Taylor Heinicke (ESPN 23% Yahoo 14%)
Despite the Commanders winning these past 2 weeks, Heinickes fantasy numbers were far pleasant. To be fair he was facing 2 of the top 3 defenses against QBs in Fantasy Football. They both are tied 2nd in the NFL with fewest passing TDs allowed, while the team Heinicke faces this week (Falcons) have allowed 4th most fantasy points to QB and 16 passing TDs. Heinicke has his teammates confidence and has shown enough in prior weeks that he can exploit weak secondaries. With no byes this week you probably have a better option, but with some injuries to this position (Fields/Murray) Heinicke could fill in successfully for the week.
Deshaun Watson (ESPN 36% Yahoo 48%)
This is the exact word for word from last weeks GCF waiver wire report on Watson. Whether you like it or not, Watson is back in Week 13. What Watson are we going to get? When he was on the field he was a dominant fantasy force. This was with a different team, group of players, scheme and coach. He hasn’t played an NFL game since 2020. In my honest opinion he is slow out the gate, but come playoff time he could be in Watson form. Weeks 15-17 he faces the Ravens/Saints/Commanders who rank in the middle of 11th-14th in most FPPG allowed to QBs. If you feel Watson is a viable play and comes firing out the gate, put your claims in today.
James Cook (ESPN 21% Yahoo 17%)
The Bills stampeded all over the Browns led by Devin Singletary and rookie James Cook. Both backs rushed for 86 yards, but it was James who did so in just 11 carries to Devins 18. This workload came from nowhere, as Cook has not seen more than 5 carries since week 2. This was part of Buffalos vision when drafting Cook in the draft this year and will be intriguing to watch how his snap count continues. Devin is playing some of his best ball of his career, but James Cook is the younger back with a bright future ahead. Cook is a flex start for me next week when he faces the Lions who are a bottom 5 team against RBs in Fantasy Football.
Cam Akers (ESPN 44% Yahoo 27%)
Guess who’s back? From Super Bowl winner to benched, from demanding trades to being inactive, to being the lead back yet again for the LA Rams. 14 carries for 60+ yards behind a putrid offensive line. I am very impressed even if the stat line doesn’t pop off the page. The never-ending rotation at RBs for the Rams is insane to me but Akers has the highest ceiling of any of these nerds. I am not getting behind any Rams RB with the state of the offensive line, but Akers is back to being rosterable.
Rachaad White (ESPN 60% Yahoo 34%)
Possibly some people may have forgot White swooping in stealing Fournettes job, judging by the small margin of ownership for Yahoo leagues. I certainly have not. White is a must own and for some reason he is available spend that FAAB money like you have an infinite amount. Coming off the bye, White faces off against the Browns front 7, which just gave up 171 rushing yards to the Bills.
Samaje Perine (ESPN 4% Yahoo 5%)
Every year, top RBs get hurt and the backups names show face on waiver wire reports. Enter Samaje Perine. Mixon exited the contest halfway through the 2nd quarter with an apparent concussion, never stepping back on the field. Perine had himself a game through the air with 3 receiving TDs, the most ever by a Bengal RB. Obviously Perines fantasy status remains in Mixons hands. If Mixon misses even just one game, Perine needs to be at the top of your waiver wire list.
Isiah Pacheco (ESPN 43% Yahoo 60%)
Pacheco was deemed the starting RB for the Chiefs just a few weeks ago, but hasn’t showed much life….until now! He’s been stashed on my bench in multiples leagues and I am glad I have patiently waited, as he ran for 107 yards on 17 carries. The young back was having fun and was a huge reason for the Chiefs victory. The Chargers run defense ranks as one of the bottom units in the league, so it will be interesting to see how he responds against a top 10 unit against RBs week 12 facing the Rams
Latavius Murray (ESPN 34% Yahoo 23%)
Last year when we talked about Denver’s running game, we were talking about the potential best 1-2 punch behind Williams and Gordon. Now we are talking about Latavius Murray starting for them. Murray had a pretty large workload with 17 carries for 49 yards and a TD while we watched Gordon have 13 touches adding a fumble (his 5th of the season) Gordon did not see as much run after the fumble. Murray and the Broncos face the Cardinals next week who have had trouble against RBs in fantasy. I’m starting him for sure.
Treylon Burks (ESPN 23% Yahoo 19%)
Burks was hyped all offseason to be the new AJ Brown for the Titans, making his best-case Thursday night. 8 catches 9 targets for 110+ yards. Burks finally showed up, but is this a one time thing? Throughout the season Titans pass catchers have struggled. There have been several different Titans wideouts with 1 hit wonders this year, making me wonder if Burks falls into this trap. I would like to think with his skillset/size/talent he could pull together another big outing against the Bengals who just allowed 30 points against the Steelers.
Wan’Dale Robinson (ESPN 12% Yahoo 28%) and Darius Slayton (ESPN 21% Yahoo 51%)
***UPDATE*** Wan’Dale Robinson Torn ACL
Wan’Dale Robinson, another Rookie WR who has struggled to get it going, did just that. The Giants took a major L with Robinson potentially facing a serious injury but on the positive side of things Robinson had a field day before getting hurt. 9 catches and his first 100-yard game of his young career. Daniel Jones has had limited options with the enormous number of injuries in the WR room, now with Robinson joining the list (again). Let’s keep an eye before your waiver deadline to see how serious this is. With that said in Robinson, Slayton has been a consistent player each week. His upside isn’t massive, but when starting him you almost get the feel of a safer play. He’s going to get you roughly 10 fantasy points, not much more and not much less. If Robinson does have a serious injury, Slayton is an option to look too.
Demarcus Robinson (ESPN 1% Yahoo 4%)
From Bateman to Duvernay to…. Robinson? Demarcus had been the top WR for the Ravens the past 3 games, being targeted 8 times in 2 of those games. Week 11 was a monster game for Robinson with 9 catches and 128 yards. In an offense that has brought absolutely nothing to the table, Robinson very well could continue to be the front man of the WRs.
Donovan People-Jones (ESPN 38% Yahoo 44%)
People-Jones has been a glorious bench stash for weeks now yet he is owned in less then 50% of leagues. Maybe after his best showing of the season fantasy owners will start putting RESPECT on his name. 5th straight game with over 60 receiving yards adding a late TD to the game. It will be interesting to see how Watson utilizes his pass catchers compared to the great Jacoby Brisset. After Watson wipes the cobwebs off, pass catchers could be seeing even larger stat lines.
Juwan Johnson (ESPN 18% Yahoo 29%)
Juwan has to be on this waiver wire target blog for weeks now, he’s been that consistent. If you started him the past 5 weeks you would be one happy fucking camper. In that time he has been the Tight End #3 with 5 TDs. He has a nose for the endzone and has been healthy, something most Saints players can’t vouch for. He has finished as a tight end 5 or better in 3 of those 5 weeks while finishing outside the top 8 just once. What more does he have to do to prove his worth?
Noah Fant (ESPN 30% Yahoo 10%)
Like I stated earlier, there are no teams on a bye this week. You most likely have a tight end on your squad already you will start, but if you are struggling with injury/matchup play, Fant could be an option for you. His target share has been low but the Seahawks could try to exploit one of the Raiders weaknesses, covering tight ends. I don’t have much confidence in Fant but desperate times call for desperate measures.