The fantasy football regular season is coming to an end close. With just two weeks remaining, it’s as important as ever to be deliberate and decisive with our moves. Let’s take a look at the top Week 13 waiver wire targets and pickups that fantasy managers should consider adding to their rosters.
As always, all players are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
I eliminated FAAB recommendations last year, as there are too many variables to account for. Instead, I replaced them with my opinion on how aggressive fantasy managers should pursue the player on a scale of 1-10.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rostered: 49%
The Jacksonville Jaguars escaped with an overtime victory over the Arizona Cardinals in a game that should never have been close. The reason it was close is because Trevor Lawrence is a terrible quarterback. So take this recommendation with a huge grain of salt.
This is more of a product of the available options for Week 13 being very underwhelming. If you need Lawrence, he has a favorable matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
Of course, it’s a game where the Jaguars could dominate on the ground and with defense. But how a team scores its touchdowns is largely random. Lawrence just threw three of them (along with three interceptions). We should see lower passing volume next week, but Lawrence shouldn’t turn it over. If he can throw two touchdowns, he’ll be worth starting.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.0
Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Rostered: 9%
Full disclaimer: Kirk Cousins is only on this list because I want to give the people a second quarterback, and he’s the most appealing one. By no means is this a recommendation to start Cousins.
To be clear, Cousins is done. It’s over. He is no longer an NFL-caliber starting quarterback. But he’s going to be the Atlanta Falcons’ starter for the rest of the season.
Next week, the Falcons get the Jets. It’s a fine matchup against a depleted defense after they traded away their best players.
Cousins was able to throw for two touchdowns against the Saints. Maybe he does it again.
Aggressiveness Rating: Desperation streamer
Devin Neal, RB, New Orleans Saints
Rostered: 3%
Alvin Kamara left the game in the first half with a knee injury and did not return. After his departure, it was pretty much all Devin Neal.
The results were not great. Neal managed a mere 18 yards on seven attempts. But he did scam his way to 43 yards on five receptions.
The Saints get the Miami Dolphins next week, one of the easiest matchups possible for running backs. If Kamara can’t go, Neal will be a viable Flex. He is worth adding unless we get positive news on Kamara by Tuesday night.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.0 (pending Kamara’s status)
Dylan Sampson, RB, Cleveland Browns
Rostered: 11%
The Cleveland Browns are going with a full rookie backfield now. Quinshon Judkins is the lead with Dylan Sampson as the RB2.
Judkins was in and out of last week’s game due to injury. He seems like he’s fine, but you never know what might happen after the adrenaline wears off. If Judkins had to miss a game, Sampson would be the lead back.
Cleveland has a really favorable slate coming up against four of the league’s worst run defenses. Sampson would be on the RB2 radar any game Judkins misses over that span/
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.0 (pending Judkins)
Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rostered: 54%
Slightly above the threshold, Kenneth Gainwell’s performance on Sunday warrants discussion. Even with Jaylen Warren healthy, Gainwell was very much involved. He touched the ball 16 times, totaling 122 yards. Most notably, he caught all six of his targets and now has 13 receptions over his last two games.
Gainwell is not going to be startable every week alongside Warren. He will be usable in the right matchups, though. The Bears were one. Next week, the Buffalo Bills are another. At worst, he’s one of the best handcuffs in the league.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.0
John Metchie III, WR, New York Jets
Rostered: 1%
Who had John Metchie III solid WR2 on their preseason bingo cards? A slew of injuries to the New York Jets’ wide receivers has thrust the former Texan into a prominent role. Metchie responded by posting his second consecutive game with at least 13.5 fantasy points, catching six of seven targets for 65 yards and a touchdown. Metchie has now scored in two straight.
Garrett Wilson is out at least two more weeks, if he even returns at all. With the switch to Tyrod Taylor at quarterback, the Jets can actually complete passes to wide receivers now. They may not want to throw the ball, but they won’t have a choice, given how frequently they find themselves trailing. That makes Metchie worth a pickup.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Christian Kirk, WR, Houston Texans
Rostered: 14%
After catching one pass in two straight games, Christian Kirk came alive for 54 yards on five receptions, hauling in his first touchdown of the season. With 16.4 fantasy points, Kirk warrants mentioning. But I don’t think there’s anything here.
Nico Collins is a true alpha, vacuuming up the bulk of the targets. Jayden Higgins has been coming as of late, too. And this offense just isn’t potent enough to support more than two receivers. It’s unlikely Kirk will matter.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.0
Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans
Rostered: 22%
The winds of change are upon us. It took the Texans long enough, but they are finally playing their rookie more.
Jayden Higgins’ role is rapidly increasing. He’s now seen at least seven targets in four of his last five games, including his last three. He’s now posted at least 9.5 fantasy points in three straight.
Rookie wide receivers often start to come on in the second half. It took a while, but Higgins might finally be about to get going. He needs to be added everywhere.
Aggressiveness Rating: 7.0
Andrei Iosivas, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Rostered: 20%
When Ja’Marr Chase got suspended, Andrei Iosivas became a one-game streamer in a favorable matchup. One game is about to become two for the worst reason.
Tee Higgins sustained a concussion late in the Bengals’ close loss to the New England Patriots. With the Bengals playing on Thanksgiving, there is absolutely no chance he will clear the concussion protocol in time for that game.
Chase will return on Thursday, but Iosivas should still serve as the WR2. He had a solid outing against the Patriots, catching four of seven targets for 61 yards. 10.6 fantasy points is certainly passable for fantasy managers in need of a spot starter.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears
Rostered: 11%
It wasn’t a huge game from Luther Burden III, but the signs are there. The rookie is now finally playing ahead of Olamide Zaccheaus. While it hasn’t yet materialized into a usable fantasy game, ascending rookie wide receivers are the type of players you want to invest in.
Burden totaled 61 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers, including a 15-yard rush on an end-around. His 9.1 fantasy points represented his second-best total of the season, and is a usable number in deeper leagues. While not quite startable yet, it may be happening for Burden, and you want him on your bench before it does.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.0
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers
Rostered: 48%
It’s amazing how consistent Christian Watson’s output has been since returning from injury. He’s now posted between 45 and 58 receiving yards in four consecutive games. Given the context of this week’s game, that’s actually quite impressive.
The Minnesota Vikings are an unserious football team with J.J. McCarthy under center. At no point did they show even the slightest inclination that they would be competitive. As a result, Jordan Love only attempted 21 passes. Watson’s seven targets accounted for 33% of them.
Green Bay doesn’t have a single cupcake game remaining on the schedule. Every game should be competitive. Watson has overtaken Romeo Doubs as the Packers’ WR1. Bigger games are ahead.
Agressiveness Rating: 6.0
Chimere Dike, WR, Tennessee Titans
Rostered: 14%
We probably need to accept that the Tennessee Titans wide receiver situation is going to be completely unpredictable. Chimere Dike broke out in Weeks 7 and 8 with back to back 16-point outings. He followed that up with two games in the single digits.
After fantasy managers threw in the towel on Dike, he rebounded to catch five of seven targets for 44 yards and a touchdown against one of the best defenses in football. He also brought a punt back for a touchdown.
Is Dike going to be a weekly starter? Probably not. But at least he has upside if you need someone.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Greg Dortch, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Rostered: 9%
Marvin Harrison Jr. missed a second straight game as he recovers from emergency appendix surgery. That pushed Greg Dortch into the WR2 role behind Michael Wilson.
Dortch had a nearly identical game to last week, catching six passes and a touchdown for the second consecutive game. He had 66 yards in Week 11 and 53 yards in Week 12. Most notably, he saw nine targets.
We have no idea how long Harrison will be out. But as long as he is, Dortch is clearly on the fantasy radar.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
Rostered: 43%
Like many tight ends, Colston Loveland is going to be touchdown-dependent. But for the first half of the season, that wasn’t even in his range of outcomes. Now it is.
Loveland caught four passes for 49 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. He’s now caught at least four passes in three of his last four games.
Much like with wide receivers, rookie tight ends typically have better second halves than first halves. Loveland is still splitting more time with Cole Kmet than we’d like to see. However, he’s running enough routes to be fantasy viable anyway.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1-10
Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rostered: 13%
It’s been out of sight, out of mind for Brenton Strange for the past six weeks. He wasn’t exactly a high-scoring fantasy tight end, and then he went on IR. Naturally, fantasy managers forgot about him. Well, he’s back.
Strange only saw five targets, but he caught all of them for 93 yards. And that was in his first game since Week 5.
Strange should be worked into the offense more as he gets healthier. Fantasy managers in need of a tight end can look his way.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
