Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 13
Turkey Day is in the rearview mirror and the fantasy playoffs are just down the road. Owners who are not looking to take an early exit from the highway to a #FootClanTitle need to remain diligent on the waiver wire. Even if your team is stacked and you have your playoff ticket punched, look at the other rosters in your league and look for an opportunity to block a player or secure a plus playoff matchup. You can listen to the Footballers discuss waiver wire strategy and much more on the podcast.
Wide Receivers
Sammy Watkins @ OAK (ESPN 59%, Yahoo 72%)
Sammy Watkins, if available, needs to be every team’s #1 waiver priority. This is why you’ve been saving all of that FAAB. The talented receiver had 3 grabs for 80 yards in limited work in Week 12. Look for his opportunities to increase as his conditioning improves.
Marquess Wilson vs SF (ESPN 0.2%, Yahoo 1%)
It is difficult to ignore an 8 reception, 125-yard performance with a TD, but I think it might be best to look the other way unless you are in a deep, deep, deep league.
Tyreek Hill @ ATL (ESPN 26%, Yahoo 37%)
Hill needs to be owned. He is operating as the Chiefs #1 WR and is a threat in the return game as well.
Tyler Boyd vs PHI (ESPN 35%, Yahoo 50%)
News update from Cincinnati: Brandon LaFell stinks. This leaves Tyler Boyd as the only decent pass catching option behind Tyler Eifert. He has the talent to take advantage.
Quincy Enunwa vs IND (ESPN 41%, Yahoo 28%)
The Jets have a favorable schedule going forward and Enunwa figures to remain featured in their concentrated passing attack.
Taylor Gabriel vs KC (ESPN 3.5%, Yahoo 6%)
The upside of a player with Gabriel’s speed in a high-powered offense is through the roof, though I worry about the floor.
Will Fuller @ GB (ESPN 48%, Yahoo 44%)
Downfield threat who can’t catch paired with a QB who is terrified to throw the ball deep. No thanks.
Kenny Britt @ NE (ESPN 60%, Yahoo 61%)
Tough matchup this week, but Britt has been very reliable this season. He has had 60+ yards and/or a TD in 8 of his 11 games this season.
Malcolm Mitchell vs LA (ESPN 2.6%, Yahoo 4%)
Exciting young player in a prolific offense. Potential owners would likely need to see his snap count increase before trusting him with a start.
DeVante Parker @ BAL (ESPN 62%, Yahoo 75%)
We had high hopes for Parker in the offseason. That talent is finally starting to come through as the Dolphins have found balance on offense.
Corey Coleman BYE (ESPN 48%, Yahoo 52%)
Bye this week, but Coleman give Browns fans and fantasy owners hope for the future.
Anquan Boldin @ NO (ESPN 23%, Yahoo 23%)
A ‘Sneaky Snart’ this week, Boldin should be heavily involved in what figures to be a shootout in the Big Easy.
Running Backs
Kenneth Dixon vs MIA (ESPN 25%, Yahoo 29%)
Dixon out-snapped Terrance West in Week 12- 31 to 23. It is apparent that West is just another guy in the NFL, while Dixon has the potential to be great.
Wendell Smallwood @ CIN (ESPN 43%, Yahoo 49%)
Doug Pederson is a strange cross between Bill Belichick and John Fox. You never know who is going to be the guy in his backfield, but one thing is for sure, you can’t take his word for it.
James Starks vs HOU (ESPN 57%, Yahoo 71%)
Starks should be owned in all formats, especially in PPR. Christine Michael appears to have been nothing more than a depth move.
Matt Asiata vs DAL (ESPN 43%, Yahoo 48%)
If you must add and start Asiata, I hope for your sake that he scores.
Rex Burkhead vs PHI (ESPN 5%, Yahoo 4%)
Gio Bernard is out for the season and now Jeremy Hill is dealing with an ankle injury. Burkhead could be a volume play if Hill were to miss any time.
RB Handcuffs
Look at this list. If you have a bench spot available or even a lower tier player whom you can cut, please, please add your handcuffs. Or, if you want a next level strategy, look at your potential playoff opponents and steal their handcuffs.
DeAngelo Williams [Le’Veon Bell] (ESPN 23%, Yahoo 22%)
Akeem Hunt [Lamar Miller] (ESPN 0.6%, Yahoo 1%)
Alfred Morris [Ezekiel Elliott] (ESPN 14%, Yahoo 12%)
Derrick Henry [DeMarco Murray] (ESPN 47%, Yahoo 46%)
Bilal Powell [Matt Forte] (ESPN 42%, Yahoo 42%)
Charcandrick West [Spencer Ware] (ESPN 32%, Yahoo 20%)
Mike Gillislee [LeSean McCoy] (ESPN 31%, Yahoo 29%)
Damien Williams [Jay Ajayi] (ESPN 6%, Yahoo 4%)
Tight Ends
Cameron Brate @ SD (ESPN 43%, Yahoo 57%)
You can’t ask for a better schedule for the fantasy playoffs (vs NO, @ DAL, @ NO).
Vernon Davis @ AZ (ESPN 22%, Yahoo 9%)
A rare TE handcuff. Jordan Reed is dealing with a Grade 3 AC joint sprain (“separated shoulder” for the rest of us), his status for Week 13 is unclear and may come down to a game-time decision.
C.J. Fiedorowicz @ GB (ESPN 44%, Yahoo 35%)
Fiedorowicz has been a nice surprise this season for Houston. His schedule going forward is favorable to the position.
Vance McDonald @ CHI (ESPN 7%, Yahoo 10%)
At least 46 yards in each of the last 4 weeks, McDonald is providing high yardage considering his relatively low target numbers.
Defense/Special Teams
Eagles @ CIN (ESPN 63%, Yahoo 81%)
Eagles have been opportunistic and now face a Bengals team that is still looking for answers on the offensive side of the ball.
Cowboys @ MIN (ESPN 37%, Yahoo 47%)
Fresh off giving up 400+ yards to Cousins, look for the Cowboys to get back on track against an underpowered Vikings offense who have struggled along the offensive line.
Falcons vs KC (ESPN 7.5%, Yahoo 14%)
Atlanta has found their pass rush this season. They could generate some points for you if you need a spot start.
49ers @ CHI (ESPN 0.8%, Yahoo 1%)
Don’t think about it too much. This is just an attempt to pick on Matt Barkley.