Waiver Favors™: 2023 Week 13 Fantasy Football Pickups

December 3, 2023

By Ha Kung Wong Week 13 Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

As I do every year over the last 11 years, I’m here to help with waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors™ article! And I’m assuming if you’re reader right now, you’re in your fantasy football playoffs, so congratulations!

I’ll make a couple suggestions for after Week 13 of the 2023 fantasy football season that hopefully will keep your team running. You’re welcome. Again.

As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.

Ezekiel Elliott

RB – New England Patriots – 40% Owned

With Rhamondre Stevenson out early with an ankle injury, Ezekiel Elliott took over and rushed 17 times for 52 yards and caught 4 of 5 targets for 40 receiving yards. It looks like that Stevenson has a strain that might not keep him out for long, but he certainly won’t be ready by this Thursday, so Elliott makes for as decent pickup in all 12-team leagues or deeper, particularly those relying on Stevenson.

Ezekiel Elliott Rushing & Receiving Stats
		Game	Rush	Rush	Rush	Rush	Rece	Rece	Rece	Rece
Year	Tm	G	Att	Yds	TD	Y/G	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD
2016*+	DAL	15	322	1631	15	108.7	39	32	363	1
2017	DAL	10	242	983	7	98.3	38	26	269	2
2018*	DAL	15	304	1434	6	95.6	95	77	567	3
2019*	DAL	16	301	1357	12	84.8	71	54	420	2
2020	DAL	15	244	979	6	65.3	71	52	338	2
2021	DAL	17	237	1002	10	58.9	65	47	287	2
2022	DAL	15	231	876	12	58.4	23	17	92	0
2023	NWE	11	95	377	2	34.3	26	20	114	0
Care		114	1976	8639	70	75.8	428	325	2450	12
7 yr	DAL	103	1881	8262	68	80.2	402	305	2336	12
1 yr	NWE	11	95	377	2	34.3	26	20	114	0

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table

Tyjae Spears

RB – Tennessee Titans – 35% Owned

Similarly, Derrick Henry went out in the second half and appears to be on the concussion protocol, which is a shame since he was having a career day. In stepped Tyjae Spears with 16 carries for 75 yards and catching 4 of 6 targets for 13 receiving yards. We know that the Titans find success when basing their offense on the ground, and if Henry is out, that means plenty of opportunity for Spears. Grab him in all 12-team leagues or deeper, particularly if you’re a Henry owner.

UPDATE: Turns out that Henry is NOT in the concussion protocol and is thus on track to play in Week 14. Still worth picking up Spears as a handcuff to Henry.

#Titans coach Mike Vrabel clarifies that RB Derrick Henry is not in the concussion protocol. That puts him on track to play this week.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 4, 2023

Elijah Moore

WR – Cleveland Browns – 43% Owned

Joe Flacco took over under center and we were all understandably skeptical. But it turns out that’s exactly what the Browns needed to jump start their offense. And no one benefited more than Elijah Moore who caught 4 of a whopping 12 targets for 83 yards from his old Jets QB. If Flacco remains at QB, which at this point, there’s no reason for him not to, then Moore becomes incredibly interesting in all 12-team leagues or deeper. Get him before he’s gone.

Jonathan Mingo

WR – Carolina Panthers – 6% Owned

Bryce Young hasn’t been the savior that the Panthers expected, nor has he been as good as fellow rookie QB C.J. Stroud. But he’s improving, and with that, he’s starting to demonstrate a real connection with Jonathan Mingo. In Week 12, Mingo caught 4 of 6 targets for 60 yards, and he followed that up catching 6 of 10 targets for 69 yards in Week 13, leading all pass catchers in targets, receptions and yards. Feel free to stash him in all 14-team leagues or deeper.

DeVante Parker

WR – New England Patriots – 3% Owned

With Demario Douglas out with a concussion, DeVante Parker became the de facto top target for Bailey Zappe. And Parker did well, catching 4 of 9 targets for 64 yards, which is almost half of Zappe’s total passing yards. There’s not a ton of upside, but he’s a decent WR4 on your bench in 14-team leagues or deeper based on opportunity alone.

Xavier Gipson

WR – New York Jets – 0% Owned

The Jets were pretty terrible with Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian under center, but rookie Xavier Gipson had a career game grabbing 5 of 6 targets for 77 yards and adding a carry for 1 yard, leading all pass catchers in targets, receptions and yards. Who knows where this will go as the Jets offense has been pretty terrible regardless of who’s throwing the ball, but Gipson does have a little upside based on playing making ability alone. Feel free to speculate in all 16-team leagues or deeper.

Chigoziem Okonkwo

TE – Tennessee Titans – 31% Owned

Tight end is a wasteland this year, so when you catch 4 of 5 targets for 45 yards in Week 12 and follow that up catching 3 of 6 targets for 62 yards and add a carry for 2 yards in Week 13, it’s worth noting. Will Levis seems to be settling in with Okonkwo, so give him a shot if you need a TE in 14-team leagues or deeper.

UPDATE for Monday Night Football

Check back after Monday Night Football!

And here are players I previously recommended picking up that I still think are worth a pickup if available.