Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.
Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.
Here’s my NFL Week 13 waiver wire cheat sheet for all league sizes and formats, with players you need to add, drop and stream in your fantasy football league:
ADD
QB Jordan Love, Packers (ESPN: 48%; Yahoo: 52%): Love has certainly been inconsistent in his first full season as a starter, but he’s remained viable in fantasy throughout as the overall QB9. In fact, he has ed for 879 yards and seven touchdowns against only two interceptions the last three games.
TE Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (ESPN: 42%; Yahoo: 49%): If you lost Mark Andrews, a set-it-and-forget-it option at tight end, there’s likely no one with higher upside than Freiermuth available in your league and now Matt Canada can’t hurt us anymore. He was the overall TE3 in standard formats (TE1 in PPR) in Pittsburgh’s first game without Canada as offensive coordinator.
WR Rashee Rice, Chiefs (ESPN: 51%; Yahoo: 68%): Rice is the only wide receiver on Kansas City’s depth chart who deserves to be rostered in fantasy and his 107 yards on eight receptions and a TD in a come-from-behind victory over the Raiders is indicative of how much Patrick Mahomes trusts him. The rookie has produced at least four receptions or a TD in nine of 11 games this season.
RB Jeff Wilson, Dolphins (ESPN: 27%; Yahoo: 17%): There’s uncertainty with De’Von Achane’s knee and Salvon Ahmed was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury last week. Wilson produced 73 total yards on 14 touches (including three receptions) against the Jets as the No. 2 tailback behind Raheem Mostert.
WR Jayden Reed, Packers (ESPN: 32%; Yahoo: 48%): Reed has benefited greatly from Love finding his groove recently. The rookie receiver is the overall WR11 in standard formats (WR10 in PPR) since Week 8 with 20 receptions (28 targets) for 266 yards and two TDs. Reed has also added 83 yards on six carries and a TD for good measure over that span.
BONUS: RB Keaton Mitchell, Ravens (ESPN: 34%; Yahoo: 62%): Mitchell has scored double-digit fantasy points (in PPR formats) in three of the last four games on limited touches, but his role has continued to grow every week — he played almost half of Baltimore’s offensive snaps against the Chargers. Both Mitchell and Gus Edwards have been top-20 options since Week 9. It wouldn’t surprise me if the dynamic undrafted rookie gets even more work after the Ravens’ Week 13 bye.
BONUS: WR Joshua Palmer, Chargers (ESPN: 25%; Yahoo: 27%): Palmer could be activated off injured reserve as soon as this week if everything checks out with his knee. Stash him now, considering neither Quentin Johnston or Jalen Guyton have been an effective replacement.
BONUS: QB Matthew Stafford, Rams (ESPN: 31%; Yahoo: 49%): Stafford’s 15th career game with at least four TD es coincided with all of his weapons finally being healthy. He isn’t usable the next two weeks against the Browns and Ravens, but he faces the Commanders and Giants in the fantasy playoffs.
BONUS: WR Jalin Hyatt, Giants (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 3%): Hyatt ran the second-most routes for the G-Men and turned his career-high six targets into five receptions and 109 yards against the Patriots, the first 100-yard game by any Giants catcher this season. The team should already be looking towards next season, which means there’s no excuse for the speedy rookie to not be the focal point of this offense the rest of the way.
BONUS: TE Isaiah Likely, Ravens (ESPN: 32%; Yahoo: 52%): It’s actually unclear if Mark Andrews’ season is entirely over, but for fantasy purposes, it is. Likely led the team in receiving yards (40) on four receptions against the Chargers on Sunday night. Baltimore has a bye this week, but Likely should be stashed now if you’re thin at tight end.
BONUS: WR A.T. Perry, Saints (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 3%): Rashid Shaheed suffered a quad injury against the Falcons, Chris Olave left Week 12 with a concussion and Michael Thomas is on injured reserve. Perry will deserve flex consideration against the Lions, who are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, if either Shaheed or Olave are out.
BONUS: RB Elijah Mitchell, 49ers (ESPN: 17%; Yahoo: 17%): Mitchell represents all the handcuffs available who would inherit a massive role if something happened to the starter. Zack Moss (ESPN: 59%; Yahoo: 49%) has already showed what he’s capable of if Jonathan Taylor was sidelined. Kenneth Gainwell (ESPN: 16%; Yahoo: 27%) has already vultured D’Andre Swift a few times. It appears D’Ernest Johnson (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 1%) has sured Tank Bigsby (ESPN: 5%; Yahoo: 8%) as Travis Etienne’s back-up, although I’d expect Bigsby’s role to expand regardless if Etienne went down. Chase Edmonds (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 3%) would get Rachaad White’s robust 18 touches per game.
BONUS: D/ST Colts (ESPN: 16%; Yahoo: 14%): Indianapolis is the top defense in fantasy since Week 9, averaging 17.7 points per game. The Colts face quarterbacks Will Levis, Jake Browning, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder and Aidan O’Connell the next five weeks.
BONUS: D/ST Chargers (ESPN: 11%; Yahoo: 16%): Khalil Mack and company have the Patriots this week, an offense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season. They should be able to take advantage whether it’s Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe under center.
BONUS: D/ST Buccaneers (ESPN: 15%; Yahoo: 32%): Tampa Bay has the Panthers at home this week. If Carolina’s offense was good, Frank Reich would still have a job.
DROP
WR Michael Thomas, Saints: Thomas was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury last week.
RB Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams: Henderson was waived last Tuesday after a four-game return to the team he won a Super Bowl with two seasons ago. Kyren Williams’ massive day against the Cardinals explains the move.
WR Jerry Jeudy, Broncos: Jeudy is the overall WR59 in standard formats (WR54 in PPR) through 12 weeks and only has 13 targets the last three games (compared to Courtland Sutton’s 22 targets).
TE Luke Musgrave, Packers: Musgrave was placed on injured reserve with a lacerated kidney and could miss the rest of this season.
WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers: The rookie receiver has only nine receptions (16 targets) for 76 yards and a TD in four games while Joshua Palmer has been sidelined.
