With Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season in the books, it’s time to take a look at the best options out there on the fantasy football waiver wire going into Week 14 of the 2023 campaign.
This week will be the last one that features byes, with the Washington Commanders and Arizona Cardinals getting the week off. Here’s a look at some players you may need to replace in your lineup as a result:
Arizona Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray, RB James Conner, WR Marquis Brown, TE Trey McBride
Washington Commanders: QB Sam Howell, RB Brian Robinson, WRs Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel, TE Logan Thomas
Thankfully, the byes this week aren’t as brutal as last week, but there are still some key players set to sit.
But fear not, there are some solid options on the waiver wire for fantasy managers to consider. Here’s the best of the bunch (note: every player is under 50 percent owned in ESPN leagues):
Cincinnati Bengals QB Jake Browning
Browning is coming off the game of his life after he finished Week 13 with 354 passing yards and a touchdown, along with two carries for 22 yards and another score.
The rookie signal-caller doesn’t have a favorable matchup in Week 14 against an Indianapolis Colts defense ceding the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, but he did enough on Monday night to at least warrant starting consideration for those fantasy owners in need at the position.
Cleveland Browns QB Joe Flacco
Flacco came off the couch in Week 13 and tallied a respectable 16 fantasy points in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams, throwing for 254 yards and two scores, with his blemish being an interception.
The veteran signal-caller draws a favorable matchup in Week 14 against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense ceding the seventh-most fantasy points to the position. Also, Flacco having another week in the offense should lead to better play. He’s a streaming option this week.
Tennessee Titans RB Tyjae Spears
Derrick Henry exited the Week 13 contest early due to a concussion and he’s in the protocol as of Monday morning, which leaves his status up in the air for Week 14.
Spears is the next man up for Tennessee, and he showed what he can do in a lead role in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Spears tallied 75 yards on 16 carries and added four receptions for 13 yards.
If Henry sits in Week 14, Spears will handle a big workload and will be a solid starting option as a result.
New England Patriots RB Ezekiel Elliot
While it’s unclear how much time Rhamondre Stevenson will miss after suffering an ankle injury, there’s at least a chance he misses time.
In Stevenson’s stead, Elliott finished with 17 carries for 52 yards and added four receptions for 40 yards. The veteran back will be the lead man if Stevenson can’t go this week.
Granted, the Patriots’ offense is an absolute disaster, but Elliott’s workload will be enough to make him a flex option. Adding to that, the Pats’ opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, are a middle-of-the-road unit against backs in fantasy.
Houston Texans WR Noah Brown
The Texans are going to need a wide receiver to step up the rest of the way now that rookie sensation Tank Dell is out for the season.
Brown saw just two targets in Week 13 after missing two games, but he exploded for huge performances in Weeks 9 and 10, showing he’s capable of being a game-changing player any given week.
The veteran wideout should see plenty of targets down the stretch with Dell now out, making him a potential long-term solution for fantasy owners in need of help at wide receiver.
Tennessee Titans TE Chigoziem Okonkwo
After a very disappointing first half of the season, Okonkwo has had his two best games of the year the last two weeks, with his best coming in Week 13 when he tallied three catches for 62 yards.
And, in that span, Okonkwo ranks as TE10 overall.
Certainly not the kind of production to write home about, but at a position that is notoriously thin on options, you can do worse than Chig in Week 14.
Los Angeles Chargers TE Gerald Everett
Everett has had two of his best games of the season the last two weeks, which has been good enough to place him as TE8 overall in that span. He’s still a dart throw most weeks, but he’s a better version of one than most of the options out there.
Houston Texans TE Brevin Jordan
With Dalton Schultz out due to injury, Jordan stepped into the starting role in Week 13 and played well, tallying three catches for 64 yards.
He has a chance to get the nod again this week, as Schultz didn’t log a single practice ahead of Sunday’s game. Adding to that, the Texans need players to step up with Tank Dell out for the year.
Houston Texans D/ST
The Texans have been a solid D/ST option for much of the season, but that’s especially true this week in a matchup against a New York Jets team that is a mess under center. Adding to that, New York has given up the third-most fantasy points to D/ST units this season.
Green Bay Packers D/ST
The Packers have had impressive showings against good offenses the last two weeks, with Green Bay ceding just 41 real points to the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. And, in that span, the Packers rank as D/ST5.
Green Bay has the definition of a juicy matchup in Week 14, as they’ll travel to take on the New York Giants’ offense, which is ceding the most fantasy points per contest to D/STs.
