The NFL heads into the final game of Week 12 with a Monday Night Football matchup pitting the Ravens against the Rams. We’ll keep an eye on that game to see what possible waiver wire wonders might emerge, but until then, let’s take a look at the best waiver options going into Week 13.
The fantasy playoffs loom, so If you’re anywhere in the mix in your leagues, be sure to prepare your team for Week 13. There are no more bye weeks, so you may not be hurting for players, but there’s never a time you shouldn’t look to improve your team.
With that in mind, here are eleven of the best players available in at least 50 percent of fantasy leagues, per ESPN ownership rates.
Bo Scarbrough, RB, Detroit Lions (44.7 percent)
Scarbrough followed up his start from last week to get another start this week and rush 18 times for 98 yards against Washington. His lack of passing game production doesn’t help, but finding a starting running back at this point in the season on waivers is likely useful. The Bears are up next on Thanksgiving day. They aren’t as tough as they’ve been in the past to running backs, so there is a chance you end up starting Scarbrough in Week 13.
Benny Snell, RB. Pittsburgh Steelers (2.7 percent)
James Conner didn’t sound like he was going to make it back for Week 13, but anything can happen. Anything did happen this week, as Benny Snell took over the lead back job against the Bengals and ran the ball 21 times for 98 yards and caught one pass for five yards. As long as Conner is out, Snell should be in line for the lead job and a good workload.
Jonathan Williams, RB, Indianapolis Colts (29.2 percent)
Williams has back-to-back 100 yards rushing with Marlon Mack out. In those two games, he’s totaled 43 touches for 268 yards and a touchdown. On Thursday night Jordan Wilkins was used as an emergency backup so that he could see more work this week against Tennessee, but Williams has earned touches and is worth a pickup as long as Mack is out.
Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks (29.1 percent)
Penny went off against a tough Eagles run defense for 128 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries while Chris Carson ran the ball eight times for 26 yards and caught all four of his targets for 31 yards. Carson also botched a handoff, losing a fumble, which helped Penny see more work. I don’t see Carson turning into Penny’s backup against Minnesota next week, but we could see more of a committee or hot hand approach moving forward.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans (14.9 percent)
Tannehill is coming off a monster game where he completed 14-of-18 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns and rushed seven times for 40 yards and two more scores against the Jaguars. This game comes after he put up four strong games before the bye, including good rushing numbers and a rushing touchdown in his previous two. It’s good to see that his rushing numbers aren’t fluky, and with an average of two touchdown passes in every start. He’s starting to look like a quarterback who could be more than just a streamer. Fortunately for fantasy players, he’s in streamable matchups in his next three, against the Colts, Raiders, and Texans.
A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans (16 percent)
It sure is tough to trust A.J. Brown, as he’s either blowing up or doing jack-diddly, but he has been the best receiver on the Titans overall since Ryan Tannehill took over. This week he caught 4-of-5 targets for 135 yards and a touchdown. Corey Davis and Adam Humphries had the second-most targets with three each. Since Week 7, he’s had 27 targets to Davis’ 21 and outscored him 59 to 37 in PPR leagues. He also faces the Colts, Raiders, and Texans in his next three games.
Sam Darnold, QB, New York Jets (18 percent)
Darnold has averaged 300 passing yards and three touchdowns over his last two games, including a rushing touchdown. They were good matchups against Washington and Oakland, but his next two matchups are against Cincinnati and Miami.
Robby Anderson, WR, New York Jets (46.3 percent)
Anderson has been the forgotten man for the Jets this year, but he’s slowly getting work and now has two touchdowns in a row, and this week, he caught 4-of-5 passes for 86 yards and his score. That isn’t many target, but it tied for the team lead. The Jets play the Bengals this week, so Anderson has an excellent chance to keep the momentum going.
Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons (3.1 percent)
Gage saw ten targets against Tampa Bay and caught eight for 76 yards. With Julio Jones, not 100 percent and Austin Hooper still questionable for Thursday night against the Saints, he has plenty of appeal this week and maybe as the season moves forward.
Allen Hurns, WR, Miami Dolphins (.5 percent)
Hurns got a new contract and has also seen an uptick of work with Preston Williams out for the year. Deante Parker is the lead receiver, and if he’s still on your waiver wire, it’s time to get him, but Hurns has 6 and 7 targets in his last two games and caught eight of those for 95 yards and a touchdown. But the better news is that the Dolphins face the Eagles, Jets, Giants, and Bengals to finish out the fantasy season.