Waiver Wire Finds Week 13

This is it. This is what the whole season has been worked towards. It is the final week of the fantasy regular season. Honestly it is a sad week. Even though I will be moving on to the playoffs, knowing the fantasy season is ending is not a soft topic. Before I get into the Waiver Wire pickups this week, I wanted to change things up. Instead of writing about the current week, I wanted to reflect on what fantasy football brings to the table. With this being the last week, I felt this was fitting. Why do I do this? What drives me to write multiple articles that have yet to get a wide audience? The answer is Love. This is one of the only hobbies I enjoy doing. My father introduced me to this when I was around 12 years old and I am now currently 23. I never thought I would be this invested in this game we love so much. This time of the year is always bitter sweet, as the season is almost completed. I am grateful that I read Matthew Berry's love/hate at the start of the preseason. It was the article that inspired me to do what I am currently doing. I urge anyone that doesn't know what direction to follow, to go for what they love. It may not turn out like they envisioned, but you never know unless you try. Last season I would have never saw myself doing this website and working each week on Fantasy Football content. This may not pan out, but I will give it my all. 

My Grandfather that has recently passed, was not a fan of today's NFL. He was an Army Vet, who did not agree with the politics of the game. The one thing I admired was his understanding that this game mean't so much to me. He wouldn't watch a single game up until I came to visit him. Even in his last days, he asked me if I wanted to put the game on.  Although I did not agree about how he saw it, I did understand. This passing has hit me hard. I have struggled over the past month to continue to maintain a normal balance. He helped raise me to be the man I am today. I will forever be thankful that I was able to take care of him in his time of need, just like he did when I was a child. You will always live in my heart Pap. 

This great game has got me through some dark times and I will be forever grateful. I hope to use this medium to help others gain the success and happiness that this all has given to me. This intro is one of my more personal notes to all of you. I hope that it gives you a dive into my life and shows my love for this game. Below are my waiver pickups for week 12. Good luck this week. Lets get into the playoffs and enjoy our victories! 

QB:

Jameis Winston (54.9%)- He had a semi-disappointing game last week, but still needs to be owned. He threw for over 300 yards and 2 touchdowns. I honestly was expecting a higher scoring game. Next week he will continue to be a streaming option against the Panthers, who just gave up 25 points to Russel Wilson. Note Winston does carry the risk of being benched by halftime. 

Lamar Jackson (49.1%)- I am baffled on how he is still available in over half of leagues. In his last 2 starts, he has yet to score under 15 points. He did struggle in the first half of the Raiders game, but for some reason the they didn't want him to run the ball. During the second half he came alive. He finished the day with over 20 fantasy points. He does get a matchup against the Falcons who have been decent as of late. If the Ravens stick with Jackson, his rushing upside will give him a solid floor. 

Baker Mayfield (42.9)- Man, he has be been on fire. He has had multiple touchdowns in 5 straight games. Now next week will be a challenge against the Texans, who have been top 3 in fantasy points allowed per game to the QB position. You can't ignore his touchdown rate. This offense is clicking since the firing of Hue Jackson and Todd Haley. He is a mid tier streamer this week. 

Dak Prescott (43.5%)- I have doubted Prescott most of the season, but it seems like this offense has turned it around. Amari Cooper is a big factor in this. Prescott could be a trap game this week as he plays the Saints, who have been bottom 5 against the QB. Watching the team, the Saints have seemed to improve on defense. 

Case Keenum (9.2%)- He hasn't been winning you weeks, but he has been consistent. He his averaging 17.6 FPPG since week 5. If you are steaming QB, he should be a main target. He will facing a Bengals defense who just allowed Baker Mayfield to throw for 258 yards and 4 touchdowns. I am not expecting a huge game from Keenum, but he should be a solid streamer this week. 

RB: 

*Adding your RB handcuffs is more important than ever. I have constantly been saying to add the more valuable backups. These include Austin Ekeler, Giovani Bernard, Spencer Ware, Malcolm Brown, Chace Edmonds, and Rod Smith. 

Austin Ekeler (54.6%)- Hopefully you have followed my advice on getting your Melvin Gordon handcuff. If so, your safe. If not, you may be scrabbling. Gordon may miss the next two games with an MCL injury. That is the best case scenario. It is likely that Gordon will miss multiple weeks. The RB for Chargers is going to have at least RB2 value going forward. 

Gus Edwards (53.7%)- Even in a down first half, the Gus Bus was still able to perform. He now has two straight 100 yard games. As long as Lamar Jackson is the QB, it seems that Gus will success in this offense. Next week, he gets a matchup against a Falcons defense who is a bottom 5 defense against the RB. I believe he has taken over Alex Collins job, and should be a solid RB2 option going forward.  

Carlos Hyde (38.8%)- I would prefer T.J. Yeldon if he is available, over Hyde this week. Fournette has been hit with a 1-game suspension after he came off the bench and threw punches against the Bills. Both Hyde and Yeldon should see an increased workload against the Colts. Yeldon is the better PPR play with his work in the passing game. Hyde should still get a shot this week.

LeGarrette Blount (18.5%)- He did fairly well in place of Kerryon Johnson on Thanksgiving. He ran the ball 19 times for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns. I am expecting Johnson to miss another game. Blount is a solid plug-and-play this week against the Rams who have allowed the 7th most rushing touchdowns this year.

Nyheim Hines (29.9%)- There is a decent possibility that Marlon Mack misses this weeks game against the Jaguars. He has been used in the passing game most of the year, so he will be a the better play in the backfield against the Jaguars stout rush defense. He is going to be a flex play in PPR leagues this week if Marlon Mack is ruled out.

Doug Martin (52.8%)- He has been surprising as of late. You are hoping for a decent game in the passing game. He has had double digit fantasy points in the last two games. Surprisingly, he had a decent game against the Ravens, scoring a season high fantasy points. He faces a Chiefs team that has given up the second most fantasy points per game to the RB position.

Rex Burkhead (8.8%)- The Patriots have activated him off of IR this week. He is eligible to play this Sunday against the Vikings. I wouldn't add him in standard leagues, but he could be a solid flex play in PPR leagues. He is a nice dart throw this late in the season. He may steal goal-line work from Sony Michel, although I am not expecting that to be the case.

WR:

D.J. Moore (59.1%)- He has established himself as the WR1 for the Panthers. Over this last two games, he has 17 catches for 248 yards and a touchdown. With Devin Funchess still injured, Moore will continue to get a ton of volume. He is going to be a great play this week against the Buccaneers, who are bottom 10 against the WR this season. They have also given up the second most touchdowns to the WR.

Courtland Sutton (58.5%)- He should be fairly easy to get this week after back to back disappointing games. He is going to bounce back in a huge way this week. He should be ranked around WR20-25 for me. The Broncos are going up against a Bengals team that just allowed Baker Mayfield to throw for 4 touchdowns. Sutton is a big play threat and should get things going this week.

Tre'Quan Smith (42.8%)- He should come back from his injury this week. During the last game that he played, he caught 10 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. He ran a season high in routes and had 13 total targets. In this offense, Smith has the upside to have these type of monster games each week.

Josh Reynolds (33.8%)- In his first game taking over Cooper Kupp's role, he caught 6 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. He almost had a second touchdown but he just barely stepped out of bounds. This offense can sustain 3 WR each week. The Rams play the Lions this week, which isn't a defense to be afraid of. He should see around 5-8 targets each game going forward.

Adam Humphries (28.2%)- He is going to be in a ton of my DFS lineups this week. He has scored 4 touchdowns in the last 4 games. Over those 4 games, he is averaging 32 routes per game. I am expecting Mike Evans to get fazed out this week against the Panthers. These two teams met in week 9 and Humphries caught 8 passes for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Keke Coutee (26.9%)- If he is available to play this week, the Texans get a nice matchup at home against the Browns. The Browns have given up the 8th most fantasy points per game to WR this season. If he is healthy, you will be able to play him.

Taylor Gabriel (44.3%)- He is a solid flex play in PPR leagues against the Giants. He has back to back games with 7 catches. If Trubisky returns, this could be one of his better games against a struggling defense. Gabriel hasn't scored since week 4, but he is getting enough catches to get him double digit points each week.

TE:

Cameron Brate (53.6%)- He didn't have a huge day last week, but he did find the endzone. With O.J. Howard now on IR, Brate ran a season high in routes last Sunday. He is a must add in all leagues. This week he should have another solid game against the Panthers, who have given up the 2nd most fantasy points per game to the TE position.

C.J. Uzomah (30.0%)- Andy Dalton was knocked out of last week's game with a thumb injury and will miss the remainder of the season. His replacement, Jeff Driskel, seemed to favor Uzomah. He saw a season high, 13 targets in this game. He caught 6 of those, but did not find the endzone. I think Driskel is going to look Uzomah's way going forward.

Jonnu Smith (5.5%)- He caught both of his targets last week for 63 yards and a touchdown. I was expecting more volume in this game but the touchdown was nice to see. Marcus Mariota has been playing great the past few weeks and Smith is going to benefit. He is a low end streamer for me this week.

D/ST:

Kansas City Chiefs (43.8%)

Green Bay Packers (20.0%)

Denver Broncos (39.7%) 

Buffalo Bills (52.7%)

Indianapolis Colts (28.1%)