The byes return with a vengeance this week, with six teams on pause, but we have waiver recommendations to suit all fantasy football needs and fit every budget. Each week we identify a collection of priority fantasy pickups that are available in at least 50% of leagues and cleared for immediate use. These incredible Cyber Monday deals won’t last, so please act quickly, folks.
Running backs
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts (49%)
We’re not going to question anyone who dropped Moss recently because A) he had a bye and B) he barely saw the field in his last two games. Moss played just nine snaps in Week 10 and just 13 the week before. Guys like that are generally candidates for a cut.
However, in Sunday’s win over the Bucs, Moss unexpectedly emerged, playing 41% of the offensive snaps and rushing for 70 yards on 10 touches. He was still outpaced and overtaken by Jonathan Taylor, but the playing time was surprisingly similar. We learned on Tuesday that Taylor suffered a thumb injury that will require surgery and is expected to be out for several weeks. Yikes.
With six teams on byes in Week 13, Moss was already back on the flex radar. But since Taylor is paused (and a potential IR candidate), Moss is now a priority add-on wherever it is available. He has been fantastically efficient this season, averaging 4.8 YPC and 7.7 yards per catch.
FAB: Possibly anything, depending on your situation.
D’Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars (1%)
It’s been pretty clear for several weeks that Johnson has overtaken rookie Tank Bigsby as the understudy in Jacksonville’s backfield. We got further confirmation of his status on Sunday when Travis Etienne briefly left (and eventually returned) the Houston match due to chest problems. Johnson finished the game with eight touches for a total of 61 yards, doing most of his damage on a 42-yard reception. He has posted a 5.0 YPC average over his career and has had some nice moments in his time in Cleveland when injuries paved the way for significant touches. If you had high hopes for Etienne this season, find a spot for Johnson on the bench.
Fabulous: $6
Extra RBs on the wire
Ty Chandler entered Monday night’s game against Chicago coming off two straight productive games in which he saw double-digit touches. While Chandler only had five touches for 11 yards in the loss to the Bears, four picks from Josh Dobbs definitely impacted the flow of the game. This is still an elusive runner with 4.3 speed and he has earned a strong rotational role in Minnesota’s offense. His team has a bye in Week 13, but he will return with exhibition games on the road against the Raiders and Bengals. It’s great that he remains available in 52% of Yahoo leagues.
Antonio Gibson deserves a look at deeper leagues after returning from a one-game absence due to injury. He has caught 18 passes in the last four games and his offensive services will likely be needed in the upcoming game against Miami. Gibson matched Brian Robinson’s snaps on Thanksgiving and played on almost every third down.
Roshon Johnson is on the way to his bye, so he won’t be there in Week 13. But he shared backcourt touches with Khalil Herbert on Monday night and looked like his usual versatile, bulldozing self. He is likely to continue to play an important role in the last few weeks.
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Rico Dowdle made the most of a light workload on Thursday, gaining 26 yards on four touches against Washington and delivering the game’s first touchdown. He remains a priority RB understudy behind Tony Pollard.
Ezekiel Elliott He managed 11 touches on Sunday, giving him 26 in New England’s last two games. The Pats have two favorable matchups on board (LAC, at PIT). So if Zeke sees a respectable workload, he’s worth a look.
Samaje Perine was pretty lively on Sunday, rushing for an early three-yard score and finishing the game with 66 scrimmage yards on eight touches. He will be in the neutral position in Week 13 against Houston. Perine is quietly on pace for a 60-catch season, so he has some PPR appeal.
Wide receivers and tight ends
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (48% on roster)
In a game marked by the long-awaited resurgence of Christian Watson, Reed actually led all Green Bay receivers in scoring (eight) and reached the end zone for the sixth time this season.
Reed simply never takes a week off. The fact that it continues to be so prevalent is, quite frankly, a huge fantasy scandal. Reed probably should be the most heavily featured Packers receiver, but here we are, praising him again. He currently leads his team in receiving yards (497) and is second in catches (36) and touchdowns (six). He’s good at football, guys.
If Reed is still not represented in your league, please resolve the situation immediately. He has several attractive matchups coming up, including games against the Giants, Bucs and Panthers in Weeks 14-16.
Recommended FAB, on a budget of $100: $20
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (48%)
As we all expected, the OC move in Pittsburgh immediately led to a huge increase in the workload for Jaylen Warren George Pickens Freiermuth. After seeing a modest workload in his first game off IR a week ago, Freiermuth became the focal point of the Steelers’ passing game against the Bengals. He scored nine of 11 for 120 yards, all team highs in a game that was (predictably) short on imagination. Pittsburgh no longer has an away game on the schedule, so Freiermuth is back in the top 10 at his position for the rest of the season.
Fabulous: $15
Other priority WRs and TEs
Curtis Samuel set season highs in all important things on Thursday, securing nine receptions for an even 100 yards on 12 targets against the Cowboys. It was the fifth time he’s seen at least six goals in his last eight games, so the volume isn’t usually a cause for concern.
Another week, another six catches on a scoreless afternoon Demario Douglas. Despite his team’s abysmal QB situation, he is a solid player in PPR-only leagues.
Gerald Everett has struggled with injuries this season, but when healthy he’s definitely useful. Everett scored all four of his goals Sunday night and scored the team’s only touchdown. Next up is the Pats.
Jalin Hyatt is about to get his bye, so he won’t be able to help you anytime soon, but we should definitely note his first 100-yard performance as a pro. Hyatt was an electric receiver at the college level, the 2022 Biletnikoff winner. When targets finally start streaming his way, he’ll make a whole lot of fantasy noise.
Please keep this in mind when chasing touchdowns at tight end Tyler Higbee made two home visits on Sunday. However, his upcoming matchups against Cleveland and Baltimore are going to be pretty brutal, so we’re not prepared to overhype any of Los Angeles’ secondary weapons at this point.
Every Saints receiver ahead AT Perry The Saints’ squad is currently dealing with an injury, so the 6’3″ rookie from Wake Forest will see some scoring against the Lions. Do what you feel best with this information. Please proceed with caution.
Juwan Johnson just scored a season-high seven goals, and he’ll feel even more of a workload next week given New Orleans State’s current receiving corps.
Quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts (16%)
You better believe we’ll bounce back with Minshew, a player we touted last week. This man is a [expletive] Party. Whenever Minshew eventually retires, he’ll go straight to the Fantasy Streamer Hall of Fame. No waiting time.
Minshew gave us 251 passing yards and his third rushing score of the season in a friendly against the Bucs on Sunday. He has another inviting matchup against Tennessee in Week 13. You don’t have to think too much if you need a QB on short notice. Minshew is the guy who gets to throw to Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs, which is a good way to make a living.
Fabulous: $5
Additional QB cleared for use
Matthew Stafford is coming off a four-touchdown game against the Cardinals in which he completed 25 of 33 attempts for 229 yards. His upcoming matchup against Cleveland is pretty scary, but please note that Myles Garrett, the Browns’ game-winning defensive end, left Week 12 with a shoulder injury. Stafford is capable of producing a multi-score game any time his receiving corps is at or near full strength.
Kenny Pickett has only thrown two touchdown passes since September, so it’s fair to view him as slightly less than a high-ceiling fantasy option. The most likely output for Pickett in a given week is around 165 scoreless yards. We should recognize, however, that in the first game of the post-Matt Canada era, Pittsburgh managed 421 total yards, 268 of which came through the air. Pickett will face a user-friendly Arizona defense next week, so maybe he can, um… [shrugs sheepishly] …do something positive.
Jake Browning has Ja’Marr Chase on his side and a decent matchup with Jacksonville, the league’s No. 29 pass defense. He’s a good flyer for the truly desperate. I hope that’s not you.
Defense/Special Teams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31%)
Tampa Bay’s defense certainly has its weaknesses in reality, but this group has actually forced a respectable number of takeaways this season (16) while also generating 29 sacks. For fantasy purposes, the Bucs D has proven useful situationally. Over the next two weeks, this unit plays two divisional exhibition games against weak quarterbacks, hosts Carolina and then travels to Atlanta. Keep the Bucs in your streaming/DFS plans.
Fabulous: $1
The Rams are coming off a four-sack win and are preparing to take on the weak quarterback the Browns are bringing in in Week 13. It’s clearly a lineup that’s crying out for multiple takeaways and another 3-5 sacks. However, there is no reason to continue this D beyond the upcoming matchup as they travel to Baltimore in Week 14.
Fabulous: $1