Just when you think the waiver wire might not offer you some important fantasy football help ahead of Week 13, think again. This unlucky upcoming week is sticking fantasy owners with six key byes, as the Bills, Bears, Raiders, Vikings, Giants, and Ravens all won't be in action, leaving lineup holes across the board that will need to be filled by making some pickups or spending some of your FAAB budget.
Besides trying to fill those holes, it's important to think of the best stashes and backup plans for the fantasy stretch run. Based on recent trends and looming matchups, there are plenty of options for upgrading your rosters, including Zack Moss, Jeff Wilson Jr., Jayden Reed, Jalin Hyatt, and Pat Freiermuth.
Whether you're thinking short- or long-term, how should you prioritize the pickups, either through the running of waivers or allocation of your free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB)? Here's your advice and buying guide for the latest week of the fantasy open market:
WEEK 13 FANTASY: Full waiver list
Week 13 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
1. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (Yahoo league availability: 48%). Mayfield had an injury scare on a goal-line run in Indianapolis and was a bit roughed up. He can rebound beyond the TDs to Mike Evans and play better at home with the reeling Panthers visiting Tampa. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
2. Derek Carr, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 56%). Streaming Carr is not for the faint of heart because he's so shaky and volatile, even when he's putting up decent digits. However, the Lions' pass defense is falling apart, so he can be a volume-based play in a potentially negative game script at home opposite Jared Goff. It would help if either Chris Olave (concussion) or Rashid Shaheed (thigh) were cleared to play, though. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
3. Kenny Pickett, Steelers (Yahoo league availability: 84%). Extracting a multiple-TD game from him in any fashion is difficult, even in a new offense, but keep in mind he did come through with one against the Raiders this season. The Cardinals matchup is as good as it gets all-around in Pittsburgh. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
4. Matthew Stafford, Rams (Yahoo league availability: 54%). Stafford lit up the Cardinals for 225 yards and four TDs in his best fantasy performance of the season in a plus matchup. With the Browns and Ravens up next, the outlook isn't quite so rosy, but the Commanders, Saints, and Giants are around the corner to make him a good multi-week option for the fantasy playoffs. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
5. Gardner Minshew, Colts (Yahoo league availability: 84%). Minshew is another wild ride in the Carr mode with his freestyling, gunslinging ways. So, keep that in mind when you take a shot on him against a bad Titans pass defense on the road in Week 13. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
6. Jake Browning, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 92%). Browning didn't light up the Steelers but he showed he's a gamer in replacing Joe Burrow. The results can be better passing opposite Trevor Lawrence with higher volume against a vulnerable enough Jaguars passing game to consider him in deeper leagues in Week 13. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 13 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
1. Zack Moss, Colts (Yahoo league availability: 51%). Moss has sudden value again after disappearing behind Jonathan Taylor with Taylor now battling a right thumb injury that will reportedly keep him out for at least two games. Obviously, given what Moss did before Taylor was back featured, he's the priority pickup for the week as a potential RB1 plug-and-play. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
2. Roschon Johnson, Bears (Yahoo league availability: 78%). Johnson is back on the radar with D'Onta Foreman (ankle) hurt and Khalil Herbert underwhelming. Johnson is an intriguing pickup who should finally see ramped-up work soon. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
3. Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins (Yahoo league availability: 83%). Wilson got in on the rushing attack fun against the Jets, serving as the clear No. 2 to Raheem Mostert with De'Von Achane (knee) still down. His 14 touches for 73 yards in relation to Mostert carrying 20 times was a good sign that he's fully healthy and can be Miami's top receiving back for now. The Commanders provide another running smash for this offense, making JWJ a potential flex if Achane is out again. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
4. Samaje Perine, Broncos (Yahoo league availability: 80%). Perine had only six touches against the tough Browns defense on Sunday, but they added up to 66 yards after he had to spell Javonte Williams for a stretch. That's a reminder he can be a plus handcuff should Williams have any injury setback down the stretch as his work grows. Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 13 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
1. Jayden Reed, Packers (Yahoo league availability: 53%). Reed really shouldn't be available in even 10-team leagues as he keeps producing like the No. 1 wideout in an ascending passing game. He had only four catches on eight targets in Detroit, but he made them count with 34 yards and another TD. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
2. Jalin Hyatt, Giants (Yahoo league availability: 97%). The Giants are trying to find their No. 1 wideout. Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton have taken some turns, but the rookie speedster Hyatt really fits the profile after just hitting a century clicking with Tommy DeVito against the Patriots. That should open the door for more targets after New York's Week 13 bye. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
3. Josh Palmer, Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 73%). Palmer (knee) is eligible to return off IR to help at wideout against the Patriots this week. It's likely he won't be ready, but when he is, he should see an immediate key role working off Keenan Allen. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
4. Curtis Samuel, Commanders (Yahoo league availability: 72%). Samuel resurfaced as a key safety valve in the short-to-intermediate passing game for Sam Howell in Dallas, catching nine-of-12 targets for 100 yards. He's hard to trust in such a spread-it-around offense, but the matchup is decent enough to consider vs. Miami this week. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
5. Justin Watson, Chiefs (Yahoo league availability: 96%). It's hard to ignore his elementary production as Kansas City's default most trusted wideout for Patrick Mahomes with his major usage and end-zone targets the past two weeks. Let's hope he can be semi-consistent in fantasy, more Rashee Rice than Skyy Moore. Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget
6. Jonathan Mingo, Panthers (Yahoo league availability: 95%). Mingo is starting to do some rookie connecting with Bryce Young, a la Hyatt with DeVito. He's not the top target yet over Adam Thielen, but his 4-60 line last week shows his big-play talent. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
7. Greg Dortch, Cardinals (Yahoo league availability: 97%). Dortch came back to life with three catches for 27 yards and a TD on nine targets against the Rams. He can be busy as a potential slot option vs. the Steelers if you're desperate in PPR during the bye. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
8. Cedric Tillman, Browns (Yahoo league availability: 100%). This is yet another rookie-rookie connection as Tillman, Hyatt's college teammate at Tennessee, is clicking well with Dorian Thompson-Robinson downfield, posting a trusted 4-55 line in Denver. Amari Cooper's ribs injury could open the door for more opportunities going forward. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
9. DeVante Parker, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 99%). Parker returned to action and was just OK with the Patriots' sputtering passing game, but he has the best chance to do something over Tyquan Thornton and JuJu Smith-Schuster with Demario Douglas (concussion) banged up heading into a sweet spot vs. the Chargers. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
10. A.T. Perry, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 97%). Perry might need to be a key passing target for Derek Carr vs. the Lions with Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (thigh) hurting after Atlanta, maybe joining Michael Thomas (knee) on the shelf. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
Week 13 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
1. Pat Freiermuth, Browns (Yahoo league availability: 53%). Freiermuth was unlocked as the Steelers threw to the middle of the field, something they didn't do well enough under Matt Canada. The result was a team-high 11 targets vs. the Bengals for nine catches and 120 yards. The Cardinals are tougher but the usage says he will stay a go-to guy for Pickett. Tyler Higbee just scored twice on Arizona in Week 12. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
2. Isaiah Likely, Ravens (Yahoo league availability: 48%). Likely was involved more than expected minus Mark Andrews because the Ravens also were hurting with wideouts vs. the Chargers. He caught four-of-six targets for 40 yards before the Ravens decided to go nuts running with everyone. A great matchup vs. the Rams is next after a bye. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
3. Juwan Johnson, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 91%). Johnson posted four catches for 45 yards on seven targets in a solid day as both he and Taysom Hill produced good scrimmage yards. With all of New Orleans' WR injuries, Johnson's role could be much bigger vs. the Lions in a great matchup. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
4. Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans (Yahoo league availability: 74%). Okonkwo got more involved as the second-leading receiver vs. the Panthers, catching four-of-five targets for 45 yards. That's the exact line that Cade Otton put up on the next opponent, the Colts, who typically struggle against TEs. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
5. Tyler Conklin, Jets (Yahoo league availability: 84%). The Jets are looking at him as their second-best target in the passing game behind Garrett Wilson with Allen Lazard now battling injury. It's not a high-upside thought by any means, but the Falcons can be very giving to the position, creating a decent streaming shot. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
6. Tanner Hudson, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 96%). Hudson saw five targets from Jake Browning vs. the Steelers, catching four for just 18 yards. He should get a steady amount of looks vs. the Jaguars next week in a favorable matchup for the PPR crowd. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
Week 13 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire D/ST pickups, streamers
(Note: Do not spend any of FAAB budget on D/ST! Get them for $0 after waivers run!)
1. Atlanta Falcons (Yahoo league availability: 90%). The Jets are just going through the motions offensively, and the Falcons should be able to make some big plays against them to complement an effective run-heavy attack on the road.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Yahoo league availability: 70%). The Bucs draw Bryce Young and the Panthers at home, a good spot to keep racking up plays despite battling through some major secondary issues.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (Yahoo league availability: 67%). The Jaguars get the emotional home prime-time bump as they host the Bengals on Monday night in the first tough road test for Jake Browning.
4. Los Angeles Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 85%). The Chargers will be the latest team to get a shot at the Patriots' struggling QB situation, whoever's starting.
5. Los Angeles Rams (Yahoo league availability: 75%). The Rams will host Browns rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson or P.J. Walker at home with a shot for their defensive front to do damage vs. an eroding offensive line.
6. Indianapolis Colts (Yahoo league availability: 87%). The Colts are on the road, but they also draw a rookie QB in Will Levis in Tennessee.
