This is it y’all! For most of you this is the last week to try and make your fantasy playoffs. If you’ve got any questions drop them down below and I’ll get back to you to help you sneak into your playoffs.
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers, GB, 39.7%: I think we see Aaron Rodgers in week 15 when he’s available to return. He’s already throwing and all of Green Bay is freaking out. The Packers should win their next two games against the Buccaneers and Browns which would set them up to compete for a possible playoff spot. Not even Olivia Munn crawling back could keep Rodgers off the field if that’s the case. I don’t need to tell you who Rodgers is or why you should pick him up. If you are struggling after losing a QB like Deshaun Watson, Carson Palmer or… Aaron Rodgers and have a good-enough QB who could help you win your first round week 14 playoff match — then take this shot.
Case Keenum, MIN, 36.9% owned: One of the most recent ESPN videos asks “Is Case Keenum a top-12 QB?” If this question was asked before 2017 the questioner would’ve been laughed right out of his league. But — over the last 4 weeks a fire has been lit under Keenum’s keister. He is averaging 21.25 fantasy points per game and has made a star out of Adam Thielen. (Seriously — who had Thielen as the second-best WR in fantasy this year?) The Vikings don’t have the easiest scheduling coming up — but Keenum just faced three solid defenses in a row and has performed at a high level.
Jimmy Garoppolo, SF, 6.6% owned: You don’t trade for Jimmy Garoppolo to bench him behind CJ Beathard when you’re headed for a top-3 draft pick. You run Garoppolo out there and see if he’s your QB of the future and if you can use that top-3 pick to trade back for even more future pieces. Be wary, however, Garoppolo faces a mixed bag of defenses in the next four weeks: Bears: 22nd in QB fantasy points allowed, Texans: 6th, Titans: 16th, Jaguars: 32nd.
Running Backs
Rex Burkhead, NE, 43.7%: Way, way back in early September in the first Waiver Wired article of 2017 I told you to grab Burkhead. Now, a few injuries and a half-dozen New England RBs later, Burkhead finds his way back on this list. Here is what I said about Burkhead then: “Short, speedy, white dude with good hands playing for Bill Belichick? Check please! With Julian Edelman out for the season someone is going to step up to fill that Tom Brady safety net role and why can’t it be Burkhead?” Here is what I’ll say about Burkhead now: “Same.”
Devontae Booker, DEN, 25.2%: I’ve been talking up Booker for weeks now as the future at RB for the Broncos and I’m going to say it again. No one had a good game for Denver in week 12, but week 13 sees Booker & co. facing off against the Dolphins who have allowed the 7th most fantasy points to RBs this season. CJ Anderson and Jamaal Charles are useless at this point and Booker is should reap all the rewards.
Austin Ekeler, LAC, 24.5%: I’ve been trying to avoid recommending Ekeler since his flukish 26 outburst in week 10, but he put up 13 points in week 11 and 9 points in week 12 so he has some value here. He is nowhere close to taking snaps away from Melvin Gordon, but Ekeler is carving out a niche for himself in the Chargers passing game. If you need a bench option and/or Gordon handcuff — grab Ekeler.
Peyton Barber, TB, 0.2%: Someone’s gotta run in Tampa Bay and why not Barber? It sure isn’t Doug Martin — he’s averaging 5 fantasy points over his last 6 games including a goose egg in week 9 and 3 fantasy points in week 12. Barber snagged 2 rushing TDs in 5 attempts in week 12 and screw it, maybe he can make an impact.
Wide Receivers
Jermaine Kearse, NYJ, 35.5%: Another first article throwback, like Burkhead, Kearse is back on the fantasy radar after a 23 point game in week 12 after putting up 24 total in the previous 4 weeks. Week 13 sees Kearse matching up against the Chiefs who are who we thought they were and we let ‘em off the hook. They’ve allowed the third-most fantasy points to WRs this season and Kearse and Robbie Anderson could feast.
Dede Westbrook, JAX, 8.9%: With Allen Hurns out in week 12, Westbook was the leading target receiver for the Jaguars. If Hurns is to miss week 13 Westbrook could be the prime beneficiary again as the Jaguars will face off against the Colts who have allowed the 3rd most yards to WRs this season.
Dontrelle Inman, CHI, 5.5%: This is Inman’s second appearance in Waiver Wired after I hoped he would provide a valuable target to rookie QB Mitch Trubisky. Inman is averaging 65 receiving yards over his last 3 games and has double-digit scoring in 2 of those 3 games. Inman and the Bears will now get the 49ers who have allowed the 8th most receiving yards to WRs.
Tight Ends
Julius Thomas, MIA, 26.2%: Thomas hadn’t done much of anything until his 20 point week 9 explosion, but now seems to be getting himself involved more in the passing game. He has scored 8, 7 and 10 fantasy points in consecutive weeks and now will get the Broncos in week 13 who have allowed the second most fantasy points to TEs.
Ricky Seals-Jones, ARI, 1.5%: Allow me a moment to gloat as I recommended him last Tuesday as well. “RSJ’s primary competition, Jermaine Gresham, is averaging barely over 23 receiving yards per game so why shouldn’t the Cardinals look to tricky Ricky who grabbed 3 receptions (2 of them for TDs) while Gresham only grabbed 1 pass for 10 yards.” After scoring 20 fantasy points in week 11, RSJ notched 17 in week 12. He might struggle to get to double-digits in week 13 against the LA Rams who have held TEs to the 6th fewest fantasy points.
Defense/Special Teams
LA Chargers, vs CLE, 42.4%: Back to back double digit scoring games for this defense has them looking strong heading into their week 13 game against the lowly Browns who are scoring the fewest points per game.
Kickers
Ka’imi Fairbairn, HOU, 10.4%: In week 13, Ka’imi gets one of two remaining teams that haven’t had a team miss a FG against them: the Titans. In week 4, Ka’imi destroyed the Titans for his biggest fantasy scoring day of the year with 18 points. Granted, that was with Deshaun Watson at the helm, but Ka’imi is still capable of a double-digit fantasy scoring game.
