By Winsto (11/26/2024)
There are a few names here to consider for Week 13 and beyond. This week has ZERO teams on a Bye, so the names below are more for deep league additions.
(The following players are rostered by less than 50% according to Yahoo Fantasy.)
QUARTERBACK
Russel Wilson (QB-Pittsburgh)–This is the 3rd week in a row I am including him in this column. For a Bye week replacement and beyond, Wilson has value here. Yes, he did not fair particularly well against a vulnerable Baltimore secondary in Week 11. He also did not light up Cleveland’s defense in Week 12, though the wintry conditions played a role in that. As a Steelers fan told me, he had not seen the Steelers offense look this competent since the Ben Roethlisberger-headed offense of years past. Since taking over as the starting QB, he is averaging 242.4 yards passing, 1.4 passing TDs, 0.2 rushing TD, and 0.8 turnovers. His remaining schedule, aside from Philadelphia, is quite generous to QB fantasy points. Moon shots to George Pickens (WR), Calvin Austin (WR), and recently added Mike Williams (WR) will happen.
Trevor Lawrence (QB-Jacksonville)–Despite having what many would consider a disappointing season, Lawrence has not been all bad. He has only had 1 game this season without a TD, and he has had multiple TDS (passing or rushing) in 4 of his last 5 games before he was injured. he should be returning this week, and there is no stingy pass defense remaining on his schedule.
Will Levis??? (QB-Tennessee)–Look, I do not feel strongly about this, but the stats do not lie. In his last 3 games since returning from injury, Levis is averaging 249.3 yards passing, 1.7 passing TDs, 23 yards rushing, and 1 turnover per game. That is interesting. What makes him even more interesting is his remaining schedule: Washington, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, and Houston. I mean, those are some very generous secondaries to the QB.
Derek Carr??? (QB-New Orleans)–Since returning from his injury, over the past 3 games, Carr is averaging 251 yards passing, 1.7 passing TDs, and 0 turnovers. Who knew that the recipe is to throw it deep to Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR)? Aside from a later matchup against Green Bay, none of the remaining secondaries Carr will be facing are shy-away worthy.
RUNNING BACK
Tank Bigsby (Jacksonville)–Interestingly, Bigsby’s ownership has fallen below 50%. He had seen 7 or more carries in every full game he has played since Week 4. He has a 5.5 YPC (compared to Travis Etienne’s 4 YPC) on the season. In addition, Jacksonville has faced a rough stretch of solid defenses versus the run in recent weeks. After Houston in Week 13, the remaining defenses are not overly scary (Tennessee, New York Jets, Las Vegas, Tennessee, and Indianapolis.)
Roschon Johnson (Chicago)–Johnson’s usage is pretty unpredictable based on the last few weeks, but he does seem to see opportunities in the Red Zone, with a rushing TD in each of his last 2 games. Thus, he is more a TD or bust add.
Gus Edwards (Los Angeles Chargers)–This is somewhat dependent on the status of J.K. Dobbins (RB), as he left the game against Baltimore in Week 12. If Dobbins were to miss time, Edwards should get more opportunities, especially in short-yardage / goal line situations. That said, I would still not expect more than 15 carries in a game, even if Dobbins were to miss. What is also not really in Edwards’s favor is his next two defenses (Atlanta and Kansas City), who are strong against the run.
Handcuffs—These are players, rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo, who I would grab if I had the space. They have little to no standalone value, but each could be a legitimate RB1 or RB2 if the opportunity presented itself. This is the order I would rank them as of now.
Blake Corum (LAR)
Trey Benson (Ari)
Zach Charbonnet (Sea)
Jordan Mason (SF)
Braelon Allen (NYJ)–Curiously, New York just signed former Jet Zonovan Knight (RB) to the practice squad. This could be nothing, but it could be something.
Kenny Gainwell (Phi)–Bucky Irving would probably be involved as well, so I would not expect a workload like Barkley receives.
Ray Davis (Buf)–Ty Johnson would probably be involved as well if something were to happen to Cook.
Jaylen Wright (Mia)–It does seem like Wright has overtaken Mostert as the primary back-up here.
WIDE RECEIVER
Adam Thielen (Carolina)–Remember that he had a 1,000-yard receiving year in 2023 with Bryce Young (QB)? Diontae Johnson (WR-Bal) is now gone. He has been activated off the IR. Someone has to catch the ball in Carolina, right? He had 57 yards receiving against Kansas City in Week 12 despite only playing 61% of the snaps. I expect that snap count to increase down the stretch. While Carolina will still try to develop their younger receivers (Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker), I still think Thielen has the most to offer among this receiver group. He is someone who will see targets down the stretch, especially with Tampa Bay (twice) and Atlanta on the remaining schedule.
Keon Coleman (Buffalo)–He was showing signs of life (14 targets, 195 receiving yards, and 1 TD) in the two games prior to the Miami game in Week 09 and has missed the last two weeks. Coming out of the Bye, I would expect him to function as decent WR3 down the stretch.
Alec Pierce (Ind)—I am not sure when Josh Downs (WR) will return, as he is week-to-week. Until then, the target tree should be narrower, and Pierce should benefit. The question is whether or not he and Anthony Richardson (QB) can connect.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Tennessee)–SIX TDs receiving in his last seven games. The down side is he has only had more than 2 receptions in 2 of those 7 games. That is difficult to both ignore and trust at the same time. He has also been on the field over 80% of the snaps since Week 08, so there is that. The remaining schedule is favorable. Basically, he is a risky Flex option, but he is an option.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (New Orleans)–In his two games with the Saints, he has 5 total receptions for (checks notes) 196 yards and 3 TDs. This has all the looks of unsustainability, but Derek Carr has to throw to someone, right? The remaining schedule is nothing to shy away from.
As for the Green Bay wide receivers, particularly Christian Watson and Dontayvon Wicks, as it is looking like Romeo Doubs will be missing this week, I am not jumping at the prospects for any of them to amass fantasy points against Miami’s defense, which gives up the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in the league.
TIGHT END
Hunter Henry (New England)–Is he scoring a plethora of TDs? No, no he is not—he has 1 TD on the season. Is he 6th amongst all TEs in receiving yards? Yes! Drake Maye has shown a solid connection with Henry, as Henry has seen no fewer than 4 targets since Week 04. Indianapolis, his next opponent, has given up the 5th most fantasy points to the TE. Just understand that this is more of a floor play than a ceiling play.
Noah Gray (Kansas City)–Meanwhile, this is entirely a ceiling play with virtually no floor. I mean, 4 TDs in the last two games is not something we can simply dismiss. In addition, this is with 8 receptions for 89 yards on 9 targets. That said, he has about a 13% target share during those two games. Also, in his previous 9 games, he totaled 19 receptions for 226 scoreless receiving yards. In his last 6 games (since KC’s Bye), his playing time is about 65%, which is decent. Adding Gray and playing him is rolling the dice. But, Week 13’s opponent, Las Vegas, gives up the 3rd most fantasy points to the TE.
Cole Kmet (Chicago)–This is more about whether or not you believe Caleb Williams (QB) is starting to put it together. Kmet saw 10 targets in Week 12, tied for 2nd amongst Chicago’s pass catchers. The downside here is that his next 4 games are against particularly stingy defenses against the TE.
IDP
Nazeeh Johnson (DB-Kansas City)–Seeing 90% or more of the snaps over the past 3 weeks, Johnson has amassed 26 total tackles (16 solo and 10 assts), 1 sack, and 1 PD. As long as Kansas City sticks with him as injured CB Jaylen Watson’s (sigh) replacement, there will be opportunities for fantasy production, especially when teams tend to shy away from throwing to his teammate, Trent McDuffie (CB).