Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.
Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 13.
Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.
Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 13.
Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
The former No. 1 NFL Draft pick was awful before getting benched, totaling 11.6 fantasy points over his first two starts. However, Young has been productive since earning back the starting role, averaging 196 passing yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 13 fantasy points per game over the past four contests. More importantly, he is coming off his best performance of the year against a talented Kansas City Chiefs defense in Week 12. Young had 263 passing yards, a touchdown, and 16.5 fantasy points, setting a season-high in yards and fantasy points.
Furthermore, Carolina joined the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals as the only teams to score 25 or more points against the Chiefs this year. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers “held” Tommy DeVito to 10.8 fantasy points last week. However, they surrendered 23.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the first 11 weeks, the most in the NFL. Tampa Bay gave up 325.5 passing yards, 3.2 touchdowns, and 26.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in the six matchups before facing DeVito, allowing 23.8 or more in all but one contest.
Many thought Gibson would have weekly fantasy value this season after joining the Patriots in free agency. However, the former Memphis star is the RB49 for the year, averaging 4.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He hasn’t had much success behind New England’s awful offensive line. Furthermore, Gibson has had more than seven rushing attempts in only two games this season. Yet, he is coming off a solid performance against the Miami Dolphins. Last week, the veteran had 31 rushing yards and five fantasy points against the division rivals.
Gibson’s 31 rushing yards in Week 12 were his second-highest total this year. Furthermore, his six rushing attempts were the most he had seen in a game since Week 6. Meanwhile, Indianapolis has surrendered 22.8 fantasy points per game to running backs, the sixth-most in the NFL. They have given up over 110 rushing yards to running backs in six of their past eight contests. While he hasn’t done much this season, Gibson might only need one big run to score dongle-digit fantasy points against the Colts’ defense.
Ray Davis (RB – BUF) vs. San Francisco 49ers (11.2% Rostered)
Unfortunately, the weather for Sunday night’s matchup is far from fantasy-friendly. Buffalo is expected to get hit with significant snow. Furthermore, a Lake Effect Snow Warning is in effect for most of the weekend. While the weather isn’t ideal for throwing the ball, it’s perfect for the run game. Meanwhile, Davis is the RB40 for the year, averaging six half-point PPR fantasy points per game in limited action. However, the rookie has played well when given an opportunity, scoring double-digit half-point PPR fantasy points in three games this year.
Fantasy players should expect Davis to see an uptick in work because of the weather. Meanwhile, the 49ers have surrendered 21.7 fantasy points per game to running backs, the 10th-most in the NFL. Last week, they gave up 158 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and 35.8 fantasy points to the Green Bay Packers backfield, all season-highs. Furthermore, San Francisco has allowed running backs to average 23.8 fantasy points per game over their past six matchups. Expect the Bills to limit Josh Allen’s pass attempts and lean on the run.
While the Saints will be without Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) for the rest of the year, Valdes-Scantling has played well as the No. 1 wide receiver. The veteran had no fantasy value with the Buffalo Bills. However, he has five receptions on seven targets for 196 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 40.1 half-point PPR fantasy points over his past two games, totaling 15.7 or more in both contests. Furthermore, Valdes-Scantling should be even better after having the bye week to work on his chemistry with Derek Carr.
Hopefully, fantasy players added the veteran wide receiver off the waiver wire earlier this week. Valdes-Scantling is an excellent WR3 option for Week 13 and the rest of the season if he is still on the waiver wire. This week, Valdes-Scantling faces a Rams defense that has surrendered 28.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the 11th-most in the NFL. Furthermore, Los Angeles has given up 166.4 receiving yards, 1.4 touchdowns, and 32.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past five weeks.
Many dynasty fantasy players added Westbrook-Ikhine off the waiver wire a few weeks ago. However, it’s time for redraft fantasy players to follow suit. The veteran is the WR57 for the year, averaging 6.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He had zero fantasy points before the Titans’ Week 5 bye, totaling zero targets and only 53 snaps on offense over the first month of the season. Yet, Westbrook-Ikhine has been one of the top fantasy wide receivers since the bye week, outscoring several big-name pass catchers.
The veteran is the WR14 over the past seven weeks, averaging 10.7 fantasy points per game. He has posted a higher fantasy points per game average than Darnell Mooney (10.4) and Brian Thomas Jr. (9.3) since Week 6. Westbrook-Ikhine has become a touchdown machine, totaling six receiving scores over the past seven weeks. Meanwhile, the Commanders have surrendered 26.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers. However, they’ve given up 30 or more fantasy points to wide receivers in 54.6% of their games, including two of the past three.
Dissly has become a meaningful part of the Chargers’ passing offense after a slow start to the season. The veteran is the TE18 for the year, averaging six half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He averaged only three targets and 3.5 fantasy points per game over the first six weeks, totaling 4.6 or fewer in every contest. However, Dissly has averaged 6.2 targets and 8.1 fantasy points per game over the past six weeks, totaling 12.1 or more fantasy points twice, including two weeks ago against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Meanwhile, the Falcons have had issues slowing stopping tight ends this season. They’ve surrendered 10.3 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the 12th-most in the NFL. Atlanta has given up 5.2 receptions for 58.4 receiving yards and 12.3 fantasy points per game to tight ends over their past five contests, allowing 9.2 or more in all but one matchup despite facing several sub-par pass catchers. Furthermore, they’ve given up three receiving touchdowns to tight ends over their past four contests, including one to Nate Adkins two weeks ago.
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
