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.
Week 14 Byes: Carolina, New England, N.Y. Giants, San Francisco
Shough has put up some solid fantasy days the last few weeks,
including a 239-2-1 passing effort in a tight loss to the Dolphins
as the Saints were in catch-up mode. He'll be a potential streaming
option this week against a Buccaneers defense that has allowed
the 3rd most points to the position. He struggled against them
in Week 8 in relief of starter Spencer Rattler, but he's progressed
nicely since then.
Taylor had a solid dual-threat fantasy day in a win over the
Falcons, passing for 172-1-0 and rushing for 8-44-1. He'll
get the vulnerable Dolphins defense this week, who have allowed
the 8th-most points to opposing QBs.
Jacoby Brissett, ARI @ TB: Brissett threw for 2 TDs once again
(that's 6 of his last 7 games), in addition to 301 yards
and an interception, in a tough loss to the Buccaneers. He gets
a much tougher task against the Rams this week, but he's
performed well regardless of the opponents.
Shedeur Sanders, CLE vs SF: Sanders got the start over a healthy
Gabriel, and again had some positive moments as he went 149-1-0
in a loss to the 49ers. This offense as a whole is still struggling,
but Sanders looks to be taking control of the starting job. He'll
face the Titans this week.
Cam Ward, TEN vs JAX: Ward couldn't keep the momentum going
after last week's solid fantasy performance, passing for
141 yards without a TD or interception in a blowout loss to the
Jaguars. He'll face a much tougher task against the Browns
next week.
Mason should see more work this week after Aaron Jones (shoulder)
left Week 13 early. He had a solid 6-47-0 rushing line in limited
work, and the ceiling for the whole offense is capped with their
inability to move the football. However, his workload should give
him a decent floor and the Commanders have given up the 6th-most
points to RBs, so there should be opportunities for a decent fantasy
day.
Monangai just keeps getting it done, as have the Bears, who have
won five straight games. He rushed for 22-130-1 in a big win over
the Eagles, and that's four straight games with a rushing
TD. He'll face the Packers this week, who have been solid
against the run this year, but his volume should give him a nice
floor.
Benson was ruled out again, so Knight had another dual-threat
day in a tight loss to the Bucs, going 11-62-0 on the ground and
3-3-36-1 as a receiver. Benson may finally be back this week,
but if not, Knight has scored a touchdown in three straight games,
and will hope to make spike another one against the Rams.
Neal got the bulk of the RB workload in his first start since
Alvin Kamara's injury, and went 14-47-0 rushing and 3-3-22-0 receiving
in a tough loss to the Dolphins. He should be in line for a nice
floor again in a potential shootout with the Buccaneers this week.
Singletary has seen double-digit carries over the last three
games, and was highly productive with his timeshare workload in
a loss to the Patriots on Monday Night Football. He rushed for
12-68-1 and went 3-3-34-0 through the air. With Tyrone Tracy Jr.
leaving early with a hip injury, Singletary could have a large
role out of the bye week. He’s worth a stash if you have
the roster space as the first game back is against a dreadful
Commanders defense.
Kenneth Gainwell, PIT vs BUF: Gainwell struggled to get much
going (along with the rest of the Steelers offense), going 5-20-0
rushing and 3-2-25-0 receiving in a blowout loss to the Bills.
He'll hope to get back on track versus the Ravens in Week
14.
Sean Tucker,
TB vs ARI: Tucker went back to the bench with the return of Bucky
Irving from injury, rushing only twice for 0 yards. He can’t
be trusted as the RB3 unless Irving or Rachaad White are injured.
Mitchell has been getting the targets, but hasn't been
able to convert them into many receptions since being traded from
the Colts. That changed in a win over the Falcons this week, as
he went 12-8-102-1 to lead the Jets in all receiving categories.
The Dolphins have been surprisingly solid against WRs this year,
but Mitchell has seen 25 targets in the last three games that
should give him a nice floor.
TeSlaa saw his highest snap share of the season (92%) as Amon-Ra
St Brown left early with a low-ankle sprain. With ARSB expected
to be out 1-2 weeks, TeSlaa should benefit. He caught both targets
for 35 yards and a touchdown against a tough Packers defense on
Thanksgiving, but he'll be primed for bigger things against
a Cowboys defense that has given up the most points to opposing
WRs.
Vele has racked up 15 targets over the last two games since the
bye week, and put up a big 8-8-93-1 receiving line in a close
loss to the Dolphins. Up next, he'll face a Bucs defense
that hasn't given up a lot of TDs, but has given up the
5th-most receptions and 7th-most yards to WRs.
Watson led the team in targets, catching 4 of 10 for 80 yards
and a touchdown, in a big win over the Lions on Thanksgiving.
That's 3 receiving TDs in his last three games. He'll
have another shot to spike a TD against a Bears team that has
allowed the 3rd-most TDs to WRs.
Pierce has tied Michael Pittman Jr. in targets since Adonai Mitchell
was traded, and led the team with a 5-4-78-1 receiving line against
a tough Texans secondary. That's at least 69 receiving yards in
five of his last six games. Up next is a much more forgiving matchup
against the Jaguars.
Jeudy leads the Browns in targets, but has struggled with efficiency
as he's converted less than half of them into receptions.
He led all WRs with a 4-3-26-0 line against the 49ers, but the
whole offense is lacking opportunities as they try to run the
ball to help Shedeur Sanders. He gets a plus matchup against the
Titans this week, who have allowed the 5th-most points to WRs.
Strange had another nice day in his second game back from IR,
going 4-3-45-1 in a blowout win over the Titans. He should be
productive again this week against a Colts defense that has given
up the 5th-most points to the position.
Knox has been fine filling in for an injured Dalton Kincaid,
including a 4-3-28-0 receiving line in a blowout win over the
Steelers. If Kincaid is out for his 4th straight game, Knox will
be a streaming option against a Bengals defense that has given
up the most fantasy points, receptions, yards and touchdowns to
the position.
Taylor's targets have slowed as Tyrod Taylor has taken
over at QB. He only managed to catch 2 of 4 targets for 21 yards
against the Falcons. He should find more openings against a Dolphins
defense that has allowed the 6th-most points to TEs.
Chimere Dike, TEN vs JAX: Dike managed to catch only 1 of 4 targets
for 8 yards in a loss to the Jaguars, as almost 60% of Cam Ward's
targets went to TEs or RBs. He'll try to bounce back in
a tough matchup against the Browns.
Parker Washington, JAX @ TEN: Washington left the blowout win
over the Titans early with a hip injury, managing only 1 catch
for 26 yards before exiting. He has a nice opportunity if he can
suit up against the Colts this week.
Darnell Mooney,
ATL @ NYJ: Mooney has struggled to deliver as the de facto WR1
with Drake London out with a knee injury, posting a 5-2-25-0 line
in a loss to the Jets. It won't get any easier against the Seahawks,
although London is likely to be out again.
John Metchie,
NYJ vs ATL: Metchie saw solid volume again in a big win over the
Falcons, securing 4 of 8 targets for only 19 yards as he took
a backseat to Adonai Mitchell. The Dolphins are a much tougher
task this week.
Jayden Higgins,
HOU @ IND: Higgins had another solid game as the WR2 to Nico Collins
in a big win over the Colts, catching all 5 targets for 65 yards.
He'll face a tough Chiefs defense this week.
TE Juwan Johnson NO @ MIA: Johnson led the team in targets with
9, but managed to catch only 5 for 39 yards in a loss to the Dolphins.
He's had a solid floor, but faces a Bucs defense that has
done well defending TEs this year.
TE Dalton Schultz, HOU @ IND: Schultz was 2nd on the team in
targets and receptions, going 8-7-55-0 in a big divisional win
over the Colts. He'll face a tougher test against the Chiefs
this week.
TE Chigoziem Okonkwo / Gunnar Helm, TEN vs JAX: Helm and Okonkwo
put up similar stat lines in a blowout loss to the Jaguars, going
7-6-23-0 and 5-4-29-0 respectively. They should provide a similar
decent floor, low ceiling output against a tough Browns defense.
Defense/ Special Teams
Buccaneers vs NO
The Bucs defense has struggled to create pressure as of late,
getting only 4 sacks in their last four games (3 of which were
losses). They got back into the win column with a 2-sack, 2-turnover
performance over the Cardinals. This week they’ll face the
Saints, who have allowed the 7th-most points to D/STs, and who
they smoked for 5 sacks, 4 turnovers and a defensive TD back in
Week 8.
Titans @ CLE
The Titans defense has generated a decent number of sacks, although
they haven’t converted those into many turnovers. That may
happen this week against the Browns, who have averaged 1.3 turnovers
per game, and have scored the 4th-fewest points. Shedeur Sanders
gets his 3rd start but shouldn’t scare the Titans defense.
Commanders @ MIN
Washington has struggled on defense this year, although they
played inspired against a disciplined Denver offense, getting
a sack and a turnover before losing on a failed 2-point try in
overtime. This week they’ll face the spiraling Vikings offense,
that has given up the most fantasy points and interceptions, and
3rd-most sacks to opposing D/STs.
Other D/ST to consider: Dolphins @ NYJ
Last week’s waiver adds:
Jaguars @ TEN: The Titans did it again, giving
up 3 sacks and 2 turnovers while scoring only 3 points against
the Jaguars. The Jags get the Colts this week, which has been
stingy against opposing defenses.
Dolphins vs NO: Miami had a nice outing against
the Saints, getting 4 sacks and 2 turnovers in a needed win. This
week they’ll get the Tyrod Taylor-led Jets, so you could
stream them again if you picked them up.
Chargers vs LV: The Chargers dominated the Raiders
this week, getting 5 sacks and a turnover in a nice divisional
win. They’ll get the defending champion Eagles in Week 14.
