Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business,
but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious
selections to help your team from week to week while you strive
to collect fantasy wins, reach your league playoffs, and win the
elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp. While
I’m a big proponent of making trades to bolster your roster,
the waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes
to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll
highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players who can
help your squad and may still be available in your league. I’ll
also provide a brief update on the players I covered the previous
week.
Ryan
Fitzpatrick, MIA – Fitzpatrick filled
in at QB again with Tua Tagovailoa out, completing 24 of 39 passes
for 257-2-0 on Sunday against the Jets. If Tua is out again this
week, Fitzpatrick would be a streaming option versus a struggling
Bengals team.
UPDATE: Tua is practicing this
week, so Fitzpatrick might get the bench again.
Kirk
Cousins, MIN – Cousins finished
with 307-3-0 and added a two-point conversion in the Vikings’
28-27 win over the Panthers on Sunday. He also rushed four times
for 19 yards and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown
but gets an extremely favorable home matchup against the Jaguars
in Week 13.
Tua
Tagovailoa, MIA – Tua was inactive
Sunday with a thumb injury that popped up mid-week and may not
be ready for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
UPDATE: Tua has a shot to play
after another completed practice on Wednesday.
Derek
Carr, LV – I don’t even know where
to begin with Carr, who was awful on Sunday (three lost fumbles
and 215-0-1 passing). Never again.
Andy
Dalton, DAL – It’s not as bad as
Carr, but Dalton threw for just 215-1-1 and added 17 rushing yards
in an embarrassing Thanksgiving loss.
Running Backs
Cam Akers,
LAR – Akers (25-40 percent owned) had his best game as
a pro on Sunday, running the ball nine times for 84 yards and a
score during the 23-20 loss to the 49ers. This is a tough committee
to crack, but the rookie showed plenty of upside in Week 12 and
will be a popular pickup this week.
Ito Smith,
ATL – Despite claims that Brian Hill would be the workhorse,
Smith emerged as the better back in Week 12, tallying 65 rushing
yards and a TD on 12 carries, adding 4-10-0 receiving on Sunday
in the win over Las Vegas. If Todd Gurley is forced to sit out
Week 13 against the Saints, Smith will share some of the workload
alongside Hill – albeit in a tough matchup.
Devontae
Booker, LV – He didn’t do much on
Sunday (6 rushing yards on five carries) even with Josh Jacobs
out, but he’s definitely worth of acquisition in deeper formats
if Jacobs can’t go in Week 13.
Frank Gore,
NYJ – Adam Gase called the plays and Gore rushed 18 times
for 74 yards – hauling in all three of his targets for 12 yards
in the loss to the Dolphins. He’s a high-volume RB3/flex play
against the Raiders in Week 13.
Gus Edwards,
BAL – The game will be played Wednesday afternoon, so
we’ll update on Wednesday night if possible, but for now the entire
Ravens organization is dealing with COVID-19 issues.
UPDATE: This situation is a complete
mess. We’re seeing some Edwards and some Justice Hill in
short yardage/goal line on Wednesday afternoon. We’ll see
what shakes out as the weekend approaches.
Wayne
Gallman, NYG – Gallman carried 24
times for 94 yards and a touchdown while losing three yards on
three catches (five targets) during Sunday's 19-17 win over the
Bengals.
James
White, NE – White took on a much
larger role in the Pats’ offense in Week 12, rushing five times
for 18 yards and two TDs while catching his lone target for a
lost yard in Sunday’s 20-17 win over the Cardinals. With Rex Burkhead
sidelined for the remainder of 2020, White will be used with some
frequency depending on game scripty and the proverbial “hot hand.”
Jonathan
Taylor, IND – The rookie back was
placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday and did not play
Sunday against the Titans. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: Taylor was removed from
the COVID-19 list on Wednesday. It’s looking like he’ll
be back to action in Week 13.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Deebo
Samuel, SF – Deebo returned with
a vengeance on Sunday, Samuel caught 11 of 13 targets for 133
yards during Sunday's 23-20 win over the Rams. appears to be fully
over the hamstring injury that sidelined him and will look to
build on this excellent effort next Monday night against the Bills.
UPDATE: Brandon Aiyuk is off the
COVID list now, though we still don’t have the QB we want
for either of these guys. Samuel should assume a large role the
rest of the season barring any setbacks.
TE Robert
Tonyan, GB – Tonyan played through an ankle injury
and hauled in all five of his targets for 67 yards and a TD on
Sunday night. He’s looking more and more like a TE1 as he continues
a productive season for the Packers.
Jakobi
Meyers, NE – Meyers may still be
looking for his first TD, but he’s a target monster, catching
five of six targets for a team-high 52 yards in Sunday’s win over
Arizona. He’s now got at least 50 receiving yards in five of his
last six games heading into a Week 13 matchup against the Chargers.
Gabriel
Davis, BUF – Finally! I’ve been
waiting for the Davis breakout and he had 3-79-1 on four targets
in Sunday’s 27-17 win over the Chargers – as Cole
Beasley hit the wide-open rookie on a reverse toss early on.
He’s a boom-or-bust WR4 flex or DFS play with upside.
TE Taysom
Hill, NO – The TE eligibility is gone in most formats
but Taysom might be worth using as QB if he keeps this up.
Damiere
Byrd, NE – Byrd had a team-high
seven targets and finished with 3-33-0 in Sunday’s win.
Michael
Pittman Jr., IND – Still rostered
in just 35-50 percent of leagues, Pittman had a rough Week 13
with just 2-28-0 despite nine targets. He’s poised for a much
more productive Week 13.
Keke
Coutee, HOU – It was the Will Fuller
show on Sunday, and Coutee had just 2-17-0 on three targets. However,
Coutee becomes more interesting now that Will Fuller has been
suspended six games.
Nelson
Agholor, LV – It wasn’t like his
huge Week 11, but Agholor finished with 5-54-0 on six targets
in the loss to Atlanta.
TE Dalton
Schultz, DAL – Schultz finished the Thanksgiving
debacle with 5-24-0 on five targets, and remains a boom-or-bust
TE2.