There are just five weeks to the end of the season, and while the Week 13 fantasy football waivers are thin, the pickups you choose can be more important than ever. Let’s find some waiver wire options and streamers to help you bring home a championship.
HEADS UP
- Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo
- Listed in order of preference — I’ll regularly prioritize potential upside over immediate replacement production
- RB backups have a separate secondary list based on only if the lead option got hurt
- No FAB suggestions: It varies wildly by league tendencies and always relative (ex: if you lost your RB1 to injury and there is a clear backup, you’re going to be more aggressive)
- Streaming QB and TE are grouped together — weekly ranking can change once projections/ranks run — DST could shift a bit too
- Emojis for brevity
- 😏 = mentioned multiple times, multiple weeks — either you want him, or don’t
- 🫡 = priority Next Man Up (should be stashed) with deeper startability
BYES: NONE
WORRY REPORT
(Scale 1-5: more ducks = more worry)
- 49ers — 🦆🦆🦆 to ♾🦆 — The Brock Purdy talk is mixed (whether/when he’s returning), and we saw the drop-off with Brandon Allen. Deebo Samuel looks off still, and if the 49ers lose two more games, and maybe even just one, we might have an issue of players resting (if less than 100% healthy). What looked to be one of the best teams for fantasy is quickly approaching slim pickings… if the 49ers don’t start winning.
- Browns — 🦆🦆🦆 — Worry? Coming off a win? Yep. As you’ll see below, Dorian Thompson-Robinson is worth a stash in deep leagues and SuperFlex formats. If DTR steps in for Jameis Winston, that’s bad news for all skill players, and it particularly hurts Jerry Jeudy, who has been a solid Top 30 option since Week 8.
- Giants — 🦆🦆🦆 — Week 12 was bad — really bad — because not only was the quarterback play even worse than Daniel Jones’ time, but there is disarray with Tyrone Tracy Jr. losing snaps to Devin Singletary and Eric Gray, plus Malik Nabers going Terrell Owens on his team in an interview. Fortunately, the ROS schedule is the best, but that only helps so much.
- Joe Mixon, RB, HOU — 🦆🦆— If you didn’t sell high, you’re likely stuck, and the worry all along was the schedule, including a Week 14 bye. Mixon should be Top 5 against the Jaguars, but his Top 5 fantasy trade value is likely gone, and most deadlines were last week or this Wednesday.
- Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE — 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆— Bell-cow work was Stevenson’s saving grace, so if Antonio Gibson is back in the mix for 30%+ each week, Stevenson is barely startable.
- DeAndre Hopkins, WR, KC — 🦆🦆🦆🦆— Hopkins’ Route% in his past four games (his second Chiefs game to present): 68.0%, 61.2%, 54.3%, 44.7%. The touchdown saved Week 12, but the Chiefs are back to the wideout-by-committee approach, and that’s bad news for any reliability.
POWER UP PLAYERS
(Scale 1-5: more Mario mushrooms = more excitement)
- Bears — 🍄🍄🍄 — D’Andre Swift gets a modest uptick despite the schedule, as they reversed course on the Roschon Johnson usage… at least for one week. If Swift is going to get bell-cow work ROS, even the matchups won’t stop him from Top 20 value. As for the wideouts, I still see them as 2023 Seahawks, but that’s a good thing, as long as Caleb Williams continues his development in the adjusted offense.
- Bucky Irving, RB, TB — 💪🏼🍄 — With the backfield split, we were okay with it being both Irving and Rachaad White, as White still had the passing game value. Well, that went Irving’s way against the Giants, and it wasn’t close. In fact, Irving had 50.0% of the touches while White had 36.1%. While some might argue that was about game script, the Bucs have CAR, LV, LAC, DAL, CAR the rest of the way, so Irving is looking like a Top 15 option.
- Courtland Sutton, WR, DEN — 🍄🍄🍄 — The Broncos have two good matchups and two bad matchups the rest of the way and also the bye. Sutton has double-digit targets in three of the past five games and double-digit points in each of the past six. He’s in the Top 20 WR class unless defenses figure out a way to adjust against Bo Nix and Sean Payton, which seems less likely by the week.
STREAMING QUARTERBACKS
** the QB could get replaced, or not return this year
Week 13
- Russell Wilson, PIT (at CIN)
- Kirk Cousins, ATL (vs LAC)
- Caleb Williams, CHI (at DET)
- Drake Maye, NE (vs IND)
- Jameis Winston, CLE (at DEN)**
- Aaron Rodgers, NYJ (vs SEA)**
- Bryce Young, CAR (vs TB)
- Trevor Lawrence, JAX (vs HOU)**
Week 14
- Kirk Cousins, ATL (at MIN)
- Geno Smith, SEA (at ARI)
- Russell Wilson, PIT (vs CLE)
- Caleb Williams, CHI (at SF)
- Jameis Winston, CLE (at PIT)**
- Derek Carr, NO (at NYG)
- Aaron Rodgers, NYJ (at MIA)**
- Bryce Young, CAR (at PHI)
Week 15
- Kirk Cousins, ATL (at LV)
- Jameis Winston, CLE (vs KC)**
- Russell Wilson, PIT (at PHI)
- Caleb Williams, CHI (at MIN)
- Aaron Rodgers, NYJ (at JAX)**
- Geno Smith, SEA (vs GB)
- Drake Maye, NE (at ARI)
- Derek Carr, NO (vs WSH)
- Bryce Young, CAR (vs DAL)
- Trevor Lawrence, JAX (vs NYJ)**
Would I Stash?
- Tyrod Taylor, NYJ — Definitely. I wouldn’t be surprised if Aaron Rodgers checks out before the end of the season… from playing.
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson, CLE — Eh. Even when he takes over — Zac Jackson believes it’s inevitable as the Browns look to 2025 — DTR is lesser Anthony Richardson in fantasy, and the Browns have a tough remaining schedule.
- Daniel Jones, FA — Probaby not. Even if Jones signs somewhere, he’s 1.) unlikely to be more than a backup and 2.) still has to learn whichever offense he joins, unlike Taylor and DTR.
WAIVER WIRE RUNNING BACK RANKS
- Gus Edwards, LAC — Need to check the news, but as of this write-up during MNF, J.K. Dobbins left with a knee issue. If Dobbins misses time, Edwards would be a solid, back-end RB2.
- Jeremy McNichols, WSH — Brian Robinson Jr. is hurt, Austin Ekeler is concussed, and it’s a short week. The Commanders cut Chris Rodriguez Jr. this past weekend, so assuming they bring him back, it would suggest McNichols is the lead. However, note that it’s a one-week play (bye next week), and McNichols is no guarantee to be the clear lead.
- Jaylen Warren, PIT — 🫡
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL — 🫡
- Tyjae Spears, TEN — 🫡
- Zach Charbonnet, SEA — 🫡
- Justice Hill, BAL — 🫡
- Tank Bigsby, JAX — 🫡
- Hassan Haskins, LAC — Purely here if you need RB help and Dobbins misses time. Haskins looks to be the passing-game option with Edwards, and Haskins also gets goal-line work. This rank would only be for as long as Dobbins is out.
- Jaylen Wright, MIA — Next up, but would split more than De’Von Achane does if Achane were to get hurt.
- Braelon Allen, NYJ — 😏
- Ray Davis, BUF — 😏
- Trey Benson, ARI — 😏
- Kenneth Gainwell, PHI — Saquon Barkley is in the fantasy MVP conversation, but Gainwell should not be barely rostered. If Barkley were to miss time, Gainwell would be a Top 30 RB, at worst.
- Jonathon Brooks, CAR — Looking as though Brooks won’t significantly eat into Chuba Hubbard’s work until 2025.
- Jerome Ford, CLE — 😏
- Roschon Johnson, CHI — 😏
MEH, I’LL PASS
- Ameer Abdullah, LV — Yes. Still. I don’t want the headache of any Raiders running back, as it’s merely the Vegas version of the Broncos, and there’s a matchup with the stingy Chiefs run defense on tap.
PURELY NEXT MAN UP RANKS
(if an injury occurs ahead of them)
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL
- Ray Davis, BUF
- Zach Charbonnet, SEA
- Jaylen Warren, PIT
- Braelon Allen, NYJ
- Trey Benson, ARI
- Gus Edwards, LAC
- Blake Corum, LAR
- Jaylen Wright, MIA
- Austin Ekeler, WSH
- Jordan Mason, SF
- Jonathon Brooks, CAR
- Roschon Johnson, CHI
- Khalil Herbert, CIN
- Tyjae Spears, TEN
- Kenneth Gainwell, PHI
- Raheem Mostert, MIA
- Jerome Ford, CLE
- Tyler Goodson, IND
- Justice Hill, BAL
- Antonio Gibson, NE
- Devin Singletary, NYG
- Cam Akers, MIN
- Emanuel Wilson, GB
WAIVER WIRE WIDE RECEIVER RANKS
- Christian Watson, GB — Bounce-back opportunity against the Cowboys, especially with Romeo Doubs out.
- Quentin Johnston, LAC — 😏 Yes, even with the drop and an off game.
- Keon Coleman, BUF — Amari Cooper’s integration could cap Coleman, but as we saw before Coleman’s injury, Coleman’s improvement and new usage could give him a higher ceiling. He’s well worth the upside stash, or even a boom gamble.
- Jerry Jeudy, CLE — 😏 But as mentioned, Jeudy could tumble far with a QB change.
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, TEN — Sometimes it doesn’t need to be explainable, but NWI is a weekly boom/bust WR4, and the schedule is cake… mmm.
- Xavier Legette, CAR — 😏 In waivers since Week 1. Maybe having him in the title will help.
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling, NO — Derek Carr will take a few deep shots a game, and you see how it’s worked so far.
- Jalen McMillan, TB — In case you missed the recap pod, McMillan had the most Bucs wide receiver routes. There is still upside, as Baker Mayfield throws more than he did against the Giants, and as the connection develops between them.
- Alec Pierce, IND — Seemingly every Colts wide receiver got hurt, but if Josh Downs is out, Pierce and his big-play, Rashid Shaheed-likeness will make him a worthy gamble.
- Dontayvion Wicks, GB — With Doubs out, Wicks returns to WR4 boom/bust territory.
- DeMario Douglas, NE — Floor option.
- Elijah Moore, CLE — Not as high as some might think with Cedric Tillman likely out, as 1.) he’s got a matchup in Denver and 2.) DTR could get the call soon.
- Michael Wilson, ARI — The schedule is great and gives Wilson a chance to be a WR4 for the ROS.
- Adam Thielen, CAR — First game back, had 38 routes to David Moore’s 58, so another game or two and Thielen should be back to a top-two role.
- Romeo Doubs, GB — Worth stashing as a Douglas-like value after he’s back from the concussion.
- Ray-Ray McCloud, ATL — Only if Darnell Mooney can’t go, and even then, just a Douglas-type on the Falcons.
Hail Mary, sometimes worth the chase
(WR4/5 with Top 30 upside, needing a TD to get there)
- Noah Brown, WSH
- Demarcus Robinson, LAR
NEXT MAN UP
(of sorts, for WR)
These wide receivers could see a boost into startability if something happened in front of them.
- Jalen Nailor, MIN
- Joshua Palmer, LAC
- Rashod Bateman, BAL
- John Metchie, HOU
- Ricky Pearsall, SF
- Greg Dortch, ARI
- Jalen Tolbert, DAL
- Malik Washington, MIA
MEH, I’LL PASS
- David Moore, CAR — As mentioned, Thielen working his way back.
- Calvin Austin, PIT — If not for the miscommunication, George Pickens would have caught the touchdown before Austin’s play.
- Tre Tucker, LV — Been here. Done that. Pass.
- Tyler Boyd, TEN — Calvin Ridley is the only Titans receiver I want, and 8.5 fantasy points was Boyd’s season high. Yep.
STREAMING TIGHT ENDS
- Luke Schoonmaker, DAL
- Hunter Henry, NE
- Will Dissly, LAC
- Cole Kmet, CHI
- Zach Ertz, WSH
STREAMING DST
Week 13
- LAC at ATL
- TB at CAR
- DAL vs NYG
- NE vs IND
- NYJ vs SEA
- CLE at DEN
Week 14
- TB vs LV
- TEN vs JAX
- NO at NYG
- ARI vs SEA
- ATL at MIN
- CLE at PIT
Week 15
- NYJ at JAX
- DAL at CAR
- ATL at LV
- NE at ARI
- Week 15 is rough for streaming DST
(Top photo of Xavier Legette: Matt Kelley — Getty Images)
