New England, Miami, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia are on a bye in Week 14. That won't only take away some key offensive players like Jalen Hurts, Jaylen Waddle, and Jonathan Taylor, but it also removes four solid D/STs, making streamers all the more important. Regardless of what positions you need to fill, now's the time to identify the top waiver wire pickups, free agents, and streamers. Taysom Hill, Matt Breida, Jauan Jennings, Foster Moreau could all become potentially hot adds on waivers after Week 13, so if you can get them for free now, why not claim your territory?
We're not only looking for one-week solutions in our Week 13 waiver wire watchlist but also sneaky value for the fantasy playoffs. The waiver wire is obviously thin at this point, but as injuries mount and concerning matchups arrive, we must prepare for all scenarios. Week 14 will mark the last week with byes, but other factors will inevitably leave you scrambling for alternate options.
We know not all leagues have enough roster spots to really take advantage of "stashing players," but for those in deeper leagues (or those who have players on IR or busts worth cutting), our week-ahead watchlist will be useful. Stashing a player or two on your bench when they're still free agents can really pay off if those players have good games. If they don't, they're easy drops. Your spot in the waiver order is valuable, and you want to hold it as long as possible.
At the very least, it's good to have a list of names of players to watch on Sunday so you can monitor snap share and targets/touches, and it's always smart to claim matchup-based streamers at positions like TE or D/ST before there's competition for them.
WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist
Reminder: This list was put together in the lead-in to Week 13, looking forward to the players who could be popular waiver-wire targets ahead of Week 14. If you have a roster spot to play with, these are free-agent options you could grab early to beat the waiver buzz.
All these players are below 50-percent ownership on Yahoo unless otherwise specified.
WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Week 14 Waiver Wire Watchlist: QB
Teams on a Week 14 bye: Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles
Cam Newton, Panthers (42 percent owned in Yahoo leagues) vs. ATL
Newton struggled against Miami, but he'll be coming off of a bye week and should be more comfortable the offense. With Atlanta rankings as a bottom-four defense against fantasy QBs, Cam has enough upside to do damage in this one -- assuming he's still starting.
Taylor Heinicke, Washington (35) vs. DAL
Dallas is just a middle-of-the-pack defense against QBs, but as we've mentioned in recent weeks, Heinicke needs to be considered in neutral matchups based on his body of work this season. Dallas should score with ease, so expect Heinicke's pass attempts to be high.
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (30) @ TEN
Lawrence carries risk into any matchup, but Tennessee has the second-most QB-friendly defense in the league. Mac Jones, Trevor Siemian, and Tyrod Taylor had nice fantasy days against the Titans, so it's not out of the realm of possibilities for Lawrence to have a QB1 week.
Taysom Hill, Saints (20) @ Jets
It looks like Hill is going to be the starter in New Orleans, and he averaged over 20 fantasy points per game (FPPG) in his four starts last season. You know the drill: He can have a great fantasy day with limited passing success based on his rushing upside.
Teddy Bridgewater, Broncos (20) vs. DET
There's a scenario where Denver simply runs the ball at will as it did against the Chargers, so Bridgewater might not have the volume for a big fantasy day. However, he should be in scoring position often, so two or three touchdowns isn't that unlikely.
WEEK 13 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
Week 14 Waiver Wire Watchlist: RB
Teams on a Week 14 bye: Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles
David Johnson, Texans (51); Rex Burkhead (7), Texans
This team, offense, and backfield aren't set up well for fantasy success, but we're going to continue to monitor these guys. Their Week 14 opponent is Seattle, who gives up the second-most FPPG to RBs, so Johnson and maybe even Burkhead can almost be treated as RB streamers.
Alex Collins (48); DeeJay Dallas (7), Seahawks
This duo kind of reminds us of the Texans' backfield, but Dallas is being used in the pass-catcher role while Collins continues to get the most carries. Collins' ceiling is low, but he does have somewhat of a decent workload. Look out for Dallas to potentially have sneaky upside in the fantasy playoffs.
D’Onta Foreman (44); Dontrell Hilliard (39), Titans
Hilliard and Foreman have shown plenty of flashes of explosiveness, and since they both rushed for 100-plus yards against the Patriots, we have to watch them moving forward. It's tough to say which guy is better to roster, but taking a flier on one of them is a smart move.
Boston Scott (36); Jordan Howard (14), Eagles
Scott is more valuable at the moment, but Howard will be involved in the run-heavy Eagles' offense when he returns from a knee injury.
Ty Johnson (32); Tevin Coleman (24), Jets
This RBBC got a little bit simpler to figure out when Michael Carter (ankle) went down, but it's still obviously not the group with the highest upside. Coleman looks like the clear-cut touch leader, but we expect Johnson to be more active in the passing game going forward.
Matt Breida, Bills (34)
Is Breida the best running back on the Bills' roster? It certainly looks that way, and it's not too surprising. Over the past three weeks, he's had performances of 18.0, 7.7, and 13.5 (PPR) fantasy points, and his emergence caused Zack Moss to be a healthy scratch in Week 12. It's tough to completely trust him, but he's another guy with sneaky upside in the fantasy playoffs.
Notable Handcuffs — Sony Michel, Rams (42); Devontae Booker (31), Giants; Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers (33); Samaje Perine, Bengals, (5)
Alexander Mattison, Jamaal Williams, and Chuba Hubbard were on this list last week, and now they are projected starters in their next games. Any of these four guys could be next.
WEEK 13 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Week 14 Waiver Wire Watchlist: WR
Teams on a Week 14 bye: Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles
Kadarius Toney, (45); Sterling Shepard (29), Giants
These two have fallen dramatically in ownership because of their injury concerns, but again, the fantasy playoffs loom, and these guys have higher ceilings than a lot of players rostered ahead of them.
A.J. Green, Cardinals (42)
Green has posted double-digit fantasy points in six games this season, so he's playable when the matchup is right. DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) should be back soon, but can we really count on him staying healthy? Green is almost viewed as a "handcuff WR."
Laviska Shenault, Jaguars (40)
Shenault was out-snapped by Laquon Treadwell last week, so we might be getting to a point where Jacksonville refuses to feature him no matter what. However, a matchup with Tennessee in Week 14 means he should be on the streaming radar.
Kendrick Bourne, Patriots (35)
Bourne is the WR20 in standard and WR24 in PPR leagues, so just based on that, it's kind of absurd he's only rostered in less than 40 percent of leagues.
DeVante Parker (33); Will Fuller (23), Dolphins
Parker (hamstring) and Fuller (finger) have to come back at some point, right? We've said it all year, but these guys are good stashes since Tua Tagovailoa is playing at a high level.
T.Y Hilton, Colts (28)
Hilton has only played in four games from start to finish, and in two of those games, he had either 80 yards or a touchdown. He's not a sexy waiver acquisition, but he could be worth something.
Russell Gage, Falcons (24)
In four of his past five games, Gage has six-plus targets and has eclipsed 13 fantasy points in three of those contests. While Calvin Ridley (person) is out, he remains on our watchlist.
Jamison Crowder, Jets (21)
Crowder rarely falls short of six targets, and he draws New Orleans in Week 14, who is among the top-five worst defenses against fantasy WRs.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers (21)
MVS has drawn 19 targets over the past two weeks, and he gets Chicago in Week 14. If nothing else, he's a streaming option that week in one of the most favorable matchups for wideouts.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans (16)
There's a chance Julio Jones (hamstring) returns from IR in Week 14, but NWI would be the No. 2 WR against the Jags, at worst. A.J. Brown (chest) will be out at least another two games after being placed on IR, and the Titans get two WR-friendly matchups against Jacksonville and Pittsburgh before he can return.
Curtis Samuel, Washington (15)
Samuel didn't do much in his long-awaited return from a groin injury, but it's nice to see him back on the field, and he can be a streamer against Dallas in what should be a pass-happy game script for Washington. It's also worth noting he may get some backfield run with J.D. McKissic (neck) potentially sidelined.
Josh Reynolds, Lions (2)
Reynolds posted 70 yards and a touchdown in his first full game back with Jared Goff, so perhaps he'll finally be a decent No. 1 WR in Detroit.
Jauan Jennings, 49ers (2)
Deebo Samuel (groin) is likely going to miss at least two weeks, and Jennings is the next WR on the depth chart. He caught a touchdown against Minnesota, and almost had another one, but it was ruled back.
WEEK 13 DFS: Best values | Best stacks | Lineup Builder
Week 14 Waiver Wire Watchlist: TE
Teams on a Week 14 bye: Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles
Evan Engram, Giants (31) @ LAC
Engram seemingly draws a top-five TE-friendly matchup every week, and that continues here against the Chargers. Los Angeles is the third-worst defense against fantasy QBs, so we can't ignore Engram, although he's clearly not a safe option.
Gerald Everett, Seahawks (28) @ HOU
Everett has drawn more targets than Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf since Russell Wilson returned to action in Week 10, and Houston is a top-six team in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. The numbers alone make Everett a decent streamer.
Cole Kmet, Bears (25) @ GB
The Packers aren't getting abused by TEs like earlier in the season, but Kmet is eighth among tight ends in target share (18.9 percent), so he's a decent streaming option in neutral matchups.
Austin Hooper (22); David Njoku (6) vs. BAL
These two teams played just last week, and Njoku and Harrison Bryant combined for 80 yards and a touchdown against the fourth-worst defense in limiting fantasy TEs. Hooper was shut down, but we don't expect that to happen again. It's tough to know which one of these guys to start, but flip a coin, and hope for the best if you're in a tough spot.
Foster Moreau, Raiders (13) @ KC
If Darren Waller (knee) is out for this matchup, Moreau is on the "must-start" bubble against the seventh-worst TE-stopping defense in Kansas City. A TE1 week should be in order.
Week 14 defense streamers and sleepers
Teams on a Week 14 bye: Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles
New Orleans Saints DST (47) @ NYJ
The Saints' defense has been boom-or-bust this year, but a matchup with Zach Wilson and the Jets is about as favorable as a D/ST can get.
Carolina Panthers DST (41) @ ATL
The days are gone of Atlanta having a high-powered offense, and it gives up the most FPPG to D/STs. Three-plus sacks, a couple of turnovers, and even a defensive touchdown feel very possible in this spot with the Panthers playing at home.
Denver Broncos DST (39) vs. DET
Denver's defense isn't quite the elite unit some expected in the preseason, but a matchup with a sleepwalking Detroit offense means it should produce plenty of points this week.
Los Angeles Chargers DST (29) vs. NYG
Whether Daniel Jones or Mike Glennon starts for the Giants, the Chargers have plenty of talent on defense to overwhelm a bad offensive line and take advantage of an awful New York offense.
Tennessee Titans DST (28) vs. JAX
The Titans' defense has mostly been hindered by its struggling offense, but Tennessee should get back in the win column here. Even if Trevor Lawrence has a decent day, he's usually due for a turnover or two.
Seattle Seahawks DST (12) @ HOU
Tyrod Taylor, David Johnson, Rex Burkhead, and Nico Collins are key contributors in this Houston offense, so unless Houston is squaring off with a truly terrible defense, we always consider a team that matches up with them.