Thanksgiving week is upon us. It’s hard to beat the combination of family, food, and football. We hope you enjoy the family and the food. Now, let’s dig into some fantasy football.
The analysts at FantasyPros agree that, as a general rule, handcuffing early in the season is a suboptimal strategy because dedicating two roster spots to a single position on a single team limits the potential upside of your roster. But later in the season, handcuffing becomes a good strategy.
Derek Brown and I have long believed that Thanksgiving week is the optimal time to obtain handcuff running backs. We refer to it as “stuffin’ ‘n’ cuffin’.”
Not every backup running back is a true handcuff. The Titans’ backfield, for instance, is not an either/or situation. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears split work, although the balance of power might shift from week to week. And dedicating two roster spots to the low-scoring Tennessee backfield would be a poor strategy. In Arizona, Trey Benson was a handcuff to James Conner early in the season. But after Conner sustained a season-ending injury and then Benson went on injured reserve (IR), we saw that the situation behind Benson is murky.
It isn’t necessary to handcuff every running back on your roster, but handcuffing at least one ensures that, barring unusual circumstances, you’ll be able to play a running back from one particular team every week.
To help sort out handcuffing priorities, we have a special Thanksgiving stuffin’ ‘n’ cuffin’ subsection at the end of the running back section.
Here’s hoping your travels are safe and your turkey moist.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice: Week 13
Week 13 Waiver Grade: D
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings: Week 13
Note: Players chosen based upon having early-week consensus roster percent below 50%.
(Rostership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues; Recommended FAAB bids are based on a $100 budget.)
Running Backs
Written by Ellis Bryn Johnson
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB – WSH): 16% Rostered
Next Opponents: DEN, @MIN, @NYG
True Value: $4
Desperate Need: $6
Budget-Minded: $2
Analysis: The good news is that Chris Rodriguez Jr. has seemingly taken over the Washington backfield. The bad news is that the Commanders face the Broncos and Vikings in the next two weeks. Before their Week 12 bye, Rodriguez had clearly surpassed Jacory Croskey-Merritt to become the Commanders’ lead running back. Over his last three games, Rodriguez recorded 33 carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns. He is a tough player to trust this week against the Broncos, who had allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs through the first 11 weeks. However, Rodriguez could have sneaky playoff appeal. In Weeks 15-17, he faces the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys. Respectively, they are allowing the second-most, 14th-most and eighth-most fantasy points to opposing running back.
Devin Neal (RB – NO): 3% Rostered
Next Opponents: @MIA, @TB, CAR
True Value: $4
Desperate Need: $6
Budget-Minded: $2
Analysis: Alvin Kamara left the Saints’ Week 12 game against the Falcons with a knee injury. After leaving the field, Kamara visited the medical tent multiple times before officially being ruled out. The fact that he wasn’t ruled out immediately may indicate that it is not a long-term issue. However, if Kamara misses time, Devin Neal would be the next man up in the New Orleans backfield. The sixth-round rookie was projected to be a steady, well-rounded back entering the NFL. On Sunday, Neal did most of his damage in the receiving game, catching five passes for 43 yards. He had seven carries for 18 yards. With some positive matchups coming up, Neal would become a Flex option if Kamara were to miss time.
Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAX): 45% Rostered
Next Opponents: @TEN, IND, NYJ
True Value: $3
Desperate Need: $5
Budget-Minded: $2
Analysis: Bhayshul Tuten fans were given a glimpse of what could have been last week. After Travis Etienne was seen in a non-contact jersey on Thursday, the door appeared to be ajar for a Tuten takeover. Instead, Etienne played full snaps and helped lead the Jaguars to an overtime victory over the Cardinals. Etienne finished with 15 carries for 86 rushing yards as well as three receptions for 30 yards and a score. Tuten, on the other hand, had only seven carries for 17 yards. Tuten had looked terrific in Week 11, when he had 15 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars’ win over the Chargers. Although the excitement may have fizzled out, Tuten is an exciting rookie who is one injury away from becoming a potential league winner. If Tuten sees more work in Week 13, both backs could get home in a great matchup against the Titans.
Nick Chubb (RB – HOU): 46% Rostered
Next Opponents: @IND, @KC, ARI
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Woody Marks has taken over the Houston backfield. In an important game against the Bills last Thursday, we saw the Texans lean heavily on their rookie back. Marks played 41 snaps to Nick Chubb‘s 13 and had 16 carries to Chubb’s six. It was the second straight week that Marks significantly out-touched the veteran back, with 18 carries to Chubb’s three in Week 11. Marks briefly left last Thursday’s game with a leg injury but was able to return. Chubb has little more than potential handcuff value unless there’s a chance that Marks could miss Week 13.
Jaleel McLaughlin (RB – DEN): 1% Rostered
Next Opponents: @WSH, @LV, GB
True Value: $0
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: With J.K. Dobbins out for the remainder of the season, rookie RJ Harvey and 2023 undrafted free agent Jaleel McLaughlin are now the top-ranking members of the Denver backfield. In the Broncos’ Week 11 win over the Chiefs, Harvey had 14 touches to McLaughlin’s seven, and Harvey out-snapped McLaughlin 38-8. Coming out of their Week 12 bye, the Broncos might try to work in McLaughlin more, making him a worthwhile speculative addition.
Stuffin’ ‘n’ Cuffin’ Handcuff Rankings
We’ve compiled a list of handcuffing priorities. We’re only including running backs we believe to be worthwhile handcuffs, and the list is limited to players rostered in fewer tha 50% of Yahoo leagues. Here are our top 10 handcuffs:
1. Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – SF): Christian McCaffrey has held up all season, but if he were to go down, Brian Robinson Jr. would inherit an enormous workload in Kyle Shanahan’s running back-friendly offense.
2. Blake Corum (RB – LAR): Sean McVay’s offense is every bit as running back-friendly as Kyle Shanahan’s. Blake Corum is a must-have for Kyren Williams investors.
3. Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL): Technically, Tyler Allgeier might not even qualify as a handcuff because he offers some stand-alone value. But he’s available in more than half of Yahoo leagues, and every Bijan Robinson stakeholder should secure Allgeier.
4. Tank Bigsby (RB – PHI): If Saquon Barkley were to miss time, Tank Bigsby might share work with Will Shipley, but Bigsby would be the primary early-down back. It took Bigsby a while to get traction in Philadelphia after the trade that sent him from the Jaguars to the Eagles, but Bigsby has looked good whenever he’s gotten work.
5. Ollie Gordon (RB – MIA): The Miami offense would probably be a mess if anything happened to De’Von Achane, but the hard-charging Ollie Gordon would get the bulk of the work in Achane’s absence. Gordon has proven to be an effective goal-line back.
6. Isaiah Davis (RB – NYJ): Isaiah Davis is the undisputed backup to Breece Hall at the moment. Just realize there’s a chance that Braelon Allen, who’s been out for eight weeks with an MCL injury, could return before the end of the regular season.
7. Samaje Perine (RB – CIN): Due back from an ankle injury soon, Samaje Perine will return to his role as Chase Brown‘s backup.
8. Devin Neal (RB – NO): With Kendre Miller out for the season, Devin Neal is the clear handcuff to Alvin Kamara, although the New Orleans backfield isn’t exactly a wellspring of fantasy value, and tight end/jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill is a factor in the Saints’ running game, too. A rookie from Kansas, Neal was highly unproductive in college but is still an unproven commodity at the pro level.
9. Keaton Mitchell (RB – BAL): If Derrick Henry were to miss time, Justice Hill‘s role as Baltimore’s pass-catching back likely would remain largely unchanged, and Keaton Mitchell would become the Ravens’ primary early-down back.
10. Ray Davis (RB – BUF): This is similar to the Baltimore situation. Ty Johnson is the Bills’ passing-down back, and Ray Davis would probably inherit the brunt of the early-down work if James Cook were to go down.
Wide Receivers
Written by Derek Brown
Jayden Higgins (WR – HOU): 22% Rostered
Next Opponents: @IND, @KC, ARI
True Value: $7
Desperate Need: $10
Budget-Minded: $5
Analysis: Last week, Jayden Higgins took another step toward becoming a wide receiver who can be a difference-maker in the final weeks of the fantasy season. He has slowly seen his route share growing, and last week the Texans doused it with Miracle-Gro. Higgins had a 67.7% route share while gobbling up a 30% target share and 38.9% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. He finished the Texans’ Week 12 win over the Bills with 38 receiving yards, a touchdown, two red-zone targets and two deep targets. Since Week 10, Higgins’ per-route metrics have been filthy, with a 33% target per route run rate, 1.93 yards per route run and a 22.9% first-read share. He’s quickly becoming a weekly WR3 for fantasy, who should enjoy some spike weeks to close the season.
Christian Watson (WR – GB): 48% Rostered
Next Opponents: @DET, CHI, @DEN
True Value: $6
Desperate Need: $9
Budget-Minded: $4
Analysis: In Week 11, Christian Watson was the WR6 in fantasy scoring while seeing a 19.2% target share and a 28.6% air-yard share with 46 receiving yards, 2.00 yards per route run and a team-leading 33.3% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Watson didn’t have a monster game in Week 12, but he did lead the Packers with a 31.8% target share and 49 receiving yards. Watson has been stepping into the No. 1 WR chair for the Green Bay offense over the last two games. In addition to the volume bump, Watson owns the downfield role for the Packers, which should prove to be fruitful down the stretch. For the remainder of the season, he has two games against the Bears, a meeting with the Ravens and a rematch with the Vikings. All of those defenses sit inside the top eight for deep ball completion rate allowed. Watson could prove to be the weekly WR3 who can put your team over the top.
Kayshon Boutte (WR – NE): 37% Rostered
Next Opponents: NYG, BYE, BUF
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Kayshon Boutte returned from a hamstring injury in Week 12 to rank second among the Patriots’ wide receivers in snaps and first in routes, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). He didn’t do much with the playing time, earning only a 5.7% target share with 15 receiving yards, but when you’re looking to Flex Boutte, you understand that you’ll have some weeks like this. He’s run hotter than the sun for most of the season, tied to Drake Maye as the team’s field-stretcher. If you’re picking up Boutte off the waiver wire, you can Flex him against the Giants or Ravens. Both of these pass defenses rank inside the top 12 in deep ball completion rate allowed, per Fantasy Points Data.
Parker Washington (WR – JAX): 40% Rostered
Next Opponents: @TEN, IND, NYJ
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Parker Washington popped off with another strong game in Week 12, with a 23.3% target share, 71 receiving yards and a touchdown. Since Week 7, Washington has had three games with at least 50 receiving yards and has scored two touchdowns. If Brian Thomas Jr. makes it back this week, that will ding Washington’s fantasy outlook for Week 13 and moving forward. He still has a nice matchup this week, though. Tennessee has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Greg Dortch (WR – ARI): 9% Rostered
Next Opponents: @TB, LAR, @HOU
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: In Week 11, Greg Dortch finished as the WR12 in fantasy scoring, securing all six of his targets for 66 receiving yards and a score. I chalked up the performance as fool’s gold because Dortch had only a 10.5% target share and 14.3% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Dortch shoved that in my face in Week 12, with an 18% target share, five receptions, 53 receiving yards and another touchdown. Dortch’s fantasy value is likely to dry up as soon as Marvin Harrison Jr. is back. If Harrison is out for Week 13, Dortch will again hold solid Flex value against a Buccaneers secondary that, since Week 7, has allowed the ninth-most PPR points per target to slot receivers.
Andrei Iosivas (WR – CIN): 20% Rostered
Next Opponents: @BAL, @BUF, BAL
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Andrei Iosivas makes the waiver article this week with a focus on using him in the Flex this week if Tee Higgins is out. Higgins sustained a concussion in Week 12, so his availability is up in the air for Week 13. If he clears the concussion protocol for this week’s game against Baltimore, then feel free to drop Iosivas. But if Higgins is out, the Bengals could lean heavily on him, and Cincinnati might be getting Joe Burrow back from a toe injury. Sunday against the Patriots, Iosivas led the Bengals with an 18.4% target share and 61 receiving yards. Baltimore has allowed the fourth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to wide receivers, per Fantasy Points Data.
John Metchie (WR – NYJ): 1% Rostered
Next Opponents: ATL, MIA, @JAX
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Week 11 was John Metchie‘s first game as a starter with the Jets, and while he only saw an 11.1% target share and 6.7% first-read share, he made the most of his three receptions with 45 receiving yards and a touchdown. He saw his role in the offense grow even further against the Ravens in Week 12 with a 25% target share, which he turned into 65 receiving yards and another touchdown. Metchie is a viable PPR Flex option moving forward with a juicy matchup against the Dolphins. Since Week 7, Miami has allowed the fourth-most PPR points per target to slot receivers.
Adonai Mitchell (WR – NYJ): 2% Rostered
Next Opponents: ATL, MIA, @JAX
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: In Week 11, Adonai Mitchell had a 60.6% route share with a 22.2% target share, a 53.3% air-yard share, a 17.2-yard average depth of target (aDOT), a 40% first-read share and one catch for 10 yards, per Fantasy Points Data. Sunday against the Ravens, Mitchell didn’t drop most of his targets and turned the volume into more production. He had a 25% target share with 42 receiving yards. Yes, I know it’s gross, but Mitchell is a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency Flex play against the Falcons and Jaguars in two of the next three weeks. Since Week 7, Atlanta and Jacksonville have, respectively, allowed the second-most and eighth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.
Luther Burden III (WR – CHI): 11% Rostered
Next Opponents: @PHI, @GB, CLE
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: In Week 11, Luther Burden finally overtook Olamide Zaccheaus to become a starter in the Bears’ offense. He had a 61.1% route share with a 15.6% target share, 27 receiving yards and a 23.8% first-read share (second on the team), per Fantasy Points Data. On Sunday against the Steelers, Burden maintained his starter status with a 60.5% route share, a 14.2% target share, 46 receiving yards and he even got a rushing attempt, which he turned into 15 yards. Burden remains a dynamic Flex wild card moving forward. He could have had a bigger day if Caleb Williams had given him more accurate targets, as he had space to chew up and make some big plays at times. Burden is worth stashing on your bench to see if his role can continue to grow into a featured one in the final weeks of the regular season.
Quarterbacks
Written by Ellis Bryn Johnson
Cam Ward (QB – TEN): 7% Rostered
Next Opponents: JAX, @CLE, @SF
True Value: $3
Desperate Need: $4
Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: After a rough start to his NFL career, Cam Ward has come out of his bye week with a pair of strong starts. Considering that his strong starts came against the Texans and Seahawks, who have two of the league’s best defenses, Titans fans should be optimistic. Ward has committed only one turnover over his last two games. He has also started racking up yards with his legs. Ward had 33 rushing yards against the Texans in Week 11 and 37 rushing yards and a touchdown run against the Seahawks in Week 12. This week, he faces the Jaguars, who have allowed the third-most passing touchdowns on the season. Of all the waiver wire QBs, Ward is the most intriguing. Maybe the rookie has turned a corner.
Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX): 49% Rostered
Next Opponents: @TEN, IND, NYJ
True Value: $2
Desperate Need: $3
Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: I asked a magic 8 ball if Trevor Lawrence is worth a pickup. The response: “Ask again later.” Frankly, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Lawrence is the most appealing yet disappointing fantasy quarterback. With four weeks outside the top 20, five weeks between QB10 and QB19 and two weeks inside the top 10, it’s like asking the 8 ball each week. There are some good signs for Lawrence. He’s had five or more carries and three rushing touchdowns over his last four games. In Week 12, Lawrence threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns against the Cardinals. However, he also threw three interceptions. A Week 13 date with the Titans is on tap, which could help propel Lawrence to a solid performance. If you are struggling at the position, can you play Lawrence this week? Outlook is good.
Tyrod Taylor (QB – NYJ): 3% Rostered
Next Opponents: ATL, MIA, @JAX
True Value: $0
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Tyrod Taylor is back as a starting NFL quarterback. Replacing the demoted Justin Fields, Taylor made his second start of the season on Sunday against the Ravens and threw for 222 yards and a touchdown. He added five carries for 19 yards. Taylor has always added value with his legs, helping provide a decent floor for fantasy each week. Next week, the Jets face the Falcons, who are around league average against fantasy quarterbacks. After the Falcons, the Jets face the Dolphins and the Jaguars, who have allowed the 12th-most and fourth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, respectively. If you need to stream a quarterback, Taylor should be a relatively safe Week 13 option with limited upside.
Tight Ends
Written by Derek Brown
Dalton Schultz (TE – HOU): 47% Rostered
Next Opponents: @IND, @KC, ARI
True Value: $4
Desperate Need: $6
Budget-Minded: $2
Analysis: Since Week 3, Dalton Schultz has had an 18.2% target share with 48.9 receiving yards per game, 1.60 yards per route run and a 20.4% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In those nine games, he has seen six red-zone targets, five deep targets and averaged 10.7 PPR points per game. Schultz should be a strong TE1 in two of the next three weeks. The Colts and Cardinals have bled out production to tight ends all season. Indianapolis has allowed the second-most receiving yards and fantasy points per game to the position. Arizona has given up the ninth-most receiving yards and the eighth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Colston Loveland (TE – CHI): 43% Rostered
Next Opponents: @PHI, @GB, CLE
True Value: $2
Desperate Need: $4
Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: Colston Loveland finally did it. He overtook Cole Kmet to lead the tight end room in Week 12 with a 65% snap rate and 68.4% route share, per PFF. He had a 14.2% target share that he turned into 49 receiving yards and a touchdown. Loveland’s talent is unquestioned. If he can continue to eat away at Kmet’s playing time, he should flirt with TE1 production moving forward, despite his upcoming matchups not being great.
Brenton Strange (TE – JAX): 13% Rostered
Next Opponents: @TEN, IND, NYJ
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Brenton Strange returned from a hip injury in Week 12 with a strong performance. He had a wonderful matchup against Arizona, which he made the most of with a 70.9% snap share, a 71.4% route share and a 16.6% target share, per PFF. He turned all of that usage into five receptions for 93 yards. I don’t expect Strange to do that weekly, but he could come close to this stat line in Week 14 against the Colts. Indianapolis has allowed the fifth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to tight ends.
AJ Barner (TE – SEA): 18% Rostered
Next Opponents: MIN, @ATL, IND
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Entering Week 12, AJ Barner had a 12.3% target share with 30.6 receiving yards per game, 1.63 yards per route run and a 10.1% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. He has four TE1 weekly finishes on his 2025 resume (TE9, TE8, TE1, TE4). Barner had a quiet game against the Titans in Week 12 with a 15.3% target share, two receptions and 18 scoreless receiving yards. He should bounce back nicely in Week 13 and Week 15 against the Vikings and Colts. The Vikings have allowed the sixth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to tight ends, per Fantasy Points Data. Indianapolis has allowed the fifth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to the position.
Isaiah Likely (TE – BAL): 5% Rostered
Next Opponents: CIN, PIT, @CIN
True Value: $0
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: I’m not incredibly high on Isaiah Likely as a streaming tight end option for the rest of the season, but I’m tossing him in here as a deeper matchup-based option for the next three weeks. Likely has surpassed 20 receiving yards in only one game this season. His next two opponents don’t have a clue how to defend tight ends, so that could help his outlook and streaming upside. The Bengals have allowed the most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to tight ends, while the Steelers have given up the third-most, per Fantasy Points Data. If you’re in a pinch, you could do a lot worse than Likely over the next three weeks.
Defenses
Written by Pat Fitzmaurice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 22% Rostered
Next Opponents: ARI, NO, ATL
True Value: $3
Desperate Need: $6
Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: You might just be able to ride the Buccaneers the rest of the way. Their opponents for the rest of the fantasy season are the Cardinals, Saints, Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins. Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett has thrown three interceptions and taken 24 sacks in his six starts for Arizona. The Buccaneers entered Week 12 ranked 11th in defensive fantasy points per game with 7.3.
Jacksonville Jaguars: 42% Rostered
Next Opponents: @TEN, IND, NYJ
True Value: $2
Desperate Need: $5
Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: The Jaguars have been a top-10 fantasy defense for most of the season, benefitting from a bevy of forced turnovers. They’ve forced 18 turnovers thus far, though 13 of them came in the first four weeks. The real appeal here, however, is a Week 13 matchup against the Titans, who have allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses. Tennessee rookie quarterback Cam Ward has taken an NFL-high 45 sacks and has thrown six interceptions.
Los Angeles Chargers: 38% Rostered
Next Opponents: LV, PHI, @KC
True Value: $2
Desperate Need: $4
Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: The Chargers rank outside the top 20 in defensive fantasy scoring, but it’s the Week 13 matchup with the Raiders that has our attention. Raiders quarterback Geno Smith has been an interception machine. He’s been picked off 13 times this season and has been sacked 41 times. The Browns sacked Smith 10 times on Sunday. The Las Vegas offensive line is an injury-riddled mess. This is a great spot for the Chargers defense.
San Francisco 49ers: 23% Rostered
Next Opponents: @CLE, BYE, TEN
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: The 49ers entered Week 13 ranked dead last in the league in sacks (12), sack rate (2.9%) and pressure rate (13.1%). But a Week 13 matchup against the Browns gives the San Francisco defense streaming appeal. It doesn’t matter if Cleveland’s starting quarterback is rookie Dillon Gabriel (who missed Week 12 with a concussion) or rookie Shedeur Sanders, who has thrown two interceptions and taken three sacks over the last two weeks.
Atlanta Falcons: 49% Rostered
Next Opponents: @NYJ, SEA, @TB
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Week 13 ends a long stretch of favorable matchups for the Atlanta defense. With 39 sacks on the year, the Falcons have a potent pass rush. Atlanta gets a favorable Week 13 matchup with the Jets, who have averaged just 232 yards of offense over their last three games.
Miami Dolphins: 2% Rostered
Next Opponents: NO, @NYJ, @PIT
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Miami’s defense has scored 22 fantasy points over its last two games and now gets a friendly two-week stretch against the Saints and Jets.
New York Jets: 8% Rostered
Next Opponents: ATL, MIA, @JAX
True Value: $0
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: The Jets are a bottom-five team in defensive fantasy scoring, but they’re a reasonable cost-cutting option for Week 13 thanks to a matchup with Atlanta. Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw one interception and was sacked three times on Sunday in the Falcons’ 24-10 win over the Saints.
Defense Stash Candidates
A sneaky stash for the fantasy playoffs, the Saints get the Panthers, Jets and Titans in Weeks 15-17. You can probably land them with a zero-dollar bid if you have the roster space to stash a second defense.
Kickers
Written by Pat Fitzmaurice
Wil Lutz (K – DEN): 40% Rostered
Next Opponents: @WSH, @LV, GB
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Wil Lutz scored a season-high 18 fantasy points in his most recent game before the Broncos’ Week 12 bye, kicking five field goals in Denver’s 22-19 win over Kansas City. Strangely, it was the first time all season that Lutz produced double-digit fantasy points. It’s not for lack of accuracy. Lutz has missed only three kicks all season, going 17-of-20 on field-goal attempts and 24-of-24 on extra points. Lutz has a favorable Week 13 matchup against the Commanders, who are giving up 9.9 fantasy points per game to kickers. Washington is giving up an average of 26.9 points per game this season and 32.5 points per game since Week 6. Lutz also gets an attractive Week 14 matchup against the Raiders.
Andy Borregales (K – NE): 31% Rostered
Next Opponents: NYG, BYE, BUF
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Andy Borregales is on a heater, averaging 10.2 fantasy points over his last five games. He went 4-of-4 on field goals and 2-of-2 on extra points on Sunday against the Bengals, with the last of his field goals covering 52 yards. Borregales is tied to a good offense, and he gets a solid home matchup against the Giants in Week 13.
Evan McPherson (K – CIN): 38% Rostered
Next Opponents: @BAL, @BUF, BAL
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Evan McPherson is coming off a terrific performance against the Patriots in which he had long-distance field goals of 54 and 63 yards. McPherson is averaging 11.2 fantasy points over his last five games, with at least eight points in each of those contests. McPherson has a Thanksgiving date with the Ravens, who are giving up 9.5 fantasy points per game to kickers. The Bengals’ offense could get a big lift if Joe Burrow returns to action this week. Burrow has been practicing in full and seems ready to come back from the toe injury that has kept him out of action since September.
Matt Prater (K – BUF): 43% Rostered
Next Opponents: @PIT, CIN, @NE
True Value: $0
Desperate Need: $1
Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: The Bills’ offense has been erratic lately, which could actually work to the benefit of their kicker. Prater has been solid this season, averaging 7.7 fantasy points per game. The Bills have a Week 13 date with the Steelers. Heinz Field isn’t the easiest place for visiting kickers to ply their trade, but the Steelers are giving up 9.7 fantasy points per game to kickers.
Fool’s Gold
This year’s rookie tight end class is a good one. Tyler Warren and Oronde Gadsden II have been the headliners, with Colston Loveland and Harold Fannin Jr. having their moments, too. Gunnar Helm has been flying under the radar with 30 catches for 267 yards and a touchdown. Helm had a season-high six catches for 51 yards on Sunday against the Seahawks. With as little pass-catching firepower as the Titans have at wide receiver, it’s tempting to think that Helm could play an even bigger role down the stretch. But fellow tight end Chig Okonkwo also gets snaps and targets, and there aren’t many touchdowns to be had in the Titans’ offense.
Drop Recommendations
Droppable
Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy is averaging 154.8 passing yards over his six starts for the Vikings this season, and T.J. Hockenson is averaging 2.5 catches and 17.3 yards in McCarthy’s starts. It doesn’t appear that things will get better anytime soon. It’s better to stream the tight end position every week than keep rolling out Hockenson.
Cooper Kupp has had three or fewer receptions in each of his last five games, and he’s topped 40 receiving yards just once over that span. The Seahawks aren’t exactly a pass-happy team, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba has commanded an enormous 37.3% target share for Seattle. There’s no need for Kupp to be rostered.
Droppable With a Chance of Regret
The reasons that Cooper Kupp is droppable apply to Rashid Shaheed, too, although Shaheed at least offers some splash-play potential. In his first three games with Seattle, Shaheed has just three catches for 30 yards. You might miss out on a couple of big plays if you drop Shaheed, but there’s no floor here.
In his first game back from a toe injury, Rhamondre Stevenson was out-snapped by rookie TreVeyon Henderson 46-22, according to PFF, and out-touched 21-7. This is Henderson’s backfield now. Stevenson is basically just a handcuff and offers little, if any, standalone value.
Joe Burrow was practicing in full last week and is expected to return for the Bengals’ Thanksgiving game against the Ravens. After a torrid start to his tenure with the Bengals, Joe Flacco has cooled off. Over his last two games, Flacco has thrown two touchdown passes and has averaged just five yards per pass attempt. It was a fun run, but Flacco can probably go back to the waiver wire.
Josh Downs is averaging 8.6 yards per catch and hasn’t reached 60 receiving yards in any game this season. Rookie tight end Tyler Warren has stolen a lot of Downs’ short-area targets. Downs is averaging five targets a game, which isn’t anywhere close to the sort of target volume he needs to make his act fantasy-viable.
Don’t Drop Yet
Jordan Addison had one target and zero catches in the Vikings’ Week 12 loss to the Packers. Addison is abundantly talented, but J.J. McCarthy has been crushing Addison’s value. It’s hard to see how the quarterback situation will get better for the Vikings. But if Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell can figure out a solution, Addison might be able to capitalize on a favorable stretch of schedule in Weeks 14-16, when he’ll see the Commanders, Cowboys and Giants.
Alec Pierce had just one catch for 26 yards against the Chiefs on Sunday. He gets a nasty matchup against the Texans this week, and he’ll have another rough matchup against the Seahawks in Week 15. But Pierce has been having a terrific season. Hang onto him for favorable matchups against the Jaguars and 49ers in Weeks 14 and 16.
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