Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Note: This column will be updated tomorrow at the conclusion
of Week 12.
Brissett threw for 317-1-0 line in a tight loss to the Jaguars,
his first start where he didn't throw for 2 TDs. You can
roll him out again versus the Buccaneers this week, who have given
up the 4th-most points to opposing QBs.
Sanders got his first career start with Gabriel out with a concussion,
and had his moments in leading the Browns to a win over the hapless
Raiders, posting a 209-1-1 line with a 55% completion rate. It's
up in the air who will get the start in Week 13, although Sanders
did give them a spark and the win. Regardless of who starts, the
49ers are a beatable defense, giving up the 2nd most yards and
6th most TDs to QBs.
Ward had his best fantasy day of the season, going 256-1-0 through
the air and rushing for 6-37-1, as the Titans were in catch-up
mode against a tough Seahawks defense. This week he'll get
a much easier matchup against the division-rival Jaguars, who
have given up the 3rd-most points to QBs.
Bryce Young, CAR @ SF: TBD based on Monday Night Football.
Aaron Rodgers / Mason Rudolph, PIT @ CHI: Rodgers was a game-time
scratch due to his wrist injury, so Rudolph got his first start
of the year and had a so-so game with 171-1-1 passing in a last-second
loss to the Bears. Rodgers should be back this week in a tough
matchup against the Bills.
Neal saw more work after Alvin Kamara left with a knee injury,
and went 7-18-0 on the ground and 7-5-43-0 through the air. If
Kamara is forced to sit, Neal will be an attractive option against
the Dolphins, who have allowed the 4th-most rushing yards.
Monangai looks to be taking over the starting RB role, as he
out-touched D'Andre Swift 12-9 in a close win over the Steelers.
Swift (fumble) is getting passing game work, but Monangai is getting
red zone opportunities and has scored in three straight games.
He'll face a tough Eagles rush defense on Black Friday.
Gainwell is in a timeshare with Jaylen Warren, but both backs
have been productive as they're racking up targets. Gainwell rushed
for 10-92-0 and caught all 6 targets for another 30 yards. Up
next is a juicy matchup against the Bills, who have allowed the
3rd-most points to RBs.
Knight had a solid game as the starter against a stingy Jaguars
rush defense, going 10-12-1 on the ground and 5-4-20-0 as a receiver.
Benson has been out since late September with a knee injury, but
he has been practicing in limited fashion and has been designated
to return from IR. Benson should be stashed, and whoever gets
the start should have a nice night against a Buccaneers defense
that has allowed the 6th-most points to RBs.
Tucker paced the Buccaneers backfield ahead of Rachaad White,
going 12-42-0 on the ground and 2-1-4-0 receiving in a rout by
the Rams. He should bounce back at home against the Cardinals,
who have given up the 8th-most points to the position, although
the expected return of Bucky Irving could cut into his volume.
Emanuel Wilson, GB vs MIN: Wilson had a monster game with Josh
Jacobs out with a knee injury, rushing for 28-107-2 and catching
both targets for another 18 yards. It remains to be seen if Jacobs
can return this week. If not, Wilson will be an option on volume
alone against a tough Lions rush defense.
Devin Singletary,
NYG @ DET: Singletary put up a 14-47-0 rushing line and surprisingly
didn’t see a target in a shootout loss with the Lions. He’ll
continue to see a decent workload against another tough rushing
defense when they face the Patriots.
Dike was the leading WR for the Titans, going 7-5-44-1 in a loss
to the Seahawks as Elic Ayomanor (hamstring) and Calvin Ridley
(fibula) both sat. He'll get the Jaguars this week, and although
the offense has been limited, Cam Ward is coming off his best
game of the season, and the Jaguars allow more yards passing than
rushing.
Washington had a nice day alongside Jakobi Meyers, putting up
a 7-5-71-1 line in a win over the Cardinals. Things should be
even easier against a Titans defense that has allowed the 4th-most
points to opposing WRs, although Brian Thomas Jr. might be back,
thus capping his upside.
Mooney led the team in receiving in an easy win over the Saints,
catching all 3 targets for 74 yards and a touchdown as Drake London
was out with a knee injury. London will likely be out again in
another game the Falcons should win, this time against the Jets.
Metchie has led the Jets in receiving the last two weeks, and
put up a nice 7-6-65-1 stat line in a loss to the Ravens. That's
TDs in back-to-back games since joining the Jets in Week 10. With
Garrett Wilson on IR and Adonai Mitchell unable to catch his targets,
Metchie might be the WR1 for the Jets for the foreseeable future.
He'll face a daunting Falcons pass rush this week, but someone
has to catch the ball.
Higgins is starting to take over the WR2 role opposite Nico Collins,
seeing 7-plus targets in four of his last five games, including
a decent 9-4-38-1 receiving line in a big win over the Bills.
He'll look to build on that volume versus the Colts' 9th-ranked
defense against WRs this week.
Strange came off IR and went back to being the safety blanket
for Trevor Lawrence, securing all 5 targets for 93 yards in a
win over the Cardinals. This week he'll get the Titans,
who have been stingy against TEs but Strange has a nice floor.
Johnson just keeps getting it done for the Saints, who lack weapons
behind Chris Olave. He's shown a nice weekly floor, with a 7-6-46-0
line in a loss to the Falcons. He's TE7 on the season, and now
gets a great matchup against the Dolphins, who have allowed the
3rd-most points to the position.
Schultz had a quiet game against the best TE-defending team in
the league in a surprising win over the Bills on Thursday Night
Football, catching only 1 of 4 targets for 8 yards. He's
8th in PPR points for TEs on the season, however, and now will
face the Colts, who have allowed the 6th-most points to the position.
Okonkwo put up a 4-3-40-0 receiving line in a closer-than-expected
loss to the Seahawks, and Helm tied for the team lead in targets
with a 7-6-51-0 stat line. Helm is starting to demand more work
and may be the preferred option against a Jaguars team that has
given up the 2nd-most fantasy points to TEs.
Van Jefferson
/ Elic Ayomanor
TEN vs SEA: Ayomanor was out with a hamstring injury, joining
Calvin Ridley on the shelf. Jefferson managed only 1-1-11-0 receiving
against a tough Seahawks defense, although the Titans made it
close at the end. He'll get the Jaguars this week.
Adonai Mitchell, NYJ @ BAL: Mitchell tied for the team lead in
targets again, but struggled to convert those into receptions,
catching 2 of 7 targets for 42 yards. He'll face an improving
Falcons pass rush this week.
Alec Pierce, IND @ KC: Pierce couldn't capitalize with
Adonai Mitchell getting traded, as he caught only 1 of 2 targets
for 26 yards in a tough loss to the Chiefs. He should bounce back
in future weeks, but it might not happen this week against a tough
Texans secondary.
Michael Wilson, ARI vs JAX: Wilson had another monster game in
a close loss to the Jaguars, going for 15-10-118-0. With Marvin
Harrison still out with appendicitis, Wilson has been feasting.
He should come back down to earth as soon as Harrison returns,
most likely this week against the Buccaneers.
TE AJ Barner, SEA @ TEN: Barner came back down to earth, catching
2 of 4 targets for 18 yards in a win over the terrible Titans.
He should have more room to run against the Vikings this week
TE Colston Loveland, CHI vs PIT: Loveland had another solid fantasy
day, going for 5-4-49-1 in a tight win over the Steelers. He’ll
face a much tougher Eagles defense this week.
Defense/ Special Teams
Jaguars @ TEN
The Jaguars did a nice job containing the Cardinals in a road
win, getting 6 sacks and holding the offense to 18 points. Up
next, they get the Titans, who have given up the most sacks while
scoring the 3rd-fewest points.
Dolphins vs NO
The Dolphins were on bye this week, but they’ve won three
of their last four games, and forced 5 turnovers in their last
two games. They’ll be salivating at a matchup this week
against the Saints, who have scored the fewest points in the league.
Chargers vs LV
The Chargers were also on bye this week, after struggling in
an overseas loss to the Jaguars. But they’ll get the Raiders
this week, who just gave up 10 sacks to the Browns, and who have
allowed the 4th-most points to D/STs.
Other D/ST to consider: Falcons @ NYJ
Last week’s waiver adds:
Jaguars @ ARI: See above.
Browns @ LV: The Browns swarmed Geno Smith for
10 sacks and a turnover in their first win in a month. This week
they’ll have a much tougher task against the 49ers.
Falcons @ NO: The Falcons got back in the win
column against their division rivals, getting 5 sacks and 2 turnovers
and only allowing 10 points. They look to repeat the performance
against the Tyrod Taylor-led Jets.
