There are three games on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday in Week 13. Additionally, this is the second consecutive season the NFL will have a game on Black Friday, as well. That being said, eight NFL teams will have played prior to the typical Sunday slate. The good news is that all 32 teams will play football in Week 13. That’s after four-straight weeks with at least two, and upwards of six, teams on bye. Honestly, the best players you can plug into your lineup will not be found on the Week 13 waiver wire. They’re likely just the players from the teams on bye last week. Whether you do need some help off of the waiver wire, or you’re just preparing for six more teams to be on bye in Week 14, it’s worth taking a look and considering claiming a few of the players below.
Week 13 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire By Position
Teams with a Week 13 Bye: NONE! Happy Thanksgiving!
Running Backs
Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers
Gus Edwards is a late addition to the Week 13 waiver wire rankings. He may be the most important. If you did not tune into Monday Night Football last night, J.K. Dobbins exited the game just before halftime with a left knee injury. He walked into the locker room under his own power but did not return to the game. This is especially concerning given Dobbins’ injury history, specifically in regards to his left knee. He tore his ACL, LCL, PCL, and meniscus in August of 2021. It’s unclear as of now if Dobbins will be able to suit up in Week 13. Again, given his history, it’s hard to be optimistic he would push to play.
Heading into Week 12, Dobbins’ was averaging 15.7 points per game in Points Per Reception leagues as the RB15. Suggesting Edwards as an even replacement on the Week 13 waiver wire isn’t accurate, but he should see the bulk of the Chargers’ carries if Dobbins is out. He’s played 29 more snaps and has 24 more carries than Hassan Haskins and rookie Kimani Vidal combined this season. Additionally, Edwards has a history with offensive coordinator Greg Roman from their time with the Baltimore Ravens. Edwards isn’t going to give you anything in the passing game, however. He has just 39 total targets in 76 games played over six NFL seasons.
Gus Edwards is worth adding on the Week 13 waiver wire if you need a running back specifically for this week. There have been a few injuries to the position, including but not limited to J.K. Dobbins. The Chargers will face the Falcons in Atlanta who are coming off of their bye. They’re allowing 4.3 yards per carry to opposing running backs, but have only allowed just three rushing touchdowns to the position. The Chargers then head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs who’ve allowed the least fantasy points per game to running backs. Their schedule in Weeks 15 through 17 for the fantasy football playoffs is a bit easier, but we have no idea if Edwards will have a lead-back role then, if ever. Deeper leagues can consider Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal, but trusting them in starting lineups is easier said than done.
Jeremy McNichols, Washington Commanders
Like the aforementioned Gus Edwards, McNichols finds himself in a position to the lead back on his team in Week 13 specifically. Both Brian Robinson Jr. (ankle) and Austin Ekeler (concussion) were unable to finish the Commanders’ Week 12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Ekeler specifically was completely unconscious after taking a big hit while returning a kickoff. His chances of playing Week 13 seem bleaker than Robinson’s.
McNichols is the only healthy running back on the Commanders’ roster right now. He should see an increased workload in Week 13 regardless with the assumption that Ekeler is out. McNichols did have two games earlier this season with at least seven carries, 44 yards, and one touchdown in each. He logged a 27 and 28 yard rush respectively in each game, as well. The Commanders will likely bring back Chris Rodriguez after waiving him this past Saturday. He’s spent the majority of this season on the Commanders’ practice squad. However, he was elevated in Week 9 carrying the ball 11 times for 52 yards. He had two carries the following week for four yards. If both Robinson and Ekeler are unable to go, Rodriguez would mix into the backfield workload assuming he’s added back. McNichols should be stashed on rosters everywhere, though, even just for Week 13.
Other Running Backs to Consider
Ameer Abdullah should probably be higher on the Week 13 waiver wire list, but I’m avoiding the Raiders backfield if at all possible. Abdullah played 88% of Las Vegas’ offensive snaps in Week 12. He had never played more than 63% of snaps in any of his prior 135 career games played. It’s unclear if Zamir White (quad) and/or Alexander Mattison (ankle) will return in Week 13. Abdullah, for this reason, may deserve to be the top running back claim in your league if you need an immediate starter. Abdullah scored 14.7 of his 17.5 PPR points in the passing game last week. That’s all well and good, however, the Raiders will likely turn back to Aidan O’Connell in Week 13 after Gardner Minshew broke his collarbone last week. To make matters worse, the Raiders play the Chiefs in Kansas City.
Tank Bigsby is only available in a handful of leagues, especially after he and the Jaguars were on bye in Week 12. Bigsby also missed Week 11 with an ankle injury. Prior to, Bigsby logged four games this season with double-digit carries. He rushed for at least 73 yards in all four games. In two of them, he rushed for 101 and 118 yards with two touchdowns in each respectively. Assuming Bigsby can return and command the Jaguars backfield over Travis Etienne, he could benefit RB-needy teams down the stretch. Jacksonville’s offense and schedule aren’t too fantasy-friendly, but why turn down depth at the position this late in the season?
Handcuff running backs are players who are an injury away from plugging into fantasy lineups and are crucial to add on the waiver wire. Let the J.K. Dobbins injury be a lesson this late in the season. Losing a top-15 running back this late in the game without their backup could be fatal to your dreams of winning your league title. I don’t want a simple list to come across as lazy, but there’s no need to dance around how important these players are. The top handcuff running backs, if available, include, but are not limited to, Tyler Allgeier, Braelon Allen, Ray Davis, Justice Hill, Kenneth Gainwell, Zach Charbonnet, Jaylen Wright, and Blake Corum. With just two weeks left in the fantasy football regular season, get ahead of any future waiver wire battles now if you have room on your bench.
Wide Receiver
Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers’ rookie receiver is a low-ceiling option on the Week 13 waiver wire that has somewhat of a higher floor than other options out there. First of all, quarterback Bryce Young is playing much better as of late. He passes “the eye test” and just looks more comfortable running the offense after a brief benching. Young posted the second-highest yardage total of his two-year career, and the highest total of the season, in Week 12 with 263 yards. That was against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Legette has been Young’s top target in four starts since returning as the starting quarterback. He has at least six targets in three of four games since Young’s return under center. Though David Moore (deeper league add) led the team with 10 targets in Week 12, Legette still drew six of his own. In Week 13, the Panthers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It should be an easy win for the Bucs, but you never know with divisional games. Any given Sunday! I do expect the Panthers to maintain a high-volume passing attack to keep up with Baker Mayfield, however. That should raise Legette’s floor for those in need of such an investment in Week 13. Tampa Bay’s defense ranks inside the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, as well.
Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell, Indianapolis Colts
As we head into Week 13, it appears Josh Downs is considered “week-to-week” after suffering a shoulder injury on Sunday. Alec Pierce is always worth a dart throw on the waiver wire. Pierce has played the most snaps amongst all Colts wide receivers this season. However, Pierce is just a boom-or-bust option for fantasy football. He’s averaging four targets per game this season, but a notable 23.3 yards per reception. Pierce is the Colts’ best downfield threat with a 32-yard reception or greater in each of his last three games.
Adonai Mitchell presents the higher floor, especially in the absence of Downs. In three games that either Josh Downs or Michael Pittman have missed this season, Mitchell has played his three highest number of snaps. In those games, Mitchell averages five targets per game. Pittman’s first and only game missed, Week 10, Mitchell set career-highs in snaps played as well as his production. He caught all six of his targets for 71 yards. The New England Patriots are up next in Week 13. They rank as a top-10 team in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers, including the sixth-most yards allowed to the position.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider
Devaughn Vele is probably not going to crack too many Week 13 starting lineups, but he’s one of my favorite bench stashes for the rest of the season. Vele now has double-digit fantasy points in each of his last three games. Most recently, Vele drew a career-high nine targets. He caught six of them for 80 yards. All of Vele’s next four matchups are against teams that rank in the top half of the league in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers. That includes the Cleveland Browns, who allow the fourth-most, in Week 13. Vele could steady himself as one of Bo Nix’s top targets alongside Courtland Sutton the rest of the season.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has scored a touchdown in six of the Tennessee Titans’ last seven games. He’s still averaging just over four targets per game in that span. Tennessee is averaging just 18.4 points per game, the fourth-worst average in the league. Westbrook-Ikhine remains a deeper league add. If you start him anywhere, you’re hoping he keeps finding the end zone.
Tight End
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
The veteran tight end now has three straight games with at least seven targets and 31 receiving yards. Ertz, at 34 years old, has lost any ability to generate Yards After the Catch. However, he remains a reliable target for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. In fact, two of Daniels’ last three passing touchdowns are to Ertz, both in goal-to-go situations. Ertz is just five targets (69) behind Terry McLaurin (74) for the team lead. He has a steadier floor than most on the Week 13 waiver wire and, like any other tight end out there, you’re most likely hoping for a touchdown.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
Luke Schoonmaker is averaging 13.05 PPR points over his last two games. In Week 11, he caught six of 10 targets for 56 yards. In Week 12, he caught three of just four targets, but for 55 yards and a touchdown. Jake Ferguson is still in concussion protocol after exiting Week 11 early and missing Week 12 completely. The Cowboys play Thursday putting Schoonmaker in line for another potential start.
Taysom Hill will forever possess the upside to make starting him worthwhile. It’s almost entirely due to his rushing upside. Hill has at least four carries in six of seven games played this season. He most notably rushed seven times for 138 yards and three touchdowns in Week 11. Hill has three other rushing touchdowns this season. He should continue to log carries, in addition to a few targets and pass attempts, making him the biggest potential cheat code for your lineup over the rest of the season.
Noah Gray will catch the attention of plenty of fantasy football managers. He has scored exactly two touchdowns in each of his last two games for the Chiefs. While the touchdown production is positive to see, the trips to the end zone account for a whopping 58.6% of Gray’s fantasy points over his last two games. He’s logged just a 13.6% target share. Picking him up and plugging him in feels very much like fool’s gold.
Quarterback
Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Odds are, with every quarterback in play for Week 13, you have your starter already on your roster. If you’re looking for more upside, however, Drake Maye is worth considering on the Week 13 waiver wire. He and the Patriots will host the Indianapolis Colts before a Week 14 bye. The Colts have allowed the fifth-most passing yards to opposing teams this season. Maye is also a threat to add fantasy points with his rushing ability. He’s averaging roughly four carries for 35.75 yards per game on the ground. The rookie quarterback is maybe worth a Week 13 spot start in Superflex leagues, but nothing more than that.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Stafford is more trustworthy than Drake Maye. He also has much better weapons in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. While the Rams are on the road, they’re taking on the Saints who’ve allowed the fourth-most passing yards to quarterbacks this season. Stafford doesn’t add anything with his legs. At all. He has just one rush attempt for positive yards this season, and that was last week. Stafford racks up most of his points through the air. He has no less than 243 passing yards in any of his last five games and north of 290 in three of his last four.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider
Russell Wilson and the Steelers will face their third-straight AFC North opponent in Week 13. The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. That’s in part due to allowing the most rushing yards and third-most rushing touchdowns to the position. Wilson hasn’t utilized his legs much so I don’t expect him to play into those statistics. I do, however, think the Steelers will have to keep pace with the Bengals’ 37.1 pass attempts per game, which ranks fourth in the league. Cincinnati has thrown 48.3 times per game over their last three. Wilson is a high-volume streamer who gets a home rematch with the Cleveland Browns in Week 14, as well.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 13 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!