Holy week is here for the football season with three games on Thanksgiving Day, one more on Black Friday, and no team on byes.
We also escaped Week 12 relatively injury free, although there are a few that will be impactful on the wire including the Commanders losing both Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler, the likely absence of Josh Downs, and J.K. Dobbins leaving early on Monday night.
While Thanksgiving will be the focus this week, we are nearing the end of the fantasy regular season, so now is the time to load up on high-upside bench stashes where possible.
As a reminder, recommended adds are available in at least 60% of ESPN leagues, and the watch list consists of players worth monitoring.
The deep cuts section for running backs and receivers highlights players who are rostered in no more than 5% of ESPN leagues for all you “not in my league” degens.
I will not list recommended FAAB percentages for every player because that decision comes down to too many factors including league size, team weaknesses, and the aggressiveness of the other managers in your league.
That said, I will try to clarify when there is a player I am going big on in FAAB bidding.
Also, FAAB Lab is a great, crowdsourced way to get a feel for how much a player will cost in FAAB bidding each week.
Finally, I will not be ranking kickers and defenses because frankly I don’t care about them and want them to disappear from the game.
With those caveats out of the way, let’s get to it.
Best Quarterback Waiver Pickups, Fantasy Football Week 13
- Matthew Stafford
- Caleb Williams
- Trevor Lawrence
- Cooper Rush
Best Running Back Waiver Pickups, Fantasy Football Week 13
- Gus Edwards
- Tank Bigsby
- Jeremy McNichols
- Ameer Abdullah
- Roschon Johnson
Best Wide Receiver Waiver Pickups, Fantasy Football Week 13
- Dontayvion Wicks
- Alec Pierce
- Noah Brown
- Devaughn Vele
- Curtis Samuel
- Adonai Mitchell
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Sterling Shepard
Best Tight End Waiver Pickups, Fantasy Football Week 13
- Will Dissly
- Luke Schoonmaker
- Noah Gray
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Best Quarterback Waiver Pickups, Fantasy Football Week 13
1. Matthew Stafford – Available in 67.5% of fantasy leagues
I was hesitant about Stafford last week because of the matchup, but he still provided a solid stat line with 243 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had his first positive rushing line of the season. That lack of running means he has to be hyper-efficient as a passer to score fantasy points, but he might be able to do that this week against a Saints defense that is 26th in yards per attempt allowed.
2. Caleb Williams – Available in 63.4% of fantasy leagues
Williams has found his footing under the new offensive coordinator, completing 70.5% of his passes for 7.3 yards per attempt over the last two games. He has also averaged over 50 rushing yards in those two contests, which is what could lead him to streamability here. The Lions allow the fewest fantasy points per attempt in the league, but they also allow the 10th-most rushing fantasy points per game to quarterbacks thanks to their aggressive, man-heavy defense. Add in a potential point-chasing game script, and Williams could provide a solid line this week.
3. Trevor Lawrence – Available in 78.5% of fantasy leagues
Lawrence is expected to return this week after practicing on Monday. He had not been an outstanding fantasy play before his injury, especially against a tough Eagles defense, but he had been playing better football. From Week 5 to Week 9, he was 12th in EPA per play among qualifying quarterbacks and third in off-target rate, which had been a real issue for him going back to last season. He also had two QB1 finishes over that span. Houston’s pass defense has been solid, but they allowed usable fantasy games to Cooper Rush and Will Levis in the last two weeks.
4. Cooper Rush – Available in 96.7% of fantasy leagues
If you are digging deep, there is at least some appeal here for Rush, who has turned things around over the last couple of games. Rush threw for 354 yards and a touchdown against the Texans before going for 247 yards and 2 scores in the win over the Commanders. The Giants have allowed the fifth-most yards per attempt to quarterbacks and the ninth-most fantasy points per game. You probably do not have to dig this deep in a week with no byes, but there is at least some appeal to Rush on Thanksgiving.
Watch List: I can’t quite get to Bryce Young, even against the Bucs, but he has played better in recent weeks…Tommy DeVito could not get it done in one of the best matchups in the league and is now dealing with an injury that might prevent him from playing on Thanksgiving…Aidan O’Connell will get the start against the Chiefs, for whatever that is worth…I will always be team Jameis Winston, but on the road against the Broncos is not a good spot for him…Will Levis is quietly putting together usable fantasy weeks, and the Commanders are not an awful matchup even if they have been better than expected on defense…I like the matchup against the Colts for Drake Maye, but the production has not really been there for several weeks despite solid rushing lines.
Best Running Back Waiver Pickups, Fantasy Football Week 13
1. Gus Edwards – Available in 76.5% of fantasy leagues
There have not been any solid reports on J.K. Dobbins’ injury, but a guy with his history going down with a knee injury is obviously a concern. Edwards only got 3 carries in the second half on Monday night as the Chargers chased the game, highlighting a big concern for him even if Dobbins misses time. Hassan Haskins played 12 more snaps in the second half and ran 13 routes to just 3 for Edwards. The Chargers have been able to stay in good scripts most of the season, though, and are favorites on the road in Atlanta this week.
2. Tank Bigsby – Available in 66.6% of fantasy leagues
We have no idea if Bigsby will be ready to return following the bye, and we do not know what his role will be even if he is healthy. In the game he was injured, Travis Etienne dominated the work early, but he has struggled for efficiency all season. This might just be a situation to avoid entirely, but the Texans just allowed 119 yards and a touchdown to Tony Pollard.
3. Jeremy McNichols – Available in 98.8% of fantasy leagues
With Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler looking like serious doubts for Week 13, McNichols could find himself as the starting running back. That is good news for fantasy managers just looking for touches, but McNichols faces a daunting matchup against the Titans. Tennessee has allowed 3.6 yards per carry to running backs this season (third) and just 2.7 yards per carry to RBs since Week 9, the best mark in the league. The Titans just held Joe Mixon to 22 yards on 14 carries. McNichols should offer some carries and the chance at a touchdown, but it is tough to see a big game in such a bad matchup for the backup runner.
4. Ameer Abdullah – Available in 80.7% of fantasy leagues
I wrote last week that Abdullah had not had more than 10 carries in a game since the 2017 season, and that streak continued against the Broncos. He did log 13 touches overall, however, and found the end zone through the air for the second week in a row. It remains to be seen if Alexander Mattison or Zamir White will be able to return on a short week, but if they don’t, we have a good idea Abdullah will lead the backfield in what could once again be a chasing game script against the Chiefs. It is not a good matchup, and Abdullah will likely need to get there through the air, but we should at least get some touches if Mattison and White continue to miss.
5. Roschon Johnson – Available in 82.7% of fantasy leagues
Johnson serves as the placeholder for the handcuffs listed below, but he also continues to get looks near the end zone despite touching the ball just three times total against the Vikings. He converted that opportunity into a touchdown on Sunday, and he now has a score in each of the last two games.
Watch List: As I write every week, now is the time to stash high-upside handcuffs, especially for those teams already in the playoffs. Trey Benson, Cam Akers, Braelon Allen, Blake Corum, Ray Davis, and Jaylen Wright fit that mold…Audric Estime had 3 touches in Week 12. The dream is officially dead, which likely means we are in for another Sean Payton swerve…I am not sure what to read into it or if we even want a piece of the New England backfield, but Antonio Gibson had just 1 fewer touch than Rhamondre Stevenson on Sunday.
Deep Cuts: Perhaps Emanuel Wilson does not belong on that same list with the high-upside handcuffs above, especially since Chris Brooks is also in the mix, but there is certainly fantasy upside for whoever ends up taking on the bulk of the work should something happen to Josh Jacobs…I will keep writing this every week, but while Kenneth Gainwell is getting the touches behind Saquon Barkley now, I think Will Shipley would get a long look should something happen to the starter…Sean Tucker is still well behind Bucky Irving and Rachaad White in the pecking order, but it was cool they got him a touchdown…I am stashing Dameon Pierce on my teams with Joe Mixon…I am not chasing it against the Chiefs, but as I wrote might happen last week, Sincere McCormick handled some of the early-down work for the Raiders in Week 12…Cut last week, Chris Rodriguez is already back on Washington’s roster as they prepare for the likely absences of Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler…He has not been active, but Kimani Vidal could get back in the mix if J.K. Dobbins is forced to miss time, especially since Edwards does not offer much in the passing game.
Best Wide Receiver Waiver Pickups, Fantasy Football Week 13
1. Dontayvion Wicks – Available in 90.6% of fantasy leagues
With Romeo Doubs almost certainly out for Thanksgiving night, Wicks should step into a bigger role. On 241 dropbacks with at least one of Doubs, Jayden Reed, or Christian Waston off the field, Wicks has a 72% route participation rate with a target on 26.6% of his routes. When he is on the field, he gets targeted. The problem is he drops too many of those targets and has a 37% catch rate for the season. Even so, he is usable this week in a decent matchup against a Dolphins squad that could push the Packers out of their usual run-heavy plan.
2. Alec Pierce – Available in 84.8% of fantasy leagues
With Josh Downs reportedly a longshot to play, Pierce should have a more consistent target share. He has seen 16.3% of the targets overall with Downs off the field and had 10 total targets in the first two weeks of the season with Downs inactive. He went for 181 yards on 8 catches with 2 touchdowns in those games. The Patriots have given up 8.5 yards per target to receivers this season (25th) and have allowed at least 20 yards on 12.3% of receiver targets against them.
3. Noah Brown – Available in 89.5% of fantasy leagues
Brown actually made something happen with his work in Week 12, going for 71 yards on 6 catches. He has seen 23.1% of the team targets over the last four games, out-targeting Terry McLaurin by 10 over that span. Brown needs to do more with the work, and the Commanders need to be better overall in the passing game. Still, Brown is getting viable volume attached to a quarterback who has had success this season.
4. Devaughn Vele – Available in 98.3% of fantasy leagues
I am hesitant about every Broncos pass catcher not named Courtland Sutton because their usage is so up and down, and things could certainly change once Josh Reynolds returns from injured reserve. That said, Vele has consistently drawn targets for several weeks in a row and has a 74.1% route participation rate over the last three games.
5. Curtis Samuel – Available in 89.9% of fantasy leagues
Samuel will go right back to the wire once everyone is healthy, but we don’t know if Keon Coleman or Dalton Kincaid will be ready to return coming out of the bye week. Samuel’s route rate spiked to 76.7% in the two games before the break.
6. Adonai Mitchell – Available in 93.0% of fantasy leagues
Like Pierce, Mitchell should benefit from Downs sitting out. He actually has 2 more total targets than Pierce with Downs off the field this season, and he has been targeted on 29.1% of his routes overall, although his 5.9 yards per target mark leaves a lot to be desired.
7. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine – Available in 92.5% of fantasy leagues
8. Marquez Valdes-Scantling – Available in 84.5% of fantasy leagues
I am leaving both of these guys together because I have no idea what to do. After Valdes-Scantling did it again before the bye, Westbrook-Ikhine kept getting away with it against the Texans, scoring his 6th touchdown in seven games. Westbrook-Ikhine at least has a 19.2% target share over the last four games, so I feel better about him, but both guys remain a major risk for a goose egg.
9. Sterling Shepard – Available in 95.6% of fantasy leagues
Shepard can serve as a placeholder of sorts for the kind of lower upside PPR viable receiver available on the wire. Elijah Moore and DeMario Douglas fit a similar bill. Shepard was not a full time player in Week 12, but he held onto the slot role that fed Chris Godwin earlier in the season and ended up leading the team in targets. He is averaging just 8.7 yards per catch, but that role could provide enough targets for viability in deeper PPR leagues.
Watch List: Rashod Bateman only got 3 targets on Monday night, but he found the end zone with one of those and will always be worth a look in a good matchup attached to Lamar Jackson. This week’s contest with the Eagles is not that…Demarcus Robinson’s off-field issue could open up a more consistent role for Tutu Atwell, but the reality is you are just chasing a touchdown prayer behind Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua…David Moore certainly deserves a shout after commanding 10 targets against the Chiefs, turning those into 81 yards and a touchdown. He was a full-time player along with Xavier Legette on the outside with Adam Thielen as expected handling the majority of the slot snaps. All three can be thrown at the wall for desperate fantasy teams, but I expect to see a lot of week-to-week variation in this target tree. Moore had 5, 4, and 4 targets in the three games before the bye…Ricky Pearsall is clearly the No. 3 receiver and No. 5 option in the passing game…Jalen McMillan did return to a solid route rate, but he played primarily out wide while Sterling Shepard handled the slot duties…I want to see it again because Josh Palmer has steadily been below a 15% target share all season, but Quentin Johnston’s struggles on Monday night may send more targets Palmer’s way…Jalen Tolbert did find the end zone in Week 12, but I don’t want any part of this passing game outside of CeeDee Lamb and the tight ends. Brandin Cooks could also return this week…Tre Tucker is coming off a good game, but the Raiders’ passing attack runs through Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. Tucker also has bad splits with Aidan O’Connell.
Deep Cuts: John Metchie has run a route on 71.6% of Houston’s dropbacks over the last four games. He only has an 11.2% target share over that span and is behind two receivers, but I would not be surprised if he has some decent games the rest of the way without even considering an injury ahead of him…There is unlikely to be much upside attached to it, but Tyler Boyd does have 9 targets in the last two games including 6 against the Texans…The targets have not really been there, but Calvin Austin did at least connect on a big play last week and has that in his arsenal…For what it is worth, Tim Patrick should be the clear No. 3 receiver in Detroit for a bit given Kalif Raymond’s injury.
Best Tight End Waiver Pickups, Fantasy Football Week 13
1. Will Dissly – Available in 63.2% of fantasy leagues
Dissly is soon to join Jonnu Smith in the weekly TE1 sky, but for now, he is still available in enough leagues for this article. Dissly only ended up with 4 catches for 47 yards, but his route rate was back up to 70.5% and should stay there with Hayden Hurst headed to injured reserve.
2. Luke Schoonmaker – Available in 88.9% of fantasy leagues
We got exactly what we expected out of Schoonmaker last week. He only ran a route on around 60% of the Dallas dropbacks, but he was targeted on 20% of those routes and found the end zone. This week, his matchup against the Giants is better than it looks on the surface. The Giants have faced the fewest targets to tight ends in the league and have only allowed 1 touchdown to the position, which makes it look like they have been a shutdown defense. They have allowed 8.4 yards per target to tight ends, however, and allowed 7 catches for 49 yards to Jake Ferguson in their first meeting. Assuming Ferguson sits again, which is very likely, Schoonmaker is a streaming option.
3. Noah Gray – Available in 98.2% of fantasy leagues
This feels an awful lot like the Marquez Valdes-Scantling situation from two weeks ago and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine from last week, but both of those guys kept up the touchdown streaks. So what do I know? If making the pro argument, Gray has gotten more targets per route the last two games despite his route rate staying relatively steady, but his 89 total yards over those two games would not move the needle if not for the 4 total touchdowns on 8 catches. To be fair, he has been the target on half of Kansas City’s throws into the end zone over that span, so perhaps he is a better bet for a touchdown than it seems. He also gets a great matchup this week against the Raiders.
Watch List: Theo Johnson is not a recommended streamer thanks to the state of New York’s offense, but the rookie quietly has 23.1%, 18.8%, and 20.0% target shares over the last three games. The Cowboys have not faced a ton of tight end targets, but much like the Giants, they have allowed 8.7 yards per target to the position…Cole Kmet came out of nowhere for 10 targets against the Vikings after seeing 8 total in the three games before that. The matchup against the Lions is not good enough to chase that production – they allow a league-best 5.5 yards per target to tight ends – but it is something to watch…Isaiah Likely has a 53.4% route rate in the last two games – just 4 fewer routes than Mark Andrews – but he is not commanding enough targets to be a fantasy play…We don’t know if Dalton Kincaid will play, but Dawson Knox faces a tough matchup against the 49ers even if he gets the start…Chig Okonkwo is coming off a big fantasy day, but it came on 1 target he happened to take 70 yards for a touchdown.
