Week 13 is here.For many leagues, the fantasy football playoffs are just one week away. There are no more bye weeks, just time to see if the draft, trades, and weekly waiver moves have all come together to produce a spot in the fantasy playoffs.
Let's take a close look at the most important waiver wire week of the season with many teams facing a "win and you're in" scenario.
Note: We've limited their recommendations to players owned in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues. All data as of Monday.
Quarterback Streaming Targets
Nick Foles, Jaguars
Ownership: 33%
If you are in desperation mode and have a year-long starter either injured or with a brutal matchup (Wentz injured, Cousins at Seattle) the best waiver option is Foles.
Since returning from his injury, Foles has averaged 47.5 pass attempts over his two games. He has thrown for an average of 284 yards while totaling two touchdowns and just one interception.
The Jaguars are home against the pass funnel defense of Tampa Bay, with Foles likely facing high volume yet again.
If you are desperate and need a potential three-touchdown performance, Foles is your best waiver wire option.
Running Back Targets
Bo Scarbrough, Lions
Ownership: 43%
The Lions may have finally gained running back clarity heading into Week 12. Scarbrough validated his unexpected RB29 Week 11 performance with 98 rushing yards on 18 carries against Washington. However, with three tough matchups upcoming (Bears, at Vikings, Buccaneers) it is best to look elsewhere on the waiver wire for running back help.
Rashaad Penny, Seahawks
Ownership: 18%
Penny exploded at Philadelphia for 129 rushing yards and a touchdown, potentially clouding the Seattle running back touch distribution. Starter Chris Carson fumbled on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter giving Penny an opportunity to seize.
The first fumble was recovered and the second was technically credited to Russell Wilson, but Penny certainly has earned a bigger workload moving forward. However, Seattle faces tough run defenses in Minnesota and at the Rams before traveling to Carolina.
Given that schedule and the unknown touch distribution, Penny is only a desperation Flex play for Week 12.
Raheem Mostert, 49ers
Ownership: 37%
Mostert was San Francisco's most productive running back totaling 67 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers big 37-8 win over Green Bay. He is a viable RB3/Flex option only if Matt Breida remains out.
Without Breida, he produced consecutive snap shares over 50%. However, with Breida active the prior four games, he failed to top 24% (per PlayerProfiler).
Benny Snell, Steelers
Ownership: 5%
The Steelers rookie running back was the surprise touch leader on Sunday, carrying 21 times for 98 yards at 4.7 yards per carry.
If James Conner remains sidelined, Snell is certainly in play at home against Cleveland in Week 13. He more than doubled the carries of all other Pittsburgh running backs. If Conner can't play next week, Snell is the most attractive waiver wire running back option.
Wide Receiver Targets
Randall Cobb, Cowboys
Ownership: 30%
Even in brutal conditions against the top defense in the league, Cobb continues to shine in the Cowboys' passing attack. He led Dallas in receptions (four) and receiving yards (86) while garnering the most targets (seven) agains the Patriots.
He is worth consideration in Week 13 and beyond because he will never draw the top cornerback coverage from the opposition. Even against a stingy Buffalo secondary on Thanksgiving followed by a trip to Chicago, Cobb is a solid WR3 option for any team in need of a wide receiver for the fantasy stretch drive.
Cole Beasley, Bills
Ownership: 29%
Beasley produced six receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown against a Denver defense focused on stopping teammate John Brown. With All-Pro cornerback Chris Harris on Brown, Beasley led Buffalo with nine targets.
With upcoming games at Dallas and home to Baltimore, it is unlikely Beasley has a boom fantasy performance, but he's always worth consideration in PPR formats.
Philip Dorsett, Patriots
Ownership: 26%
Dorsett is still available on most waiver wires because of injury. However, if he returns in Week 13, he'll have a great fantasy matchup. Houston has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, and the indoor field is compatible with Dorsett's 4.33 speed.
With very pass friendly matchups with the Texans, Chiefs, and Bengals the next three weeks, Dorsett is a forgotten asset that could provide WR2 production over the next three weeks.
Darius Slayton, Giants
Ownership: 25%
Slayton produced the overall WR2 performance in Week 10 when he totaled 10 receptions on 14 targets for 121 receiving yards and two touchdowns. I was very encouraged by his seven targets, four receptions, and 67 receiving yard performance in a difficult matchup at Chicago.
With upcoming games against the Packers, the Eagles on the road, and the Dolphins, Slayton merits legitimate WR3 consideration. His 4.39 speed makes a boom performance possible every week and he should be treated as a desperation Week 13 play with strong stash value for the fantasy playoffs.
James Washington, Steelers
Ownership: 20%
Washington took advantage of a decimated Pittsburgh receiving core to tally three receptions, 98 yards, and one touchdown. He led the Steelers in targets (seven) but was greatly buoyed by the absence of JuJu Smith-Schuster.
He does have favorable matchups with a home game against the Browns followed by a road matchup against the Cardinals. He may have undrafted free agent Devlin Hodges as his quarterback moving forward, from whom he actually caught a 79-yard touchdown pass from on Sunday.
It's hard to count on Washington as a viable fantasy option given the unknown quarterback play. With Smith-Schuster likely to return, it is probably best to look elsewhere for Week 13.
A.J. Brown, Titans
Ownership: 16%
The Tennessee rookie wideout returns to the waiver wire column after four receptions, 135 receiving yards, and one touchdown in a win over Jacksonville. Brown has three solid matchups on the road vs. the Colts, and Raiders, then at home against the Texans. He has struggled to find weekly consistency all season, but that performance could kickstart a strong ending to the season. He is a WR3 with WR2 upside for Week 13 and the rest of season.
N’Keal Harry, Patriots
Ownership: 14%
The rookie wideout caught his first career touchdown pass in New England's 13-9 win over Dallas. However, it is unlikely he can be trusted once Mohamed Sanu and Dorsett return next week. While tempting, I would pass on acquiring Harry unless the injuries linger for his veteran teammates.
Anthony Miller, Bears
Ownership: 12%
The Bears' slot receiver produced another solid performance totaling six receptions (on nine targets) for 77 receiving yards.
Miller now has 20 targets over the past two weeks and has become the second receiving option in Chicago. While his touchdown upside is limited, he is a WR3/Flex PPR option for Week 13 at Detroit, especially with Darius Slay likely to focus on fellow wideout Allen Robinson.
Russell Gage, Falcons
Ownership: 7%
Russell Gage had more targets (10), receptions (eight), and receiving yards (76) than Julio Jones on Sunday.
Let that sink in.
In a Falcons offense that struggles mightily to run the football, Gage is worth serious consideration as a WR3 given Atlanta's upcoming schedule. The Falcons have three home games over the next four weeks, with a decent Week 13 matchup against the Saints.
Gage has flourished in the Mohamed Sanu role for the Falcons. Their likely negative game script makes him an incredibly attractive waiver option.
Tight End Streaming Targets
Kyle Rudolph, Vikings
Ownership: 47%
Fantasy owners may have forgotten about the Vikings tight end coming off their bye week. They shouldn't.
Rudolph has seen a huge uptick in usage and has tallied four touchdowns over Minnesota's past three games. While this has coincided with an injury to wide receiver Adam Thielen, Rudolph sees a very friendly tight end matchup at Seattle in Week 13.
The Seahawks entered Week 12 allowing the seventh-most receiving yards to opposing tight ends, and just allowed 12 receptions, 91 yards, and a touchdown to Philadelphia's Zach Ertz.
If you need a change at tight end, Rudolph is one of the best positional players available on the waiver wire.
Ryan Griffin, Jets
Ownership: 44%
This will be the last appearance for Jets' tight end Ryan Griffin in the waiver wire article. He totaled three receptions and a touchdown in New York's big 34-4 home win over the Raiders.
With tight end friendly games against Cincinnati and Miami upcoming, Griffin may be the most attractive tight end pickup on this list.
Noah Fant, Broncos
Ownership: 40%
Don't give up on Fant after one bad game. The athletic rookie produced a modest three reception, 14 receiving yard stat line against a strong Buffalo defense. Fant has a much better home matchup against the Chargers in Week 13, making him a reasonable play for any fantasy owners with an injury at the tight end position.
Jack Doyle, Colts
Ownership: 33%
With the news that fellow tight end Eric Ebron is out for the season, Doyle becomes a very intriguing play in Week 13 and beyond. Doyle tallied a modest three receptions for 28 receiving yards against a tough Houston defense in Week 12, but will now see a likely increase in volume.
This week, the Colts host a Titans team that has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. In Week 14?
Doyle will face a Tampa Bay defense that is second most generous to the position. With Ebron now out, Doyle becomes a possible TE1 for the rest of the season.
