The Pigskin Papers Waiver Wire - Week 13
The Elite Handcuff Rides Again
(Posted November 29, 2021)
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LINK to Week 12 Fantasy Recap: https://www.thepigskinpapers.com/posts-1/the-pigskin-papers-postscript-week-12
The longest NFL weekend of the year is over, and sadly, it claimed its victims. Welcome to the Week 13 Waiver Wire, where the main focus will be a couple of running backs stepping in to replace injured starters. This isn’t the first time we’ve been here this year - first string running backs have been dropping like flies. The difference this time is that the fantasy playoffs are right around the corner, so some of you can’t afford another loss, and you’re looking for all the help you can get. If you’ve got any FAAB left, now is the time to use it.
The big RB injuries this weekend: CMC (ankle), who goes down for the second time this year and the 4th time in 2 years, is officially done for the year; Dalvin Cook (shoulder), who is likely to miss a couple of weeks, and D’Andre Swift (shoulder), who is “day to day”, and should be considered questionable, at best, for this week. On top of that, the Cowboys are saying that Zeke is pretty banged up, and that they might limit his workload in the coming weeks. We’ve also got these fresh injuries from Week 12 to monitor: WR Deebo Samuel (groin), who is likely to miss at least a week, and TEs Darren Waller (knee, also likely to miss Week 13 at least), Pat Friermuth (concussion, will need to clear protocol to play this week) and Dan Arnold (knee, will miss 4-6 weeks).
Before we get to the Waiver Wire, a reminder: Not all leagues are the same. Leagues vary by size, and the number of bench spots isn’t uniform. I play in a 14 team league with deep benches. None of the RB waiver pickups I’ve got listed below are available in my league. Not one. But a lot of them are available in plenty of leagues. I’m giving you potential free agents in this column every week, understanding that for many of you, some of them aren’t available. What I try not to do is to give you very obvious names that aren’t available as free agents in most leagues.
WEEK 13 BYES: Panthers, Browns, Packers, Titans
LOOK AHEAD TO WEEK 14 BYES (the last BYE week): Colts, Dolphins, Patriots, Eagles
It’s Tua Time
QB: Aaron Rodgers is the only legit QB1 on a bye this week, and assuming Kyler Murray returns for Week 13, there shouldn’t be that many people looking for streamers this week. Still, there are a few QBs that are less than 60% owned that are decent streaming options this week - and I like them in this order: Derek Carr at home vs. the WFT, Tua at home vs. the Giants, Jimmy G at Seattle, and Taylor Heinicke at the Raiders. It also sounds like Taysom Hill will be the Saints’ starter this week against the Cowboys (it’s about time) - he’s always intriguing because of his rushing prowess, and should be on your radar if you need help at QB.
RB: Here’s where it gets interesting this week, and where I expect many fantasy managers to be focused. I know there’s a lot of debate out there about whether handcuffing stud RBs is advisable. Where I come down on it is that there are certain top-tier RBs that definitely should be handcuffed, because there’s a clear #2 in the backup role who can be expected to step into at least 80% of the starter’s role, and to be productive as the lead back. Alexander Mattison is the poster child for this (see below) - in his case we also saw it last year. I would also put Chuba Hubbard and Tony Pollard into that category (among others). If either Hubbard or Mattison is available in your league, they’re both priority adds this week, and in my view, the CMC or Cook owner in your league made a mistake in not rostering them on draft night, and hanging on to them all year as insurance. The merits of handcuffing stud RBs is another debate for another day. Here are the RB adds for this week:
Alexander Mattison is the Lamborghini of RB handcuffs. In each of the 2 games that Cook missed earlier this season, Mattison had at least 25 carries, 6 catches, and 150 total yards. That’s high-end RB1 production. And he’s had good success spot-starting in the past. The question is how long Cook is out.
Chuba Hubbard is getting the starting gig for the rest of the season, presumably. So that makes him an attractive pickup and especially if you’re really hurting at RB. Hubbard didn’t light it up in CMC’s first injury absence, but he was serviceable. If Cam continues to start (or at least come in for goal line packages), that hurts Hubbard’s value some. Still, he’s a low-end RB2, and at this point in the season, that’s not easy to find. There is some concern that Ameer Abdullah could eat into his role - Abdullah is a more speculative pickup. Note that the Panthers are on a bye this week.
Jamaal Williams should step into a pretty large role for however long Swift is out. Williams is an experienced and competent back who already had a decent role in this offense. The issue is the offense, which doesn’t sustain a lot of drives or create a lot of scoring opportunities. Still, Williams will see volume and there’s real value to that, especially at this point in the season.
Dontrell Hilliard got a lot more work, and yards, than most people expected on Sunday. I don’t know how repeatable it is, and the Titans are on a bye this week so he can’t help you in Week 13, but after his 133 yard performance against the Patriots he has to be on the radar, if he didn’t get picked up last week.
Darrell Henderson is dealing with a quad strain - he’ll definitely be limited in practice this week but it’s unclear if he’ll miss any game time. Sony Michel would step into a large role in a productive offense if Henderson misses time, so he’s a nice stash.
A few other RBs that have been on our list before and that are worth considering if they’re still available, as depth adds with potential upside for more: DeeJay Dallas, Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman, D’Onta Foreman, Rex Burkhead and David Johnson.
Van to the House
WR: There’s less to talk about with this group. The players listed below are mainly depth adds, although you can always get lucky streaming a receiver and especially if the player is a big-play threat. And some of these WRs are carving out a big enough role to make them flex-worthy in a pinch.
Van Jefferson saw 9 targets this week, and if OBJ continues to be in and out of the lineup with ailments, Jefferson should remain busy enough to have some value.
Kendrick Bourne has become a favorite red zone target for Mac Jones - he scored his 4th and 5th TDs of the season on Sunday. The volume isn’t much - he sees only 4 or 5 targets per game, so if you start him you’re hoping for a TD.
Desean Jackson turns 35 on Wednesday, but he showed on Thanksgiving that he’s still a burner who can outrun the vast majority of NFL defensive backs. He’s a big-play threat, but also a threat to give you a goose egg or to pull something and miss time - know that going in if you buy a ticket for the Desean ride.
A few other WRs who stepped it up in Week 12, and are worth considering for your bench: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, T.Y. Hilton, Josh Reynolds, DeAndre Carter, and Leviska Shenault.
TE: Do we have to? OK, fine.
A Good Week to Grab a Foster’s
Foster Moreau should start for at least one week while Darren Waller heals. He’s not bad, and produced a good stat line (and a TD) when Waller missed a game earlier this year. And the Week 13 matchup vs. the WFT is a good one. He’s a nice streamer for this week (assuming Waller is out).
Cole Kmet has been mentioned multiple times in this column in recent weeks. His targets keep increasing (he led the Bears with 11 in Week 12), so the volume is there. The offense is bad, which limits his scoring chances, and Jimmy Graham is still around, but he’s a decent streamer if you need him.
Guess who the TE1 was in week 12? OK, guess again. Need a third try? A fourth? Let me know when the name Jack Doyle crosses your lips. No, I don’t believe it’s repeatable either, but he had a line of 6-81-1 against the Bucs, and Wentz has always liked to involve his TEs and especially in the red zone. This feels like chasing performance, but we’re talking about a barren position.
Good luck with your waiver claims. Be sure to check out our Week 12 Fantasy recap, posting Tuesday, and our week 13 fantasy preview, with our weekly Rides, Fades and Sleepers, posting Thursday.
DH
***This column (Waiver Wire) and the Weekly Fantasy Recap appear each Tuesday, and the Weekly Fantasy Preview each Thursday. Please bookmark the site and come back often. You can also follow on Social Media - on Instagram (thepigskinpapers) and Twitter (@PigskinPapers). I appreciate your patronage and welcome your feedback. You can post in the comment boxes or email pigskinpapers@gmail.com.***
