Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try and help.
Every week I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played.
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
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Jared Goff (QB – DET) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (29.5% Rostered)
The veteran quarterback started the year on fire. Goff was the QB5 over the first four weeks this season, averaging 22.9 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he scored 26 or more fantasy points twice during that span. Unfortunately, Goff came crashing back down to Earth. The former No. 1 overall pick scored under 12 fantasy points in three of the following four contests. However, he is coming off a solid performance on Thanksgiving against the Buffalo Bills. Goff had 240 passing yards, two touchdowns, and scored 17.6 fantasy points last week, his best outing over the past four weeks.
This week he faces a Jacksonville defense that has struggled to slow down quarterbacks. The Jaguars have given up 18.7 fantasy points per game to the position this season, the seventh-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they have surrendered seven passing touchdowns over the past three games, allowing quarterbacks to average 24.2 fantasy points per game during that span. More importantly, the Jaguars have surrendered three or more passing touchdowns in over a quarter of the games this year. While Goff won’t have three passing touchdowns on Sunday, the veteran should have another solid fantasy performance.
Zonovan Knight (RB – NYJ) vs. Minnesota Vikings (33.8% Rostered)
A week ago, Knight wasn’t on fantasy radars. However, after the Jets made James Robinson a healthy scratch last week against the Chicago Bears, Knight was one of the top waiver wire targets this week. Yet, he is still available in roughly two-thirds of ESPN leagues. Last week the undrafted free agent averaged 4.9 yards per rushing attempt against the Bears. Furthermore, he had 103 scrimmage yards on 17 touches and scored 11.8 half-point PPR fantasy points in the win. With Michael Carter not expected to play with an ankle injury, Knight could have a massive role in Week 13.
While Minnesota has one of the best offenses in the NFL, their defense has struggled. The Vikings have given up 21.1 fantasy points per game to running backs this season, slightly above the league average. However, they have gotten destroyed by opposing rushing attacks lately. Over the past three weeks, opposing running backs have averaged 86.7 rushing yards, 1.3 rushing touchdowns, and 30.7 fantasy points per game against Minnesota. After his performance last week, Knight has earned a bigger role moving forward. He should be the lead back on Sunday for the Jets.
Ameer Abdullah (RB – LV) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (3.1% Rostered)
Fantasy players saw history last week. Josh Jacobs had 39 touches for 303 scrimmage yards, two touchdowns, and 45.3 half-point PPR fantasy points in an overtime win against the Seattle Seahawks. However, the star running back has been limited all week in practice because of a calf injury. Yet, he is expected to play on Sunday. Even with Jacobs on fire lately, Abdullah has played well as the No. 2 running back. Over the past three weeks, the veteran has averaged 3.3 receptions for 25.7 receiving yards and 6.8 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he is coming off his best performance of the year, scoring 13 fantasy points last week.
More importantly, the Chargers have one of the worst run defenses in the league. They have surrendered 25.6 fantasy points per game to running backs this season, the fourth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they have given up at least 125 rushing yards to the position in eight of the past nine contests, including five straight. More importantly, Los Angeles has struggled to keep pass-catching running backs out of the end zone. They have surrendered four receiving touchdowns to running backs this season, the third-most in the NFL. After Jacobs’ 39-touch performance last week, fantasy players shouldn’t be surprised if the Raiders give Abdullah and the other running backs some extra work on Sunday.
Nico Collins (WR – HOU) vs. Cleveland Browns (13.7% Rostered)
The Texans are the worst team in the league and have one of the worst offenses. However, Collins has been a bright spot for the offense this season. The second-year player is the WR58 for the year, averaging 7.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite missing time with a groin injury. Yet the former Michigan star has played well since returning from the injury. Over the past three weeks, Collins has averaged 5.3 receptions on 8.7 targets for 9.4 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he has scored 7.3 or more fantasy points in 67% of the games this season. Meanwhile, the young receiver’s matchup this week is appealing.
Cleveland’s defense has been obliterated with injuries this season. More importantly, they have surrendered 27.8 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this year, slightly above the league average. However, the Browns have been destroyed by wide receivers lately. Over the past four games, opposing wide receivers have averaged 149 receiving yards, 1.5 receiving touchdowns, and 30.4 fantasy points per game against Cleveland. Meanwhile, Brandin Cooks won’t play this week because of a calf injury. Therefore, Collins should have no trouble seeing seven or more targets for the fourth straight game.
Quez Watkins (WR – PHI) vs. Tennessee Titans (1.1% Rostered)
Led by third-year quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Eagles have one of the best offenses in the NFL. Unfortunately, they lost star tight end Dallas Goedert a few weeks ago with a shoulder injury that will knock him out until at least Week 15. However, Watkins has stepped up to help fill the void left by Goedert’s injury. Watkins has averaged three receptions on 3.7 targets for 48.7 receiving yards and 9.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the past three weeks. He has scored a touchdown in back-to-back contests. Furthermore, Watkins has been the WR26 over the past three weeks, ahead of both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
Meanwhile, the matchup this week is excellent for the Philadelphia wide receiver. The Titans have surrendered 33 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, the second-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they have given up 14 receiving touchdowns to the position, the third-most in the league. More importantly, Tennessee has been a fantasy gold mine for opposing wide receivers lately. Over the past four weeks, the Titans have surrendered 188.5 receiving yards, 1.3 receiving touchdowns, and 33.7 fantasy points per game to the position. While everyone has hyped this matchup as a revenge game for Brown, don’t be surprised if Watkins has his third straight game with over 10 fantasy points this week.
Harrison Bryant (TE – CLE) vs. Houston Texans (1.1% Rostered)
All the headlines out of Cleveland this week have been about Deshaun Watson. The franchise quarterback will make his Browns debut on Sunday against his former team. Unfortunately, he won’t have his star tight end, as David Njoku won’t play this week because of a knee injury. Instead, Bryant will get the start for the Browns. The third-year tight started the Week 8 and Week 10 contests with Njoku sidelined with an ankle injury. Bryant struggled in the first contest but had a touchdown and nine half-point PPR fantasy points in Week 10. More importantly, he has nine targets over the past two weeks despite Njoku playing in both contests.
Defensively, the Texans have done well against opposing wide receivers, holding them to only four receiving touchdowns this season. However, the same can’t be said for the tight end position. Over the past four weeks, the Texans have surrendered three receiving touchdowns to tight ends, the third-most in the NFL during that span. Furthermore, Houston has given up 53.8 receiving yards and 12.4 fantasy points per game to position over the past four weeks. Bryant lacks the upside to end the week as a top-five tight end. However, his matchup makes him an appealing streaming option.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
