Waiver Wire Watch: Week 13

Nov 28, 2016

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.

Quarterbacks

Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers ($6)

Kaepernick had 296 yards and three touchdowns against the Dolphins on Sunday. He also threw a pick, but he added 113 yards on 10 rushing attempts, turning in a big day overall in all fantasy formats. Kaepernick has been a steady producer as of late, continuously adding rushing numbers to whatever he provides passing. He faces the Bears this week, who just got torched by the Titans, and then he has the Jets and Falcons next on the schedule. Kaepernick’s supplemental rushing stats have made him less of a streaming option and more of an every-week starter.

Next up: @ Bears, Jets, @ Falcons

Matt Barkley, Chicago Bears ($4)

316 yards and three touchdowns against the Titans have my attention. Barkley may crash and burn in his new opportunity as an NFL starter, but he’ll be plenty motivated in this opportunity to show the Bears he has what it takes to be the long-term answer in Chicago. Fantasy owners should take notice because he has one of the best closing schedules for a QB. The 49ers this week make him one of my favorite streaming options in all league formats, and then he faces the Lions, Packers and Washington the next three weeks over the fantasy playoffs. His potential added value as a keeper option makes him extra interesting. While he’s not without risk, I’m going after him this week.

Next up: 49ers, @ Lions, Packers

Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets ($4)

Fitzpatrick has been really hard to get behind this season with all the inconsistencies and turnovers, but he had a quality 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Patriots on Sunday and has a soft schedule the next couple of weeks against the Colts and the 49ers, both of which rank in the bottom six in the league in touchdown passes allowed this season. I’m grabbing Fitzpatrick as a streaming option the next two weeks in large leagues.

Next up: Colts, @ 49ers, Dolphins

Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles ($2)

Wentz had 254 yards and a pick against the Packers on Monday night, but he added 33 yards and a touchdown rushing, turning in a decent overall game in most leagues as a result. Wentz is still a guy I’m holding on to with a nice schedule coming up. He has the Bengals and Washington the next two games, and of course his keeper and dynasty value remains very high. If you need a streaming option and guys like Kaepernick and Fitzpatrick aren’t available, good matchups should mean Wentz will put up reasonable numbers for at least the next two weeks.

Next up: @ Bengals, Redskins, @ Ravens

Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins ($1)

Tannehill had a nice game against the 49ers on Sunday, throwing for 285 yards and three touchdowns while not turning the ball over in a Dolphins victory. The nice stat line is likely influenced by a soft matchup against one of the league’s worst defenses, but it’s good to see Tannehill playing smart football. He has the Ravens this week, making him a viable streaming option in most leagues. The Ravens rank in the bottom third of the league in touchdown passes allowed.

Next up: @ Ravens, Cardinals, @ Jets

Sam Bradford, Minnesota Vikings ($1)

Bradford only had 224 yards and a pick against Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, as the offense for both teams struggled to move the ball consistently. Bradford hasn’t done much the past couple of weeks and really missed Stefon Diggs, who was out with an injury Thursday night. Bradford still has some value as a cheap streaming option however, as he’ll face Dallas and Indianapolis in two of the next three weeks. Each of those teams ranks in the bottom five in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game.

Next up: Cowboys, @ Jaguars, Colts