DFS Army’s Gthom goes over the the waiver wire targets for this week. These waiver wire targets are normally available in 50-percent of ESPN leagues.
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New England Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) runs with the ball against the New York Giants, Sunday, November 26, 2023.
QUARTERBACKS
Gardner Minshew (IND) – 23% Ownership
Poo slingin’ Minshew is back and freshly off a 18-point fantasy point outing against a porous Titans defense. He is in position to take on the Bengals in Week 14 and they are no team to shy away from, especially after their starting quarterback went down. Don’t expect a ceiling game from Minshew but he can certainly get your team there if you need to navigate the final week of teams on BYE.
Jameis Winston (NO) – 1% Ownership
I am unsure how Winston does not have a starting job somewhere in the NFL, but alas. With Carr in concussion protocol this Carolina game will likely feature Winston under center. Winston has not started a game in 2023 but he finished with 10.88-fantasy points in Week 10 when he played half the game against Minnesota. While Winston has the highest ceiling of any of the three quarterbacks listed on this waiver list, Carolina is notoriously steam rolled by running backs which may take away from Winston’s fantasy floor.
Joe Flacco (CLE) – 2% Ownership
Signed off the streets and finished Week 13 with 254 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception against the Rams. This is a 38-year-old quarterback that you can pick up and play if you need help at the position, just don’t expect too much from Flacco. His Week 14 game will be against the Jacksonville Jaguars who can be beat through the air, too.
RUNNING BACKS
Ezekiel Elliott (NE) – 36% Ownership
Elliott’s talent has fell off since his early days in the NFL, but he will get a vast number of opportunities going forward with teammate Rhamondre Stevenson injured. Stevenson was injured very early in Week 13 which led Zeke to a season-high snap rate and carry total. The former Ohio State running back finished with 17/52/0 and mixed in four catches for forty yards. While it was inefficient, it was volume that cannot be ignored. The top pickup amongst widely available players is Elliott heading into Week 14.
Ty Chandler (MIN) – 28% Ownership
While Chandler did little in Week 12, the same could be said for their entire offense. Expect Chandler to get his workload against the Raiders, who are awful against opposing running backs. In his last three games Chandler has 26 touches for 166 yards. In those three games he has averaged 9.2-PPR points.
Tyjae Spears (TEN) – 32% Ownership
Spears was the presumable top pickup of Week 14 but that was tamped down by head coach Mike Vrabel, who stated running back Derrick Henry was not in concussion protocol. Spears would have been premium value if Henry were to miss Week 14. That still holds true should Henry miss time for any other reason, but at this point Spears is a deep-league, PPR, flex player that is an elite handcuff to Henry.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Noah Brown (HOU) – 34% Ownership
Rookie sensation, and fellow Texans’ receiver, Tank Dell was lost for the season due to injury. We have seen Noah Brown step up this season to fill in for injured starters; in Week 9 and 10 he hit 24-plus PPR points in both weeks. Fantasy managers should be lining up for a piece of this Houston passing attack. Brown goose-egged fantasy managers in Week 13 but make no mistake, he will be the WR2 in this offense moving forward. That is fantasy goodness to say the least.
Zay Jones (JAC) – 17% Ownership
While Jones has encountered injuries throughout 2023, he is a must-add this week due to his increased usage and injuries amongst the wide receiver room. Teammate Christian Kirk will likely be sidelined with an injury for several weeks, paving a clear path for Jones to get additional plays schemed his way. In Week 13, Jones finished with 5/78/0 on eight targets. Jones would be a much better play if his quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, is able to suit-up for Week 14 but he suffered an ankle injury that will likely shelf him for a few weeks. Regardless, Jones should be picked up but without his starting quarterback he is far from a must start player in Week 14.
Demario Douglas (NE) – 35% Ownership
He missed Week 13 because he was unable to clear concussion protocol. Despite being trapped in a dumpster fire of an offense, Douglas has mustered up double-digit PPR points in four of his last five games. While his ceiling won’t be accessible this season, Douglas is a solid FLEX worthy play for all PPR formats. Of course, Douglas must clear protocol before returning in Week 14 so if you grab him off waivers monitor his practice participation.
Elijah Moore (CLE) – 34% Ownership
Cleveland’s WR1, Amari Cooper, entered concussion protocol in Week 13. With the new protocol in place most players miss the following game after a concussion; enter Elijah Moore, he would be the next-man-up if Cooper should miss. Regardless of Cooper’s health, Moore has played well for fantasy in three of his last four games. Moore is a solid FLEX in PPR given his usage and the absence of Amari Cooper (should he miss Week 14). Plus, ‘ole Joe Flacco doesn’t look too bad as the new quarterback.
Rashid Shaheed (NO) – 23% Ownership
Shaheed left Week 12 early due to a thigh injury and missed Week 13 for the same injury as well. Expect a return for Shaheed against the Carolina Panthers in Week 14. The WR2 for the Saints, Michael Thomas, remains on IR. Shaheed should get an uptick in volume during Thomas’ absence. Plus, Shaheed can always make value on a single catch-and-run. While in a WR3 role Shaheed amassed 18.3, 19, and 24.3 PPR fantasy points within single games this season.
Curtis Samuel (WAS) – 44% Ownership
You cannot ignore Mr. Samuel at this point, he has 17 targets and 13 receptions for 165 yards over his last two games. We also saw a stretch earlier this season, between Week 4 and 5, where he posted similar usage. Clearly Samuel can get hot but he can quickly vanish too. Week 14 will serve as Samuel’s BYE week, but he returns in Week 15 just in time for the fantasy playoffs.
Jonathan Mingo (CAR) – 12% Ownership
Mingo has seen 29 targets across his last four games and he has officially entered the fantasy conversation. Mingo’s stock becomes even more bullish once you see that Thielen is on the field less and has been getting less volume. Buy Mingo this week and perhaps he will be an end-of-year rookie sensation.
TIGHT ENDS
Isaiah Likely (BAL) – 24% Ownership
The fill-in for Mark Andrews following his end of season injury. Likely was 4/40/0 on six targets during his first start in Week 12. Any starting tight end within this offense should be picked up and played for the rest of the season. Of course, he is far from being a 1-to-1 replacement for Andrews.
Brevin Jordan (HOU) – 2% Ownership
Another injury fill-in for the Texans, this time for tight end Dalton Schultz. Schultz missed all week of practice leading up to Week 13, so he may miss more games. If Schultz cannot go, Jordan will step into the role once again. He played 75-percent of snaps and finished 3/64/0 which was a top-12 performance at the position in Week 13.
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