Week 13 waiver wire means no more byes! It also means Melvin Gordon and Leonard Fournette owners are left scrambling as they try and replace them for Week 13. Hopefully Gordon owners handcuffed Austin Ekeler, but if you didn’t, there may be a couple plug and play options below if you’re in a pinch. Ekeler is owned in most formats, but rookie Justin Jackson shouldn’t go unnoticed. Carlos Hyde won’t help Gordon owners in the playoffs, but he could be of some value for this week, especially if you have Fournette. Hyde is surprisingly owned in 76 percent of Fantrax leagues, so you won’t see him below, but he’s a short term add for those in a tough spot. He had 10 carries last week for 33 yards, and should get the bulk of the ground work in Week 13 with Fournette suspended. Hyde had eight carries in Week 11 with Fournette active. T.J. Yeldon can be considered a start in deep PPR formats. Maybe you are fine at RB and it’s the TE position that’s killing you. As if the tight end pool couldn’t get any worse…think again! There are several out there looking for help at the position.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out @chrismeaney.
Key Week 13 Injuries & Notes
Quarterbacks
Mitchell Trubisky (shoulder) – missed practice Wednesday
Andy Dalton (thumb) – done for season; Jeff Driskel to start
Joe Flacco (hip) – sidelined; Lamar Jackson to start
Sam Darnold (foot) – day-to-day
Blake Bortles (benched) – Cody Kessler to start
Running backs
Melvin Gordon (knee) – week-to-week
Leonard Fournette (suspended) – RULED OUT
Marlon Mack (concussion) – remains in protocol
Kerryon Johnson (knee) – sidelined Wednesday
Rex Burkhead (neck) – eligible to play
Alex Collins (foot) – did not practice Wednesday
Ronald Jones (hamstring) – questionable
Chris Thompson (ribs) – returned to practice this week
Darren Sproles (hamstring) – likely out
D’Onta Foreman (Achilles) – still not ready
Wide Receivers
A.J. Green (toe) – says he’ll play
Marvin Jones (knee) – placed on IR
Sammy Watkins (foot) – out Wednesday
Devin Funchess (knee) – sidelined Wednesday
Keke Coutee (hamstring) – questionable
DeSean Jackson (thumb) – doubtful
Tre’Quan Smith (foot) – questionable
Jamison Crowder (ankle) – questionable
Randall Cobb (hamstring) – questionable
Pierre Garcon (knee) – questionable
Danny Amendola (knee) – missed practice Wednesday
Marquise Goodwin (personal) – questionable
Taywan Taylor (foot) – questionable
Tight Ends
Evan Engram (hamstring) – missed practice Wednesday
Jack Doyle (kidney) – placed on IR
Jeff Heuerman (ribs) – done for season
Charles Clay (hamstring) – questionable
Geoff Swaim (wrist) – RULED OUT
Week 13 Waiver Wire (under 60% Owned on Fantrax)
Running Backs
Justin Jackson – Los Angeles Chargers (9%)
Smart Fantrax users already had Austin Ekeler rostered as he enters the Week 13 waiver wire period with an 87 percent ownership. Ekeler is worth a number one claim and all your money if he’s available as it looks like Melvin Gordon will miss at least a couple games. Consider Ekeler a strong RB2 with matchups against PIT, CIN & KC. This is more true in PPR formats where he has 32 catches and is fresh off a 10-catch game in Week 12. Having said that, don’t forget about rookie Justin Jackson who had seven carries last week for 57 yards. The game was out of hand and against the lowly Cardinals, but I expect him to be involved down the stretch. The matchups against the Bengals and Chiefs are amazing. He only has 13 carries in three games, but he has two catches and may get an opportunities in the red zone. You know, Ekeler played just about every snap in the game Gordon missed earlier in the season (Week 7 vs TEN), but he wasn’t that productive on the ground as he only had 42 yards on 12 carries. He caught five of seven targets, though, and it’s possible he’ll be just a 7-10 carry guy with 5-7 targets a game. There’s a lot of value in that kind of line, but don’t be surprised if Jackson gets more work on the ground.
LeGarrette Blount – Detroit Lions (57%)
LeGarrette Blount is only a play in deep standard formats should Kerryon Johnson miss another game. Blount had a season-high 19 carries and 88 yards, while topping 100 total with KJ sidelined. Blount usually gets all the goal line work anyway, but he converted on a few red zone rushing attempts for two touchdowns in Week 12’s loss. Don’t ignore volume if you need someone this week.
Jordan Wilkins – Indianapolis Colts (32%)
Nyheim Hines is the pickup and the play if Marlon Mack misses Week 13, but Jordan Wilkins should be added as depth just in case. Wilkins didn’t really do a whole lot when Mack missed time earlier in the year, but it’s important to go into your playoffs with some depth at the RB position. The offensive line is strong enough where Wilkins could have some value should Mack miss a couple weeks. Wilkins had 24 carries and 101 yards in his first two games of the season. He also caught five passes over that span.
Rex Burkhead – New England Patriots (51%)
This is another depth piece you should add if you have the room. Rex Burkhead has been activated off IR and is eligible to play Week 13 against the Vikings. I wouldn’t start him and I still like Sony Michel and James White more, but Burkhead could lighten the workload of both down the stretch. Michel also hasn’t been the most durable back this season.
Wide Receivers
Josh Reynolds – Los Angeles Rams (54%)
Maybe because the Los Angeles Rams were on a bye last week, but there’s no reason for Josh Reynolds to be available in your league. He’s a fringe WR3 because he plays in one of the best offensive teams in the league. Reynolds racked up a season-high eight targets, six catches and 80 yards in Week 11’s shootout with the Kansas City Chiefs. He found the end zone and is the biggest beneficiary from the Cooper Kupp loss. Reynolds is in a good spot this week in Detroit and plays against Philadelphia in Week 15.
Adam Humphries – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (58%)
Last week’s write up:
There’s going to be another quarterback change in Tampa Bay, but Adam Humphries has stayed consistent throughout. Humphries is averaging 6.5 targets, 4.5 catches and 65 yards over his last six games. Those numbers won’t blow you away, but he had at least 9.7 points in PPR leagues in four of those games. He also has three touchdowns in his last three games. The defense remains awful and there are some decent matchups ahead (SF & NO).
Another six catches, 54 yards and a touchdown for Humphries in Week 12. DeSean Jackson could be done for the season due to a thumb injury. Take notice of Humphries and start him this week in another high total game.
Josh Doctson – Washington Redskins (50%)
Last week’s write up:
Josh Doctson tied a season-high with seven targets last week and will enter Week 12’s game with Colt McCoy as his QB. It’s hard to imagine Docton’s stock rising with McCoy taking over from Alex Smith, but it can’t get much worse. Doctson does have two touchdowns in his last three games, but has yet to top five grabs and 50 yards. He does have the Eagles and Giants coming up on the schedule, and he’s the only Washington WR you want. Maybe Trey Quinn in deeper PPR leagues. He had four catches for 49 yards last week.
So Trey Quinn had five grabs and a touchdown in Week 12, and I’d go back to him in deep PPR formats if Jamison Crowder remains sidelined. As for Doctson, well…he had a season high 10 targets, six catches and 66 yards against the Dallas Cowboys. now he gets a very soft Philadelphia Eagles defense and the New York Giants after that.
David Moore – Seattle Seahawks (38%)
David Moore has some value in deeper formats and he has a couple nice matchups coming up. Moore caught four of his five targets for 103 yards last week. He scored his fifth touchdown of the season and has at least four catches in three of his past five games. He’s also hit the 97 and 57 yard mark over that span. Russell Wilson has given him 23 targets in the last four contests. Seattle gets San Francisco in Week 13 and Week 15.
John Ross – Cincinnati Bengals (41%)
John Ross is like Eric Ebron…he just scores touchdowns. Ross has a touchdown in three straight games, despite only catching seven passes over that span. He’s only caught 14 passes this season for 176 yards, but he’s only played eight games. Ross has racked up 21 targets in his last three games with A.J. Green sidelined and the defense in Cincy is so poor that they’ll have no choice but to keep chucking. Jeff Driskel threw the ball 29 times last week and only played parts of two quarters. It’s also a real possibility A.J. gets shutdown.
Marcell Ateman – Oakland Raiders (8%)
I’m not loving Marcell Ateman, and I won’t spent too much time here, but he’s someone to think about if you are in a deep PPR format and of course desperate. The rookie WR racked up 10 targets last week and has 15 in two games. One problem, he only had three catches for 16 yards in Week 12 and has just seven catches for 66 yards in the two games. Another problem, Derek Carr. That said, Carr is running out of passing options and will have to throw against his next two opponents: KC & PIT. He also gets a favorable matchup against Cincinnati in Week 16. OK, I spent too much time on Ateman. Bottom line…he leads all OAK wideouts in targets in the last four weeks and he’s played two games.
Dante Pettis – San Francisco 49ers (21%)
Dante Pettis had a career high seven targets, four catches and 77 yards last week, while finding the end zone. Pettis now has 13 targets in his last two games, but he really took advantage of a missing Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin in Week 12. The matchups moving forward are not great, but if Garcon and Goodwin are going to miss time again, you could see another seven targets for Pettis.
Bruce Ellington – Detroit Lions (8%)
Again…last week:
Bruce Ellington is in play this Thursday in deep PPR formats if Marvin Jones misses his second straight games. Ellington took over the Golden Tate role last week and caught six of his nine targets for 52 yards. The Detroit Lions will be without Kerryon Johnson, and I don’t expect LeGarrette Blount to have a lot of success against Chicago’s tough run defense. Matthew Stafford will have no choice but to get the ball out quick, which will benefit Ellington. Honestly, he’s probably more of a Thanksgiving DFS play.
Bruce Ellington proved to just be OK last week. He caught six balls, but he only had 28 yards. He does have 16 targets and 12 catches in two games, though. Marvin Jones is done for the season and the Lions will have to pass the ball against the Rams this week. Think about Ellington in deep PPR formats.
Chris Conley – Kansas City Chiefs (14%)
If Sammy Watkins can’t go, take a look at Chris Conley in a deep setting. Conley caught seven passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns in Week 11. He’s a decent depth piece to add due to the high powered offense. Plus, this isn’t the first time Watkins has missed time with a foot injury. You never know, it could linger. They could rest him, which would make Conley a borderline start in 14-team leagues due to how great the offense is in KC.
Tight Ends
Jonnu Smith, TE – Tennessee Titans (23%)
This worked out last week:
Jonnu Smith is pretty much the only tight end waiver wire pickup that didn’t disappoint in Week 11. Smith had a season-high eight targets and six catches last week. He racked up 44 yards and has 89 yards in his last two games. Smith has two touchdowns in his last thee games with 122 yards over that span. There are not a lot of passing options for whoever plays at QB this week for Tennessee and they get Houston who has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to TE’s.
I’ve fielded a few tight end questions over the past few days due to the loss or disappearance of Jack Doyle, Evan Engram and Jimmy Graham. Not everyone was able to land Cameron Brate, but if he’s available he’s the guy you want. Smith didn’t disappoint in Week 12 either, despite just the two catches. Smith scored a 61-yard touchdown which saved his day. At this point, it’s all you’re looking for from the position and Smith is likely the third option in the passing game.
Chris Herndon – New York Jets (39%)
Chris Herndon reeled in seven of his eight targets last week for 57 yards. It’s the fourth time in the last last six games where he’s had at least 42 yards. Herndon has scored at least eight fantasy points in PPR settings in five of those six games, which is more than a lot of TE’s can say.
C.J. Uzomah – Cincinnati Bengals (31%)
It’s hard to ignore C.J. Uzomah’s 13 targets last week. He’s very unlikely to hit that number again and despite six catches, he only had 39 yards. Listen, you may be in a bad spot this week and it’s very possible A.J. Green will miss another game, which could result in backup QB Jeff Drisek peppering Uzomah with more targets.
Others to consider: Gerald Everett, Matt LaCosse & Antonio Gates
Quarterbacks Streams
Jameis Winston vs. CAR
Dak Prescott vs. NO
Lamar Jackson @ ATL
Case Keenum @ CIN
Colt McCoy @ PHI
Josh Allen @ MIA
DST Streams
DEN @ CIN
KC @ OAK
IND @ JAX
BUF @ MIA
TEN vs. NYJ
SEA vs. SF
Playoff Stash
Spencer Ware, RB – Kansas City Chiefs
Malcolm Brown, RB – Los Angeles Rams
Jaylen Samuels – Pittsburgh Penguins
DST Playoff Stash
Denver (@ SF, vs. CLE, @ OAK)
Detroit (@ARI, @ BUF, vs. MIN)
Buffalo (vs. NYJ, vs. DET)
Like these Week 12 Waiver Wire adds? Get more Chris Meaney on his new podcast, By Any Means. Each week he’ll bring in guests from around the industry to break down all the fantasy news you need to know for your march to the championship.
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