Week 12 is in the books and the fantasy season is quickly approaching its playoff stages where owners are looking to grab whatever is left on the waiver wire that just might put them over the top and into the dance. Like each week before it there were some new casualties in Week 12 as players such as Chris Johnson, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Allen Hurns, Rishard Matthews and Tony Romo all suffered injuries that have certainly affected fantasy rosters. Let’s take a look at the top players to add as you head into Week 13 that should be available to help your squad.
-Note the FAAB Bids are based off of a $100 budget.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ- Stop me if you have heard this before but Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to be one of the more consistent fantasy quarterbacks with maybe some of the best receiving weapons and is still floating around the waiver wire. Fitzpatrick torched the Dolphins in Week 12 for a season best four touchdown passes as he connected twice with Brandon Marshall who stuck it to his former team and finds himself on pace for a monster season. Fitzpatrick also connected with Eric Decker for another touchdown which gives him at least one touchdown catch in all but two games he has played this season. The Jets are on the “road” in Week 13 as they face the Giants who have an atrocious secondary which should allow for big game potential from Fitzy.
FAAB Bid- $5-$10
Brock Osweiler, DEN- Osweiler has held his own through his first two career starts, throwing for at least 250 yards and one touchdown in each contest. In Week 13 the Broncos face off against a Chargers team that has allowed the 14th most points to opposing fantasy quarterbacks this season and just allowed Blake Bortles to throw for 329 yards and two touchdowns in Week 12. The Broncos offense is a good balance between run and pass which likely caps Osweiler’s overall production but he certainly has the arm and the weapons that can lead to some big plays.
FAAB Bid- $5-$10
Jay Cutler, CHI- Cutler is coming off a rather uninspiring performance against the Packers where he threw for just 200 yards and one touchdown but his Week 13 matchup against a 49ers defense that has been horrid on the road and has allowed the 13th most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks is hard to ignore. With Alshon Jeffery back, a healthy Cutler should be able to carve up the 49ers and lead to a very solid fantasy performance.
FAAB Bid-$5-$10
Running Backs
David Johnson, ARI- Johnson enters Week 13 as the likely No.1 running back after Chris Johnson suffered a fractured leg in Week 12 and Andre Ellington was forced out of the game as well due to turf toe. Johnson was one of the more hyped players heading into fantasy drafts as he figured to share time with Andre Ellington with the real expectation of taking over the lead job for his own but the Cardinals went and signed Chris Johnson and thus crushed Johnson’s value. Johnson is an explosive playmaker and can hit the home run at any moment which can lead to some big production if he is given a full workload. The matchup against the Rams in Week 13 is not ideal but this late in the season if you have a chance to grab a starting RB he’s a must grab.
FAAB Bid- 100%- especially if you are a CJ2K owner.
Spencer Ware, KC- Ware was one of the most added player in Week 12 following the injury to Charcandrick West and he did not disappoint as he rumbled all over the Bills defense for 114 yards and a touchdown. Those bidding on Ware will want to check on the status of West as he is questionable for Week 13 with his injured hamstring but if West is out Ware becomes a prime add.
FAAB Bid- 50%-75%- Again this late in the season for a player of his caliber spend up. Would be 100% if you know West is out.
Shaun Draughn, SF- Since becoming the 49ers starting running back three weeks ago Draughn is averaging 14 carries for 48 yards and 6 catches for 38 yards which has made him a viable RB option in both standard and especially PPR leagues even though the 49ers team as a whole has struggles. Fortunately for Draughn the 49ers face some of the leagues weakest run defenses over the next two weeks as the head on the road to face the Bears in Week 13 and then the Browns in Week 14. Draughn is in no danger of losing his starting job and should continue to be featured in the offense and thus carries solid value as the fantasy season enters its alter stages.
FAAB Bid- $15-$20
Wide Receivers
.jpg)
DeVante Parker, MIA- Parker was a popular sleeper pick heading into the season but injuries prevented him from being ready for the start of the season and he then saw himself fall on the depth chart below the likes of Rishard Matthews and Kenny Stills. Parker finally got to make his impact in Week 12 as he filled in for an injured Rishard Matthews and caught four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. A great matchup against the Ravens awaits Parker and the Dolphins in Week 13 and if Matthews is out I would expect another solid game from Parker and the Dolphins passing attack.
FAAB Bid- $10-$15
Doug Baldwin, SEA- Don’t look now but Baldwin has turned out some really solid performances over the last three weeks as he has eclipsed the 130 yards twice and has caught four touchdown passes. From weeks three through eight Baldwin never caught more than three passes in a single game however since the Seahawks have come out of the bye he is averaging just over six catches a contest which has helped his production. Baldwin is likely available in your league and with Russell Wilson throwing more there could be some actual value here.
FAAB Bid- $5-$10
Devin Funchess, CAR- Funchess made this list last week and he laid an egg on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys, catching just two passes on four targets for 19 yards. We are going back to the well with Funchess as we head into Week 13 because the Panthers face off against that abysmal Saints secondary that hasn’t been able to stop anybody this season. With Newton playing like the league’s MVP it’s hard to imagine he does not tear apart this Saints secondary and I will venture to guess that his 6-foot-4, 225 pound rookie receiver will benefit from this matchup as well.
FAAB Bid- $5-$10
Tight Ends
Scott Chandler, NE- It’s never a good thing when I am recommending the Patriots backup tight end as it usually means that Rob Gronkowski was injured the week before. But while Gronk owners are certainly breathing a sigh of relief as what looked to be a season ending knee injury will only force him to miss only one or two games, this injury could not come at a worse time. There was some excitement around New England in the offseason when the Patriots signed Chandler as he had been burning the New England secondary during his time with the Bills but with the Patriots he has been a dud up until Week 12 where he caught a season high five passes on 11 targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. The Patriots offense relies heavily on their tight end and if Chandler is the No.1 guy on Sunday against the Eagles he figures to see plenty of targets.
FAAB Bid- $10-$15
Jacob Tamme, TB- Tamme finds his way back on this list after a five catch, 66 yard performance on Sunday against the Vikings. Now you can look at the game logs and see that most of Tamme’s production came on the Falcons final drive where the Vikings had no real reason to stop them with the scoring being out of reach but Tamme, when targeted this season, has been productive and in Week 13 he draws a favorable matchup against the Buccaneers against whom he had 10 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown back in Week 8.
FAAB Bid- $0-$5
Kyle Rudolph, MIN- Rudolph will stay on this list heading into Week 13 as he turned in yet another solid performance, catching seven passes for 53 yards against the Falcons. In Week 13 the Vikings face off against the Seahawks who have surprisingly struggled against tight end this season and have allowed the second most fantasy points to the position which includes allowing touchdowns to the opposing tight end in two of the last three weeks.
FAAB Bid- $0-$5