The waiver wire is nearly bone dry ahead of the second to last regular season week of the fantasy football season. Most of the must-have players are already on rosters. However, with some teams yet to have their bye, and continuous player/team developments, there are some options worth considering on the Week 13 waiver wire.
You may be dealing with injuries, bye weeks, or just need to cycle out players from your bench. Whatever the case may be, the waiver wire is there to help. There’s not always a need to put in a claim for players each week, but if you do, make it count. Below, we’ll look at players at each position, who are on 50% or less of most fantasy football rosters, that could be considered on the Week 13 waiver wire.
Week 13 Waiver Wire By Position
Running Back
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens
It’s obvious at this point that a healthy Gus Edwards is the lead back on the Ravens’ offense. His 16 carries from Week 12 lead all Ravens, including Lamar Jackson. They also account for 84% of the running back carries against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
If Edwards is available, he is a must-add on the Week 13 waiver wire. That sort of volume is hard to come by this late in the season. Edwards will end the fantasy football season with three home matchups, two of which take place in the fantasy football semifinals and finals. Two of his opponents are also in the top-10 of points allowed to opposing running backs.
JaMychal Hasty, Jacksonville Jaguars
Like most handcuffs, Hasty becomes a priority add on the Week 13 waiver wire, especially if you have Travis Etienne on your roster. Though Etienne is reportedly fine after an early exit on Sunday with a foot injury, it’s still a cause for concern. A broken foot in training camp last year held him out his entire rookie season.
In Etienne’s place, Hasty racked up 20.5 fantasy points in a win over the Baltimore Ravens. His 12 carries were nine more than the next ball carrier. Hasty’s five targets also tie for the third-most amongst all Jaguars. Hasty turned his 17 opportunities into 95 all-purpose yards and a touchdown.
Jacksonville did just claim Darrell Henderson on the NFL waiver wire following his release from the Los Angeles Rams. Though he could work in a few touches week-to-week, I expect Hasty to continue to see the bulk of opportunities if Etienne were to miss time. Again, Hasty is merely a handcuff at this point, but with upside if called upon.
Benny Snell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Snell becomes more of a priority on the Week 13 waiver wire given Najee Harris’ exit in Week 12 due to an abdominal injury. We will need more information, of course, but it did hold Najee out for the remainder of the game. For some perspective, James Conner missed three games for the Arizona Cardinals by injuring his ribs after falling on the football. However, Najee’s injury is a bit murkier and could range anywhere, such as a season-ending hernia.
In his place, Snell played the most amongst all running backs and saw 100% of the goal line work, leading to a rushing touchdown. His 5.1 yards per carry average also led the team, though Anthony McFarland is not far behind with a 5.0 average of his own. McFarland will likely see his fair share of work, but Snell is the running back I’m adding in case Najee Harris is going to miss time.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Since Cordarelle Patterson’s return, rookie running back, Tyler Allgeier, remains a key component of the Falcons’ backfield. In four games with Patterson back on the field, Allgeier has two fewer carries and four fewer targets on just three fewer snaps in totality.
The passing game usage simply isn’t there for Allgeier. He remains a touchdown-dependent flex, at best, right now. If the matchup is right, Allgeier’s value could creep into RB2 territory. Adding him on the Week 13 waiver wire is more about getting ahead of another Patterson absence. We never wish for it, but we must prepare.
Other Running Backs to Consider:
Zonovan Knight is fresh off of a Week 12 breakout with the New York Jets. Michael Carter’s ankle injury is a big reason why. However, it’s hard to ignore Knight’s 30 total snaps on the day in comparison to Carter (19) and Ty Johnson (15). With the increase in playing time, Knight totaled 103 scoreless yards on 17 opportunities. Ty Johnson did have more fantasy points, but barely, because of a rushing touchdown. It sounds like Carter is going to be fine, but Knight is a 12-team or larger stash off of the Week 13 waiver wire.
Melvin Gordon is staying in the AFC West as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Following his release from the Denver Broncos last week, Gordon now joins the highest-scoring offense on average in the league. You simply can’t play Gordon in Week 13. However, he gets two revenge games against the Broncos in Weeks 14 and 17 with cake matchups against the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks in between. I still think this is Pacheco’s backfield, but Gordon is worth a stash on the Week 13 waiver wire.
Cam Akers and Kyren Williams of the Los Angeles Rams are worth adding solely based on schedule and expected volume. Williams offers more PPR value with eight targets to Akers’ one over the last three games. Five of their next six opponents rank in the top seven of points allowed to running backs. With Bryce Perkins under center, though, it’s hard to imagine as many scoring opportunities as when the offense was at full strength.
Any and All Handcuffs are going to be important to roster during the back half of the fantasy football season. Injuries to lead running backs can strike at any time. Make sure you’re cuffing your own starters, but don’t be afraid to add others on the Week 13 waiver wire.
Wide Receiver
Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans
If three straight games of at least six targets isn’t enough for you to pick up Burks on the waiver wire, I don’t know what will be. Over the last three weeks, Burks is tied with Robert Woods for most targets (20) amongst all Titans players. That’s just shy of seven per game. In his last two, Burks has hauled in 11 of 14 targets for 181 yards while also recovering a Derrick Henry fumble for a touchdown. Up next are the Philadelphia Eagles who traded the Titans the pick they used to select Burks in exchange for A.J. Brown. Oh, the drama!
Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
Christian Kirk is the leading fantasy receiver on the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has a 44.9-point lead over Zay Jones. Kirk also has seven receiving touchdowns to that of Jones’ one. In fact, Jones has two more receptions on just 12 fewer targets than Kirk this season. He is every bit as important to Jacksonville’s offense as Kirk is, but without as much credit. Perhaps his 145 yards on 11 receptions in Week 12 will finally turn some heads.
Jones is averaging 21.15 points over his last two games. His next two opponents both rank in the top-four points allowed to wide receivers. Kirk is going to get his, but Zay Jones is every bit worth picking up on the Week 13 waiver wire. Amidst byes and injuries, I’m here to tell you he’s a must-start, too. He is a flex play with a massive ceiling.
Chase Claypool, Chicago Bears
Claypool’s 38 snaps (67%) are his most since getting traded to the Chicago Bears. His five targets in Week 12 trailed only Cole Kmet in the passing game. Most importantly, receiver Darnell Mooney is done for the season following an ankle injury this past Sunday. He will leave behind a 25% target share in this offense. That’s even without logging a single one in Week 12.
Claypool should continue to work into the offense as the familiarity with the playbook grows. Given Mooney’s absence for the remainder of the games, Claypool has every opportunity to shine as the lead receiver. The Green Bay Packers present a nice matchup in Week 13. As they try to focus on stopping the run, Claypool’s opportunities will come through the air. The Packers are also dealing with quite a few injuries on defense that Claypool should be able to exploit.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider:
Darius Slayton has 16 total targets over the last two weeks which leads all New York Giants. With every other notable receiver unavailable, Slayton is the default WR1 on this offense. Had he not been tackled at the 1-yard line last Thursday on a 44-yard pass, he would’ve logged his fifth-straight, double-digit fantasy point game. He will pick that streak back up in Week 13 against the Washington Commanders who allow the seventh-most receiving yards to wide receivers in 2022.
Nico Collins has a 22% or greater targets share in the last three games with the Houston Texans. He is averaging just 47 yards in that span, but a fantasy-friendly volume of more than eight targets per game. That makes Collins more touchdown-dependent, though while providing a flex-worthy floor.
Elijah Moore‘s 14.0 fantasy points are a season-high with the New York Jets. With just two targets, Moore logged a season-high 64 receiving yards and scored his first touchdown. Garrett Wilson is still the WR1 for the rest of the season here, but Moore is worth adding in deeper leagues. If he continues to produce, he will earn our trust back for fantasy football purposes.
Tight End
Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
Let’s face it. Greg Dulcich is as risky as just about every other tight end besides Travis Kelce at this point. The big problem is that the Broncos offense is historically bad. They’re averaging a league-low 14.3 points per with an average of just 12.0 points per in their last three.
Dulcich remains a top-three target on the offense, but that’s not saying much. Still, I can’t help but stare at the home matchup with the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15. To open the fantasy football playoffs, Dulcich will face the defense allowing the most points to tight ends this season. That includes a league-high nine touchdowns to the position. If you are prepping for the playoffs, stashing Dulcich now on the Week 13 waiver wire for the opening round is worth it.
Foster Moreau, Las Vegas Raiders
In the Raiders’ last six games, Moreau is averaging 5.5 targets per game. Even with Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow both on the Injured Reserve, there is still a large gap between Moreau’s usage and that of Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs in this offense. Moreau is just as touchdown dependent as every other streaming tight ends, but he does have two in his last three games.
Up next are the Los Angeles Chargers. Though they’ve allowed just four touchdowns to tight ends this season, they’ve also allowed the third-most receiving yards to tight ends. Moreau could have his best fantasy game of the season. That’s not saying much since he has just two double-digit efforts. However, if there’s ever a time to come alive in fantasy football, it’s late in the season with the playoffs on the line.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
Hunter Henry and the New England Patriots have a fantastic schedule in regard to matchups for tight ends. Three of Henry’s final four matchups rank in the top five of points allowed to tight ends this season. That includes a home matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, the fantasy football championship. They’re allowing the second-most receptions and third-most touchdowns to the position. Add Henry on the Week 13 waiver wire for a playoff run.
Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
After his second-best fantasy performance of the season, Lawrence’s next two matchups should keep him in the QB1 conversation. Both the Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans rank in the top-six in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, with Detroit leading the way. Both defenses also rank in the top-six in passing yards allowed.
Trevor looks like he could be beginning an ascent in his second year of play. It’s exciting to think he will have Calvin Ridley on the Jags’ offense next year, but for now, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Evan Engram, and others are more than serviceable. If you’re a fantasy football manager with Kyler Murray on bye in Week 13, or without Justin Fields for perhaps the remainder of the season, I would add Lawrence on this week’s waiver wire.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider
Mike White is the short-term solution for the New York Jets at quarterback and perhaps your fantasy football team. Anyone in a Superflex or 2QB league should be adding White on the Week 13 waiver wire. Following his QB6 finish in Week 12, he heads to Minnesota to face the Vikings who are allowing the most points per game to opposing teams over the last three weeks. For the fantasy football playoffs, all three of White’s opponents rank in the top-11 in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. He could be a league winner that you can add now before someone else does.
Deshaun Watson is set to make his debut with the Cleveland Browns in Week 13. After over 700 days since playing meaningful football, his first game back will be against his former team, the Houston Texans. Aside from the morality decisions of whether or not to pick up Watson, I’m also fading him in this matchup. Not only does the lack of play scare me, but the Texans are a cake matchup for opposing running backs. Nick Chubb could see 30 carries in this game. Watson is strictly a stash at this point if you’re willing to make room for him on your bench.