This article is part of our NFL Waiver Wire series.
There's so much variance week to week in the NFL and defenses collectively showed that in Week 12. On paper, Atlanta was the worst team in the league in multiple categories yet allowed only six points to the Raiders. On the opposite end of the spectrum you have the the Colts, who were thought of as one of the better defenses, allowing a 45-burger to the Titans. The Jets and Lions? They're still awful.
I've been doing this column for almost nine years now, and every season there's a week or two where it's tough to write this piece because there are limited options. Generally speaking, save your FAAB money or top overall waiver add for another week.
This columns is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and remaining budget.
Quarterback
SECONDARY TARGETS
Philip Rivers, IND - I'm tempted to go higher with Rivers this week given the how many starters were out last week. Who knows what might happen over the next week given what we've seen in the last week. The Colts are a 2.5-point favorite at the Texans and the game has a healthy over/under of 53, suggesting Indianapolis should score about 28 points. Houston has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, making for a good matchup. Rivers has Las Vegas in Week 14 before getting the Texans
There's so much variance week to week in the NFL and defenses collectively showed that in Week 12. On paper, Atlanta was the worst team in the league in multiple categories yet allowed only six points to the Raiders. On the opposite end of the spectrum you have the the Colts, who were thought of as one of the better defenses, allowing a 45-burger to the Titans. The Jets and Lions? They're still awful.
I've been doing this column for almost nine years now, and every season there's a week or two where it's tough to write this piece because there are limited options. Generally speaking, save your FAAB money or top overall waiver add for another week.
This columns is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and remaining budget.
Quarterback
SECONDARY TARGETS
Philip Rivers, IND - I'm tempted to go higher with Rivers this week given the how many starters were out last week. Who knows what might happen over the next week given what we've seen in the last week. The Colts are a 2.5-point favorite at the Texans and the game has a healthy over/under of 53, suggesting Indianapolis should score about 28 points. Houston has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, making for a good matchup. Rivers has Las Vegas in Week 14 before getting the Texans again so he could be more than a one-week rental. FAAB: $4-$8
Running Back
PRIMARY TARGETS
Devontae Booker, LV - There's a chance Josh Jacobs could miss this week with an ankle sprain. The Raiders have a great matchup against the Jets. Quietly, Booker has put together a very efficient season, averaging a career-high 5.5 yards per carry and carving out a small role with at least six touches in his last five games. Booker is capable of handling all three downs plus goal-line work. The Raiders are an 8-point favorite against the Jets, making this a solid matchup for Booker. Bump him up a few dollars if it's confirmed that Jacobs is out before your FAAB runs. FAAB: $5-$10
SECONDARY TARGETS
Cam Akers, LAR - Akers seems to end up getting mentioned almost every week in fantasy circles with everyone waiting for him to break out. Might that finally happen this week when coach Sean McVay goes back and looks at film? Akers had an explosive 61-yard run and finished with nine carries for 84 yards and a touchdown. Malcolm Brown had a fumble, and both he and Darrell Henderson had insignificant games overall. This backfield has been difficult to predict on a weekly basis, but maybe this game was enough get Akers more work. FAAB: $4-$8
DeAndre Washington, MIA - Everyone was expecting Matt Breida to lead the Dolphins' backfield Sunday, but it ended up being Washington who got a team-leading 15 touches. Both Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed could be back this week, making Washington an afterthought. That said, it's a good home matchup this week against the Bengals should those two be out again. FAAB: $2-$4
Wide Receiver
PRIMARY TARGETS
Deebo Samuel, SF - Samuel made a triumphant return Sunday, finishing the game with 146 yards from scrimmage against a stout Rams defense. The 49ers made a concerted effort to get him involved (13 targets) and should continue to do so. He's owned in 56 percent of Yahoo leagues but earns a mention this week with limited elite options. FAAB: $20-$40
SECONDARY TARGETS
Keke Coutee, HOU - An odd week in the NFL continued Monday night after Will Fuller announced he received a six-game PED suspension. Obviously, he's droppable, and it'll be Coutee who gets a bigger opportunity. Coutee has more value in PPR formats as he has only two career touchdowns on 56 receptions. I'd be remiss in my duties if I didn't bring up Isaiah Coulter, who will get a bigger opportunity as well. Coulter is 6-foot-3, a much bigger player than either Coutee or Brandin Cooks. That makes him a good red-zone target, and it never hurts to have Deshaun Watson throwing to you. FAAB: Coutee $3-$6; Coulter $1-$2
Breshad Perriman, NYJ - Finally healthy, it appears Perriman could finally make an impact over the final stretch of the season. He's scored 24.6, 9.9 and 12.4 fantasy points in .5 PPR formats in each of the last three games, establishing himself as the top target in the Jets offense. The Raiders rank slightly below average against the position, so this is a decent matchup for Perriman. FAAB: $3-$6
Gabriel Davis, BUF - Davis had a stellar game Sunday, finishing with a 4-3-79-1, essentially replacing John Brown. Davis will maintain a decent role while Brown is out, a minimum of two more games. While Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley will get their targets, many times this season at least two of the three main targets for Josh Allen have had big games every week. FAAB: $2-$4
Tight End
HAIL MARY
Kyle Rudolph, MIN - Until Sunday, Rudolph had been quiet from a fantasy standpoint being mainly used a blocker. However, Irv Smith was ruled out last week and Rudolph made the most of his opportunity. He finished with a season-high eight targets turning those into a 7-68 performance. Smith could be back this week, so don't go crazy trying to acquire Rudolph. FAAB: $1-$2
