Waiver Wire Week 13 – Fantasy Football 2024

Playoff hopes are on the line this week, and a few clear targets have emerged on waivers after injuries this past Sunday.

If you want some skin in the Thanksgiving games, there are a few options in today’s column as well. As always, I’ll be here every Tuesday with my top waiver adds of the week.

Percentages are based on ESPN’s rostered player data.

Quarterbacks

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (36.6%)

The offensive coordinator change has led to noticeable improvements from Williams and the Bears. While they have three straight road games upcoming against the Lions, 49ers and Vikings, two will be played in domes and the negative game scripts will require numerous dropbacks in those games.

Drake Maye, New England Patriots (21.5%)

Maye’s pedestrian game against the Dolphins was unsurprising given how well Miami’s defense has played this year, and he’ll get a much softer matchup in Week 13 in the Colts. He also continues to take off and run when necessary to earn a few extra fantasy points.

Running Backs

Amber Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders (19.1%)

Abdullah saw 90% of snaps and six targets out of the backfield with Zamir White and Alexander Mattison out. If the same setup presents itself in Week 13, Abdullah is a great spot start if needed due to his high usage.

Jeremy McNichols, Washington Commanders (1.2%)

With Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler set to miss Sunday’s game against the Titans, McNichols looks like he’ll see the most work out of the backfield. It’s likely the Commanders will bring back Chris Rodriguez to suit up as the No. 2 back, but he shouldn’t take a damaging amount of work away from McNichols.

The matchup isn’t ideal against a tough Titans run defense, but McNichols might be the best you can get this week.

Gus Edwards (23.5%) & Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers (1.1%)

With J.K. Dobbins likely to miss time, it’s unclear who will lead the backfield.

Edwards was his usual inefficient self, posting just 11 yards on nine carries in Monday’s game against the Ravens. Vidal will become active on gamedays again now that he’s needed in the backfield, whereas Hassan Haskins was listed as the No. 3 back but only saw time on special teams.

Vidal has been the much better back when given opportunities, as anyone with exposure to him in the best ball will never forget his touchdown catch on a wheel route on his first NFL touch. We hope the Chargers won’t either and will give the better player more opportunities than the player who has proven his ineffectiveness time and again.

Hope is not a strategy, though, and this is a situation to monitor this week. I’m making Vidal a priority over Edwards.

Wide Receivers

Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers (27.6%)

Thielen returned to the lineup last week after recovering from a lengthy hamstring injury and caught three of four targets for 57 yards. Even though David Moore had a better day than Thielen (6/81/1 on 10 targets), Thielen will benefit from veteran deference down the stretch and cast Moore aside as the main slot man.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans (7.5%)

Westbrook-Ikhine has six touchdowns in his past seven games serving as the Titans’ main deep threat. Even though he doesn’t earn many targets, he’s won on extreme efficiency. It’s unsustainable, but a Will Levis-led Titans team has nothing to lose and will continue to take shots down the field.

Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers (9.4%)

Romeo Doubs seems unlikely to play in Thursday’s game against the Dolphins after suffering a concussion against the 49ers. This will give Wicks a full helping of snaps and opportunities. While people are tired of him and his pass-dropping antics, he remains a top target-earner in the league, as he ranks seventh in the league in targets per route run.

Tight Ends

Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys (11.0%)

With the Cowboys on a short week, it seems unlikely Jake Ferguson will return from his concussion on a short week, giving Schoonmaker another start if he misses. Schoonmaker has performed adequately as the backup, catching nine of 14 targets for 111 yards and a touchdown over the past two games. He’s a decent add this week for a tight end-needy team.

Theo Johnson, New York Giants (7.0%)

The rookie has earned six targets in his past three games and has scored five or more fantasy points in his past four contests. While that sounds like a low bar to clear, the tight-end landscape is a desolate place at times, and Johnson makes for a decent fill-in in deeper leagues.