Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 14 (Fantasy Football)

The day of reckoning is upon us. The final week of the fantasy football regular season is here. Congratulations to those who comfortably sit atop their standings, relishing a week off from the usual anxiety. With that said, do not grow complacent just because your upcoming matchup may seem inconsequential. It remains imperative to capitalize on opportunities available on waivers to fortify your roster and prepare for potential challenges that may arise in the playoffs. Loading up on insurance running backs, acquiring defenses with promising schedules, and strategically identifying your future matchup’s needs while exploiting them are key moves. Leave no stone unturned to position yourself for ultimate success. For those teetering on the edge, desperately vying for a playoff spot, fear not. We’ve got you covered as well. The week ahead may appear daunting, but together we will emerge from this battle victorious. Without further ado, allow me to unveil the most supreme pickups of Week 14.

• Complete Waiver Wire Rankings
• Weekly Waivers Episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast

Running Backs

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, New England Patriots – While Ezekiel Elliott may not currently exhibit the superstar status of his past performances, he still possesses ample potential as a valuable fantasy asset when provided with sufficient volume. In the team’s recent loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the veteran running back was thrust into the lead-back role for the New England Patriots due to Rhamondre Stevenson‘s ankle injury. The severity and duration of Stevenson’s absence remain uncertain, but the on-field outlook appeared grim, indicating a likely period of missed playing time. Capitalizing on the increased opportunities post-injury, Elliott recorded season highs in both touches and scrimmage yards. He carried the ball 17 times for 52 yards and caught four of his five targets for an additional 40 yards. With a quick turnaround against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night, despite the less-than-ideal matchup and a recent scoreless performance from the Bailey Zappe-led offense, Elliott is poised to receive sufficient volume, rendering him an intriguing option. However, his potential ceiling may be constrained if the team struggles to advance into scoring positions for touchdown opportunities. Comparatively, he mirrors the role AJ Dillon has undertaken as the starter for the Green Bay Packers in the absence of the injured Aaron Jones. If you are currently in need at the running back position, Zeke could surprise in the upcoming matchup and he presents a relatively safe floor due to expected usage. 

Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans – When talent meets opportunity, prosperous outcomes tend to unfold. Throughout the season, it has been apparent that Tyjae Spears possesses a ton of talent and some unique traits. Unfortunately, most of this untapped potential has been left on the shelf while he has been playing behind the great Derrick Henry. In Sunday’s overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Henry suffered a concussion, which paved the way for increased opportunities for the rookie running back. Spears received 17 carries in this game, which he turned into 75 yards and added four receptions on six targets for 13 yards. Despite his team suffering a heartbreaking defeat, Spears was a key contributor in putting the team into winning contention before they ultimately fell short. He has been extremely efficient with his limited opportunities, but this was the first time he received double-digit carries. With that said, this was the fourth time this year that he received five or more targets in a game, which adds to his fantasy allure. If Henry is unable to play in the upcoming week, Spears emerges as an intriguing plug-and-play in Week 14. Monday night’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins is not fantastic on paper, but Spears’ talent mixed with increased projected usage should be enough to lead to a respectable outing. 

Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Commanders – This week’s recurring theme centers around backup running backs thrown into more prominent roles due to injuries to the team’s lead backs. Antonio Gibson emerges as the next player who is potentially poised for increased opportunities moving forward. The preseason optimism surrounding Gibson supporters anticipated a breakout season, yet Brian Robinson Jr. has stolen the spotlight with a stellar campaign for the Washington Commanders. However, Robinson suffered a hamstring injury in the past game, which could present an intriguing opportunity for Gibson, depending on the severity of the injury and recovery timeline. Hamstring injuries tend to linger, making rushed returns problematic. In the team’s most recent loss to the Miami Dolphins, Gibson showcased his versatility, rushing 10 times for 35 yards and securing four of his five targets for an additional 37 yards. Gibson’s prowess in the passing game has continued to be his bread and butter, but his rushing statistics this season have been toast. Despite falling short of lofty expectations to begin his career, he remains a capable back who could thrive in favorable matchups if given the lead role. Unfortunately, the Commanders’ upcoming bye week tempers immediate excitement for Gibson as an addition. With that said, if Robinson is sidelined for an extended period, Gibson becomes an enticing prospect heading into the fantasy playoffs. Unfortunately, the team faces challenging matchups post-bye against the Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, and the formidable San Francisco 49ers defense.

• Complete Waiver Wire Rankings

Wide Receivers

Noah Brown, WR, Houston Texans – Injuries cast an undeniable shadow over the purity of sports, and amidst a season marred by serious setbacks, Week 13 witnessed the unfortunate fall of yet another stellar player. In the previous matchup, rookie phenom Tank Dell suffered a fractured fibula, which will sideline him for the rest of the season. We hope for a speedy recovery for Dell and know that he will be back better than ever next year. While Nico Collins rightfully basks in accolades for his legendary performance in Week 13, the void left by Dell’s absence beckons attention to other talents on the Houston roster. Foremost among them is the undeniably intriguing Noah Brown, making a comeback after a two-week hiatus prompted by a lingering knee injury. Despite leaving the recent game without a catch on two targets, Brown shared the team’s highest snap count with Collins (81%). It is significant to recall Brown’s stellar pre-injury heater, where he secured a total of 13 receptions on 14 targets, amassing 325 receiving yards in a two-game stretch. While expecting a repeat of a 150+ yard performance may be ambitious this season, anything is possible with CJ Stroud under center. Brown stands as a priority add, despite an impending tough matchup against the formidable New York Jets‘ secondary. Considerations for speculative additions extend to Robert Woods and John Metchie in deeper leagues, but entrusting them as anything more is challenging this late in the fantasy season.

Jayden Reed/ Romeo Doubs, WRs, Green Bay Packers – Selecting between Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs is not so much about preference but rather a race to secure whichever of the two is still available. These talented receivers merit a spot on rosters in almost every league, particularly with Christian Watson facing what seems to be a serious hamstring injury. Determining which wide receiver will have the upper hand in the coming weeks is somewhat challenging. Reed had been on a hot streak leading into Week 13, but his usage in Sunday night’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs raised concerns, likely due to an ongoing chest injury. He was on the field for only 47% of snaps, catching four of five targets for a mere 16 yards. On the flip side, Doubs had an impressive game, securing four of five targets for 72 yards. If Reed is hampered by his injury while Watson is sidelined, Doubs has the potential to deliver substantial numbers in the upcoming weeks. On the other hand, if Reed recovers from his injury, we could witness a true breakout to conclude the year. Regardless, both players should be considered priority additions and can be relied upon in an advantageous matchup against the New York Giants. In deeper leagues, it is worth bringing up that Dontayvion Wicks has had 40+ receiving yards in four straight games. His playing time has been limited due to the talented wide receiver room that Green Bay boasts, but he could see a substantial increase in opportunities with Watson sidelined. 

Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions – Prior to the Detroit Lions‘ Sunday victory over the New Orleans Saints, the team’s offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, hinted at the potential for increased usage of Jameson Williams moving forward. Despite being recognized as one of the more promising wide receiver prospects in recent memory, Williams has faced a rocky start to his professional career. This journey includes missed time due to multiple serious injuries and a previous suspension this season for violating the league’s gambling policy. While his performance has not been consistently impressive, the young wide receiver has recently shown glimpses of promise. Following consecutive decent outings, Williams once again caught attention in Week 13. Despite recording just one catch for 11 yards in the game, he turned his sole rushing opportunity into a 19-yard touchdown, punctuating the play with a Superman-like dive into the end zone. This celebratory moment served as a subtle reminder that despite his shortcomings to begin his NFL career, Williams remains an athletic freak. With an uptick in snap participation over his last few games, he presents some consideration due to weekly volatility for splash plays. While trust remains a challenge at this point, having Williams on the bench, if roster space permits, is advisable in deeper leagues. There is still potential for the breakout we have been anticipating, and the upcoming Week 14 matchup against the Chicago Bears offers a glimmer of hope. Williams previously secured two catches for 44 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 11 against this defense. Nevertheless, until he consistently proves his reliability, the speedy wide receiver remains a speculative addition and a desperation play.

• Complete Waiver Wire Rankings

Tight Ends

Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens – After the devastating season-ending injury to Mark Andrews, several fantasy teams found themselves challenged to fill the void left by a key player in their starting lineups. While replicating the star tight end’s weekly production may be unlikely, Baltimore’s depth chart boasts a capable backup in Isaiah Likely. Despite modest season stats, Likely has showcased his potential in previous seasons and admirably stepped in for Andrews in 2022. In the three games where he played over 50% of snaps last season, he ranked as the TE9 or better. In his first start post-Andrews’ injury, Likely caught four of six targets for 40 yards. It is significant to point out that this performance occurred two weeks ago due to the team’s bye in Week 13. If the young tight end remains available in your league or was dropped during the bye, he stands as our pickup of the week at the position. Looking ahead to Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams, Likely aims to further integrate himself into the offense, hopefully benefiting from a favorable matchup for tight ends.

Brevin Jordan, TE, Houston Texans – Currently, any player connected to receiving passes from CJ Stroud holds considerable appeal. In light of this, Brevin Jordan‘s Week 13 performance makes a compelling case for roster consideration. Stepping in for the injured Dalton Schultz, Jordan secured three catches on four targets, amassing a total of 64 yards. He also notably played a season-high 51 snaps in this game. While Jordan’s offensive ability has never been in question, his historical deficiency in blocking has limited his time on the field. Should Dalton Schultz‘s absence persist, Jordan emerges as a formidable streaming option. With Tank Dell sidelined for the foreseeable future, the team might opt to redirect a significant number of targets to the tight end position. As Schultz’s status remains uncertain, Jordan warrants streaming consideration, particularly in the upcoming matchup against the New York Jets.

• Complete Waiver Wire Rankings

Quarterbacks

Team DEF/ST

• Complete Waiver Wire Rankings
• Weekly Waivers Episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast

Final Thoughts

It has been a genuine honor to navigate you all through the depths of the waiver wire this season. As we approach the final week of the regular season, it feels akin to the last days of summer. To those whose seasons are drawing to a close this week, thank you for placing your trust in me this year. I eagerly anticipate running it back next season. Now, for those on the brink of playoffs, it is undeniably the most exhilarating time of the year and it’s not just because Christmas is later this month. The fantasy football playoffs are our Christmas, but only one team in each league will get to open the tantalizing present sitting under the tree. It is time to rev up the engines and keep our foot firmly on the gas pedal. From this point forward, nothing else matters but conquering the immediate matchup at hand. Let’s finish the regular season on a high note, carrying that momentum right into the playoffs and beyond.