It’s the final week of the fantasy football regular season, and keep in mind that waivers will process in Yahoo and ESPN leagues on Friday morning due to the Steelers-Ravens postponement.
Whether you are clinging to hope for the last playoff spot, or looking to secure roster depth heading into the fantasy playoffs, check out this week’s waiver wire article for advice on who to pick up.
Keep in mind that managers will have to find replacements for Chris Godwin, Ronald Jones, Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady, Mike Davis, D.J. Moore and T💖eddy Bridgewater with the Buccaneers and Panthers on bye in Week 13.
Below you will find players at each position who are all rostered in fewer than 50% of leagues that are worth targeting this wee📖k on the waiver wireꦿ.
Players are ranked by roster percentage on Yahoo and all fantasy points are calculated in half PPR scoring.
Quarterbacks
Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts (33% rostered)
Don’t look now, but Rivers has finished as a top 13 quarterback for fantasy in each of the last three games, and four of the last five. He completed 24 of 42 attempts for 295 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against the Titans and has a strong chance to keep the hot streak alive heading into Week 13 against the Texans’ weak defense. He falls just shy of the QB1 tier, but is still a worthwhile add for managers who may have Tom Brady of Teddy Bridgewater.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins (21%)
Fitzpatrick shined in his first start since being benched for Tua Tagovailoa after Week 6. He completed 24 of 39 attempts for 257 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in his revenge match against the Jets and finished as QB8 for fantasy. Tagovailoa was present at Wednesday’s practice and could return for the Dolphins’ Week 13 matchup against the Bengals, but if he sits, Fitzpatrick would sneak into the low-end QB1 conversation.
Running backs
Brian Hill, Atlanta Falcons (46% rostered) and Ito Smith, Atlanta Falcons (1%)
It was Smith – not Hill – who had the better day for fantasy with Todd Gurley sidelined. Smith saw 12 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown and caught four of five targets for ten yards, while Hill saw 13 carries for 55 yards. It appears that they’ll be used in a committee while Gurley is out which lowers each’s ceiling. That said, they should both see ample opportunities, especially with how porous the defense has played this season.
Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams (29%)
Akers led the Rams in rushing in Week 12 with nine carries for 84 yards and a touchdown ahead of Darrell Henderson (ten carries for 19 yards) and Malcolm Brown (three carries for four yards and two catches for 15 yards). While it’s difficult to trust any Sean McVay-coached running back, this is the second week in a row the rookie has separated himself in this messy three-headed committee. He is the Rams running back to roster heading into Week 13 against the Cardinals until proven otherwise.
Frank Gore, New York Jets (25%)
The 37-year-old Gore has taken over the feature role for the Jets with rookie La’Mical Perine on injured reserve. He saw 18 carries for 74 yards and caught three passes for 12 yards and was utilized much more than Ty Johnson, who saw two carries for three yards, or Josh Adams, who saw one carry for one yard. Gore isn’t a particularly sexy name to add this week, but it’s very rare to find a running back with a bell cow workload available on waivers. The Jets schedule down the stretch is also appealing, as they face the Raiders and Seahawks in Weeks 13 and 14, and the Browns in Week 16, all of whom you can run on.
Devontae Booker, Las Vegas Raiders (9%)
Booker has been a non-factor for fantasy outside of Weeks 9 and 10 and saw five carries for six yards and a catch for -1 yard in Week 12. That said, star running back Josh Jacobs suffered an ankle sprain in that game and while it appears he’s avoided a serious injury, there is a chance he could sit for the Raiders’ Week 13 matchup against the Jets. Booker is a high-value handcuff for the remaining weeks in the fantasy season and may be worth an add regardless of whether or not you have Jacobs.
Wide receivers
Nelson Agholor, Las Vegas Raiders (43% rostered) and Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders (17%)
Agholor cooled off a bit in Week 12 in Atlanta, but so did the entire Raiders’ offense in their 43-6 loss to the Falcons. Renfrow actually led the team in receiving and caught seven of nine targets for 73 yards, while Agholor caught five of six passes for 54 yards. Agholor is the preferred add if available based on his past usage and should redeem himself in Week 13 against the winless Jets, but Renfrow is also worth considering in deeper leagues.
Breshad Perriman, New York Jets (12%) and Denzel Mims, New York Jets (7%)
Perriman led the Jets in receiving in Week 12 and reeled in four of eight passes for 79 yards, while Mims caught four of eight passes for 67 yards. Neither receiver scored a touchdown, but the enti𒁃re offense essentiꦉally collapsed in the 20-3 loss to the Dolphins. The Jets are set to face the Raiders 🍌this week, who rank 28th in the league in points allowed per game (29). Perriman and Mims are both worth a look in deeper leagues in this positive Week 13 matchup.
Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills (3%)
Davis posted his best fantasy stat line to date in Week 12 and caught three of four passes for 79 yards and a touchdown thrown by Cole Beasley. He finished as WR15 in spite of the Bills’ run-heavy offense in this game, but should continue to see an expanded role with John Brown on injured reserve. Davis is available on most waiver wires at just 3 percent rostered and should be considered a deep league target only.
Keke Coutee, Houston Texans (2%)
Coutee is a widely available waiver wire target that will be a top add this week after the Texans’ No. 1 receiver Will Fuller V was suspended six games for violating the league’s policy against performance-enhancing substances. Fuller was WR5 through 11 games this season and recorded 53 catches on 75 targets for 879 yards and eight touchdowns. This leaves a huge gap in the Texans’ offense after they traded away DeAndre Hopkins in the offseason, released Kenny Stills and have Randall Cobb on injured reserve. Brandin Cooks will take over duties as the No. 1 target for Deshaun Watson, but Coutee will also have to step up to help fill this massive roster void.
Tight ends
Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team (41% rostered)
In classic tight end fashion, Thomas has been fairly up-and-down all year. He caught all four of his targets in Week 12 for 20 yards and a touchdown and has posted two top-eight finishes in the last three weeks. He is likely your best bet if you’re looking on the waiver wire for tight ends, even with the Steelers on deck in Week 13.
Trey Burton, Indianapolis Colts (19%)
Burton caught three of six targets for 42 yards and scored for the second week in a row in Week 12 against the Titans. Mo Alie-Cox caught just two passes for 19 yards and Jack Doyle was catchless in the game. While it’s difficult to trust any of the Colts’ tight ends at this point, Burton appears to be the best of the trio. He’s a worthwhile streamer this week with the Texans on deck.