Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Week 14 Byes: Baltimore, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, New
England, Washington
Wilson had a monster game in a shootout against the Bengals,
going 414-3-1 in Pittsburgh’s best offensive game of the
season. Next up is a Browns team they played just two weeks ago
where he completed 75% of his passes for 1 TD in a snowy game
in Cleveland.
With Gardner Minshew out with a broken collarbone, O’Connell
came off of IR just in time. He had a great day against a stingy
Chiefs defense, throwing for 340 yards and 2 touchdowns. You can
keep him rolling against a Buccaneers defense that has allowed
the 2nd-most points to QBs.
Levis has been much improved since his midseason injury, with
a 7-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his last four games.
Last week, he struggled with accuracy but managed to throw 2 touchdowns
in a blowout loss to the Commanders. This week he gets a great
matchup against the Jaguars, who have been shredded for the most
fantasy points by QBs.
Drake Maye, NE vs IND: Maye completed a solid 80% of his passes
against the Colts, but only managed a 238-1-1 line in a close
loss where he extended his games with an interception streak to
5. He did boost his fantasy totals by rushing for 59 yards. He’ll
be on bye this week before coming back against a tough Cardinals
defense in Week 15.
Rookie Guerendo looks to get first crack at the starting RB role
now that Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason are both going on
IR. Guerendo came on late this week and went 4-19-1 on the ground
and caught his only target for -3 yards. They will most likely
add a free agent, but Guerendo stepped in Week 8 for 17 touches
and should be expected to have double-digit touches for the rest
of the year. He gets a Bears defense that has allowed the 6th-most
rushing yards.
McCormick split work with Ameer Abdullah and had a nice day against
the best rush defense in the league, going 12-64-0 rushing and
2-2-1-0 receiving in a loss to the Chiefs. McCormick might not
play much this week if Alexander Mattison or Zamir White return
from injury, but if he does, he’ll face a Bucs defense that has
given up the most receiving yards and 2nd-most receptions to RBs.
Vidal came in as the RB2 behind Gus Edwards in the absence of
J.K. Dobbins (knee injury) and handled 4 carries for 20 yards.
Edwards handled 52% of snaps, Vidal 26% and Hassan Haskins received
15%, while none of them received a target. It will be interesting
to see the snap/target share this week, as Dobbins was averaging
3 targets per game. KC’s league-best rush defense has been cracking
of late.
Jeremy McNichols,
WAS vs TEN: With Austin Ekeler on IR, McNichols was the 2nd RB
into the game after starter Brian Robinson Jr. Unfortunately,
he only managed 6-32-0 rushing before largely taking a seat for
Chris Rodriguez Jr. as the Commanders dominated the Titans from
the opening whistle. He’ll be on bye this week before a positive
matchup against the Saints when they return.
Jaylen Warren, PIT @ CIN: Warren saw fewer carries than normal
but saved his fantasy day by going 4-4-55-0 through the air in
a shootout with the Bengals. Up next is a rematch with the Browns,
where he punched in a rushing TD and scored 15.4 PPR points.
Thielen had a nice day against the Buccaneers in his 2nd game
back after an extended stint on IR, going 10-8-99-1 to lead the
Panthers in receiving. Up next is a much tougher assignment against
the Eagles, but the Panthers should have plenty of opportunity
to throw as they will likely be playing from behind. Bryce Young’s
arrow is starting to point up, and that’s helping all Panthers
pass catchers.
Washington got the start with Gabe Davis out, and delivered a
strong 12-6-103-1 performance even with Mac Jones playing most
of the game for an injured Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence will most
likely be out this week due to concussion, but Washington has
shown he can produce even with Jones behind center. He’s seen
22 targets in the three games where his snap share was above 70%,
where it should be again as he faces a stingy Titans secondary.
Moore benefited from Cedric Tillman being out and Jameis Winston
throwing the ball a ridiculous 58 times for 497 yards to deliver
a 14-8-111-0 line in a shootout loss to the Broncos on Monday
Night Football. He won’t have that target volume every week
(especially if Tillman is back), but he’s garnered 48 total
targets in his last five games, so if you’re hurting at
WR this week, he could be a nice fill in. He’ll face a tough
Steelers defense that he only had 3 catches for 21 yards against
two weeks ago, but that was in snowy weather conditions.
Doubs was out Week 13 due to a concussion, but he is expected
to return this week against their division rivals. Watson caught
2-of-4 targets for 67 yards in an easy win over the Dolphins.
The Lions have allowed the 4th-most points to opposing WRs as
they’ve been jumping out ahead of most opponents. Doubs
went 5-4-28-0 against them back in Week 9 while Watson was 7-3-37-0.
Cooks came off of IR to go 7-3-16-1 in a win over the Giants
on Thanksgiving, leading the team in targets as CeeDee Lamb was
nursing a sore shoulder. He should have an even better day against
a Bengals team that has been getting torched, and has given up
the 10th-most points to WRs.
Westbrook-Ikhine has stepped up since DeAndre Hopkins was traded,
scoring 6 TDs in the last six games without Nuk. In blowout loss
to the Commanders, he had an 8-3-61-2 receiving line as the target
leader. Although Will Levis still struggles with accuracy (below
50% against the Commanders), Nick should find some open spaces
against a Jaguars team that has allowed the 3rd-most points to
WRs.
Freiermuth went 7-6-68-1 in a shootout win over the Bengals.
He gets another plus matchup against the Browns, who have allowed
the 9th-most points to TEs, and who he went 4-4-59 against just
over a week ago despite snowy conditions.
Dissly saw only one target in a loss to the Falcons, but he should
be more involved this week as he had averaged 6 targets per game
in the previous seven games. This week he’ll get a Chiefs team
that has allowed the 3rd-most points to opposing TEs, and just
got torched by Brock Bowers.
Johnson reeled in 5-of-7 targets for 36 yards against the Rams,
but could be called upon more now that Taysom Hill is done for
the year. His first game sans Hill will be against a Giants team
that has defended TEs well, before his schedule starts to get
better for the fantasy playoffs.
David Moore,
CAR vs TB: Moore played again since Jalen Coker was ruled out,
and was 2nd on the team in targets with a 9-5-40-0 line. Up next
is a much tougher assignment against the Eagles, and Coker may
be back in the mix.
Rome Odunze,
CHI @ DET: Odunze took a backseat to D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen,
going 6-2-25-0 in a loss to the NFC-leading Lions. He gets a tougher
matchup (on paper) against the 49ers this week.
UPDATE:
Devaughn Vele, DEN vs CLE: Vele was one of the few wideouts
that didn't join the Monday night passing party. He had 4 targets
and finished with a 1-16-0 line on 35 attempts from Bo Nix.
Alec Pierce,
IND @ NE: Pierce continues to suffer with Anthony Richardson’s
poor accuracy, going 6-2-16-1 in a tight win over the Patriots,
although he did end up 2nd on the team in targets. That may not
be the case when they play next in Week 14 against the Broncos,
as Josh Downs should be back after the bye.
TE Zach Ertz, WAS vs DAL: Ertz had another nice day against the
Titans, finishing 2nd on the team in targets and having his 3rd
straight game with a touchdown. He’s on bye this week before
a neutral matchup against the Saints in Week 15.
TE Hunter Henry, NE vs IND: Henry led the team in targets, receptions,
and yards as the Patriots lost a close one to the Colts, going
9-7-75-0. Up next is a bye week before they face the Cardinals
on the road.
Defense/ Special Teams
Buccaneers vs LV
The Bucs are coming off a surprisingly close game against the
resurgent Panthers, and only generated one sack and a turnover.
The good news is they’re tied with Atlanta for the NFC South
lead. Up next is a great matchup against the Raiders, who are
struggling at the QB position and have allowed the most turnovers,
and 5th-most points, to opposing defenses.
Jaguars vs TEN
The Jaguars have struggled of late, but that’s mostly due
to a rough patch where they’ve faced five straight teams
in the playoffs - three of them division leaders. This week is
a great opportunity to end the losing streak against a Titans
team that has allowed the most points to opposing defenses.
Saints vs NYG
The Saints lost a tough home game against the Rams, getting only
2 sacks but holding them to 21 points. They hope to garner another
win against the rudderless Giants, who have allowed the 3rd-most
points to defenses and who just got roughed up by the Cowboys.
Other D/ST to consider: Bengals @ DAL, Seahawks @ ARI
Last week’s waiver adds:
Cowboys vs NYG: As expected, the Cowboys defense
dominated the Giants, getting 6 sacks, 2 turnovers and a defensive
touchdown on Thanksgiving day. Up next is a tough task against
a potent Bengals offense.
Colts @ NE: The Colts pulled out a win against
the Patriots, getting 4 sacks and an interception while grabbing
the lead at the end. They’ll be on bye this week before
a tough task against the Broncos.
Jets vs SEA: The Jets couldn’t get into
the win column, but their defense played well, getting 3 sacks,
2 turnovers and a special teams touchdown. Up next is a favorable
matchup (on paper) against the Dolphins, who have (unsurprisingly)
looked better since Tua Tagovailoa’s return.
