Waiver Favors: Early Week 13 Fantasy Football Pickups

By Ha Kung Wong  Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

Week 13 is almost over, so we’re back to help you keep your fantasy football team competitive!

As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues as of Sunday evening.

First, a reminder that if you’re lucky enough to be your fantasy football playoffs, you’re work isn’t done yet.  As we’ve seen in recent weeks, the players that got you here are just as susceptible to injury as any other player.  You only need look at such big names who have recently gone down due to injury as Rob Gronkowski, Marshawn Lynch, Justin Forsett and Chris Johnson for examples.  So your number one priority, if you haven’t already done so, is to handcuff your studs, and in particular, your running backs.

Here’s a list of some stud RBs and their handcuffs:

Adrian Peterson -> Jerick McKinnon (2% Owned) & Matt Asiata (1% Owned)

Mark Ingram -> C.J. Spiller (50% Owned) & Tim Hightower (0% Owned)

LeSean McCoy -> Karlos Williams (40% Owned) & Boobie Dixon (1% Owned)

Devonta Freeman -> Tevin Coleman (46% Owned)

Todd Gurley -> Tre Mason (7% Owned)

Darren McFadden -> Robert Turbin (6% Owned) 

If you have questions about any others, feel free to tweet me at @fbgarbagetime.  I’ll be sure to retweet you with my thoughts.

Next, as I did last week, let’s look at some players that were once high on people’s radars, but have managed to slip below the 50% mark in leagues, whether by way of previous poor performances, injury or just generally flying under the radar.  Most of these guys might be able to help you if you need to fill holes in your lineup as you (hopefully) plan for the post-season, so feel free to grab them in any league in which you need help.

Marcus Mariota – QB – Tennessee Titans – 44% Owned

• Mariota completed 20 of 29 passes for 268 yards, 3 TDs and an INT, adding a whopping 112 rush yards and a rushing TD for good measure in a dynamic win against the Jaguars.  That’s some serious upside.  Need a backup for the playoffs?  With Dorial Green-Beckham heating up as well, Mariota is worth your consideration.

Austin Sefarian-Jenkins – TE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 36% Owned

• Sefarian-Jenkins was a big prospect in 2014 and again at the beginning of 2015.  And both times, injury derailed him.  He didn’t play a full complement of snaps today, and he dropped an easy TD, but he has enough upside to stash if you’re looking for potential TE help.

And here are ones which I recommended last week which I think are still worth picking up:

Jameis Winston – QB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 40% Owned

Brian Hoyer – QB – Houston Texans – 21% Owned

Ryan Fitzpatrick – QB – New York Jets – 44% Owned

Now, let’s look at some potential adds off the waiver wire:

Dorial Green-Beckham

WR – Tennessee Titans – 14% Owned

There was much controversy regarding the Titans second round drafting of Dorial Green-Beckham.  He had amazing potential based on his performance at Missouri, but the off field issues that led to his dismissal from college were certainly a concern.  Fast forward through most of the season, and Green-Beckham has been inconsistent at best, even with lots of injuries in the Titans receiving core, being criticized for everything from poor route running to bad blocking.  But that changed in Week 13.

Green-Beckham managed his first 100-yard receiving game of his career, catching 5 of 6 targets for 119 yards and a TD.  If Marcus Mariota continues to effectively move the ball as he closes out the season, Green-Beckham could benefit in a big way.  I mentioned him earlier in the season as a pickup, and usually I wouldn’t highlight him again, but I feel his upside is pretty significant and don’t want you to miss him.  Feel free to stash him in 14-team leagues and deeper.

Bilal Powell

RB – New York Jets – 7% Owned

Chris Ivory will remain the primary back for the Jets, but we’ve seen that the Jets like to use a change of pace back in catch-up mode.  And that change of pace back in Week 13 was Bilal Powell, as he had 6 carries for 17 yards and snagged 8 of 13 targets for 91 receiving yards and a TD.  He’s seen this receiving yardage in the past, and Ryan Fitzpatrick’s increasing confidence in the dump off is good news for Powell.  I think he’s a worthy pick up for Chris Ivory owners, just in case, and he worth your attention otherwise in 14-team leagues and deeper.

Will Tye

TE – New York Giants – 2% Owned

Larry Donnell was all the rage last year in New York, particularly after his 3 TD game in primetime.  But since then, he hasn’t done much, partly due to injury.  In the off season, the Giants looked to back up the position by signing undrafted free agent Will Tye out of Stony Brook University.  And it’s been slow coming, but he’s integrated quite well into the Giants system as Donnell continues to recover from a neck injury.  He had 21 targets in his last 3 contests and managed to catch 3 of 4 targets in Week 13 for 70 yards.  It’s clear that OBJ is Manning’s favorite target, but Tye is becoming a trusted second option.  If you lost Gronkowski and didn’t manage to get Scott Chandler or a good replacement, or if you’re just struggling at TE, Tye might be worth a look in 14-team leagues and deeper.

UPDATE – Dec. 8, 2015

Zach Miller

TE – Chicago Bears – 15% Owned

Well, turns out that Martellus Bennett wasn’t just upset about his use in the Chicago Bears offense, but was also frustrated about an injury, which has now landed him on IR.

The Bears have placed TE Martellus Bennett, who has fractured ribs, on injured reserve. Via @RapSheet. pic.twitter.com/7gtVSpuqO6

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) December 8, 2015

That leaves rejuvenated playmaker, Zach Miller atop the TE depth chart in Chicago.  Remember, prior to the fiasco against the 49ers, Miller had some serious production  during the 4 weeks following his return from injury, totaling 187 yards and 4 TDs after snagging 12 of 20 targets.  Without Bennett to compete with, Miller has some upside for those with TE issues in 14-team and deeper leagues.

And last, here are pickups from previous articles which I still recommend:

10-Team and Deeper

Gary Barnidge, Allen Hurns, Stefon Diggs, Darren McFadden, Stevie Johnson, DeAngelo Williams, Jeremy Langford, Danny Amendola, Doug Baldwin, Scott Chandler, David Johnson

12-Team and Deeper

Tavon Austin, Donte Moncrief, Travis Benjamin, Charles Clay, Benjamin Watson, Dontrelle Inman, Alfred Blue, Nate Washington, Willie Snead, Ted Ginn Jr., Javorius Allen, Lamar Aiken, James Starks, Charcandrick West, Spencer Ware, James White, Shaun Draughn, DeVante Parker, James Jones

14-Team and Deeper

Antonio Andrews, Theo Riddick, Chris Polk, David Cobb, Chris Givens, Dorial Green-Beckham, Tyrod Taylor, Richard Rodgers, Dwayne Harris, Brock Osweiler, Karlos Williams, Eric Ebron, Tevin Coleman (or for Devonta Freeman owners), Vance McDonald, Seth Roberts

Keep coming back for updates all week and good luck with the fantasy football playoffs!