Then there are those who are still on the brink of a playoff berth. Many fantasy managers will have a shot to earn their way into the fantasy postseason over the final few weeks, but it will be critical to nail their streaming options entering Week 13.
There won’t be an NFL teams on bye in Week 13, as the league prepares for its annual Thanksgiving slate. That will give fantasy managers seeking help on the waiver wire plenty of options who can potentially help their teams down the stretch of the season.
Here’s a look at the best players fantasy managers can target on waivers ahead of Week 13.
Week 13 fantasy football waiver wire targets
RB Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints (Rostered in 3% of Yahoo leagues)
Alvin Kamara exited Sunday’s game with a knee injury. The Saints already lost backup running back Kendre Miller for the season to a torn ACL, so if Kamara has to miss time, Neal will likely emerge as the de facto workhorse in New Orleans’ offense.
Neal had just 18 yards on seven carries against the Falcons but he generated an addition 43 yards through the air on five catches. He should be a particularly good PPR option, as the rookie caught 77 passes during his four-year college career at Kansas.
TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (Rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues)
If Neal is the safe option to get work in New Orleans, Hill is a big-time wild card. The 35-year-old gadget player led the team in carries Sunday with 10. He turned them into just 17 yards, but his usage is encouraging for those looking for a tight end with scoring upside.
Hill has always been a red-zone weapon during his career, and the 6-2, 221-pounder may be treated as a goal-line bruiser in tandem with the 5-11, 213-pound Neal. Feel free to scoop up Hill if you need scoring upside at tight end – or are just looking to have a good time as fantasy season ends.
RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders (Rostered in 16% of Yahoo leagues)
Rodriguez didn’t play in Week 12, as the Commanders were on a bye, so he could be a sneaky-good add for those looking for help at running back.
Rodriguez has seemingly emerged as the leader in the Commanders’ backfield-by-committee approach. The Kentucky product has touchdown upside thanks to his 5-11, 224-pound frame and had 79 yards on a team-high 15 carries in his last outing in Week 10. Rodriguez may not always get the volume needed to be an RB2, but he profiles as a rock-solid flex with touchdown upside.
QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (Rostered in 36% of Yahoo leagues)
Before getting hurt against the Broncos, Stroud had averaged 256 yards and 2.3 touchdowns over a four-game span. Davis Mills kept the seat warm for him, going 3-0 in Stroud’s absence, but the third-year quarterback should be on tap to return to action in Week 13.
Houston’s offense appears to be getting better with rookie Jayden Higgins developing into a solid No. 2 receiver and both Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz playing consistently. That should allow Stroud to become a solid streamer, especially entering two potential higher-scoring game against the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs.
WR Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals (Rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues)
Iosivas saw increased action in Week 12 with Ja’Marr Chase suspended. He was targeted a team-high seven times and led the team with 61 receiving yards on four catches in a solid showing.
While Chase will return in Week 13, the Bengals lost Tee Higgins to a concussion at the end of the team’s loss to the New England Patriots. Cincinnati is playing on Thanksgiving, so Higgins isn’t likely to return for that game. That, plus the potential return of Joe Burrow, could open the door for Iosivas to again emerge as a fantasy factor on Thanksgiving.
WR Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans (Rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues)
With Elic Ayomanor out, Dike tied for the team lead in targets (7) with Gunnar Helm. The rookie wide-out caught five of those targets for 44 yards and a touchdown while also adding a score on an impressive 90-yard punt return touchdown.
Dike figures to be a big part of what Tennessee does on offense down the stretch with Calvin Ridley out for the season. Feel free to scoop Dike up and hope he can become a high-upside WR3 as he develops more chemistry with Cam Ward.
TE Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (Rostered in 13% of Yahoo leagues)
Strange returned to action for the first time since Week 5 in the Jaguars’ win over the Cardinals. He largely picked up where he left off, catching all five of his targets for a team-high 93 receiving yards.
Excluding the game in which Strange was hurt, he is now averaging 4.8 catches for 55 yards per game. He hasn’t yet found his way into the end-zone this season, but his volume is enough to make him a matchup-based starter at tight end who could be a top-10 tight end if he can earn more scoring opportunities.
TE Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (Rostered in 43% of Yahoo leagues)
Loveland is another tight end who appears to be breaking out. He had a 118-yard, two-touchdown game against the Bengals in Week 9, but since then he has averaged 3.7 catches and 48 yards across three game while finding the end-zone in Week 12.
Loveland appears to have overtaken Cole Kmet as the No. 1 tight end in Chicago’s offense, so adding the rookie first-rounder could pay dividends down the stretch.