Waiver Wire Watch: Week 13 Fantasy Football Targets

Nov 27, 2017

Editor's Note: We're happy to have Brandon Niles on the Waiver Wire Watch this year. He'll work in conjunction with Senior Editor John Paulsen to compile the weekly list of pickups and generate recommended prices for FAAB leagues.

Here is a look at the top waiver wire pickups for Week 13. To be eligible for discussion, the player must be owned in 50% or fewer Yahoo leagues, though we’ll stretch the rules a bit for the RB position, which is usually very thin. We’ll also include suggested bid prices (with a $100 budget) for those leagues that use Free Agent Acquisition Budgets (FAAB). Of course, player value depends on league characteristics and team needs. Players are listed by position in order of importance. For extremely shallow or extremely deep leagues, be sure to review our Rest-of-Season Rankings (updated every Tuesday) to get an idea of how to value players not on this list.

This isn’t a great week to blow the rest of your FAAB, but if you need a quarterback or a tight end streaming option, there should be plenty of players with good matchups available. There are a deep crop of wide receivers and running backs with upside available as well, so waiting until after the waiver period and scooping up some potential options might be a viable strategy in leagues where you lose your priority or FAAB money by using a claim.

Quarterbacks

Josh McCown, New York Jets ($4)

McCown had a great game against the Panthers on Sunday, throwing for 307 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. McCown has quietly put together a pretty good season, and while he struggled in Week 10 and Week 11, he’s been a very reliable streaming option for most of the year. Fantasy owners looking for help this week should grab McCown against the Chiefs in what looks like a great matchup.

Next up: Chiefs, @ Broncos, @ Saints

Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills ($4)

Taylor didn’t light up the stat sheet against the Chiefs on Sunday, finishing with 183 yards and a touchdown in a Bills victory, but he should hold the starting job for at least another week after getting the win. The Bills are in playoff contention and Taylor has a fantastic schedule to close out the season. Taylor should be considered a prime streaming option for each of the final five games, including this week against the Patriots.

Next up: Patriots, Colts, Dolphins

Case Keenum, Minnesota Vikings ($3)

Keenum had a great game on Thanksgiving against the Lions, throwing for 282 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while also running in a score. Keenum has now accounted for 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions over his past four games, has the Vikings on a seven-game winning streak, and will face the Falcons this week. Keenum should be considered a solid streaming option, and he has an excellent Week 16 matchup against the Packers.

Next up: @ Falcons, @ Panthers, Bengals

Brett Hundley, Green Bay Packers ($2)

I’m not really buying Hundley’s three touchdown passes on Sunday night against the Steelers, but there’s something to be said for an athletic quarterback playing against the Bucs and Browns the next two weeks. Hundley should be a reasonable streaming option, albeit with some risk.

Next up: Bucs, @ Browns, @ Panthers

Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars ($2)

Bortles only had 160 yards on Sunday against the Cardinals, but he added 62 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. While that kind of rushing production isn’t likely to be repeated, the Jaguars closing schedule makes Bortles a viable streaming option in all league formats. This week, Bortles will face a vulnerable Colts defense and the Jaguars will be looking to rebound after a disappointing loss to Arizona.

Next up: Colts, Seahawks, Texans

Blaine Gabbert, Arizona Cardinals ($2)

Gabbert is hard to trust, but he has five touchdown passes in two starts for the Cardinals, and the team is still technically in the mix for a playoff spot. Gabbert also has a nice upcoming schedule, with games against the Titans, Redskins, and Giants to finish the fantasy season after the Rams this week. He should be considered a viable streaming option in all formats.

Next up: Rams, Titans, @ Redskins

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers ($2)

Garoppolo may not get a start this season, but if C.J. Beathard’s injury is serious, he could be worth picking up. Garoppolo threw a touchdown pass late in the game against the Seahawks, despite only getting two pass attempts, and the 49ers face the Texans and Titans after the Bears this week.

Next up: @ Bears, @ Texans, Titans

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($1)

Fitzpatrick isn’t assured of his job with Jameis Winston week-to-week with a shoulder injury, but he threw the ball 44 times on Sunday against the Falcons and he faces the Packers this week. Assuming Winston still can’t go, Fitzpatrick should be a decent low-end streaming option in large leagues.

Next up: @ Packers, Lions, Falcons

I’m not buying: The Giants offense looks terrible, so even with a great matchup against the Raiders, I’m not bothering with Eli Manning. DeShone Kizer is an interesting option because of his running ability, but the only matchup I like for him this season comes in Week 14, so I’m holding off. I’m interested in Trevor Siemian’s matchup against the Dolphins this week if he can remain the starter, but the Broncos are a mess right now at the quarterback position, so I’m staying away.

Deep Stash Options: The only quarterback worth stashing at this point in the season is Aaron Rodgers, who is already owned in 59 percent of leagues right now.