houston Texans - 0% rostered
This applies more so to the dynasty crowd but Coulter now has a path to regular snaps with Fuller and Cobb out of action and Kenny Stills waived. As a fifth-round pick out of Rhode Island, he's never gotten much publicity but Coulter has 4.45 speed and has the ability to get downfield quickly. He may be more of a boom-bust play so don't prioritize him outside of deep standard leagues.
Others to consider: Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys (42% rostered) ;Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles (29% rostered); Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons (8% rostered)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Trey Burton, Indianapolis Colts - 19% rostered
If there's one predictable aspect of the Colts offense, it's Trey Burton being used in the red zone. He scored his fifth touchdown in his eighth game of the season. Meanwhile, the other tight ends on the team, Mo Alie-Cox and Jack Doyle, combined for two receptions and 19 yards on three targets. It's clear that Burton is becoming the preferred option at the position and has weekly TD upside.
Jordan Reed, San Francisco 49ers - 25% rostered
Reed had a letdown game against the Rams, securing just two catches for 18 yards. It was all Deebo Samuel as far as the passing game was concerned. Reed remains a strong option at tight end considering how shallow the position is these days.
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings - 14% rostered
The combination of a pass-heavy game script and Adam Thielen's absence helped Rudolph to his best game of the season with seven receptions and 68 yards. He was held out of the end zone, which continues to be a problem for his fantasy prospects as he's scored just once this year. As long as Irv Smith is also out nursing a groin injury, Rudolph is a streaming consideration. A matchup with Jacksonville, now officially the worst defense against tight ends, looms next week.
Jacob Hollister, Seattle Seahawks - 1% rostered
It hasn't been a remarkable season for Hollister but the season-ending injury to Greg Olsen leaves the door open for more targets. Hollister has out-targeted once-promising young TE Will Dissly 19-17 on the season and most of those have come in the last five games. Keep an eye on his target share on Monday Night Football.
Others to consider: Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (50% rostered); Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team (41% rostered)
Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings - 40% rostered
We may have seen the most impressive individual performance Kirk Cousins has produced as a Viking. Not statistically speaking, as he's put up more than 307 passing yards nine times in the past three years, including last week against Dallas. What made it impressive was the fact that Cousins led his team to victory in the fourth quarter down by two scores and did it without his top receiver, Adam Thielen. The Minnesota offense has basically been the Dalvin Cook show to this point but Cousins has been on fire, posting a 12-1 TD-INT rate over the past five games, four of which have resulted in victories.
Hot streak aside, a matchup with the Jaguars Defense in Week 13 makes Cousins a prime streaming candidate. This is a team that is in contention for the top pick in the NFL Draft and even made Baker Mayfield look like a decent NFL quarterback. It's unknown whether Thielen will be back by then but it clearly doesn't matter.
Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts - 33% rostered
So much for running the damn ball. The Colts were without rookie RB Jonathan Taylor and even lost Jordan Wilkins for a time in Week 12. Rivers went back to his gunslinging ways out of necessity, completing 24 of 42 pass attempts for 295 yards and two touchdowns. They were behind for nearly the entire game as well, although in recent weeks the offense has become more pass-oriented anyway. Rivers has thrown for at least 288 yards in the past three games and now gets a Houston Texans Defense that has allowed 20 passing TD with just three INT on the year. If Jacoby Brissett doesn't keep vulturing goal-line scores, Rivers might have himself an even bigger fantasy day in store.
*Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins - 20% rostered
I'm not big on asterisks but this pick obviously hinges on the health of Tua Tagovailoa. If his thumb heals and he is named the starter, a claim on Fitz would have been for naught. I expect the team to roll with Fitzpatrick for another week because they don't want to put the rookie at risk unnecessarily. Plus, they are fighting to make the playoffs and might be better off with Fitz in that regard anyway. He didn't light the Jets up but the Bengals are not much better defensively and still present a positive matchup.
Flores said Fitzpatrick played well, said "we'll see how" Tua "does in practice during the course of the week. It was close to him being able to go [today]. But we have to make good decisions for him as well."
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) November 29, 2020
Others to consider: Andy Dalton, Dallas Cowboys (12% rostered); Mike Glennon, Jacksonville Jaguars (1% rostered)
Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options
Seattle Seahawks Defense - 56% rostered
This unit is more than half-rostered but could be available in leagues where teams only hold onto one DST at a time. They've been nauseating to watch at times, especially in the secondary, but their remaining schedule is arguably the best from a fantasy perspective. Week 13 brings the Giants, who will either trot out turnover machine Daniel Jones or backup Colt McCoy. The next two weeks bring the Jets and Washington Football Team until a less-enticing matchup with the Rams in Week 16. If you're still searching for a DST or simply like to stream, this could solve your problems for the next three weeks.
Minnesota Vikings Defense - 52% rostered
The offense has been primarily responsible for the team's recent winning ways but credit has to be given to the defense. After dispatching of free-agent addition Yannick Ngakoue, the defense has actually tightened up, not allowing a 300-yard passing effort in five games since the bye week. There's a strong chance that streak continues with the Jaguars visiting in Week 13.
Las Vegas Raiders Defense - 7% rostered
It's going to have to be a bounce-back effort from the Raiders after giving up 43 points to Atlanta and only sacking Matt Ryan once. Thankfully, they face the Jets next. The return of Sam Darnold brought three points on the scoreboard. While the Raiders defense is not nearly as tough as the Dolphins Defense, it's still a decent option to stream if points allowed are your primary focused.
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