We are nearing the end of the fantasy football season. Every move becomes more crucial to securing that final playoff spot, that bye, or positioning your team for the championship push. We need to cater our pickups toward our team situations. It’s now time to improve our rosters.
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 have done away with FAAB recommendations this year, as there are too many variables to account for. Instead, I replaced it with my opinion on how aggressive fantasy managers should be in pursuing the player on a scale of 1-10.
Drake Maye, QB | NE
Rostered: 18%
It wasn’t the greatest outing by Drake Maye against the Dolphins. The rookie threw for 221 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 26 yards. But he did it against a very good Dolphins pass defense.
Next week, Maye gets a Colts defense that is a bottom-10 unit against the pass. The Patriots should be able to move the ball much easier, making Maye a viable streamer.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Trevor Lawrence, QB | JAX
Rostered: 36%
This one is highly speculative and certainly a move contingent upon the information we get on Monday and Tuesday. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t played since Week 9 due to a significant sprain to the AC joint in his left shoulder. There were reports he would be shut down for the season. There were also reports he would return after the bye. We should get an update on Monday.
If Lawrence is able to return, he’s not the worst streaming option for Week 13. The Jaguars play the Texans, who aren’t the greatest matchup. However, the combination of the Jaguars having the worst defense in the NFL and the worst starting running back in the NFL will likely force this team to throw a ton. Lawrence did post back-to-back 20+ point outings before getting hurt.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.0
Caleb Williams, QB | CHI
Rostered: 54%
After a month-long stretch of dismal performances, Caleb Williams showed out against the Vikings. The No. 1 overall pick threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 33 yards.
I wouldn’t necessarily be excited about starting him on a short week on the road against the Lions. However, the Lions are the best offense in football and will force Williams to throw. For the desperate, he could be a streaming option.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Russell Wilson, QB | PIT
Rostered: 36%
The last time I heavily recommended Russell Wilson was against the league-worst Ravens pass defense. All he did was have his worst start of the season, throwing for 205 scoreless yards. That has me a bit trepidatious, but we must trust the process.
Wilson gets the Bengals on the road in Week 13. The Bengals are a bottom-five defense against the pass. Wilson should be able to find George Pickens deep at least once, giving him QB1 upside. He’s a top streaming option.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.0
Cam Akers, RB, | MIN
Rostered: 24%
One week after handling 12 touches, Cam Akers reverted to pure backup. He only saw four opportunities against the Bears, totaling 25 yards.
Any hopes of Akers carving out standalone value have been put to rest. However, he does still have handcuff value. If Aaron Jones were to go down, Akers would be a weekly RB3, at worst. He’s worth stashing, especially if you’re locked into a playoff spot.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Roschon Johnson, RB | CHI
Rostered: 29%
One of the changes made since the Bears dismissed OC Shane Waldron was to install Roschon Johnson as the goal-line back. Although he punched in a short touchdown for the second consecutive week, Johnson isn’t touching the ball anywhere near enough to be startable. He totaled 12 yards on three opportunities against the Vikings.
Even so, Johnson still has value as the presumptive handcuff to D’Andre Swift. With the fantasy playoffs looming, you want to stash upside players. Johnson has RB3 upside if Swift were to go down.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.0
Ameer Abdullah, RB | LV
Rostered: 24%
With Zamir White and Alexander Mattison both hurt, Ameer Abdullah projected to be a volume-based “won’t get you zero” RB3. Instead, he posted RB1 numbers.
Abdullah ran the ball eight times for 28 yards, while catching five balls for 37 yards and a touchdown. Clearly, he is startable while the other two guys are out.
Ameer Abdullah! What a catch for the @Raiders TD!
📺: #DENvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/AvxOSvAMMV— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
Neither White nor Mattison’s injuries appear overly serious. At this point, we do not know their Week 13 statuses. But if we don’t hear anything positive by Tuesday night, Abdullah needs to be added.
Aggressiveness Rating: 7.5
Jaylen Warren, RB | PIT
Rostered: 59%
Jaylen Warren is rostered in a bit too many leagues. Yet, it’s nowhere near enough. This is a very talented player who is in a timeshare on a team that wants to run the ball.
Warren ran in his first touchdown of the season on Thursday night, which is very encouraging, considering that job typically belongs to Najee Harris.
With the Steelers staring down the barrel of a very difficult remaining schedule of run defenses, we could see a bit more Warren than Harris managers would prefer. If Warren is still out there in your league, go get him.
Aggressiveness Rating: 8.0
Quentin Johnston, WR | LAC
Rostered: 53%
Somehow, Quentin Johnston has six touchdowns in eight games played this season. His unsustainable touchdown efficiency is largely contributing to his inflated rostership.
Johnston has hit double-digit fantasy points in three straight. However, in his last two games, he’s caught exactly two passes in each. He just happened to score in both.
Monday night could be a big one for Johnston against the league’s worst pass defense in a potential shootout. I just don’t think you can ever trust him weekly. His floor is literally zero.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Keon Coleman, WR | BUF
Rostered: 43%
Keon Coleman has missed the Bills’ last two games with a wrist injury. As a result, he was dropped in a bunch of leagues.
Prior to getting hurt, Coleman was starting to surge a bit. He posted games of 11.9, 16.5, and 18.0 between Weeks 5 and 8.
There’s no guarantee Coleman is ready to return next week. Hopefully, we get some sort of update on Monday or Tuesday. If we do receive some positive information, consider adding Coleman for the stretch run.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
DeMario Douglas, WR | NE
Rostered: 31%
It feels like the top receiver on the Patriots changes weekly. This week, it was DeMario Douglas catching five of seven targets for 62 yards.
There’s very little upside with Douglas, who has just two games all season with 12 or more fantasy points. However, he does provide a solid floor, scoring between 9.0 and 11.3 fantasy points in his last four games.
If you need a desperation WR4/Flex streamer in Week 13, Douglas is an option against a beatable Colts pass defense.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Noah Brown, WR | WAS
Rostered: 10%
You won’t get any consistency out of Noah Brown. In Week 11, he caught one pass for four yards. That type of disastrous performance is very much in play for him. But he can also do what he just did against the Cowboys and catch six of 10 targets for 71 yards.
Commanders targets in their last 4 games:
Noah Brown – 27
Zach Ertz – 24
Terry McLaurin – 17 😕
Austin Ekeler – 17— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) November 25, 2024
Brown has three games of 11+ fantasy points in his last five. It’s not much, but he can work for fantasy managers in a pinch.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.5
Devaughn Vele, WR | DEN
Rostered: 5%
I guess it’s past time to take Devaughn Vele seriously. Bo Nix is playing at a level that can seriously challenge Jayden Daniels for Rookie of the Year honors. He’s taking everyone up with him.
Vele caught six of nine targets for 80 yards in Week 12. He’s now hit double-digit fantasy points in three straight games.
Evidently, there is room for someone else to eat in this offense aside from elite WR1 Courtland Sutton. Vele is that guy. Add him.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.5
Tre Tucker, WR | LV
Rostered: 4%
It was a solid game for Tre Tucker against a very good Broncos pass defense. He caught seven of eight targets for 82 yards.
This wasn’t the first time Tucker popped for a big game. He’s had two other games of 15+ fantasy points. However, those happened way back in Weeks 3 and 4. He hadn’t posted a single startable outing since then.
Whether it’s Desmond Ridder or Aidan O’Connell, neither is supporting Tucker as a reliable fantasy option.
Aggressiveness Rating: 0.0
Adam Thielen, WR | CAR
Rostered: 25%
In his first game back from a lengthy absence due to a hamstring strain, the Panthers eased Adam Thielen back into action. He only caught three of four targets for 57 yards.
Expect Thielen to be more involved next week when the Panthers face a suspect Bucs pass defense. He could emerge into a viable WR3.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
Noah Gray, TE | KC
Rostered: 4%
I feel obligated to include Noah Gray after his second consecutive game with two touchdowns. Fantasy managers are definitely going to see the point totals and considering adding him. If you’re truly desperate, there’s clearly touchdown upside playing with Patrick Mahomes. However, I cannot endorse this.
Gray’s production is completely random and unpredictable. You could get a touchdown. You could get zero.
Aggressiveness Rating: 0.0
Will Dissly, TE | LAC
Rostered: 51%
At this point in the season, most tight-end waiver-wire recommendations are purely streamers, and desperate ones at that. How is Will Dissly still this widely available?
Since Week 7, Dissly has taken over as the Chargers’ primary tight end. He’s had four games with at least 8.0 fantasy points, which is at least serviceable. He’s had two games with 16+ fantasy points, which is tantamount to WR1 numbers.
Beginning last week and continuing Monday night against the Ravens, Dissly has one of the most favorable schedules for tight ends over the remainder of the season. The Chargers don’t have an opponent until Week 17 where they will likely be able to run the ball all game. Dissly should continue to thrive.
Aggressiveness Rating: 8.0
Hunter Henry, TE | NE
Rostered: 47%
Hunter Henry caught a solid five passes for 44 yards against the Dolphins. That’s really how I’d describe Henry all season — solid.
The Patriots’ TE1 has now seen at least eight targets in three of his last four games. He’s scored at least 9.4 fantasy points in six of his last seven.
Next week’s opponent, the Colts, entered Week 12 as the sixth-easiest defense for tight ends. Henry is on the streaming radar for Week 13.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Zach Ertz, TE | WAS
Rostered: 48%
Old man Zach Ertz just keeps on chugging along. With six receptions for 38 yards and his second touchdown in as many weeks, Ertz posted his second-highest fantasy point total of the season in Week 12. Ertz now has 14+ fantasy points in four of his last six.
Daniels hits Ertz to bring Washington within 3 after the successful 2-pt conversion.
📺: #DALvsWAS on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/pUuHhk6GAX— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
It is worth noting he’s on bye in Week 14. But Ertz has been a high-floor TE1 most of the season. At this point, he should be more heavily rostered.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.0
Cole Kmet, TE | CHI
Rostered: 47%
It always feels bad to put a guy on the waiver wire list that was just on the cut list. In the case of the Bears, it has to do with a change in circumstances. With OC Shane Waldron gone, the Bears have done away with using Gerald Everett in a timeshare with Cole Kmet. The long-time Bear is now the clear TE1.
Against the Vikings, Kmet saw 10 targets, catching seven for 64 yards. That type of usage is something we want to chase at the tight end position. Kmet is worth picking up to see if this role will continue.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0