With the majority of fantasy regular seasons ending in Week 13, it is time to put your best team out and lock up a playoff spot. If you have already locked up a playoff spot, the Week 13 waiver wire is a great time to set your team up for the playoffs. Whether that means stashing a streaming QB or DST with a good playoff schedule or cutting the dead weight to roster your handcuffs.
At the end of this article, I have a list of some of the more available handcuffs that could step into very important roles if the starter in front of them is to miss any time during the fantasy playoffs. Whatever situation you might be in, here are some of my favorite adds for Week 13 and beyond.
To be considered as a possible “add,” they need to be owned in less than 60 percent of ESPN leagues. The drops on this list are by no means must-drop, but rather they are droppable.
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QB/RB Adds
Sam Darnold, QB, New York Jets (18.9%)
After losing to the Dolphins in Week 9, Sam Darnold and the Jets have won three straight games. In each of those games, the Jets were able to score exactly 34 points. Over this three-game span, Darnold has thrown for 838 yards, seven touchdowns, one interception and has rushed for an additional two touchdowns. Darnold could be the perfect streaming QB to take you into the playoffs, with games against the Bengals and Dolphins over the next two weeks.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans (15.3%)
As the starter for the Titans, Tannehill has thrown for nearly 1,300 yards with 10 touchdowns and has completed over 70% of his passes. In addition to his passing success, Tannehill has also rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns. The Titans face one of the most favorable schedules for QBs the remainder of the fantasy season, so Tannehill’s success should continue.
Jonathan Williams, RB, Indianapolis Colts (29.1%)
With Marlon Mack already ruled out for the Colts’ Week 13 matchup against the Titans, Jonathan Williams is in line for another start. This start comes after the young back has rushed for 100+ yards in back-to-back games. It is unlikely that this streak continues against the Titans, who have only allowed three 100+ yard rushing games on the season. But if Williams continues to see similar usage, he is worth the start.
Derrius Guice, RB, Washington Redskins (54.6%)
In Week 12 Derrius Guice out-snapped Adrian Peterson 26 to 20. This is the second straight week that Guice has seen the majority of the work. In Week 12, both backs got 10 carries, but Guice was slightly more efficient with them. Guice also had one more red zone attempt and one more target than Peterson. Over the next two weeks, the Redskins face the Panthers and Packers, who have been plus matchups for opposing RBs, so Guice could be in line for two big weeks.
Bo Scarbrough, RB, Detroit Lions (48.4%)
For the second straight week, Bo Scarbrough led the Detroit Lions backfield in touches. In his second active game of the season, Scarbrough carried the ball 18 times for 98 yards. Even though he did not find his way into the end zone, he did have one red zone touch in Week 12 and two red zone touches in Week 11, showing that the opportunity is there. The Lions face a fairly difficult schedule over the next few weeks, so the upside of Scarbrough is limited, but the opportunity is there, so he is worth a play if you are in a bind.
Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks (28.6%)
In Week 12, Rashaad Penny led the Seahawks in carries for the first time this season and he did not disappoint. Penny had 14 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ win over the Eagles. With his success in Week 12 and the continued fumbling issues of Chris Carson, Penny should earn more touches as the season goes on. The Seahawks are currently fighting for the top seed in the NFC, so Carson will likely be on a short leash with important divisional and conference matchups on the schedule.
Pass Catcher Adds
Dede Westbrook, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (59.2%)
Coming into the fantasy season, there were high expectations of Dede Westbrook, but he currently ranks as the third-leading receiver on the Jaguars. Since the Jaguars’ bye and the return of Nick Foles, Westbrook has 12 receptions on 15 targets for 101 yards. Over the remainder of the fantasy season, Westbrook will face some favorable matchups and could provide your fantasy team what you need to get a fantasy title.
Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers (42.7%)
After back-to-back weeks with at least 10 targets and 100 yards, Deebo Samuel had a slightly disappointing fantasy game. Samuel was able to catch both of his targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. This was the lowest number of targets that Deebo has had all season and the lowest number of pass attempts by the 49ers all season. Even with Kittle back in the lineup, Deebo has earned more targets as the season progresses and should be started weekly.
A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans (15.4%)
To start the season A.J. Brown was a boom or bust fantasy WR. But with Tannehill as the QB for the Titans, he is starting to look like a more consistent fantasy option. Since Tannehill took over in Week 7, Brown has had at least four targets in every game but one. In his one game without four targets, he caught a touchdown pass, which saved his fantasy day. The Titans play a favorable schedule for the remainder of the fantasy season, so Brown should have a decent end to his rookie season.
Robby Anderson, WR, New York Jets (45.1%)
Robby Anderson has been one of the more frustrating fantasy WRs this season, but things seem to be turning around. For two straight weeks, Anderson has scored a touchdown. The Jets have a fairly favorable schedule in the coming weeks, so Anderson should be in line for more targets, yards and touchdowns as you push into the fantasy playoffs.
Ryan Griffin, TE, New York Jets (25.5%)
Over the past five weeks, Ryan Griffin has caught 19 of his 21 targets for 236 yards and four touchdowns. In addition to catching nearly all of his targets, Griffin has become a favorite red zone target of Darnold. With all of the uncertainty at the TE position, Griffin gives you a safe floor with weekly touchdown upside. On top of that, Griffin and the Jets face a very favorable schedule in the playoffs.
Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dolphins (9.1%)
Mike Gesicki has only broken 50 receiving yards twice this season, but over the past four weeks, he has had at least six targets in each game. Gesicki was able to catch 16/25 targets for 169 yards and a touchdown. Since the Dolphins lost Preston Williams in Week 9, Gesicki has seen an increased role in the offense. With the Dolphins upcoming schedule, Gesicki could be in line for a greater involvement and could be a sneaky player in deeper leagues.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns (19.8%)
Njoku has still not been activated to the roster, but with the way that the Browns are playing right now and the schedule they face during the fantasy playoffs, Njoku is worth a roster spot. If you have any flexibility, you should add Njoku and should not be afraid to start him right away.
Handcuffs with Low Ownership
Whenever a running back gets injured and is expected to miss time, there is always a rush to the waiver wire to add their backup. If you have made the fantasy playoffs, you probably have a pretty strong team and your RB1 should be handcuffed.
Minnesota Vikings: Alexander Mattison (17.5%)
Dallas Cowboys: Tony Pollard (12.1%)
Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryquell Armstead (1.8%)
Baltimore Ravens: Gus Edwards (5.3%)
Green Bay Packers: Jamaal Williams (59.6%)
Los Angeles Rams: Malcolm Brown (6.5%), Darrel Henderson (15.6%)
New York Giants: Wayne Gallman (5.9%)
Pittsburgh Steelers: Benny Snell (3.5%)
Tennessee Titans: Dion Lewis (10%)
San Francisco 49ers: Raheem Mostert (14.8%), Jeff Wilson (1.3%)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Peyton Barber (36.2%)
Buffalo Bills: Frank Gore (32%)
Miami Dolphins: Patrick Laird (1.6%)
New York Jets: Ty Montgomery (2.1%)
Drops
QB: Mason Rudolph, Matthew Stafford
RB: Adrian Peterson, Jordan Wilkins
WR: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, DeSean Jackson
TE: Eric Ebron, Vance McDonald
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