I am going to dive right in with some inspirational stuff. Week 13 is not the time to be wimpy, it is the time to be bold. Fortune favors the bold! There can be great rewards for someone willing to take some risks. Mitigated to some extent of course.
If you want to win it all or win out to get in the playoffs, pay attention to the players in this article. Some are add and play this week type players. Others are add and hold. The person telling you I don’t want that backup running back on the bad team doesn’t understand what winning is all about. If the backup becomes the starter and the schedule is favorable the rest of the way, that player could easily become “the” league winner.
So make that move that pushes you over the top in Week 13 or prepares you for something good for the fantasy playoff weeks. Be bold and make that move today!
This column refers to players rostered in under 50% of Yahoo, ESPN, and Sleeper Leagues.
Week 13 Weekend Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Kyren Williams means a lot to this team. His return and Stafford’s healthy thumb were a nice combination for Week 12 against the Cardinals. Stafford passed for 229 yards and 4 touchdowns. The next two opponents are tough but the fantasy playoff schedule is pretty sweet with the Commanders in the first round in Week 15.
54% rostered on Yahoo
32% rostered on ESPN
50% rostered on Sleeper
Gardiner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts
Minshew ran for a TD and passed for 250 yards against the Buccaneers in Week 12. The schedule for the next two games isn’t bad. Minshew also isn’t going to be the guy leading you to a win but might not kill you if you need a QB in Week 13.
23% rostered on Yahoo
10% rostered on ESPN
25% rostered on Sleeper
Other quarterbacks to consider if you are desperate:
- Derek Carr – 50% rostered on Yahoo. Passed for 304 yards in Week 12. Only one tough match-up the rest of the way.
Running Backs
Samaje Perine, Denver Broncos
In Week 11 he saw 7 targets, which he turned into 7 catches for 60 yards. He followed this up in Week 12 with 8 total touches for 66 yards and a touchdown. That was 7 carries for 55 yards and 1 catch for 11 yards. He is a nice complimentary piece for the Broncos at RB. The schedule is pretty nice.
36% rostered on Yahoo
36% on ESPN
39% on Sleeper
D’Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars
Johnson appears to have taken over as the primary backup to Travis Etienne. Etienne has missed time this week with a chest injury. In Week 12 D’Ernest had 8 total touches. 7 carries for 19 yards and 1 receptions for 42 yards. He also had 39% of the snap share at running back. If Etienne is out this Monday night or at any other point D’Ernest is the running back to roster from the Jaguars.
12% rostered on Yahoo
3% on ESPN
14% on Sleeper
Other running backs to consider if you are desperate:
- Royce Freeman –Kyren Williams is back and was amazing but Freeman still had 13 carries for 77 yards and a TD in Week 12. Only 13% rostered on Yahoo.
- Ezekiel Elliott – The Patriots have a great run schedule for the rest of the season. Zeke is only 40% rostered on Yahoo.
Wide Receivers
Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders
12 targets for 9 receptions and 100 yards. That was a 27% target sharing leading the Commanders in Week 12. When Samuel is healthy, he seems to produce for the Commanders. On a BYE in Week 14 but could be useful in Week 12 against the Dolphins, a game where the Commanders will most likely have to throw the ball.
37% rostered on Yahoo
42% on ESPN
49% on Sleeper
Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals
In the past 2 games, Dorth has seen 17 targets. That was a 23% target share over those 2 games. If Michael Wilson misses Week 13 I am playing Dortch everywhere I can. He will see the volume in that scenario and Dortch has produced in this situation in the past. He is a low-cost, potentially high-volume play for Week 13.
7% rostered on Yahoo
4% on ESPN
19% on Sleeper
Other wide receivers to consider:
- Juju Smith Schuster – It looks like Demario Douglas will miss Week 13. With all the other injuries at wide receiver for the Patriots, this pushes Juju to the forefront. He is only 15% rostered on Yahoo.
Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
With all of the Saints starting wide receivers looking like they will miss Week 13 Johnson becomes an interesting play at tight end. In Week 12 Johnson saw 7 targets which he turned into 4 receptions for 45 yards. I would expect Johnson, Taysom Hill, and Alvin Kamara to all have expanded roles this week in the Saints passing game.
16% rostered on Yahoo
29% on ESPN
16% on Sleeper
Tyler Higbee, Los Angelos Rams
2 receiving TDs in Week 12. 5 targets, which he turned into 5 receptions for 29 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was the way we all drew this game up. Everyone expected Higbee to be a star this week. That was sarcasm. If you need a TE give him an add, I am not interested but had to talk about him after his big week.
44% rostered on Yahoo
43% on ESPN
37% on Sleeper