Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Winston came in late after Carr went down with a concussion,
among other injuries. This is Carr’s second concussion in
three weeks, so it might be the Jameis Winston show from here
on out. Winston has shown the ability to sling it, albeit with
considerable turnovers. Outside of 2-QB leagues, he’s not
worth a start against a tough Carolina secondary, but if you have
Carr as your backup, Winston is worth picking up as a replacement.
Mayfield had a quiet outing in Week 13 against a tough Carolina
secondary, going 202-1-1 through the air. Up next is a much more
forgiving matchup against the Falcons, where he went 275-1-1 earlier
this year.
Surprisingly, Browning stepped up in a game against the division-leading
Jaguars on Monday Night Football and went 354-1-0 while rushing
for 2-22-1. He has an 81% completion percentage and 9.2 Y/A in
his two starts in relief of Joe Burrow. He’s not top10 material
but could serve those in 2-QB leagues. Up next are two middle-of-the-pack
matchups against the Colts and Vikings.
Derek Carr, NO vs DET: Carr had a stat line of 226-1-1 before
being carted off with a concussion, as well as back and shoulder
injuries. With this being his second concussion in the last three
weeks, it’s unlikely he suits up again for the rest of the
regular season.
Russell Wilson, DEN @ HOU: Wilson again saved his fantasy day
with his legs, going 10-44-1 on the ground despite throwing 3
interceptions (his first since Week 6. Wilson gets a very forgiving
Chargers defense this week; he should be able to bounce back in
a big way against the 3rd-worst defense against QBs.
Elliott took over as the lead back after Rhamondre Stevenson
(ankle) left in the first half against the Chargers. Elliott ended
up with a respectable 17-52-0 rushing line and 5-4-40-0 receiving
despite atrocious quarterback play from Bailey Zappe. Elliott
will look to get the call again as Stevenson will most likely
not recover on a short week against the Steelers.
Derrick Henry left their Week 13 game with a concussion(?), and
Spears promptly carried 16 times for 75 yards and delivered his
typical 6-4-13-0 through the air. Tennessee doesn’t play until
Monday Night Football, and it sounds like Henry is not in the
concussion protocol, but Spears could be a solid flex play against
an explosive Dolphins team that will force Tennessee to come from
behind.
Johnson was on bye this week, but when we last saw him in Week
12, he was taking control of the Bears backfield, going 10-35-0
on the ground to pair with 5-5-40-0 through the air in a win against
the Vikings. He gets another division matchup against the Lions,
and it will be interesting to see who dominates touches (Johnson
or Khalil Herbert) from here on out.
Mitchell is another back who was on bye this week, but has seen
his touch and snap counts continue to grow. Getting the start
Week 12, the explosive Mitchell went 9-64-0 on the ground and
2-2-25-0 receiving. Up next should be a slugfest against the surging
Rams as the Ravens look to hold on to first place in the AFC.
Chuba Hubbard, CAR @ TB: Hubbard followed up last week’s
season-best performance with an even better one, going 25-104-2
on the ground against a tough Buccaneers rush defense. Up next,
he gets another tough defense against the Saints, but Hubbard
has proven himself effective strictly based on volume alone.
Antonio Gibson, WAS vs MIA: Gibson had a solid day against the
Dolphins, although this was partly due to increased carries after
Brian Robinson Jr. left with a hamstring injury. Gibson managed
10-35-0 rushing to go with his trademark 5-4-37-0 receiving. The
Commanders are on bye this week, but if Robinson misses additional
games, Gibson would be worth holding on to.
JSN had his best day of his career, going 11-7-62-0 in a shootout
with the Cowboys on Thursday Night. Smith-Njigba actually led
the Seahawks in targets in this one, we’ll see if it portends
bigger things down the road. Up next is a game against the 49ers
and their bottom-10 defense against WRs, where the Seahawks will
be most likely be forced to throw as they come from behind.
Moore went 12-4-83-0 against the Rams, dominating targets from
Joe Flacco after Amari Cooper left with a concussion. If Cooper
is out Week 14, Moore gets a great matchup against a Jaguars defense
that has given up the 4th-most TDs to WRs.
Brown didn’t record a catch on 2 targets against the Broncos
in his first game back from a two-week absence. With Tank Dell
breaking his leg, however, Brown was 2nd on the team in wide receiver
snaps (behind Nico Collins) and looks to be the WR2 going forward.
In his two games prior to injury, Brown smashed with a 14-13-325-1
line so he should have some appeal. He gets two tough matchups
(Jets in Week 14 and Browns Week 16) and two cupcakes against
the Titans to close out the fantasy season.
Doubs went 5-4-72-0 and Reed went 5-4-16-0 in a win over the
Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. The Packers (and Jordan Love
especially) have started to heat up, winning four of their last
five games. With Christian Watson appearing to pull his hamstring
on the last play of the game, Reed and Doubs should see increase
targets against the Giants’ 4th-worst WR defense.
Jeudy grabbed 3 of 4 targets for 51 scoreless yards against the
Texans on a day Russell Wilson only threw 26 times. Up next is
a juicy matchup against the Chargers, who are 3rd-worst against
WRs. In fact, all of the remaining Denver opponents are bottom-10
against WRs, so Jeudy could be a solid waiver addition if he’s
been dropped.
Jones posted an 8-5-78-0 line after Christian Kirk exited Monday
Night Football with a groin injury. This could be a multi-week
issue so Kirk’s targets look to be up for grabs for the
stretch run. In deeper leagues, Parker Washington could also be
an option. Washington saw his first action of the 2023 season
and promptly delivered a 6-6-61-1 showing. It’s difficult
to predict the target distribution going forward, but both figure
to see a bump over their game averages to date. Up next are tough
matchups against the Browns and Ravens before a cupcake game against
the Buccaneers.
With Mark Andrews done for the year, Likely steps into Lamar
Jackson’s most-targeted position. He went 6-4-40-0 in Week 12,
but with the Ravens on bye this week Likely should be able to
get more reps to get comfortable as the TE1. Week 14 is a great
matchup against the Rams, who have allowed the 6th-most yards
and tied for 3rd-most TDs to TEs.
Everett has had two solid outings back-to-back, going 5-4-44-0
against a stingy Patriots defense after going 4-4-43-1 versus
a tough Ravens team. Up next, he gets the Broncos and their league-worst
defense against TEs.
Waller has been on IR for the past four games but is now eligible
to return. Pick him up if he’s been dropped as he’s
got great matchups Week 16 & 17 (fantasy playoffs) against
the Eagles and Rams, both defenses among the bottom-10 against
TEs.
Brandin Cooks, DAL vs WAS: Cooks scored again in a shootout with
the Seahawks, going 4-4-45-1 receiving on another short week.
Cooks has now scored a TD in five of the Cowboys last seven games.
He looks primed to do it again against the league-worst Eagles
defense (against WRs), despite going 2-1-7-0 in their earlier
matchup.
Josh Downs,
IND vs TB: Downs had a quiet day against the vulnerable Buccaneers,
going 5-3-14-0 through the air. Michael Pittman Jr. saw a whopping
16 targets and Alec Pierce ended up scoring a TD on several long
receptions in the overtime win against the division rival Titans.
Demario Douglas, NE vs LAC: Douglas didn’t play Week 13
as he was out on the concussion protocol, hopefully he can return
in a short week against the Steelers.
Greg Dortch,
ARI @ PIT: Dortch led all Cardinals wide receivers in targets
against the Steelers, but that didn’t mean much when he caught
1 of 3 for 19 yards. Arizona ended up going conservative in rainy
conditions, handing the ball to James Conner and dumping it to
TE Trey McBride.
Josh Palmer,
LAC @ NE: Palmer still hasn’t been activated from IR, despite
his mandatory 4-week absence now being over. Keep a watchful eye
on practice reports, as the Chargers offense is struggling for
playmakers (outside of Keenan Allen) right now and Palmer should
see a healthy target share when he come back.
Pat Freiermuth, PIT vs ARI: Freiermuth tied for the team lead
in targets, delivering 5-3-29-0 against a tough Cardinals defense
against TEs. Up next, he gets another tough matchup against the
Patriots on a short week, most likely with Mitchell Trubisky at
the helm due to Kenny Pickett’s injury.
Defense/ Special Teams
Saints vs CAR
New Orleans nearly pulled off the upset against the Lions, and
now they have a chance to get right against the down-bad Panthers.
Carolina comes into the game allowing the 4th-most sacks, scoring
the 4th-fewest points, and is tied for 2nd in defensive TDs allowed.
Colts @ CIN
The Colts have strung together four solid defensive games in
a row, and now they’ll get the Jake Browning-led Bengals.
We’ll see what he does on Monday Night Football tonight,
but his past two games he has struggled to move the football while
averaging 4.5 sacks.
Packers @ NYG
Green Bay has been heating up, as they’ve won four of five
games, and after beating the Chiefs in Week 13, they now sit in
position to get the last playoff spot in the NFC. In Week 14 they
face the Giants, who have allowed the 2nd-most points to defenses
in the league (most sacks allowed, 2nd-fewest points scored).
The Packers are a great D/ST pickup for the stretch run as they
face the Giants, Buccaneers, Panthers, and Vikings to close out
the season.
Last week’s waiver adds:
Buccaneers vs CAR: Tampa Bay got the win against
the NFL’s worst team, getting 4 sacks and an interception
in the process. Up next is the Falcons, who they struggled against
in a Week 7 loss.
UPDATE: Jaguars
vs CIN: Jacksonville struggled to contain QB Jake Browning, as
they gave up 34 points in a loss to the Bengals, only managing
2 sacks and an interception. They’ll face a newly hopeful
Browns team with Joe Flacco at the controls in Week 14.
Falcons @ NYJ: Atlanta’s defense grabbed
3 turnovers and 4 sacks against the hapless Jets and 3rd-stringer
Tim Boyle, holding the Jets to 8 points. Up next is a division
rivalry game to stay atop the NFC South versus the Buccaneers.
