The Waiver Wire – Week 13
Tim Torch
We have almost reached the end of the regular season. I think a lot of people overlook what this week really means for their teams. You have the ability to earn a playoff spot, improve your seeding, earn a BYE week, play spoiler for another team, and even LOSE yourself a shot at the playoffs.
As always if you have any feedback, a specific player you want to know more about, or questions please feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @TimNFL.
Quarterback
• Case Keenum (36.9%) – People were scared off with the Teddy talk and all Keenum has done is put together four straight 17+ point games and has top-10 upside. I am not saying you should bench a Tom Brady or Carson Wentz for Keenum, but he is going have plus matchups against the Falcons and the Panthers.
• Josh McCown (32.6%) – I regret getting away from this recommendation because McCown has not had a “dud” game since Week 4 (against the Jaguars). In the coming weeks McCown will play the Chiefs, who are in the top-10 in points allowed to quarterbacks on the season, and the Broncos, who have given up 18+ points to quarterbacks in their last three games. McCown is an auto-start for quarterback streamers.
No matter the position, now is not the time to get cute with you match-ups. Even with a good performance in the rearview mirror, players like Brett Hundley should not be a consideration for your starting line-up. Keep an eye out for players like Andy Dalton and Dak Prescott. Both players may be drop candidates for other teams and could be a strong addition to your teams.
Running Back
• Devontae Booker (25.2%) – The Broncos offense is about to go through another change in Week 13 and either Siemian or Osweiler will be under center. With this change, I would expect the offense to be a little more efficient and for Booker to get more opportunities out of the backfield.
• Peyton Barber (0.2%) – The Auburn product may not be well known in most circles, but he is one of my favorite players. Barber is the cousin of Marion Barber and, while I don’t expect him to run away with the job, he can step in and be a serviceable RB2 if Doug Martin were to miss time.
• J.D. McKissic (2.4%) – At this time of the season it can be hard to find someone who will give you a solid floor and sometimes it is nice to have a consistent 8-10 fantasy points from your RB2 spot. If you are loaded at every other position and only need a good floor McKissic should be a consideration in PPR leagues. I would also be looking at Eddie Lacy. Again, he isn’t a high upside play, but does have a good shot at 10+ points against the 49ers (giving up the most fantasy points to RBs a week).
• Terron Ward (1.2%) – This is a deep stash. Ward has flashed really nicely since getting more run (with Freeman out). I would even go as far as to say Ward has showed more than Tevin Coleman. With the possibility of Freeman’s absence being longer, I would make Ward a priority in deeper leagues.
As always, don’t forget your “cover you’re a$$” running backs of the week. Gio Bernard headlines this group for Week 13. He has shown good explosiveness and Joe Mixon is getting a lot of work. The best of the rest are Matt Breida, who is still getting run and looking great behind Hyde, T.J. Yeldon, who is still involved in the passing game and could take over if something happened to Fournette, and Travaris Cadet, who is a good two-way running back.
Wide Receiver
• Zay Jones (10.5%) – Moonwalking and sweet moves aside, Jones has improved and is showing to be the WR1 for Tyrod Taylor. Jones has managed two weeks of 10+ points and has played 80% or more of the snaps since Kelvin Benjamin has went down. As long as Benjamin is out, we should be willing to fire up Jones.
• Corey Davis (42.1%) – I feel like we get closer every week. In Week 12, Davis was close to adding a BIG PLAY touchdown to his rookie resume. At this point we are banking on talent and the hope of Mariota bouncing backing to finish out the season. If Davis is out there I am still acquiring him and playing him!
• Corey Coleman (33%) – Part of being a wide receiver is catching the ball. Unfortunately, Coleman dropped an easy touchdown. The plus side is Coleman is flashing. He is getting behind the defense and is showing plenty of BIG PLAY potential. If he is still sitting out there, Josh Gordon is worth a pick-up as well. I would NOT play him, but I am willing to take those points on my bench.
• Martavis Bryant (41.6%) – The analysis is going to be simple here. If JuJu is out I am willing to play Bryant.
Similar to quarterback, don’t get too cute going into your match-ups. There just aren’t many QUALITY options on the Waiver Wire and wide receiver is the hardest position to mine steady value.
Tight End
• Charles Clay (47.9%) – This is the best time of season for a tight end to get healthy and start producing. Clay has quietly come back and has started producing again. If he is out on your Waiver Wire and you are streaming tight end, you could fill this position for the remainder of the year.
• Tyler Kroft (40.3%) – How his ownership has went down is something that is beyond me. Kroft is top-10 at the position in routes run and has had good match-ups the past two weeks. Going into Week 13, Kroft is going against a Steelers team that has allowed 10+ fantasy points three out of the last four weeks and may have a hobbled Ryan Shazier.
• Hunter Henry (62.2%) – This is a close call. Henry has been unstartable during the season because of his up and down performances. The upside with Henry comes with the running game not producing and the Chargers leaning more Rivers at the end of the season.
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Thank you for everyone who has been reading these articles through the season. We have been through a lot together and now it is time to cash those checks. Please feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @TimNFL and next week we will begin our big push through the playoffs.
