Let’s make a run!
The fantasy football regular season ends next weekend, and it’s time to stay as locked in as ever. Today we’re here as always with your early waiver wire report ahead of Week 14.
Players on this list played in Sunday’s 1:00 P.M. Eastern slate or earlier and are rostered in fewer than 40% of leagues. There’s no shortage of bye weeks next weekend, so these players could get some run in our fantasy lineups whether we like it or not.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Early Week 14 Pickups to Add
Sincere McCormick (RB – LV)
Rostered: 0.1%
McCormick, a rookie undrafted free agent, took 12 carries for 64 yards on Friday. This was just the third game of his NFL career. The Raiders are clearly focused on the years ahead, and given McCormick’s age and solid showing on Friday, there’s a chance he’s a part of that plan.
Although game scripts won’t likely favor the Raiders, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if McCormick sees 10+ touches per game going forward. Keep an eye on the Raiders’ running backs this week, though, as McCormick may confoundingly stay on the practice squad if everyone is healthy.
Braelon Allen (RB – NYJ)
Rostered: 21.9%
Allen isn’t startable with Breece Hall (RB – NYJ) healthy. Hall, however, was questionable all week. Allen would become a solid flex play if he were to miss any time. Allen is a 2024 fourth-round pick and has performed well with volume. Allen scored nearly 30 points in weeks two and three on 23 touches.
Brandin Cooks (WR – DAL)
Rostered: 7.9%
Cooks missed weeks five through 12 with a knee infection and returned on Thanksgiving. He caught three of seven targets for 16 yards and a touchdown. Despite unimpressive numbers, I don’t mind Cooks as a speculative add for the rest of the season.
The Cowboys were beating the Giants by a comfortable margin for most of the Thanksgiving game, meaning they opted to run instead of pass. Assuming the Cooper Rush-led Cowboys aren’t blowing teams out, they’ll be passing more.
Additionally, CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL) looks really banged up. He’s toughing it out, but as the season slips further away from the Cowboys, I wouldn’t be surprised if they opt to rest Lamb.
Tim Patrick (WR – DET)
Rostered: 0.6%
Patrick was the only Lions receiver not named Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jameson Williams to catch a pass on Thursday. He hauled in two of his three targets for 48 yards. Given the Lions’ propensity to draw up deep shots, I wouldn’t mind Patrick as a dart throw in deep leagues. He’s also somewhat of a handcuff, if Williams or St. Brown were to miss time, he’s an intriguing flex play.
Calvin Austin (WR – PIT)
Rostered: 1.5%
Austin is a boom-or-bust fantasy option for the rest of the season. He often runs deep routes, and given Russell Wilson‘s propensity to push the ball downfield, Austin will certainly get some looks. Austin has had four touchdowns in his last five games, but he’s averaging barely more than three targets per game in that same timeframe. Monitor Austin’s injury status before adding him.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (WR – TEN)
Rostered: 19.9%
Westbrook-Ikhine is the Titans’ Calvin Austin. Since week six, NWI has scored in all but one game. However, he’s not even averaging three catches per game in that timeframe. You’re touchdown-or-bust if you’re starting him.
Luke Schoonmaker (TE – DAL)
Rostered: 12.0%
Schoonmaker should only be rostered if Jake Ferguson (TE – DAL) continues to miss time. In three games without Ferguson, Schoonmaker has accrued 20 targets, 14 receptions and 144 yards.
Caleb Williams (QB – CHI)
Rostered: 37.0%
Williams has put up two solid fantasy performances in a row, totaling 596 passing yards, five touchdowns and 72 rushing yards in his last two games. Next weekend, the Bears take on San Francisco, which could be without star edge rusher Nick Bosa. Williams is a strong streamer consideration if Bosa were to miss that game.
Drake Maye (QB – NE)
Rostered: 18.9%
Maye, the third overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, is on a bye in Week 14 but gets a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15. The Patriots are far from a playoff contender, so they’ll likely give the rookie plenty of chances to sling the football in their last few games.
Cincinnati Bengals D/ST
Rostered: 24.0%
The Bengals’ next two games are in Dallas and Tennessee. The Cowboys and Titans are favorable matchups right now, making the Bengals D/ST an extremely viable pickup.
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