The home stretch of the fantasy football season is finally upon us as managers aim to make their push for the playoffs. Regardless of whether you’re looking to secure a playoff spot or playing spoiler to other teams in the league, the waiver wire in Week 13 will be crucial.
With Thanksgiving finally here, there are no teams on a bye in Week 13. However, there are three games on Thursday and a game on Friday afternoon.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark (at least 25% availability) as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated. Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Priority Free Agents
1. RB Jeremy McNichols, Washington Commanders
McNichols could be the lead back in Washington after both Brian Robinson Jr. (ankle) and Austin Ekeler (concussion) exited with injuries during the Week 12 game against the Dallas Cowboys. McNichols doesn’t offer game-changing upside and is probably a flex play, at best, against Tennessee, but he should be added in the event he takes over the lead role in a strong offense.
Availability: 99%
FAAB: 15%
2. RB Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders
With Zamir White (quad) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) both inactive in Week 12, the backfield belonged solely to Abdullah. He dominated the shares in the backfield en route to 14 opportunities while finding the end zone. The matchup against Kansas City is a difficult one coming up, but he can be a desperation flex option for running back needy teams if he’s alone again.
Availability: 75%
FAAB: 5%
3. WR Noah Brown, Washington Commanders
While Terry McLaurin provided the big play with an 86-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, Brown was the lead target in Week 12. The veteran saw a team-high 10 looks while posting six receptions for 71 yards. He’s been inconsistent this season, but Brown has a 22% target share over his last five games, so it’s not insignificant.
Availability: 90%
FAAB: 5%
4. WR Devaughn Vele, Denver Broncos
The 26-year-old rookie has been solid over the last three weeks with at least 66 yards or a score during that stretch. Recording 12 receptions over his last three games, Vele could be in for another solid outing against the Cleveland Browns before the Broncos hit the bye in Week 14. The rapport between Bo Nix and Courtland Sutton seems to be growing stronger, but Vele has been involved a decent amount over the last two months.
Availability: 95%
FAAB: 5%
5. WR DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots
The second-year receiver out of Liberty doesn’t offer much upside due to his limitations from the slot, but he’s a solid flex option each week. Douglas has averaged 7.8 fantasy points over his last five games and a 21% target share over his last four. The Patriots have an intriguing matchup against the Indianapolis Colts before their Week 14 bye so Douglas could be added for teams that need some quality wide receiver depth.
Availability: 69%
FAAB: 5%
6. WR Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers
The return of Adam Thielen didn’t hinder Legette’s role much as the rookie led the team in routes run, but the random emergence of David Moore‘s 10-target game did. Legette is still the most consistent asset in the Panthers’ passing attack, and he’s held a modest 20% target share over the last four weeks.
Availability: 73%
FAAB: 5%
7. RB Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots
It feels gross and not all that inspiring, but there was a slight shift in the Patriots backfield in Week 12. Maybe it was random or simply a one-week game-plan maneuver, but Gibson led the backfield in snaps and routes run while collecting two targets and a 40% running back rush share. His 44 total yards were the most he’s recorded since Week 5, so it’s at least something to monitor.
Availability: 87%
FAAB: 3%
Grab-n-Stash
Suggested FAAB usage for potential stash players shouldn’t exceed more than 5%. It’s best to try to get these players without spending any FAAB at all, if possible.
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans: Cue the “he can’t get keep getting away with it” gif. Westbrook-Ikhine has scored a touchdown in six of his last seven games despite totaling just 17 receptions and 30 targets over that span. It’s unsustainable, but Westbrook-Ikhine is on an incredible heater.
Availability: 88%
WR Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens: Bateman plays Monday night and while his game is volatile, he’s had enough boom weeks to be considered as a stash for desperate times.
Availability: 68%
WR Ray-Ray McCloud, Atlanta Falcons: This is all about Darnell Mooney‘s hamstring injury coming out of the bye week. If Mooney misses time, McCloud becomes a potential flex option.
Running back handcuffs to stash or monitor
- Braelon Allen, New York Jets (78% available)
- Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (69% available)
- Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (73% available)
- Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles (98% available)
- Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks (59% available)
- Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins (94% available)
- Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (86% available)
- Emari Demercado (100% available)
- Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills (84% available)
Streamers of the Week
QB Russell Wilson at Cincinnati Bengals: Though Wilson has only one touchdown over his last two games, the matchup against Cincinnati is the perfect bounce-back opportunity.
Availability: 64%
QB Bryce Young vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The second-year quarterback has looked better since regaining the starting role, and there’s no better matchup than Tampa Bay to provide a streaming outing.
Availability: 95%
TE Hunter Henry vs Indianapolis Colts: We’re running it back with Henry, who has averaged 8.4 fantasy points and seven targets per game over his last seven. The Colts have struggled all season long against tight ends, so he should be highly targeted.
Availability: 52%
TE Theo Johnson at Dallas Cowboys: Somewhat of a deeper play, the rookie tight end has bee solid over his last four games, averaging 7.2 fantasy points and 5.5 targets per game over that stretch. The Cowboys are a middling matchup and have allowed six touchdowns to the position this season.
Availability: 98%
Indianapolis Colts D/ST at New England Patriots: Even on the road, the Colts are a solid matchup against the Patriots offense, which has reached 20 points in a game just four times this season and once in their last four.
Availability: 89%
Dallas Cowboys D/ST vs New York Giants: While Johnson is a potential streamer, the Cowboys are in a solid spot to shut down a reeling Giants offense that lacks an identity on a short week.
Availability: 72%
PK Brandon McManus vs Miami Dolphins: McManus has been solid since joining the Green Bay Packers, converting all seven of his field-goal attempts since Week 7. Meanwhile, Miami is tied for allowing the most field-goal attempts in the NFL.
Availability: 88%
PK Spencer Shrader vs Las Vegas Raiders: The undrafted rookie filled in nicely for Harrison Butker in Week 12, and the Raiders have allowed the most field goals made and attempts this season.
Availability: 64%
