Happy Thanksgiving Week! Before we get to which players to add and drop, let’s go over a few adds and drops for Thanksgiving dinner.
Look, I realize a lot of you are traditionalists. But do you really want to die on Turkey Hill? There’s no protein you’d rather have featured in one of the most festive dinners you’ll eat all year?
Let’s drop turkey and add beef wellington. I’ll take delicious beef tenderloin in a nice flaky pastry over a dry, overcooked turkey every time.
We also need to make an add/drop maneuver with sides.
Stuffing is great if it’s done right. My mom’s stuffing is spectacular. She follows my grandma’s time-tested recipe, and it’s amazing. But let’s face it: About 80% of stuffing is trash. The store-bought stuff out of a box is inedible, and a lot of the people who make stuffing on their own are using bad recipes.
Let’s drop stuffing and add mac and cheese. Some families already have mac and cheese at Thanksgiving every year. The families that don’t eat mac and cheese at Thanksgiving are jealous, even if they won’t admit it. I mean, c’mon. Who’s gonna argue with mac and cheese as a side? (Sound of crickets chirping)
Now, we turn our attention to vegetables. For a lot of families, green bean casserole is a Thanksgiving staple. It isn’t bad if it’s done right, with a lot of those crispy onion bits. But we can do better than green beans rinsed in cream of mushroom soup, can’t we, folks?
We’re going to drop green bean casserole and add Brussels sprouts — the vegetable that eats like a carb. Brussels sprouts with just the right amount of char and a balsamic drizzle are simply amazing.
And finally, we turn our attention to dessert. Pumpkin pie, you’re pleasant enough once a year, but you’re on the chopping block.
Sweet potato pie is similar to pumpkin pie, but sweeter and tastier. Sweet potato pie, you’re in. Pumpkin pie, hit the bricks.
Now that we’ve got your Thanksgiving dinner straightened out, let’s get to work on your fantasy football teams.
(One quick note before we start: TE Will Dissly and WRs Quentin Johnston and Romeo Doubs barely missed our cutoff for inclusion in this article but should absolutely be rostered unless your league is ultra-shallow.)
- More Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice: Week 13
(Rostership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues, Recommended FAAB bids are based on a $100 budget.)
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings
Note: Players chosen based upon having early-week consensus roster percent below 50%.
Week 13 Waiver Grade: F
RUNNING BACKS
Written by Bo McBrayer
Gus Edwards (LAC): 24% rostered
- Next Opponents: @ATL, @KC, TB
- True value: $11
- Desperate Need: $19
- Budget-minded: $6
Analysis: With J.K. Dobbins sustaining a knee injury of unknown severity Monday night against the Ravens, Edwards becomes the top RB target in this week’s waiver run. Edwards is a 29-year-old plodder who doesn’t offer much as a pass catcher, but he’s in line for significant rushing volume if Dobbins misses significant time. Even if the Chargers let rookie Kimani Vidal take some of the load, there are plenty of carries to go around under Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who oversees the sixth run-heaviest offense in the league. One word of caution: The Chargers face some good run defenses in the coming weeks. And obviously, you’ll want to check for the latest injury update on Dobbins before finalizing a bid on the Gus Bus.
Ameer Abdullah (LV): 24% rostered
- Next Opponents: @KC, @TB, ATL
- True value: $9
- Desperate Need: $16
- Budget-minded: $5
Analysis: The problem with bidding on Abdullah in Week 13 is that we are chasing last week’s points. On the other hand, the veteran scatback should at least see decent work as a receiver in Kansas City. It was his receiving touchdown that helped him pay off as our lowest-priced waiver addition last week. Keep tabs on the practice logs for Alexander Mattison and Zamir White. If they can’t return this week, Abdullah will be playable once again in Week 13.
Tank Bigsby (JAX): 39% rostered
- Next Opponents: HOU, @TEN, NYJ
- True value: $7
- Desperate Need: $13
- Budget-minded: $4
Analysis: We sure had fun during that wonderful stretch in October when Bigsby blessed us with a pair of RB1 performances. Jacksonville is coming off a bye, and Bigsby should be back from an ankle injury. But the Jaguars are no closer to figuring out their running back rotation. Travis Etienne is having a massive letdown season and was ghastly in Detroit in Week 11 with the backfield to himself. The upcoming schedule does not support the idea of more great fantasy upside for Bigsby, but he’s certainly worthy of a waiver addition as the best pure runner the Jaguars have.
Jeremy McNichols (WAS): 1% rostered
- Next Opponents: TEN, BYE, @NO
- True value: $5
- Desperate Need: $9
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Brian Robinson Jr. returned to play on Sunday after his ankle was rolled up on, but it’s not a lock that he’ll be ready for Week 13. Austin Ekeler got absolutely smoked on a kickoff return and was ushered woozily to the sideline. The next man up is journeyman Jeremy McNichols, a versatile player when healthy himself. There’s a chance McNichols will play a leading role in Week 13, and at minimum he figures to be No. 2 in the Washington backfield if Robinson is able to suit up. McNichols has 44 carries for 217 yards and four touchdowns this season and is averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
Tyjae Spears (TEN): 40% rostered
- Next Opponents: @WSH, JAX, CIN
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $7
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Injuries have robbed us of an exciting sophomore season from Tyjae Spears. The Tulane alum is a nice complementary back to Tony Pollard, but it’s Pollard who has shined throughout 2024. Tennessee’s identity is based on a strong running game and opportunistic defense. If Spears can stay on the playing field, he’ll face some juicy matchups leading into the fantasy playoffs.
Kimani Vidal (LAC): 2% rostered
- Next Opponents: @ATL, @KC, TB
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: If the knee injury that J.K. Dobbins sustained on Monday night keeps him out for a while, Vidal might just make an impact as a rookie after all. If Dobbins were to miss time, Vidal would be the backup to veteran Gus Edwards. But the 29-year-old Edwards probably couldn’t handle a hefty snap share, and he doesn’t catch passes, so Vidal could have opportunities. Troy University’s all-time leading rusher, Vidal has surprising speed and good contact balance. It’s worth making a small speculative bid on him in case the rest of your league is asleep at the wheel.
RB Stash Candidates:
Trey Benson has been among the more useful running backs on the stash list. He backs up oft-injured veteran James Conner and has looked sharp in his limited reps. Benson racked up 18 yards on four carries in Week 12. His role isn’t big enough for you to consider starting him, but Benson offers plenty of promise as a bench stash.
I’ve always felt that the Seahawks should give Zach Charbonnet a larger role in tandem with Kenneth Walker. Six carries a game and the occasional checkdown pass aren’t a good reflection of how talented Charbonnet is. Walker’s playing style is rough-and-tumble, so it’s conceivable we get a situation where Charbonnet’s workload suddenly ramps up and he thrives in a bigger role.
There are bell cows, and then there are total eclipses. Kyren Williams blots out the sunshine in the Rams’ backfield. This is especially puzzling when Williams is among the least efficient ball carriers in the NFL. Blake Corum cannot earn more opportunities to showcase his talents without an injury to the starter. If that ever happened, Corum would bear the brunt of that workload admirably.
Good teams handle their game plans with careful foresight into matchups. The Bills are not afraid to use Ray Davis when they feel they can muscle their opponent with a physical running game. Despite his angry run against the Chiefs in Week 11, that isn’t really James Cook‘s style. It will be difficult to gauge when Davis will get more than 20% of the offensive snaps. If he does, good things will happen.
I consider Roschon Johnson a frustrating piece of the 2024 fantasy football season. His usage has been a roller coaster. He’s had double-digit touches only three times this season but has assumed a shaky role as Chicago’s goal line thumper. Those six rushing touchdowns have mostly been met with, “Really?!” It’s fine to keep Johnson at the ready, but I fear we’ll be face-in-hands going forward when he falls into the end zone to boost our reserve score.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Written by Pat Fitzmaurice
Keon Coleman (BUF): 43% rostered
- Next Opponents: SF, @LAR, @DET
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $7
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: A wrist injury kept Coleman out of action in the two games before the Bills’ Week 11 bye. But in Weeks 7-8, Coleman had 9-195-1 on 14 targets and looked like a rising star. The 6-foot-4 Coleman is a dangerous big-play threat who’s averaging 19.0 yards per catch and 11.6 yards per target. Coleman has to share targets with Khalil Shakir, Amari Cooper and Dalton Kincaid, but star QB Josh Allen is the high tide that lifts all ships in the Buffalo offense. Coleman’s Week 13 matchup against the 49ers isn’t very enticing, but then he gets matchup against the Rams, Lions and Patriots. The Rams had allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to wide receivers going into Week 13, the Lions the eighth-most, and the Patriots the 11th-most. It’s possible Coleman takes another step forward late in his rookie season, and if that happens, you’ll want to be along for the ride.
Noah Brown (WSH): 10% rostered
- Next Opponents: TEN, BYE, @NO
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $6
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Noah Brown has a team-high 27 targets over the Commanders’ last four games — 10 more than teammate Terry McLaurin over that span. Brown’s 10 targets in Washington’s wild 34-26 loss to Dallas on Sunday amounted to a 26.3% target share and yielded 6-71-0. Brown’s Week 13 matchup against the Titans is a tough one. Tennessee has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers and has allowed the fifth-fewest yards per route run (1.35), per Fantasy Points Data. But with pass-catching RB Austin Ekeler likely to be out after sustaining a concussion on Sunday, Brown figures to once again play a prominent role in the Washington passing game.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (NO): 24% rostered
- Next Opponents: LAR, @NYG, WSH
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: We’re not going to fall for this, are we? Just when Valdes-Scantling lures us in with a few big games, he’ll pull the ol’ exploding wide receiver trick on us. Surely we don’t want to spend our precious FAAB dollars on this. Well, I suppose there’s a case to be made for MVS, though that case is admittedly a bit flimsy. Over his last two games, Valdes-Scantling has turned a mere seven targets into 5-196-3. That’s an average of 39.2 yards per catch and 28.0 yards per target. Easily sustainable, right? (Eye roll) But here’s the thing: The Saints’ WR room has been decimated. Rashid Shaheed is out for the year with a knee injury. Chris Olave is out with a concussion and may or may not return this season. Valdes-Scantling is now the designated deep threat for Saints QB Derek Carr, and MVS is about to face the Rams and Giants, who give up some big plays through the air. The Rams are allowing 14.7 yards per catch to WRs and have given up 13 TD catches to WRs. And as my colleague Derek Brown noted in last week’s installment of the Primer, the Giants entered Week 12 having allowed the eighth-most deep passing yards per game, a perfect passer rating (158.3) on deep passes, and the highest adjusted completion rate in deep passes. It’s entirely possible we’ll see MVS haul in a few more long ones in the coming weeks.
Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG): 47% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DAL, NO, BAL
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Much more valuable in PPR leagues than in standard scoring leagues, Robinson gobbles up receptions but offers only modest yardage and TD totals. Robinson has 61 receptions on the season and is on pace for 94. Yet, he’s scored only two touchdowns and is on pace for just 682 receiving yards. He’s averaging 7.2 yards per catch and 5.0 yards per target. Those are the types of numbers you normally see from running backs, not wide receivers. But in PPR leagues, all those empty-calorie receptions have some benefit. The Giants face some wobbly pass defenses in the coming weeks, so Robinson might be worth adding in PPR formats.
DeMario Douglas (NE): 31% rostered
- Next Opponents: IND, BYE, @ARI
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Douglas is the AFC version of Wan’Dale Robinson, piling up receptions without offering much in the way of receiving yardage or touchdowns. Douglas drew seven targets against the Dolphins on Sunday and had five catches for a team-high 62 yards. For the season, he has 48 catches for 477 yards and one touchdown. Douglas offers fantasy managers in PPR leagues a sturdy weekly floor. But his ceiling is only slightly higher than you’d find in a crawlspace. Douglas has produced fewer than 60 receiving yards in 10 of his 12 games this season, and he has one touchdown in 26 career games with the Patriots. Consider adding Douglass in full-point PPR leagues only.
Adam Thielen (CAR): 25% rostered
- Next Opponents: TB, @PHI, DAL
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: The Panthers showed Thielen some veteran deference on Sunday by deactivating promising rookie slot receiver Jalen Coker ahead of Thielen’s first game back from a hamstring injury. Thielen saw four targets against the Chiefs and had three catches for 57 yards. On one hand, Thielen is 34 and playing in one of the least potent passing attacks in the league. On the other hand, it’s worth remembering that heading into the week of Thanksgiving a year ago, Thielen was WR10 in PPR fantasy scoring, averaging 9.7 targets and 7.6 catches per game. With Coker brushed aside, Thielen is back to being Carolina’s slot receiver, and there might be at least a little bit of fantasy value to that role.
Xavier Legette (CAR): 27% rostered
- Next Opponents: TB, @PHI, DAL
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Although Legette has yet to enter fantasy managers’ circle of trust, it might not be long before he’s admitted. The rookie had another solid game on Sunday, with four catches for 56 yards against a Kansas City defense that’s been tough on outside receivers this season. Legette has scored four touchdowns and he’s had at least three receptions in four consecutive games. In deep leagues, Legette might be playable this week against a Buccaneers defense that has yielded the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (TEN): 12% rostered
- Next Opponents: @WSH, JAX, CIN
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: With his 38-yard TD catch in the Titans’ Week 12 upset of the Texans, Westbrook-Ikhine has scored a touchdown in six of his last seven games. He’s done it despite drawing no more than six targets in any game this season. In fact, Westbrook-Ikhine has only 30 targets and 17 receptions all year. He’s scored a touchdown on 35.3% of his catches and 20.0% of his targets. We can’t encourage you to chase this kind of production, because that would be irresponsible. But nor can we tell you that this type of production is unsustainable, because … well, because Westbrook-Ikhine has sustained it for nearly two months. You probably won’t be interested in starting Westbrook-Ikhine this week with all 32 teams in action and no one on bye. But when we get a six-team bye week in Week 14, Westbrook-Ikhine will conveniently be facing the flammable Jacksonville defense. That seems like a reasonable spot to use an enigmatic receiver with a nose for the end zone.
Devaughn Vele (DEN): 5% rostered
- Next Opponents: CLE, BYE, IND
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Broncos’ WR corps has been an unpredictable mishmash beyond No. 1 receiver Courtland Sutton for most of the season. But seventh-round rookie Devaughn Vele seems to be staking a claim on the No. 2 role. Sunday against the Raiders, Vele played 44 snaps, ran 31 routes and had nine targets. (Hat tip to PFF’s Nate Jahnke for the snap and route data.) Sutton was the only Denver receiver who surpassed Vele in those categories. Vele finished with six catches for a season-high 80 yards. Although Vele has scored only one touchdown this season, his 6-foot-5 frame suggests that he could become a formidable red-zone threat.
QUARTERBACKS
Written by Bo McBrayer
Drake Maye (NE): 19% rostered
- Next Opponents: IND, BYE, @ARI
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $7
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: The top rookie quarterbacks have been really impressive this season. Perhaps none of them have done more with less around them than Maye. Though he has only topped 20 fantasy points once this season, he has offered a safe floor through the efficacy of his running. Maye is a decent streamer in Week 13 against a Colts defense that has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Russell Wilson (PIT): 36% rostered
- Next Opponents: @CIN, CLE, @PHI
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: The Wilson bubble has popped. His early fantasy success has all but dried up, with only 20 fantasy points combined over the last two games. Why add Russ for Week 13? The Bengals have struggled to defend against big plays in the downfield passing game. Fire up Wilson and George Pickens again. It shouldn’t hurt as much as it did against the Ravens in Week 11.
Cooper Rush (DAL): 5% rostered
- Next Opponents: NYG, CIN, @CAR
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $3
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Before you freak out, let me explain. Rush isn’t great, nor are the Dallas Cowboys. Rush has, however, scored enough fantasy points in the last two games to be on the cusp of QB1 and upper QB2 territory. The Cowboys don’t face another decent pass defense until Week 17 in Philly. Giddyup! It’s certifiably crazy, but some of us will be streaming Rush in 1QB leagues right into a fantasy championship. I can’t think of a better storybook ending to this Shakespearean tragedy for the Cowboys’ fantasy weaponry.
Jameis Winston (CLE): 15% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DEN, @PIT, KC
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: These are the murky depths that might be the only option for us sickos who stream quarterbacks weekly. Winston is the most fun (and frustrating) signal caller in the sport. The Browns have been an entirely different team (in a good way) since Winston took the reins. For fantasy managers, it will require some serious intestinal fortitude to roll out Jameis against some of the nastiest passing-game matchups imaginable. This is doubly true in the pivotal weeks leading into the fantasy playoffs.
TIGHT ENDS
Written by Pat Fitzmaurice
Zach Ertz (WSH): 48% rostered
- Next Opponents: TEN, BYE, @NO
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Zach Ertz turned 34 earlier this month, and now that he’s in the twilight of his career, Ertz has become a textbook example of a catch-and-fall-down tight end. Once a playmaker who had a 1,163-yard season in 2018, Ertz now offers little big-play potential. The thing is, Ertz is catching and falling down a lot these days. He has 49 catches for 466 yards and three touchdowns. Ertz has had six receptions and a touchdown in each of his last two games. And with Commanders RB Austin Ekeler likely to be sidelined with a concussion in Week 13, Ertz will have little competition for Jayden Daniels‘ short-range targets. Ertz looks like a low-end TE1 for Week 13, which makes him worthy of a bid if you’re hurting at the TE position.
Noah Gray (KC): 4% rostered
- Next Opponents: LV, LAC, CLE
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: A week ago, we had Gray listed in the Fool’s Gold section of this article. We’re buying in now, although the buy-in is at least partly schedule-related. Gray has scored four touchdowns over the last two weeks, with two against the Bills in Week 11 and two against the Panthers in Week 12. Gray dwells in Travis Kelce‘s shadow and hasn’t seen more than five targets in a game this season, but Gray’s receptions are becoming increasingly impactful. After taking advantage of a Carolina defense that has given up the most fantasy points to tight ends, Gray now gets a Week 13 date with a Las Vegas defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends. Gray is a viable streaming option this week.
Cole Kmet (CHI): 47% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DET, @SF, @MIN
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: After temporarily losing his way, rookie QB Caleb Williams has gathered himself and put together a couple of good games in a row for the Bears, making Kmet a reasonable TE option yet again. Kmet had three catches for 42 yards against the Packers in Week 11, then had seven catches for 64 yards Sunday against the Vikings. Kmet is a good player. The problem with picking him up is that his next two games come against the Lions and 49ers, teams that have been tough on opposing tight ends this season. The Lions have allowed the fewest fantasy points to TEs.
Mike Gesicki (CIN): 18% rostered
- Next Opponents: PIT, @DAL, @TEN
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Gesicki had two targets and zero catches in the Bengals’ last game before a Week 12 bye. But over a three-game stretch from Week 9 to Week 11, Gesicki had 23 targets, 16 catches, 203 yards and two touchdowns, making him the TE5 in fantasy scoring over that stretch. Tee Higgins‘ return from a hamstring injury diminishes Gesicki’s target outlook, but Gesicki is still a capable pass catcher tied to Joe Burrow, one of the best pure passers in the game.
DEFENSES
Written by Pat Fitzmaurice
Los Angeles Rams: 23% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NO, BUF, @SF
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Let’s start with the disclaimer that this is a bad week to stream a defense. There are no highly appealing options among the defenses currently rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. One of the appealing things about the Rams is that this has been a red-hot fantasy D. Going into their Sunday-night game against the Eagles, the Rams’ D had averaged 11.8 fantasy points over its last six games. The Rams have forced multiple turnovers in four of their last six games. They have a decent Week 13 matchup against the Saints, who are undermanned at the WR position without injured WRs Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. One word of caution: If the Saints take a run-heavy approach with RB Alvin Kamara and TE/RB/QB hybrid Taysom Hill, it will be hard for the Rams to score fantasy points because sack and interception opportunities will be reduced.
Dallas Cowboys: 28% rostered
- Next Opponents: NYG, CIN, @CAR
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: We won’t try to sell you on the quality of the Dallas defense. The appeal here is a Thanksgiving Day matchup against a turkey of an offense. The Cowboys host the Giants, whose offense sputtered Sunday against the Buccaneers in QB Tommy DeVito‘s first start of the season. The Giants produced only seven points and 245 yards, with DeVito taking four sacks.
Los Angeles Chargers: 40% rostered
- Next Opponents: @ATL, @KC, TB
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Entering Week 13, the Chargers’ defense ranked ninth in DVOA and fifth in fantasy points per game with 8.9. The Chargers face a slumping Atlanta offense that has scored 23 points over its last two games, with Falcons QB Kirk Cousins throwing two interceptions and taking six sacks over that stretch.
New York Giants: 5% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DAL, NO, BAL
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Giants-Cowboys probably won’t be one of the more memorable Thanksgiving Day games we’ve ever seen. The ineptitude of these two offenses might make for some unsightly football, but it’s a good game in which to stream a defense. Going into Week 13, the Cowboys had allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses.
New York Jets: 45% rostered
- Next Opponents: SEA, @MIA, @JAX
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: This defense has really underachieved this season, but the Jets have a lot of defensive talent, and they have a favorable Week 13 matchup against the Seahawks, who had allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses going into Week 13.
Green Bay Packers: 47% rostered
- Next Opponents: MIA, @DET, @SEA
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Green Bay defense had 17 takeaways in its first six games, then went into a short turnover slump before forcing the 49ers into three turnovers on Sunday. The Packers host the Dolphins on Thanksgiving night. Miami isn’t really an offense you’d normally look to stream a defense against as long as QB Tua Tagovailoa is healthy. But Miami is obviously a warm-weather team, so the Dolphins will be out of their element when they play outdoors in frigid Green Bay on a late-November night. The gametime temperature is expected to be around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s possible the Dolphins’ offense won’t operating at peak efficiency in the chilly weather.
DEF Stash Candidates:
- Atlanta Falcons
- Arizona Cardinals
- Indianapolis Colts
A lot of fantasy managers are looking to get a head start on playoff preparations by stashing a defense with a favorable schedule in Weeks 15-17. There are no widely available fantasy defenses that have excellent matchups in all three of those weeks, but as Meatloaf once sang, two outta three ain’t bad. The Atlanta Falcons get a favorable matchup against the Raiders in Week 15 and another against the Giants in Week 16 before running into the Commanders in Week 17. The Atlanta defense hasn’t scored more than 6 points in a game since Week 4, but the Falcons’ D should be able to put up points against the feeble offenses of the Raiders and Giants.
Like the Falcons, the Arizona Cardinals have attractive matchups in Weeks 15 and Week 16, going up against the Patriots and Panthers. Unlike the Falcons, the Cardinals have actually been a pretty good fantasy defense this season, averaging 7.7 fantasy points a game and hitting double digits in each of their last three games.
The Indianapolis Colts don’t have an especially good matchup in Week 15, when they face the Broncos, but they have desirable matchups in Weeks 16-17 against the Titans and Giants. The Indianapolis defense is middle of the pack in fantasy scoring, but the Colts turned in a respectable performance in Week 12, holding a powerful Detroit offense to 253 yards of offense and 24 points.
KICKERS
Written by Pat Fitzmaurice
Tyler Bass (BUF): 43 rostered
- Next Opponents: SF, @LAR, @DET
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Bass is averaging 9.0 fantasy points per game and has produced double-digit point totals in three of his last five contests. He’s 10-of-10 on FG tries over his last five games. And obviously, one of the most appealing things about Bass is that he’s tethered to the high-powered Buffalo offense.
Spencer Shrader (KC): 36% rostered
- Next Opponents: LV, LAC, @CLE
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Continuing to fill in for the injured Harrison Butker, Shrader made 3-of-3 field goals and 3-of-3 extra points Sunday against the Panthers, knocking home a game-winning 31-yard FG as time expired. Shrader has a favorable Week 13 matchup against the Raiders, who are allowing 10.9 fantasy points per game to opposing kickers.
Chase McLaughlin (TB): 30% rostered
- Next Opponents: @CAR, LV, @LAC
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: McLaughlin has been steady all season, averaging 8.7 fantasy points per game. He’s 17-of-18 on field goals and 32-of-34 on extra points. McLaughlin will next face the Panthers, who entered Week 12 having allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to kickers.
Matt Gay (IND): 18% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NE, BYE, @DEN
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Gay had scored eight or more fantasy points in eight straight games before Week 12, when he was held to a pair of field goals in the Colts’ 24-6 loss to the Lions. Although the Indianapolis offense didn’t make it into the end zone Sunday against a tough Detroit defense, the Colts have looked more potent since QB Anthony Richardson‘s return from a two-game benching. Gay is a reasonable streaming option this week in a good matchup against the Patriots.
FOOL’S GOLD
Calvin Austin III had 78 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Steelers’ snowy Thursday-night loss to the Browns, but he did his damage on only three targets. Austin is averaging 3.3 targets a game for the run-heavy Steelers — not the sort of usage you can hang your hat on.
Austin Hooper had four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Dolphins. Hooper hasn’t drawn more than five targets in a game all season. Hunter Henry is still the only fantasy-relevant tight end in New England, and even Henry has had trouble generating consistent production.
A spare part in a lackluster Carolina offense, David Moore hadn’t scored a touchdown or produced more than 40 receiving yards in a game all season before erupting for 6-81-1 Sunday against the Chiefs. At best, Moore is the No. 3 pass-catching option behind Xavier Legette and Adam Thielen in one of the NFL’s least productive passing attacks. No thanks.
Over the last two weeks, Cowboys TE Luke Schoonmaker has had nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Schoonmaker is getting extra snaps while TE Jake Ferguson is sidelined with a concussion. There’s a good chance Ferguson comes back this week, in which case Schoonmaker goes back to irrelevance. Even if Ferguson misses another game, it’s hard to imagine being tempted to use Schoonmaker when he’s tied to a backup quarterback, in a week when there are no teams on bye.
DROP RECOMMENDATIONS
Droppable:
- Jonathon Brooks
- Raheem Mostert
In his long-awaited NFL debut, Panthers rookie Jonathon Brooks played five snaps and had two carries for seven yards. There’s simply no reason for the Panthers to use Brooks heavily when he’s coming off a major knee injury and the team is going nowhere. We know you had high hopes for him, but it’s time to throw in the towel.
We’re moving Raheem Mostert from the Droppable With a Chance of Regret category to just plain Droppable. After splitting work with De’Von Achane last year, Mostert is now strictly a backup, and he’s sharing backup duty with the much younger and much more explosive Jaylen Wright. Mostert isn’t worth a precious roster spot.
Droppable with a chance of regret:
Dalton Schultz is a competent, workmanlike tight end, but this hasn’t been an especially productive season for him. He’s averaging 3.0 catches and 30.3 receiving yards a game and is still looking for his first touchdown of the season. Schultz was TE29 in fantasy scoring entering Week 12.
Ricky Pearsall didn’t draw a single target Sunday against the Packers and hobbled off the field with an injury in the second half. You could regret dropping Pearsall if either Deebo Samuel or Jauan Jennings were to go down for the 49ers (assuming Pearsall’s injury is minor) … but probably not. The 49ers face some tough pass defenses in the coming weeks, so it’s hard to envision a Pearsall eruption even if circumstances boost his playing time.
Don’t drop yet:
Quentin Johnston laid an egg Monday night in a seemingly favorable matchup against the Ravens, failing to catch a single pass and committing a couple of costly drops. It was a flashback to Johnston’s nightmarish rookie year. But Johnston has proven himself to be a useful playmaker in his second NFL season. Even if he cost you a win in Week 12, don’t drop Johnston out of spite.
The Denver backfield is as messy as it’s been all season, with Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime sharing work. And it’s not as if the Broncos have a powerhouse running game. Javonte is the most widely rostered member of this backfield by far. We were close to dropping Javonte earlier this season, and then he came to life. Don’t start him next week against Cleveland, but keep him around one more week so that we’ll know whether he’s usable down the road in the first week of the fantasy playoffs. He gets an appealing matchup with the Colts in Week 15.