The Week 13 Fantasy Football Free Wire is thin! And that’s even before the recount at Armageddon. We have the Saints with several receiver injuries that make AT Perry happy, sometimes-participant running backs like Tyler Alger and non-existent settlers (hello, Josh Downs). So, above all, there is some help with wazas.
Necks up
- Players must be below 60% in Yahoo
- Listed in Selection order — I often give potential rather than immediate intermediate production.
- There are no FAB tips: it varies greatly with league trends and is always relative (eg if you lose your RB1 to injury and there’s an obvious backup, you’ll be more aggressive).
- Stream QB’s and TE’s grouped together – weekly ranking may change once forecast/rankings go – DST may change slightly.
** Byes: BAL, BUF, CHI, LV, MIN, NYG **
Stress Report (1 to 5)
More ducks (and eggs) = more stress
- Tua Tagovailoa, MIA 🦆🦆🦆🥚 — Over the last three games (Weeks 9-12), Tagovailoa is QB22 in FPPG … behind Tommy DeVito. He has two games over 18 points since Week 6, and the Dolphins face TEN, NYJ, DAL and BAL this week after the Chiefs. You’ll want Tua out at week 13, but I’ll have a backup plan after that.
- James Conner, ARI 🦆🦆🦆 – Conner’s appeal is his talent – when healthy – and volume. Quarterback Michael Carter looks tough with 38.1 RBTouch% to Conner’s 47.6 and Carter making 83.3% of snaps. Carter will be at the position as a timeshare, possibly 40% or more, which could push Conner out of the RB2 ranking.
- Adam Thielen, CAR 🦆🦆🦆🥚🥚 – One more week. I’d give Thielen a whole lot before Infinity ducks. Thielen still isn’t coming off much from the field, has double-digit targets in six games and was 11-8-74 in Week 11, but…the Buccaneers are the best passing game you’ll find, so if Thielen (and Bryce Young) aren’t better – especially with the coaching changes – it’s time to panic.
Stream quarterbacks
Familiar emoticons and abbreviations
- 😤 = Ya I tried to tell you – players are included for several weeks (if you don’t need them, don’t add too much)
- 🔍 = Make sure to download – players whose managers have given up on other interests or are impatient
- 🎯 = Long term target – Beginner+ players who need up and patience
- 🫡 = backup/next man up – worthless players with injuries ahead but starter+ up
- RBTouch% – RB Touch Percentage – The player’s percentage of the team’s total RB Touches
- TmTGT% – Team Target Percentage – The percentage of the team’s total goals going to that player
- G2G and GL — goal-to-go (within the 10-yard line) and goal-line (within the 5-yard line)
- TmAirYD% – Team Air Yards Percentage – The percentage of the team’s total air yards going to that player
Waiver wire steps back
- Zach Charbonnet, Marine – Despite the return of Kenneth Walker, Charbonnet was pushing for the extra division before Walker passed Week 12.
- Tyler Alger, ATL – We have gone through the desolation of removing time shares and backups. The Falcons trail the Jets, Buccaneers, Panthers, Colts and Bears when it comes to matchups, with only the Buccaneers — and the Bears to a lesser extent — when it comes to matchups. But even then, Alger is RB 3 in games in which the Falcons have a field goal or lead.
- Antonio Gibson, WSH – He has 4+ targets and 3+ receptions in seven of 11 games, and the Dolphins will need a lot of passes to the Chiefs.
- Michael Carter, ARI – Had eight touchdowns (to James Conner’s 10) with 4-4-15 receiving. Carter could provide Gibson-like value.
- D. Ernest Johnson, JAX — moved ahead of Tank Bigsby a few weeks ago and pushed for Algiers-like usage.
- Royce Freeman, LAR – Gaining some share and some goal line clearance from Kieren Williams looks like he’s got a ball back.
- Jeff Wilson, MI – Jeff Wilson is the RB3 if De’Von Achane doesn’t return.
- Zack Moss, IND – 🫡
- Rico Dowdle, DAL – 🫡
- Ezekiel Elliott, NE – 😤
- Kenneth Gainwell, PHI – 😤
- Latavius Murray, BUF – 🫡
- Joshua Kelly, L.A.C – 🫡
- Ty Chandler, MIN — 🫡 Limited touches in the Bears game, which is a solid matchup run defense wise, but could still have RB3/4 value with better offensive results. Plus, if Alexander Matheson misses time, he’s next. If you have a spot on the Vikings side, skip it.
- Elias Mitchell, S.F – 🫡
- Jamal Williams, I – 🫡
- Roshon Johnson, Ch – Exciting use with D’Onta Foreman, Johnson carrying, Khalil Herbert touching and running. If you have room for Johnson, it’s worth keeping him to see how things shake out after the bye, but if Foreman is back in the mix, this backfield committee will be tough to use.
- Samaje Perine, DEN – 🫡
- Matt Breida, NYG – 🫡
Free wireless wide receiver levels
- Josh Downs, IND – 😤
- Jayden Reid, GB – 😤
- Demario Douglas, NE – 😤 Hoping he doesn’t miss time.
- Jalen Guyton, LAC – He didn’t hit – He almost had a touchdown – but Guyton was the only receiver other than Keenan Allen with over 55% of his routes (86.3) and five targets.
- In Perry, I – Chris Olave is likely to be out (concussion) and Rashid Shahid is doubtful (quad), which puts Perry on the receiving end, followed by Lynn Bowden and Keith Kirkwood. Perry is still a WR4 boom/bust play as Tessom Hill ruins any potential opportunities.
- Curtis Samuel, WSH – 😤
- Noah Brown, HOU – Since the big games listed here, Brown has been hurt ever since, but being a top 40 receiver is worth the wait.
- Brandin Cooks, DL – Cooks has been inconsistent, but all four of his double-digit points have come in the past six games, and the Cowboys have the Eagles, Bills, Dolphins and Lions to close out the season.
- JONATHAN MINGO, CAR – Things finally picked up for Mingo at 25.0 TmTGT%, and the coaching changes will help fuel the offense, making Mingo WR4 worth less.
- Tutu Atwell, LAR – Atwell won’t be the Rams’ best receiver, but surprisingly, like Zay Jones, he has Hail Mary WR4 value thanks to deep shots from Matthew Stafford.
- Elijah Moore, C.L.L — While Amari Cooper was good for Week 13, Moore — whether it was PJ Walker or Dorian Thompson-Robinson — had a short-to-middling career and had nine targets in Week 12.
- Zay Jones, JX – Healthy, which has been more about helping Calvin Ridley (as we know), but the deep leagues can go one game and pray for a Hail Mary and a touchdown.
- Michael Wilson, ARI – Wilson may be out bye, but he’s the WR3 for the fantasy game if the lineup is looking to jump.
- Jalin Hyatt, NYG – With the Giants looking to open up the offense and evaluate their 2024 opportunities, Hyatt (quick, deep threat) is performing as a top-two receiver with an insane 19.4 YD/REC and 24.9 AirYD/TGT. (Greetings).
- Rashod Bateman, BAL – Goodbye, but with Mark Andrews out, Bateman saw a change in utility as he was also healthy. Still a talented receiver, Bateman could push into the No. 2 role if Odell Beckham struggles — either out of performance or injury.
MEH 😒
- Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch, ARI – Moore won’t see much volume and Dortch won’t see consistent road participation from the top-two. Dortch is a good one-week flyer if Michael Wilson doesn’t return, but the Cardinals have a bye next week.
- Calif. Raymond, Det – Such games happen 2-3 times a year for Raymond.
Don’t break my heart ❤️
- Jordan Love, GB — ❤️❤️❤️ Love is averaging 20.9 and 26.6 points in the last two games, with a low of 16.7 in Week 10. Not coincidentally, he has 2+ touchdowns after increasing his TD/ATT% from 5.0-9.4 per contest. 3.8% only once from week 2. The last two games against a weak Chargers and Lions passing defense will be a real test for the Chiefs. I am beginning to forgive, but not completely. Fortunately, while Love struggles against the Chiefs, the Giants, Bucs, Panthers and Vikings close things out for the Packers.
- Christian Watson, GB — ❤️ As someone commented during the podcast, “Stop playing games with my heart.” I’d like to see more from Watson, who had more than three receptions in his first game. Sure, back-to-back weeks with touchdowns are good, but having just one game over 37 yards before Week 12 isn’t.
The stream ends narrowly
Stream DST
13th week
- JAX vs CIN
- LAC in NE
- LAR vs CLE
- TB vs CAR
- ATL in NYJ
- That goes to no
- IND in TEN
14th week
- NO vs CAR
- GB to NYG
- JAX in CLE
- Love by NYJ
- CIN vs IND
- MIN in L.V
(Photo by Nick Wosicka/Icon Sports via Getty Images)