Here are this week’s top Waiver Wire players who are owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. Our favorite players are broken down in Top Targets and the best secondary options are in our Going Deeper sections. We’ll also list any players at the top of each position who are above the 50% threshold — or are household names — and are still widely available for those who might be in smaller leagues.
Be sure to check out our weekly Waiver Wire podcast and our Waiver Wire Livestream for more analysis. We’ll also have Streaming articles every Tuesday that will focus on the top quarterbacks, tight ends, and defenses for the upcoming week(s).
Note: The initial Waiver Wire article writeup will be posted every Monday night, followed by in-depth updates Tuesday, and continued additions/updates Wednesday.
Quarterbacks
Higher-owned Options
Taysom Hill (NO, 61%), Derek Carr (LV, 51%), Matthew Stafford (Det, 55%),
Top Targets
Jalen Hurts (Phi, 3%) — Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense has been in the wilderness for weeks now, and HC Doug Pederson finally pulled the plug and inserted Hurts into the lineup in Week 13. The rookie QB certainly wasn’t perfect but the Eagles offense showed some sign of life with Hurts at the helm. Coming on in the third quarter against the Packers, Hurts completed 5/12 passes for 109 yards, one TD, and one INT while adding 5/29 rushing. Hurts is a dual-threat option at the position, and his legs make him an appealing fantasy option if he were to get some starts down the stretch (NO, @Ari, @Dal). Hurts deserves a chance at this point with Wentz showing no sign of turning his play around, and start he will in this week. It’s a brutal first matchup against the Saints, but he’s at least going to run to be viable for fantasy. Ironically, he’d be playing against a similar QB who is also a powerful, downhill runner in Taysom Hill. For what it’s worth, of all QBs who have played at least 20 snaps this year, Hurts is tied with Patrick Mahomes for the most fantasy points per snap (.39 points per snap). Our Greg Cosell thinks we will see a lot of designed runs for Hurts this week and 10_ carries very likely. UPDATED: 12/9
Philip Rivers (Ind, 40%) — The Colts are airing it out more than they were early in the season with Rivers attempting 33+ passes in eight straight games after he failed to reach 30+ attempts in three straight games from Weeks 2-4. The Colts rushing attack has been inconsistent so this offense has been on Rivers’ shoulders a little more than anticipated. He completed 27/35 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over the Texans in Week 13 to give him 18+ FP in three straight games. Michael Pittman has stepped up at WR in recent weeks while T.Y. Hilton is finally rounding into form in the final weeks of the season. Rivers is in the midst of a fantasy-friendly schedule (@LV, Hou, @Pit) if you’re looking for a streaming option. Just be aware that Jacoby Brissett (3 snaps, 2 carries in Week 13) has been vulturing some goal-line snaps and touchdowns in recent weeks.
Going Deeper
Teddy Bridgewater (Car, 40%) — Bridgewater returned to the lineup in Week 12, but he showed plenty of rust after missing a game with a knee injury. He completed a season-low 52.8% of his passes (19/36) for 267 yards, one TD, and one INT against the Vikings. He missed D.J. Moore for two touchdowns and Moore suffered a non-contact ankle injury on Teddy’s second misfire. Bridgewater doesn’t have the best fantasy playoff schedule (Den, @GB, @Was) but it’s certainly not a slate to shy away from as a mid-range QB2. Unfortunately, Bridgewater won’t be nearly as appealing this week against the Broncos with Moore and Curtis Samuel landing on the COVID-19 list. But if those two can get back, and if Christian McCaffrey can return this week, that would be huge. We may not know their status until the weekend, however. That includes McCaffrey who opened the week limited with a new thigh injury he’s dealing with this week. UPDATED: 12/9
Mitchell Trubisky (Chi, 4%) — The Bears season is quickly spiraling down the drain after they dropped their sixth consecutive game in Week 13 after opening the season with a 5-1 record. Trubisky completed 26/34 passes for 267 yards and one TD in Week 13, but he opened the door for a loss to the Lions with an inexcusable fumble deep in his own end in the final two minutes. Trubisky, if he can keep the job, has some spots to succeed in coming up in the fantasy playoffs (Hou, @Min, @Jax), but he’s hardly a reliable weekly option as a low-end QB2.
Mike Glennon (Jax, 3%) — Glennon, who hasn’t started since 2017, had zero expectations when the Jaguars put him into the lineup, and he’s easily surpassed that low bar through two starts. He completed 28/42 passes for 280 yards, one TD, and two INTs in Jacksonville’s overtime loss to the Vikings in Week 13, which gives him 515 passing yards and three TDs in two starts. If you’re looking for some low-end QB2 help in Week 14, Glennon has a beatable matchup against a Titans defense that just allowed 290/4 passing to Baker Mayfield in one half before tougher matchups with the Ravens and the Bears to end the fantasy playoffs. Glennon has a strong arm and they take a lot of deep shots with him to try to utilize it.
Baker Mayfield (Cle, 38%) — Mayfield has played in good conditions the last two weeks, and he’s been a viable fantasy option with 18.4 and 30.5 FP in consecutive games. He torched the Titans for 334/4 passing while averaging 10.1 YPA in Week 13. Mayfield now has 592/6 passing in his last two games so maybe HC Kevin Stefanski will continue to open up this passing game with Nick Chubb and this potent rushing attack clearly helping the whole offense. Mayfield doesn’t have the easiest slate coming up (Bal, @NYG, @NYJ), or else he’d be higher on this list. But he’s earned some trust as a QB2 with his performances the last two weeks.
Andy Dalton (Dal, 13%) — Dallas has shown signs of life lately and Dalton has been a part of that. They picked up a big road win against the Vikings in Week 11 with Dalton throwing for three TDs, but the Cowboys did fall flat on Thanksgiving Day. Dalton bounced back in Week 13, though, going 31-of-48 for 285/2 with 1 INT. Dalton still has top-20 potential with an excellent supporting cast of receivers, and Dallas’ defense is going to have this offense playing in shootouts most weeks. His schedule is spotty in the fantasy playoffs (@Cin, SF, Phi), but Dalton isn’t exactly an upside option with his O-line falling apart. UPDATED: 12/9
Tua Tagovailoa (Mia, 21%) — Tua returned to his starting QB spot in Week 13 after missing a game for his throwing-thumb injury. He completed 26/39 passes for 296 yards and one TD for 16.1 FP against a hapless Bengals squad. Tua should continue to start against a middle-of-the-road playoff schedule (KC, NE, @LV), but he’s liable to be pulled at any time if he’s struggling for Ryan Fitzpatrick, which makes him less than a desirable option in two-QB formats. But the arrow is pointing up for him after he got the start in Week 13 and played well enough for them to win easily.
Alex Smith (Was, 6%) — We may not get many big throws from Smith but he’s the guy for the Football Team, and he projects to have some negative game scripts in their remaining matchups (@SF, Sea, Car). Smith had thrown for 325+ yards in consecutive losses in Weeks 9-10, then he came up small for two weeks with fewer than 10 FP in a pair of wins with just 315/2 passing on 51 attempts. But he was back throwing it 35+ times in Week 13. Smith doesn’t have much to work with at receiver, but Terry McLaurin is a star and he does have pass-catching RBs to work with while TE Logan Thomas has been very solid with a huge catch game against the Steelers. He’s viable if you’re in need of low-end help in two-QB formats.
Nick Mullens (SF, 6%) — Mullens is the starting quarterback for now with Jimmy Garoppolo on the injured reserve with his high-ankle injury. He led the 49ers to an upset victory over the Rams in Week 12, completing 24/35 passes for 252 yards and one INT, and he did even better in Week 13 with 316/3 passing (but with 2 INTs). Mullens has basically now played a full season in this 49ers offense with 14 starts the last three seasons and he’s impressively put up a 65.7% completion rate and 8.2 YPA on 519 attempts. On the downside, he has 19 INTs vs. 22 TD passes, but this guy can rack up the yardage. He also has a relatively friendly fantasy playoff schedule (Was, @Dal, @Ari) and a stud WR in Brandon Aiyuk. UPDATED: 12/8
Running Backs
Higher-owned Options
Adrian Peterson (Det, 48%), Jamaal Williams (GB, 62%), Le’Veon Bell (KC, 60%)
Top Targets
Cam Akers (LAR, 52%) — This is your last chance to add Akers this week as he’s vaulted to the top of the team’s running back depth chart in recent weeks. HC Sean McVay finally featured the rookie RB over Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown, and Akers didn’t disappoint with 21/72/1 rushing and 1/22 receiving with a healthy 63% of the snap against the Cardinals in Week 13. Henderson (22% of the snaps) did miss a stretch of time with a knee injury but he did come back to total 74/1 scrimmage on just five carries, so he’s still very much in the mix. Henderson and Brown (16% of the snaps Week 13) won’t go away completely down the stretch (NE, NYJ, @Sea), but Akers has the chance to be a low-end RB2 as the top option in this backfield in the final weeks of the season. He’s good-to-go with his shoulder injury and is off the injury report. UPDATED: 12/9
Ty Johnson (NYJ, 1%) — Frank Gore saw just one carry before he suffered a concussion in Week 13 just when fantasy owners showed enough trust to throw him into fantasy lineups. The Jets’ backfield has been fool’s gold all season long with Le’Veon Bell, La’Mical Perine, and Frank Gore all disappointing. Johnson will try to break that rotten run going forward after he came in and posted 22/104/1 rushing and 2/13 receiving with 63% of the snap against the Raiders in Gore’s stead. HC Adam Gase can’t quit Gore so he’s likely to be a factor again at some point down the stretch (@Sea, @LAR, Cle) when he passes through the concussion protocol, but Johnson has earned a longer look with the Jets playing for nothing down the stretch. Gore was listed as limited early in the week, but he’ll likely be in the protocol until the end of the week, so check our projection for the latest recommendations. UPDATED: 12/9
Going Deeper
Tony Pollard (Dal, 18%) — The Cowboys are poorly managed and that includes in their backfield with Ezekiel Elliott continuing to far out-touch the more explosive Pollard. Zeke lost his league-leading sixth fumble in his 11th game against Washington, and he’s averaging career-lows in YPC (3.9) and YPR (6.6). Meanwhile, Pollard is averaging 5.0 YPC this season, and he’s clearly deserving of a bigger role with Zeke’s play declining this season. The Cowboys are paying Zeke a lot of money and they seem content to stick with him as their bell-cow back, making Pollard nothing more than a stash-and-hope option just in case Mike McCarthy finally decides to give Pollard a bigger role to spark the offense.
Kalen Ballage (LAC, 21%) — Ballage stepped back into the lineup in Week 13 after a week layoff for an ankle injury, and he was the #2 option behind Austin Ekeler. He finished with 7/34 rushing and 3/5 receiving on four targets with a healthy 38% of the snaps in Los Angeles’ embarrassing loss to the Patriots. He played on 38% of the snaps, which was well ahead of Joshua Kelley (4%). The Chargers are well out of contention and Ekeler did suffer a pretty significant hamstring injury earlier in the season so it wouldn’t be shocking if Ballage sees a decent amount of work next to Ekeler in the final weeks of the season (Atl, @LV, Den).
Carlos Hyde (Sea, 32%) — Hyde went back to a secondary role in Chris Carson’s second game back from his foot injury. The veteran back managed just 2/1 rushing and 3/10 receiving against the Giants in Week 13, but he did come into the game with a toe injury. Hyde is the handcuff for Carson for the time being, but he doesn’t necessarily need to be rostered with Rashaad Penny joining the active roster in the next three weeks. UPDATED: 12/9
Rashad Penny (Sea, 0%) — He’s closing in on a return, so if you’re looking for a stash-and-hope, he’s not bad right now. Our Adam Caplan has told us the coaches have raved about how well Penny is moving and they can’t wait to get him on the field. His role would be minimal, but it’s possible Penny will be their third-down back in the playoffs, and they’d like to get him some reps now, so he will be playing very soon. UPDATED: 12/9
Jeff Wilson (SF, 6%) — He’s impossible to trust if you have reliable alternatives, but Tevin Coleman stinks, and Wilson has been running HARD this year, including last week 7/47 along with a surprisingly 5 targets and 2/12 in the passing game. He also out-snapped Raheem Mostert in Week 13 28-to-27. They may have eased Mostert back into the mix, but Wilson does look like a guy with a chance to score any given week and surprise with a big game. UPDATED: 12/9
Peyton Barber (Was, 0%) — Antonio Gibson is not expected to play, so we project Barber to handle 12 touches for TFT and he is clearly their goal line back, so he’s not a horrible desperation play. He had 14 carries last week and scored (although only 23 rushing yards). UPDATED: 12/9
Kerryon Johnson (Det, 21%) — Johnson would be on the radar if rookie D’Andre Swift continues to miss time after missing the last three weeks after suffering a concussion in Week 10. Kerryon played a solid 44% of the snaps, but he managed just 3/3 rushing and 2/8 receiving on three targets against the Bears in Week 13, so he’s a desperation play only no matter what. The Lions get a friendly matchup with the Packers this week, at least, but he’s less appealing if Swift is back with Adrian Peterson dominating the work, especially down at the goal line. Johnson is on the injury report this week, though, and Swift looks to be returning this week, so Johnson’s appeal is minimal right now unless Swift is out. UPDATED: 12/9
Benny Snell (Pit, 44%) — Snell wasn’t bad in Week 12, putting up 12+ FP with 16/60 rushing and 3/33 receiving on four targets, but he came up small in Week 13 with only 11 opportunities and 12 touches and was stuffed at the goal a couple of times. McFarland is getting only a handful of opportunities (4 carries, 1 target Week 13), so he’s a Hail Mary play at best. Conner is now expected back for Week 14, so Snell is nothing more than a weaker handcuff. But if Conner were out, he’d have a chance because they do need to start running the ball more/more effectively to have a chance in the playoffs. UPDATED: 12/9
Mike Boone (Min, 0%) — Alexander Mattison underwent an appendectomy before Week 13, which leaves Boone as the top early-down runner and handcuff for Dalvin Cook for the time being. We did learn in Week 6 that OC Gary Kubiak will use Ameer Abdullah in passing situations next to Mattison, and we doubt Boone would be used as a bell-cow back if Cook would miss time.
Cordarrelle Patterson (Chi, 7%) — The Bears decided to give Patterson a role against the Lions in Week 13, and he turned his 10 carries into 59 yards and a touchdown on a 25% snap share. Patterson previously topped seven opportunities in a game with David Montgomery in the fold in just one other game back in Week 2, so the gadget player isn’t guaranteed to stay involved going forward. He’s a risky fantasy option going forward even with a beatable stretch of games to end the season (Hou, @Min, @Jax).
Wide Receivers
Higher-owned Options
Michael Pittman (Ind, 62%), Sterling Shepard (NYG, 52%), Cole Beasley (Buf, 58%), Emmanuel Sanders (NO, 44%), Jakobi Meyers (NE, 44%),
Top Targets
T.Y. Hilton (Ind, 45%) — Hilton should be added if he’s been dropped in your 10- or 12-team leagues as he’s finally getting on the same page with Philip Rivers as we head into the fantasy playoffs. He reached double-digit FP just once in his first nine games, but he’s now posted 18+ FP in consecutive games with 80+ yards and a touchdown. The Colts have a friendly remaining schedule (@LV, Hou, @Pit), which includes another matchup against Houston in Week 15. The Texans killer is now averaging 5.4/96.2/.61 receiving per game in 18 career matchups against Houston (playoffs included).
Keke Coutee (Hou, 26%) and Chad Hansen (Hou, 0%) — In Houston’s first game without Will Fuller, the Texans rolled with Coutee (75% of the snaps) and Hansen (92% of the snape) in three-WR sets and not fifth-round pick Isaiah Coulter, who was inactive. Coutee led the Texans with 8/141 receiving on nine targets (23.7% share) while Hansen added 5/101 on seven targets (18.4% target share). Cooks had a concussion scare in Week 13, which is something to monitor this week just in case they’re cautious with him since he has a scary concussion history. Hansen has been on the Texans’ practice squad since last season in part because of Watson’s affinity for him — the two spent time in the off-season working with each other. Watson is playing as well as any quarterback not named Patrick Mahomes so it would be wise to grab pieces of this passing attack. And, in the case of a player like Hansen, he can literally be added in just about every league. It wouldn’t be shocking if Coutee and Hansen help some fantasy playoff teams as WR3/4s over the final three weeks (@Chi, @Ind, Cin). Coutee did pop up on the injury report on 12/9, FYI, with a knee issue that limited him, but it’s a good sign he did work on Wednesday. UPDATED: 12/9
Tim Patrick (Den, 21%) — Patrick started to emerge earlier this season with 14+ FP in three straight games from Weeks 3-6 before suffering a hamstring injury. He returned to the lineup in Week 9 and he was back to posting double-digit FP production before the Broncos were forced to play a practice squad WR in Week 12. He returned to form in Week 13 by catching all four of his targets for 44 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs. Patrick led all Bronco WRs in Week 13 with 72% of the snaps and is locked into the X receiver spot, and he’s the most-seasoned receiver for Drew Lock in his fourth season at 26 years old. He’s a good red-zone threat and he’s playing well enough to stick in the WR4 conversation. Patrick will duke it out with Jerry Jeudy and Noah Fant for the most targets the rest of the way (@Car, Buf, @LAC).
Allen Lazard (GB, 41%) — Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, and Jamaal Williams are the only Packers weapons guaranteed to see weekly touches right now with Lazard, Robert Tonyan, and MVS battling it out for scraps in this potent offense. MVS hasn’t caught a pass in the last two weeks while Lazard is starting to heat up a bit with 4/23/1 receiving and 3/50 in the last two weeks. MVS dropped a potential long reception in Week 13 and tends to disappear for weeks at a time and Aaron Rodgers could certainly use the much more consistent Lazard at his disposal. Lazard played a solid 69% of the snaps and is back in the WR3/4 picture going forward with an excellent closing schedule (@Det, Car, Ten). It also doesn’t hurt that Rodgers is playing at an elite level right now with 3+ TDs in six of his last seven games. He is still limited in practice (core) heading into Week 14, FYI. UPDATED: 12/9
Gabriel Davis (Buf, 5%) — Davis has lived up to the hype our guy Adam Caplan heard from the team this summer, and he has a large role locked up while John Brown (ankle) is on the injured reserve. The fourth-round pick out of UCF has flashed a couple of times in this potent Bills passing attack, and the rookie stepped into a prominent role with 3/79/1 receiving on four targets and a massive 97% snap share in Week 12. His targets were low in Week 13, as Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley got 22 looks from Josh Allen. But Davis once again made his targets count, putting up 3/68/1 on only 4 looks. Brown will miss at least the next game against the Steelers, meaning Davis is on the radar as a WR4 option in this pass-heavy attack for those looking for some help at WR. UPDATED: 12/8
Going Deeper
Nelson Agholor (LV, 40%) and Henry Ruggs (LV, 32%) — Agholor has revived his career in the desert, but he’s been a frustrating player to handicap as an all-or-nothing option. He’s at least hit double-digit FP in six of his last nine games, but he disappointed in a great matchup against the Jets in Week 13 with just 4/38 receiving on 11 targets (23.4% share) and 67% of the snaps. Ruggs (71% of the snaps in Week 13) was the one who stepped up and delivered the signature play of his rookie season against the Jets, scoring an improbable 46-yard touchdown with five seconds left to keep the Raiders’ playoff hopes alive. Darren Waller is the only receiver guaranteed to see targets in this passing attack every week, but Agholor has edged ahead of the likes of Ruggs and Hunter Renfrow (67% of the snaps) as the #1 WR option for Derek Carr. Agholor is a safer bet to actually do something compared to Ruggs as a WR4, but we’ll see if Ruggs’ rookie season gets a kick start after his massive score in Week 13.
Collin Johnson (Jax, 0%) and Laviska Shenault (Jax, 16%) — The second-team connection has been strong for Johnson as he’s been the top option for Mike Glennon in his first two starts — he’s posted 8/162/1 receiving on 14 targets. He still played 55% of the snaps Week 13 even with DJ Chark back. Shenault (35% of the snaps) also made his first noise in months with a fluky touchdown reception against the Vikings in Week 13. The Jaguars should give the huge (6’6”, 220 pounds) fifth-round pick Johnson and second-round pick Shenault longer tryouts down the stretch since Chris Conley and Keelan Cole are set to hit free agency after this season. They could make some noise this week against a leaky Titans secondary before tough matchups with the Ravens and the Bears in Weeks 15-16.
Denzel Mims (NYJ,1%) — The Jets have fielded a competent NFL receiving corps in recent weeks with Mims and Breshad Perriman in the lineup next to Jamison Crowder. Unfortunately, this offense is in better hands when Joe Flacco is at quarterback, but the Jets have no real incentive to play the veteran over Sam Darnold down the stretch. Mims managed 2/40 receiving on three targets against the Raiders in Week 13 (81% of the snap) with Darnold spreading the rock around. He did come close to scoring a TD on one catch against the Raiders.Mims has posted 40+ receiving yards in each of his first six NFL games, but he’s failed to make a big impact for fantasy just yet. Mims is going to be tough to completely trust in a fantasy lineup down the stretch (@Sea, @LAR, Cle), but he’s played well and his impressive size/movement is evident since he’s been in the lineup.
Rashard Higgins (Cle, 8%) — Higgins exploded for 6/95/1 receiving against a hapless Titans secondary in Week 13 with a healthy 68% of the snaps. His 21.5 FP against Tennessee nearly matched his combined 22.2 FP that he posted in his first four games without Odell Beckham in the lineup. Needless to say, he’s tough to completely trust in the fantasy playoffs (Bal, @NYG, @NYJ) as a WR4/5, but he should at least some targets each week as a distant #2 receiver behind Jarvis Landry. We’ll have to see if Khadarel Hodge is back in the mix Week 14, as he was playing more than Higgins lately.
Breshad Perriman (NYJ, 24%) — We’ve now seen what a healthy Perriman is capable of doing by posting 11+ FP in three straight games in Weeks 9-12. He came crashing back to earth with just a 22-yard catch on four targets against the Raiders in Week 13 playing with Sam Darnold. He was out there for 95% of the snaps, at least. Unfortunately, this offense is in better hands when Joe Flacco is at quarterback, but the Jets have no real incentive to play the veteran over Darnold down the stretch. Perriman is tough to totally trust since he’s a walking injury report, but he’s back on the radar as a boom-or-bust WR4/5 while he’s in the lineup with a solid schedule coming up (@Sea, @LAR, Cle). At least his matchup this week @Sea is beatable. He was limited early in the week (shoulder), but he should be set to start. UPDATED: 12/9
Jalen Reagor (Phi, 22%) — Reagor saw just one target in Week 13, which he turned into a 34-yard gain, but he did score on a 73-yard punt return against the Packers. It’s probably best to stay away from these Eagles receivers right now outside of Dallas Goedert, but there’s a chance rookie Jalen Hurts can spark this offense and Reagor is the best bet to emerge out of this heavy Eagles WR rotation.
Willie Snead (Bal, 2%) — If he returns, he does have a great matchup this week against the Browns, who are giving up the seventh-most FPG to slot receiver this year. Snead is actually averaging 13 FPG in his last four games. UPDATED: 12/9
Russell Gage (Atl, 7%) — Julio Jones has been dealing with a hamstring injury for most of the season while Calvin Ridley continues to play through ankle and foot issues. Olamide Zaccheaus also landed on the injured reserve with a toe injury, leaving Gage to potentially have bigger roles in the future. Gage posted 4/51/1 receiving on eight targets against the Saints in Week 13. Gage can be considered in the deepest of PPR formats since he’s averaging 7.8 targets per game over his last four games.
Tight Ends
Higher-owned Options
Zach Ertz (Phi, 62%)
Top Targets
Logan Thomas (Was, 40%) — Thomas has seen 4+ targets in every game this season, but he had a breakout performance in Week 13 - against a tough Steelers defense no less. Thomas was all over the place and caught all 9 of his targets for 98 yards and a TD, and he looked good doing it. Thomas is better off when they are playing from behind, and his schedule looks okay for that at SF, vs. Sea, vs. Car.
Cole Kmet (Chi, 1%) — Kmet, a 2020 second-round pick, could quietly bust out in the final weeks of the season as the organization has recently decided to give him the reins to the position. He has out-snapped Jimmy Graham in three straight games — 78% share to a 48% share in Week 13 — after posting a career-best 5/37/1 receiving on a team-best seven targets (20.6% share) against the Lions. It’s tough to trust any receiver in this passing attack outside of Allen Robinson, but there’s a chance Kmet could be the #2 receiver down the stretch against a friendly fantasy schedule (Hou, @Min, @Jax) in the final three weeks.
Going Deeper
Jordan Reed (SF, 26%) — San Francisco really needs Reed the rest of the season with George Kittle (foot, IR) potentially done for the year. The 49ers dropped to 4-7 in Week 13, which should lower the chances that Kittle opts to return this year. Reed managed just 2/18 receiving on six targets (17.1%) against the Rams in Week 12 with Nick Mullens missing a wide-open Reed on a couple of occasions. But Reed did score in Week 13 with 3/32/1 on 4 targets. Ross Dwelley was still in the mix, but he had only 2 targets in Week 13. Reed is always an injury risk, but he’s also always been productive for fantasy when he’s given a sizable role in a decent or better offense, and he does have that right now. UPDATED: 12/8
Dalton Schultz (Dal, 20%) — Schultz is still hanging around as a no-frills TE2 option with an aDOT sitting at just 7.1 yards, but he’s relevant in PPR formats with 4+ catches in four straight games. He caught all five of his targets for 24 yards against the Football Team in Week 12. Schultz will be a mid-TE2 in PPR formats as long as he continues to get serviceable QB play from Andy Dalton.
Jordan Akins (Hou, 6%) — Akins has disappointed in consecutive games after posting 13.3 FP in Week 11. He just missed on two end-zone targets on Thanksgiving Day and he managed just 2/10 receiving on three targets in his first game without Will Fuller in Week 13. The Texans are playing Keke Coutee and Chad Hansen heavy snaps right now so Akins is going to get opportunities going forward, but he’s come up small in consecutive weeks so he’s only a dart throw in deeper formats for now. However, he does get another very good matchup this week by the numbers against Chicago. UPDATED: 12/9
Tyler Eifert (Jax, 6%) — Eifert has a pulse for as long as Mike Glennon is at quarterback. Eifert has posted double-digit FP in each of his first two with Glennon after reaching the mark just once in his first nine games. He has some friendly fantasy spots for TEs in the final weeks of the season (Ten, @Bal, Chi) if you’re digging the bottom of the barrel for help at the position. Eifert was out of practice early in the week with shoulder injury, FYI. UPDATED: 12/9
Anthony Firkser (Ten, 9%) — It certainly wasn’t pretty, but Firkser came through for anyone that used him as a streaming option against the Browns in Week 13. He posted 5/51 receiving with most of his production coming deep into garbage time — MyCole Pruitt was stealing his thunder early in the game. Firkser would be on the streaming radar once again this week if Jonnu Smith is unable to play against the Jaguars in Week 14. Jonnu was limited early in the week, which is a sign he will return in Week 14, FYI. UPDATED: 12/9
Drew Sample (Cin, 1%) — Sample is far from a special player but he’s relevant right now because he’s playing with far from special quarterbacks in Brandon Allen and Ryan Finley, who will be looking to check it down. Sample led the Bengals with seven targets (25.9% share) in Week 13, which he turned into 7/49 receiving against the Dolphins.
Place Kickers
Higher-owned Options
Younghoe Koo (Atl, 89%) Harrison Butker (KC, 97%)
Top Targets
Jason Myers (Sea, 73%) - If the Seahawks defense did not stumble in the third quarter last week, Myers might have had another field goal attempt or two. It is extremely difficult to think Seattle’s offense will come out flat and play horrible for the second straight game against a New York team, especially a winless one in the Jets. Myers should get two or three field goal chances in this one if the offense struggles at all.
Rodrigo Blankenship (Ind, 60%) - Blankenship has converted on 12 of 13 field goals in six road games this year. There is risk here, though, as he has just three field goals in his last three road games. The Raiders are giving up nearly 30 points a game, so the Colts should put points on the board. Some of those points should come on a few field goals by Blankenship.
Going Deeper
Matt Gay (LAR, 10%) - The Rams offense has been hot lately and Gay has converted on 5 of 7 field goals and all 10 of extra point attempts in just three games. This Thursday night game against the Patriots will be a much tougher matchup but it is at home and the Patriots are coming off a blowout win.
Dustin Hopkins (Was, 1%) - Hopkins is coming off a three field goal outing. He has multiple field goals converted in five straight games and in six of his last seven outings. QB Alex Smith has been protecting the ball very well and now faces his old team. He may have a chip on his shoulder and the 49ers defense did not look that good on Monday night.
Defense/Special Teams
Higher-owned Options
Buccaneers (TB, 45%)
Top Targets
Football Team (Was, 24%) — Washington has been a formidable defense all season, but had to face the undefeated Steelers in Week 13, sending their roster % plummeting. Before their match with Pittsburgh, Chase Young and this D-line produced at least 4 sacks in four of their last five games. They also have at least 1 INT in eight of their 11 games. They’re a sack/turnover machine, but they also held four of their last six opponents to under 20 points. Their remaining schedule includes several teams vulnerable to both sacks and turnovers: @SF, Sea, Car, @Phi
Going Deeper
Texans (Hou, 11%) — Houston’s turnaround since the departure of Bill O’Brien has included a re-invigorated defense. Since their Week 8 bye, they’ve held every opponent to 25 points or fewer, and have multiple sacks in four of five games. They’ve got a good matchup this week (@Chi) and a so-so matchup in Week 15 (Ind), but they’ve got the dream matchup for Championship Week. Cincinnati is the #1 team for opposing DSTs since Joe Burrow went down.
