In Week 12, we learned a lot about some players we’ve been going back and forth on.
For example, Mike Goodson finally got into the end zone and proved that he’ll have value even with Jonathan Stewart healthy again (especially in PPR leagues). We also learned that WRs we previously thought were one week wonders – Jacoby Ford and Ben Obomanu, to name a couple – might need to be taken more seriously.
With many playoff positions resting on a strong Week 13 performance, I tried to dig even deeper this week to unearth potential sleepers for your lineups.
Update: Since I am not yet mathematically eliminated from the BFL2010 playoffs, I am seeking your help again in setting my Week 13 roster. P&G gift bags for those who offer up the best responses!
Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Sleeper Picks
Remember, a player must be owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues to be included in this post. Additionally, I primarily focus on players’ values for Week 13, although in certain cases I’ll recommend players who may not be immediately valuable this week but who stand out as valuable long-term acquisitions.
Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Sleeper Picks: QB
Sam Bradford, St. Louis (42%, at Arizona)
This one really is pretty easy. Bradford has been a consistently solid fantasy QB this year; not spectacular (though he was in Week 12), but consistently solid. Against Arizona’s defense, he’ll have the opportunity to be spectacular again, especially with the Cardinals coming off a divisional Monday night game against the physical 49ers.
Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle (19% v Carolina)
I haven’t been very high on Matt Hasselbeck this season, and with good reason. He’s been very underwhelming from a fantasy perspective. In Week 13, however, playing at home against a team with very little to play for, Hasselbeck could be in line for a decent day. As a #2 QB in a two-QB league, Hasselbeck is worth starting.
Others to keep an eye on:
- Chad Henne has a nice day against an Oakland defense that had previously been playing pretty well. He should have some opportunities to make plays against Cleveland.
- If you’re desperate, Derek Anderson should be able to throw at least one TD at home against the Rams defense
- Kerry Collins should start for the Titans in Week 13 (or so Chris Johnson hopes) against Jacksonville. It’s not a terrible matchup if you’re desperate.
Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Sleeper Picks: RB
Mike Goodson, Carolina (42%, at Seattle)
Incredibly, Goodson is owned in only 1% more leagues than DeAngelo Williams…yes, the same DeAngelo Williams currently on IR for the Panthers. Jonathan Stewart came back in Week 12 and Goodson still got plenty of carries and scored a TD.
Goodson is proving he belongs in the NFL, putting up solid numbers even without the threat of a passing game, and should be owned and started in many more leagues than he is. Goodson is similar in style to Jamaal Charles and we show how JC shredded the Seahawks D in Week 12.
Chris Ivory, New Orleans (22%, at Cincinnati)
Ivory has scored three TDs over the last two weeks while averaging 4.5+ yards per carry. Seeing as how Reggie Bush’s gaffes nearly cost the Saints the win on Thanksgiving, and how Pierre Thomas cannot get healthy, I’d say Ivory is a pretty safe bet to get touches again in Week 13. If nothing else, he’s getting goalline touches and has a pretty nice matchup against a Cincinnati team that is 2-9 and left with nothing to play for.
Maurice Morris, Detroit (10%, v Chicago)
I’m not particularly high on any Detroit player other than Calvin Johnson with a matchup against the mighty Bears D on the horizon. That said, Morris did score two TDs on 14 total touches in Week 12 (five of them receptions, if you’re in a PPR league) and has to be considered the front-runner for carries in Week 13 with Jahvid Best dinged up on a weekly basis. If you’re desperate, Morris will at least get the ball in his hands.
Toby Gerhart, Minnesota (4%, v Buffalo)
Did you hear that loud gasp during the first halves of the early games on Sunday? That was Adrian Peterson owners reacting to AD limping off the field with an ankle injury. The injury didn’t look terrible, but it was still a good reminder that you should own Gerhart – who scored a TD later in the game – if you have AD. And without knowing how serious AD’s ankle injury is, it might be worth a taking a flyer on Gerhart even if you don’t own AD.
Others to keep an eye on:
- I’ve been telling you about Tashard Choice (3%, and Indy) for a couple of weeks now. He scored a TD in Week 12 and with Marion Barber out, Choice should get more looks against the Colts D this week. I’d snatch him before someone else does. It could pay major dividends down the stretch.
- Cadillac Williams (33%, v ATL) has been much better at home this year than on the road. If you’re desperate, he’s at home in Week 13.
- Donald Brown (36%, v Dallas) is still owned in a lot of leagues. He’s nothing great, but he’s getting touches for a good offense. There is a value in that.
- Rashad Jennings is a guy to keep an eye on. Maurice Jones-Drew has been questionable the past couple of weeks, and though he’s played, you can never have too much insurance at RB. Even with MJD playing and have a great Week 12, Jennings ran for 50+ yards and had a TD of his own.
Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Sleeper Picks: WR
Danny Amendola, St. Louis (46%, at Arizona)
I told you I’ll keep listing Amendola here until he’s owned in 50% of leagues. He isn’t yet. So here he is. He only had pedestrian numbers in Week 12 (4 receptions, 41 yards) but he was still tied for the team lead in catches and has a nice Week 13 matchup at Arizona. He’s the most consistent and targeted of the many threats Sam Bradford has to throw to.
Blair White, Indianapolis (16%, v Dallas)
As long as Austin Collie is out, White has value. Check Collie’s status, but I know this: if given the choice right this second, I’d rather have White than the oft-concussed Collie.
Jacoby Ford, Oakland (11%, at San Diego)
Hard to look past this guy anymore, huh? He’s a constant threat in the return game, and now he’s added explosive receiver to his list of attributes. Ford has 100+ yards in two out of his last three games and surely will be counted on heavily as the desperate Raiders head into San Diego next week.
Jordan Shipley, Cincinnati (9%, v New Orleans)
If I told you that you could start any of the Bengals’ receivers in Week 13, I’m sure many of you would take T.O. or Ochocinco. And you what? Those would be the safe picks. But guess which Bengals WR scored the most fantasy points in Week 12? Jordan Shipley.
The rookie out of Texas has five receptions each of the last two weeks and got into the endzone against the Jets. As the Bengals’ season spirals further out of control, I expect Shipley to continue getting more and more looks, especially with defenses preoccupied with T.O. and Ochocinco.
Jason Avant, Philadelphia (4%, v Houston)
Look no further than the matchup. Avant faces Houston, which gives up gobs and gobs of fantasy points to every team that doesn’t have Rusty Smith playing QB. With Philly possessing the dynamic Michael Vick, I expect all three of their receivers to have value this week. And surprise, surprise…Avant led the team in catches and yards against the Bears in Week 12.
Ben Obomanu, Seattle (3%, v Carolina)
Wow, talk about a guy who has come out of nowhere to be a late season revelation. Obomanu backed up his 5-catch, 87-yard, 1-TD performance in Week 11 with a sterling 5-catch, 159-yard, 1-TD game in Week 12. Carolina isn’t anything special on defense, so Obomanu now needs to be taken seriously as a starting WR in Week 13.
Others to keep an eye on:
- Mike Thomas (49%, at Tennessee) is not flashy or spectacular, but he is a solid option if you want guaranteed 5-7 point production.
- Brian Hartline (7%, v Cleveland) is the Dolphins’ WR I’d want versus Cleveland if Brandon Marshall is out again. Davone Bess (43%, v Cleveland) also proved to be worth owning again by going over 100 yards against Oakland.
- Earl Bennett (3%, at Detroit) has been inconsistent this year but came up with two TD catches in Week 12. His matchup in Week 13 is nice.
Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Sleeper Picks: TE
Rob Gronkowski, New England (36%, v New York Jets)
Gronkowski has officially jumped over Aaron Hernandez as the Patriots WR that I’d rather have right now. (Of course, this is a Belichick offense, so that could change in a week.) With at least four catches in three of his last four games, plus a 3-TD game sprinkled in there, Gronkowski has been more consistent and explosive than the purportedly more explosive Hernandez.
Benjamin Watson, Cleveland (32%, at Miami)
Watson was questionable heading into Week 12 but ended up having a decent day. With the Browns’ passing game still focusing on backs and tight ends over receivers, Watson is a solid play against a defense that will give up points to tight ends.
Others to keep an eye on:
- Anthony Fasano (17%, v Cleveland) has been up and down all year. Against Cleveland, it’s not a terrible week to throw Fasano in there if you’re desperate.
- Jermaine Gresham (25%, v New Orleans) is explosive and does have 44 receptions this season.
Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Sleeper Picks: D/ST
Seattle Seahawks (33%, v Carolina)
Anytime you can take a team that’s great at home against a rookie QB as bad as Jimmy Clausen, you do it. Besides, the strength of the Seahawks D is its run D, which will help against Goodson and Stewart. Even the bad Seahawks secondary should be able to look halfway decent against Clausen.
Detroit Lions (21%, v Chicago)
I know the Lions are sputtering as the season wares on, but that has been a pretty solid fantasy defense this year. The credit for that goes to the Lions’ excellent front four, which should give the Bears O-Line and QB Jay Cutler fits. The Lions will give up points, but if your league rewards points for sacks and fumbles, the Lions should be able to force both in Week 13.
Others to keep an eye on:
- Miami can rush the QB and its secondary has the potential force turnovers. Against Jake Delhomme and Cleveland, opportunities should be there for both.
- San Diego‘s defense at home against Oakland is a solid option.
The comment section awaits if you have questions.