Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business,
but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious
selections to help your team from week to week while you strive
for that elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp.
The waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes
to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll
highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players that
might be available in 12-team PPR leagues. I’ll also provide
a brief update on the players I covered the previous week.
Mike White, NYJ at Minnesota – White was sharp in Sunday’s
victory over the Bears in Week 13, completing 22-of-28 passes
for 315-3-0 and giving us all a moderately interesting waiver
wire discussion if we’re saddled with a dubious QB in fantasy.
He’s worth an add if you like upside and don’t mind
a little risk, and we can safely say he’ll be the Jets’
starter until further notice.
Jared Goff, DET vs. Jacksonville – I like both sides of
this matchup in Week 13, especially with Amon-Ra St. Brown’s
ascension to the ranks of elite fantasy WR and the next QB’s
performance in Week 12. Goff outscored his projection last week
against Buffalo and could do it again in Week 13.
Trevor Lawrence, JAC at Detroit – Lawrence is owned in
fewer than 60% of ESPN leagues and completed 29-of-37 passes for
321-3-0 in Sunday’s 28-27 win over Baltimore. He’s
worth a start in deep-league season long and DFS.
Ryan Tannehill, TEN – Tannehill threw for 291 yards without
registering a TD pass or INT in Sunday’s 20-16 loss to the
Bengals, adding 9 yards rushing on two attempts. His recent efficiency
will help in a Week 13 road matchup with the 10-1 Eagles, but
there are better fantasy options to hang your hat on this week.
Jimmy Garoppolo, SF – Garoppolo completed 26-of-37 pass
attempts for 222-1-0, adding 4 yards on four rushing attempts
in the 13-0 win over New Orleans. The Miami offense could force
him into a more aggressive game script next Sunday.
Derek Carr,
LV – Josh Jacobs was the star of the show in Week 12, but Carr
completed 25-of-36 passes for 295-3-2 in Sunday’s 40-34
OT win over the Seahawks. He added 10 rushing yards on two carries
and faces a division rival Chargers team that has stepped up its
secondary play recently. I’d be looking elsewhere for my
QB1 and in DFS.
UPDATE: Jacobs now “hopes”
to play with a calf injury this week, so we could see more throws
from Carr, and the WRs (along with Ameer Abdullah) could get more
action.
Running Backs
Ty Johnson,
NYJ at Minnesota – Johnson took over for the injured Michael Carter
(ankle) and rushed five times for 62 yards and a TD in Sunday’s
31-10 win over the Bears. He added a 16-yard catch on two targets
from Mike White, and his impressive engine and skills could mean
more fantasy relevance in Week 13 against the Vikings, as the
Jets will likely be without Carter.
UPDATE: Carter is currently
listed as questionable with a knee strain, so both Johnson and
Zonovan Knight could be in heavy rotation this week.
Brian Robinson Jr., WAS at New York Giants – Robinson usually
relies on a positive game script to get solid production, but
that happened on Sunday as he rushed the ball 18 times for 105
yards in the 19-13 win over the Falcons. He added 2-20-1 receiving
and could be looking for multiple TDs once again next week against
the Giants. Robinson is still available in about one-third of
fantasy leagues, along with the next RB we’re highlighting.
Rachaad White,
TB vs. New Orleans – White likely does not get as many touches
once Leonard Fournette is back in business, but he did have 14
carries for 64 yards and caught all nine targets for 45 yards
in the Bucs’ 23-17 overtime loss to the Browns on Sunday. He’s
a solid pickup if still available in your league.
UPDATE:Benny
Snell/Anthony
McFarland Jr., PIT at Atlanta – With Najee Harris going down
in Week 12 and Jaylen Warren inactive, the Steelers RB situation
is in a fluid state. Should Harris or Warren miss Week 13, either
of these backs could emerge as relevant facing the Falcons.
Samaje Perine,
CIN at Tennessee – Perine carried the rock 17 times for 58 yards
and a TD to go with 4-35-0 in the win over the Titans. He probably
won’t replace Joe Mixon (concussion) as the starter once Mixon
is ready to return, but he'll continue to earn chances as a change-of-pace
back.
UPDATE: Mixon is still in
concussion protocol, which means Perine could get yet another
start.
Isiah Pacheco, KC vs. Los Angeles Rams – Pacheco carried
22 times for 69 yards and a TD and caught his only target for
17 yards. The rookie running back has 258 rushing yards over his
past three games since essentially taking over starting duties,
and he’ll be busy in Week 13 against the Bengals.
Latavius Murray, DEN at Carolina – Murray didn’t
quite hit his fantasy projections this week either, but the volume
is there. The veteran back rushed 13 times for 92 yards and caught
his only target for 6 receiving yards in Sunday’s 23-10
loss to the Panthers. A Week 13 matchup with Baltimore awaits.
Damien Harris,
NE at Minnesota – Five carries for 16 yards Thursday night in
Minnesota. Unless we get an injury to the Pats RB2, he’ll
not going to produce the necessary numbers except as a desperation
flex play in TD-heavy leagues.
UPDATE: Harris is not playing
Thursday against the Bills, so it’ll be the Rhamondre Stevenson
show once again.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Zay Jones, JAC at Detroit – I’ve included Mr. Jones
in the players to consider before, but even I couldn’t anticipate
his big Week 12 breakout against the Ravens. He recorded 11 receptions
on 14 targets for a career-high 145 yards in Sunday’s 28-27
win over Baltimore. He's developing into a more integral part
of the Jags’ offense and is worth a pickup in 12-team leagues.
Isaiah McKenzie, BUF at New England – A few days after
coming up empty in a Week 11 matchup with Cleveland, McKenzie
caught six of 10 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's
28-25 win over the Lions. He’s explosive and has been used
in the slot quite a bit recently.
Mack Hollins, LV vs. Los Angeles Chargers – Hollins and
the next few WRs were mentioned in the “WRs to consider”
last week, and both he and the next guy came through. Hollins
hauled in 4-63-1 on six targets, giving him multiple catches in
six straight games (23-258-2 on 35 targets over that span). He
has a relatively safe fantasy floor heading into a Week 13 matchup
with the Chargers.
Quez Watkins, PHI vs. Tennessee – Watkins had three receptions
on five targets for 35 yards and a TD in Sunday's 40-33 win over
Green Bay. He’s been savoring his new role since Dallas
Goedert hit the IR.
Skyy Moore, KC at Cincinnati – Moore didn’t quite
met projections with his Week 13 performance, hauling in five
of six targets for 36 yards in the win over the Rams.
Demarcus
Robinson, BAL – Robinson caught just one of four targets for
17 yards and faces the languishing Broncos in Week 13.
Parris Campbell,
IND – UPDATE: Just 2-14-0
on three targets Monday night. He will rank as a WR4/flex play
in Week 13 against the juggernaut Cowboys.
Treylon Burks,
TEN – Burks caught four of his six targets for 70 yards in Sunday’s
20-16 loss to the Bengals, but the highlight of his day was falling
on a Derrick Henry fumble in the end zone after the Titans RB
had a monster run. It counts in fantasy!
TE Austin Hooper, TEN – Hooper had just 3-30-0 on four
targets Sunday.
