6 Last-Minute Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements (Week 13)

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 to 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. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 13.

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Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.

Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAC) vs. Tennessee Titans (33.5% Rostered)

Last week, Lawrence had three interceptions in the overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals. Yet, the former Clemson star still had 17.1 fantasy points, completing 60% of his 30 pass attempts for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Furthermore, he had five rushing attempts for 29 yards, making it the fourth consecutive game with at least five attempts. More importantly, Lawrence has played well since the Jaguars’ Week 8 bye, averaging 15.8 fantasy points per game, totaling 15 or more in every game except the matchup against the Houston Texans.

Furthermore, the veteran has used his legs more since the bye week, averaging six rushing attempts for 24.3 yards, 0.8 touchdowns, and 6.9 fantasy points per game on the ground. Meanwhile, the Titans have surrendered 236.6 passing yards, 1.6 touchdowns, and 17.3 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this year. Last week, Sam Darnold completed 61.5% of his pass attempts for 244 yards, two touchdowns, and 17.7 fantasy points against Tennessee after back-to-back awful performances. Don’t be surprised if Lawrence has a top-10 finish against the division rivals.

Zonovan Knight (RB – ARI) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (34.9% Rostered)

Arizona ruled out Trey Benson (knee) and Emari Demercado (ankle) on Friday, meaning Knight and Michael Carter will lead the team’s backfield on Sunday. After being a limited participant in practice all week, Knight is listed as questionable for the matchup against the Buccaneers, but should play. If he doesn’t play, Carter (9.2% rostered) is an excellent fallback option. Knight has played well since the Cardinals lost Benson to a knee injury, averaging 11.3 touches for 42.7 scrimmage yards, 0.6 touchdowns, and 10 PPR fantasy points per game.

Despite splitting the backfield workload with two other running backs, Knight has scored at least 9.4 fantasy points in five of the past seven games, totaling 12.4 or more in 42.9% of those contests, including back-to-back weeks. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers’ run defense has been hit-or-miss this season, surrendering 23.6 fantasy points per game to running backs, the 11th-most in the NFL. Furthermore, Tampa Bay has surrendered 91.6 rushing yards, 0.8 touchdowns, and 25.1 fantasy points per game to running backs over their past five matchups, allowing 35.4 or more twice.

Jaleel McLaughlin (RB – DEN) vs. Washington Commanders (1.5% Rostered)

Hopefully, Sunday night is RJ Harvey’s breakout game. However, McLaughlin outscored the rookie in PPR scoring in the Broncos’ last game (8.4 vs 8.0) despite having seven fewer touches (14 vs. 7). Denver lost J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending injury in Week 10, making McLaughlin Harvey’s running back in the backfield. The former Youngstown State star had six rushing attempts for 19 yards and a touchdown in the team’s last game, totaling 8.4 fantasy points. More importantly, he was the Broncos’ short-yardage running back, leading to his four-yard rushing touchdown.

While the Commanders’ defense played well after Dan Quinn took over the play-calling duties in their last game, they still struggled to stop the run. Washington has surrendered 24.8 fantasy points per game to running backs this year, the fifth-most in the NFL. They have given up 142.6 rushing yards, a touchdown, and 28.8 fantasy points per game to running backs over their past five outings, allowing at least 106 yards in all but one contest. Expect Denver to lean on their run game on Sunday night.

Chimere Dike (WR – TEN) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (20.3% Rostered)

Fantasy players who get points for special team touchdowns should already have Dike on their roster. The rookie has two punt returns for a touchdown over the past three games, including a 90-yard return last week against the Seattle Seahawks. He has averaged 13.1 PPR fantasy points per game over the past five contests, totaling 16.4 or more in three outings. Furthermore, Dike has averaged 3.8 receptions on five targets for 45.2 receiving yards and 10.7 fantasy points per game over those five contests without the special team scores.

The rookie has been Cam Ward’s favorite target, with Calvin Ridley playing only seven snaps over the past seven weeks because of injury. Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ pass defense has been horrific lately. They have surrendered 11.5 receptions for 133.5 receiving yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 33.1 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past seven weeks, allowing 40.4 or more in 66.7% of those contests, including two of the past three despite facing Davis Mills and Jacoby Brissett in those matchups. Dike should have another top-36 finish this week.

Christian Kirk (WR – HOU) vs. Indianapolis Colts (10.7% Rostered)

Some called Kirk a sleeper candidate heading into the season as Houston’s No. 2 wide receiver. Unfortunately, he has missed four games because of injury. While Jayden Higgins has stepped up as the second option behind Nico Collins, the veteran is coming off his best performance this year. Kirk had five receptions on six targets for 54 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 16.4 PPR fantasy points in last week’s win over the Buffalo Bills, setting season highs in nearly every category. More importantly, he has an underrated matchup on Sunday.

Many might think the Colts are a bad matchup for opposing wide receivers after trading for Sauce Gardner and getting Charvarius Ward off injured reserve last week. However, they surrendered 218 receiving yards and 37.8 fantasy points to the Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receivers in Week 12. More importantly, Kirk has run 71.6% of his routes out of the slot this year, the highest among qualifying Texan pass catchers. Meanwhile, Indianapolis has surrendered the fourth-most receiving yards (768) and fantasy points per game (14.4) to slot wide receivers.

Colby Parkinson (TE – LAR) vs. Carolina Panthers (2.1% Rostered)

Unless you have been living under a rock the past two months, you know the Rams’ passing attack is the hottest unit in the NFL. While most of Matthew Stafford’s passing production goes to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, Parkinson has been an underrated streaming option lately, especially with Tyler Higbee on injured reserve. He is the TE3 over the past three weeks, averaging 3.3 receptions on 3.7 targets for 32 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 12.5 PPR fantasy points per game, posting a higher average than Brock Bowers (9.8).

More importantly, Parkinson has an appealing fantasy matchup on Sunday against the Panthers. Carolina has surrendered 14.7 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the 10th-most in the NFL. They have given up 15.1 or more fantasy points to tight ends in 53.9% of their games, with two coming in the past three contests, including last week. According to DraftKings, Stafford’s passing touchdown prop is at over/under 2.5 after totaling 18 over the past five games. Expect Parkinson to find the end zone for the fourth consecutive contest.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.