With another wild football Sunday in the rearview mirror, it's time to assess the state of our fantasy teams and add (or cut) accordingly.
Sunday of Week 12 was another injury-packed day for fantasy relevant players:
- WR Darnell Mooney (CHI) suffered an ankle injury that could require surgery. He's out for the season nonetheless.
- RB Travis Etienne Jr. (JAC) exited with a foot injury and did not return. Etienne missed all of last season due to a Lisfranc injury.
- RB Michael Carter (NYJ) left with a low ankle sprain and is questionable for Week 13.
- RB Elijah Mitchell (SF) sustained another sprained MCL and is out 6-8 weeks.
- WR Allen Robinson (LAR) missed the game against the Chiefs due to a stress fracture in his foot and is out for the year.
As a reminder, the Cardinals and Panthers are on bye in Week 13, meaning you will need to find replacements for Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, James Conner, D.J. Moore, D'Onta Foreman and more.
Whether you need a player to replace dead weight on your roster, or just need a streamer, make sure to check out Action Network's top targets at each position — all of which are available in at least 50% of Yahoo! leagues — that you should prioritize come Tuesday night.
Note: Yahoo! roster percentages are reflected in parentheses as of Monday and fantasy rankings are exclusive of the Monday Night Football game.
Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups
Fantasy Waiver QBs to Target
Jared Goff, Lions (46% rostered)
Goff handled what was a difficult Thanksgiving matchup on paper quite well. He kept the Lions competitive in a game that ultimately ended in favor of the Bills by completing 23-of-37 passes for 240 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
This was Goff's seventh game (of 11) this year with at least 15 fantasy points. He is currently the QB15 heading into Monday Night Football and will have a good chance to replicate this success in Week 13.
The Jaguars rank 31st in pass DVOA, according to Football Outsiders, and have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year. Goff will be a high-end QB2 with QB1/streaming potential.
Next three games: vs. Jaguars, vs. Vikings, at Jets
Mike White, Jets (4%)
It is a sheer testament to how wonky this season has been that I am writing about Mike White as a potential Week 13 waiver wire pickup.
After watching Zach Wilson flail for the last few weeks, White was a breath of fresh air and led Gang Green to a 31-10 victory over the Bears. He completed 22-of-28 passes for 315 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He is currently the QB6 with one game left to play.
White connected with 10 pass-catchers and demonstrated a strong rapport with rookie Garrett Wilson and disgruntled Year 2 wideout Elijah Moore. I am cautiously optimistic about the Jets offense moving forward as long as Wilson is benched.
The Jets face the Vikings in Week 13, whose defense has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and ranks 27th in pass DVOA. White will be a QB2 with QB1 potential if lightning can strike twice.
Next three games: at Vikings, at Bills, vs. Lions
Marcus Mariota, Falcons (38%)
Mariota was serviceable once again in the Falcons' 19-13 loss to the Commanders. He completed 15-of-25 attempts for 174 yards, one touchdown, one interception and also rushed six times for 49 yards.
This was Mariota's ninth game this year with at least 15 fantasy points. He is the QB19 with one game left to play and has an even better matchup on deck against the Steelers.
Pittsburgh ranks 18th in pass DVOA and has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year. Mariota is a streaming option for Murray managers who need a one-week fill-in.
Next three games: vs. Steelers, BYE, at Saints
Other quarterbacks to consider: Mac Jones, Patriots (13%), Jordan Love, Packers (1%), Sam Darnold, Panthers (2%)
Fantasy Waiver RBs to Target
Zonovan Knight and Ty Johnson, Jets (1%)
Johnson and Knight were both featured heavily against the Bears.
Johnson recorded five rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown and caught a pass for 16 yards. Knight rushed 14 times for 69 yards and caught three passes for 34 yards. Heading into Monday night, Johnson is the RB16 while Knight is the RB22 in half PPR, respectively.
The pair's usage was inflated due to the loss of Michael Carter, who will likely miss time with a sprained ankle. Knight out-snapped Johnson by a count of 30 to 15 and saw significantly more touches, so he would be my preferred add of the two, though I would expect James Robinson (62% rostered) — a surprise healthy scratch — to also be in the mix.
The Jets have a favorable matchup next against the Vikings, whose defense has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs.
Next three games: at Vikings, at Bills, vs. Lions
Kyren Williams, Rams (36%)
Williams led the Rams' backfield in usage in their 26-10 blowout loss to the Chiefs. He recorded 14 touches for 60 all-purpose yards and is currently the RB34 in half-PPR scoring with a game left to play.
Cam Akers was also involved and saw eight carries for 37 yards, though he was out-snapped by Williams 16 to 38. Based on Akers' tenuous relationship with the coaching staff this season, I expect this will be some kind of time share, potentially in Williams' favor.
The Rams have mouthwatering matchups coming up against three below-average run defenses. Week 13 will bring the Seahawks, whose defense ranks 19th in rush DVOA. Williams could be a viable RB3/flex option against three bottom-eight defenses against running backs.
Next three games: vs. Seahawks, vs. Raiders, at Packers
JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars (3%)
Hasty led the Jaguars' rushing attack in their 28-27 upset win over the Ravens. He rushed 12 times for 28 yards, but was even more effective through the air as he caught all five of his targets for 67 yards and a touchdown. Hasty is the RB7 in half-PPR scoring with one game left to play.
Hasty's workload was higher than usual with Travis Etienne exiting early with a foot injury. The reports on Monday state he was actually cleared to return, but was sidelined out of an abundance of caution. This suggests the injury was not as serious as initially feared, though it would not be the worst idea to roster Hasty as an insurance policy should Etienne miss time.
The Jaguars have a sweet Week 13 matchup against the Lions, whose defense ranks 26th in rush DVOA and has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to running backs.
Next three games: at Lions, at Titans, vs. Cowboys
Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles (13%)
Gainwell had a solid game in the Eagles' 40-33 win over the Packers. He recorded nine touches for 46 scrimmage yards and a touchdown and is currently the RB25 in half-PPR scoring.
Gainwell was the clear No. 2 behind Miles Sanders, who recorded 24 touches for a whopping 160 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns — though the former did see a season-high 34% of snaps. He should be rostered as Sanders' backup and he could even be carving out his own role in this high-volume offense.
Next three games: vs. Titans, at Giants, at Bears
Other running backs to consider: Jordan Mason, 49ers (0%), Ameer Abdullah, Raiders (2%), Travis Homer, Seahawks (1%), Dare Ogunbowale, Texans (0%), Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (21%), Dontrell Hilliard, Titans (14%)
Fantasy Waiver WRs to Target
Elijah Moore, Jets (26%)
Earlier in the season, it looked like Moore would be on the move after requesting a trade. He spent a few weeks doing little amid this drama, but he may be fantasy relevant once more with White taking over.
The Year 2 wideout found the end zone for the first time this season and reeled in a season-high 64 yards against Chicago.
Moore was the No. 2 behind Wilson, however, who caught 5-of-8 targets for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He is the WR21 in half-PPR scoring with one game left to play, while Wilson is the WR2.
I have hope for both now that Zach Wilson is benched for the foreseeable future (in fact, I think it would be coaching malpractice for Robert Saleh to play Wilson again this year).
Moore could flirt with WR3/4 numbers next week against the Vikings, whose defense ranks 27th in pass DVOA and has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
Next three games: at Vikings, at Bills, vs. Lions
Jameson Williams, Lions (39%)
Williams has been designated to return from injured reserve and could make his debut for Detroit as soon as Week 13. We last saw him in the 2022 CFP National Championship game against Georgia in which he suffered a torn ACL.
Williams, who played for Ohio State before transferring, had a historic campaign with Alabama in his final collegiate season. He caught 79 passes for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns over 15 games. He was a first-team All-American in 2021 and was selected 12th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft despite the injury. He did not participate in the NFL Combine, but he is estimated to possess 4.3-speed.
Williams could make an immediate impact on the Lions, who have a need for pass-catchers with star tight end T.J. Hockenson no longer on the team.
The Lions have a soft two-week schedule coming up against the Jaguars and Vikings, both of which rank bottom six in pass DVOA and bottom eight in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. I would roster Williams as a potential lottery ticket for the fantasy playoffs.
Next three games: vs. Jaguars, vs. Vikings, at Jets
DeAndre Carter, Chargers (23%)
Carter was the Chargers' top wideout in the team's 25-24 win over the Cardinals. He had an expanded role with Mike Williams sidelined and caught 7-of-10 targets for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Carter, currently the WR11 in half-PPR scoring with one game left to play, had more targets than Josh Palmer (7) and Keenan Allen (7), who are currently the WR45 and WR20, respectively.
I do not want to overreact too much to this performance, though this is not Carter's first fantasy relevant week this year. He caught all four of his targets in Week 10 against the 49ers for 64 yards and a touchdown and shined in Week 1 against the Raiders, reeling in 3-of-4 targets for 64 yards and a touchdown.
The Chargers have a ludicrously soft schedule coming up against three below-average pass defenses, starting with the Raiders in Week 13. Las Vegas is last in pass DVOA and Carter already had success against this permeable unit to kick off the year. He should be rostered in leagues with 12 teams or more.
Next three games: at Raiders, vs. Dolphins, vs. Titans
Van Jefferson, Rams (23%)
With Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson sidelined, Jefferson saw a season-high (and team-high) seven targets against Kansas City. He caught three passes for 29 yards and a touchdown and is the WR33 with one game left to play.
I anticipate Jefferson to continue to play an augmented role in this offense (and potentially be the team's WR1) with Kupp (ankle surgery) out for at least a couple more weeks. Jefferson could flirt with WR3/flex numbers in the next two weeks against the Seahawks' and Raiders' below-average pass defenses.
Next three games: vs. Seahawks, vs. Raiders, at Packers
Zay Jones, Jaguars (25%)
Jones had an absolutely monster game against the Ravens. He caught 11-of-14 targets for 145 yards and is currently the WR5 in what was his best fantasy performance this season.
He saw more targets than Christian Kirk, Marvin Jones Jr. and Evan Engram combined and has a whopping 24 targets in the last two games combined.
Jones has been on the rise of late and clearly has developed rapport with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He was solid before Jacksonville's Week 11 bye, when he caught 8-of-10 targets for 68 yards and finishing as the WR30 for the week.
He will be in the WR3/flex conversation against the Lions, whose defense ranks 19th in pass DVOA and has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
Next three games: at Lions, at Titans, vs. Cowboys
Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Bell, Browns (50% and 1%)
I am once again reminding you to pick up Browns players before Deshaun Watson's return. The controversial quarterback is set to make his debut for Cleveland in Week 13, which should boost the team's pass-catchers significantly.
Peoples-Jones and Bell were relatively quiet in the team's 23-17 overtime win over the Buccaneers. Peoples-Jones caught 2-of-4 targets for 16 yards while Bell caught 4-of-6 for 23 yards.
This broke a three-game streak of double-digit fantasy points for Peoples-Jones, who will finish well outside of the fantasy relevant tiers. He's still my preferred add over Bell I believe he will be a valuable fantasy asset down the stretch with a nice matchup on the horizon.
Next three games: at Texans, at Bengals, vs. Ravens
Isaiah McKenzie, Bills (33%)
It was McKenzie — not Stefon Diggs or Gabe Davis — who led the Bills in receiving yards on Thanksgiving. He caught 6-of-10 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown and is currently the WR7 heading into Monday night.
This was McKenzie's best fantasy performance this year. In Week 11, he was a complete dud, recording zero catches against the Browns. I am wary of trusting him fully, especially with the Patriots and Jets on deck in Weeks 13 and 14.
New England ranks third in pass DVOA and has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. That said, McKenzie is worth an add in deeper leagues and he could end up being a valuable asset if Davis or Diggs were to ever miss time.
Next three games: at Patriots, vs. Jets, vs. Dolphins
Other wide receivers to consider: Skyy Moore, Chiefs (10%), Byron Pringle, Bears (0%), Nelson Agholor, Patriots (1%), Mack Hollins, Raiders (21%), Jauan Jennings, 49ers (1%), Richie James Jr., Giants (1%), DeVante Parker, Patriots (13%), Michael Gallup, Cowboys (48%)
Fantasy Waiver TEs to Target
Foster Moreau, Raiders (39%)
Moreau delivered in the Raiders' 40-34 overtime win over the Seahawks. He caught 3-of-7 targets for 33 yards and a touchdown — his second in three weeks — and will likely finish as a top-12 tight end for the second time this year.
Moreau gets another soft matchup in Week 13 against the Chargers, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends. He will be a fringe TE1 for those streaming at this confusing and often volatile position.
Next three games: vs. Chargers, at Rams, vs. Patriots
Tyler Conklin, Jets (18%)
Conklin started the season strong with Joe Flacco under center and was the TE4 in half PPR through the first three weeks. Weeks 4 through 11 with Zach Wilson quarterbacking, Conklin was the TE20 with one two-touchdown game sprinkled in.
He was solid in Week 12 against the Bears and caught all three of his targets for 50 yards. He could be relevant once again gets to the face the Vikings defense next. They rank ninth-worst in fantasy points allowed to tight ends and 27th in pass DVOA.
Next three games: at Vikings, at Bills, vs. Lions
Hunter Henry, Patriots (30%)
Henry shined in the Patriots' 33-26 loss to the Vikings on Thanksgiving. He caught 3-of-5 targets for 63 yards and a touchdown and is the TE3 in half-PPR scoring going into Monday night. He also out-snapped Jonnu Smith (who was not targeted) by a count of 39 to 16.
I would steer clear of Henry next week against the Bills, though he gets the Cardinals and Raiders after that — both of which rank bottom six in fantasy points allowed to tight ends.
Next three games: vs. Bills, at Cardinals, at Raiders
Other tight ends to consider: Josh Oliver, Ravens (0%), Jordan Akins, Texans (0%), John Bates, Commanders (0%), MyCole Pruitt, Falcons (0%)
