Week 13 Waiver Wire Watchlist

by Theo Gremminger · Waiver Wire

Sunday started calmly and quietly. Fantasy players had a somewhat restful set of games with three Thursday games played and Arizona and Kansas City on byes. But if fantasy football has taught us anything, we should expect the unexpected in both good and bad ways. We can never get comfortable or complacent because things can dramatically change in the blink of an eye. 

Before the last servings of the leftover Turkey were even consumed, Thanksgiving weekend turned into complete carnage. The two top picks in redraft both went down with significant injuries. Christian McCaffrey suffered an ankle injury that will end his season. Instead of a healthy CMC leading teams to postseason glory, the 2021 CMC story will end as a complete disaster. If one significant injury was not enough, Dalvin Cook suffered a dislocated shoulder and a torn labrum. Expect him to miss multiple weeks. Fantasy players can hope for a healthy Dalvin in the playoffs, but players needing wins in Weeks 13 and 14 (at least) will have to look elsewhere. D’Andre Swift also suffered a shoulder injury and should miss Week 13 (at least).

If the big-name RBs were not enough, Deebo Samuel also suffered a groin injury. Expect Deebo to miss at least two weeks. (San Francisco has said week to week, but tight end position also got hit as Darren Waller is now iffy for Week 13 with a knee injury.

These injuries have come at one of the worst possible weeks for fantasy managers. Some leagues like the FFPC have playoffs this week, while many other players face must-win games with their playoffs just around the corner.

Four teams will be on bye weeks this week (Green Bay, Tennessee, Cleveland, and Carolina), and four more will have a bye next week (Indianapolis, New England, Miami and Philadelphia). I guess the only way to slow down Jonathan Taylor at this point is to put him on a bye week.

Quarterbacks 

Taysom Hill (Saints)

After the Thanksgiving night beatdown to Buffalo, The Saints wisely will make the switch to Taysom Hill. He may have limitations as a traditional QB (but so does Trevor Siemian), but his rushing upside is immense. Add in the current injury status to seemingly all New Orleans RBs, and Hill will have plenty of rushing opportunities- especially around the goal line.

Derek Carr (Raiders)

The Raiders are trending up after a big win in Dallas. Derek Carr is back in the streamer discussion for teams potentially missing an Aaron Rodgers this week.

Running Backs

Any Potential High-Volume Handcuff Running Backs

How good are teams that rostered Alexander Mattison feeling right now? Any chance you get to fill your roster with a handcuff RB is the correct one. If you decide between two players and one is handcuff RB, lean that way in your decision. Depth matters, but in many leagues, the one-off positions have will always have players available, and it is unnecessary to roster two. In those leagues, fill your bench with lottery tickets.

Alexander Mattison (Vikings)

I will not waste your time. You read PlayerProfiler, so I am 99-percent sure Alexander Mattison is not available in your league. But on the off-hand chance, he is available; this is a 100 percent of your FAAB type add.

Dontrell Hilliard (Titans)

We recommended Dontrell Hilliard as an addition in last week’s Waiver Wire Watchlist, and he did not disappoint. Hilliard finished with 131 yards on 12 carries and found the end zone on a 68-yard run. While he was quiet in the receiving game this week, he is only one week removed from an eight-catch game. He is a substantial addition for RB needy teams. Be aggressive with your bid. This could be the out-of-nowhere RB2 we have seen in previous postseasons.

D’Onta Foreman (Titans)

Derrick Henry drafters must have let out a collective sigh as the Tennessee backfield combined for 246 yards rushing. A week after playing only 15 snaps, D’Onta Foreman bounced back in a big way with 108 yards on 19 carries. I am more bullish on Hilliard, but Foreman should be rostered.

Jamaal Williams (Lions)

Jamaal Williams should be a strong start at RB this week with the potential for 20-plus touches. When D’Andre Swift went down, Williams handled 15 carries and caught all five of his targets this past week.

While Williams is no Swift, he can handle a large workload. The Lions offense limits Williams, but he should be a low-end RB2 this week.

Tevin Coleman (Jets)

Tevin Coleman should be available in a lot of leagues, even some deeper ones. I predicted a larger role for Ty Johnson, but Coleman out-snapped him 30-23.

Chuba Hubbard/Ameer Abdullah (Panthers)

Chuba Hubbard has given way to Ameer Abdullah the last few weeks. This past weekend, Abdullah out-snapped Hubbard 27-11. I would still bet on Carolina using Hubbard as the higher-touch starter after the bye week, but this could be an ugly split. We have seen Hubbard handle 24 carries twice earlier this season when CMC missed, and I would bet on the Panthers giving him the early-down work at least, but both players should be added this week.

Boston Scott (Eagles)

I am not sure the severity of Miles Sanders‘s ankle injury, but Boston Scott could see a lot of touches this week in a plus matchup against the Jets. Treat Scott as more of a one-week fill-in, but he could be a  useful short-term add depending on your needs.

Sony Michel (Rams)

Darrell Henderson suffered a quad injury. Sony Michel should be added and would be an RB2 any week that Henderson misses. He is one of the handcuffs you should be rostering even if Henderson plays this week.

Wide Receivers

Kendrick Bourne (Patriots)

This past weekend, Kendrick Bourne had one of his best games of the season, catching five passes for 62 yards and two TDs. He has shown a strong connection with Mac Jones and can be used as a flex play this week.

Bourne will likely never see double-digit targets, but he is a big part of the game plan, and the New England offense is becoming more efficient.

Russell Gage (Falcons)

Russell Gage is the kind of player I do not like to roster, but if he is available, you should add him. He is a floor play WR3/Flex who will see a decent number of targets in every game. We cannot ignore his targets, although I would never feel strong about ever starting him.

Desean Jackson (Raiders)

DeSean Jackson sent a reminder to all football fans that he can still get behind the defense for a long TD. He saw four targets and turned those into three catches for 102 yards and a TD.

If you like revenge game narratives, Jackson faces his former team in Washington this week.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Packers)

Marquez Valdes-Scantling was in this column in previous weeks. This past weekend, he saw nine targets. He only ended up with four catches and 50 yards, but the usage is promising. The Packers offense has now scored 30-plus points in back-to-back games, and MVS will have a weekly role. Treat him as a high-ceiling, low floor flex play/WR3.

fantasy-football-dynasty-league-rankings

Tight Ends

Foster Moreau (Raiders)

The last time Darren Waller missed a game, Foster Moreau had six catches for 60 yards and a TD. Moreau would be a top 15 play at TE if Waller were to miss.

Cole Kmet (Bears)

Cole Kmet saw a season-high 11 targets and turned them into eight catches for 65 yards. Do not expect this sort of target total (especially with Justin Fields back under center), but Kmet is an ascending player and a big part of the Chicago offense.

Jack Doyle (Colts)

Death. Taxes. Jack Doyle as a TE floor play. Doyle now has at least three catches the last three weeks. This past Sunday, he saw his best game of the season with six catches for 81 yards and a TD. He is a TE2.

Holdover Players From Last Week

Matt Breida (RB-Bills)
Van Jefferson (WR-Rams)
Logan Thomas (TE-Football Team)