Welcome to our fourteenth Waiver Wire article at Fantasy In Frames for the 2023 fantasy football season!
Congrats! You survived the Week 13 Bye-maggedon. Hopefully, you’re headed into the playoffs in your leagues, and if not, are making that last week push to get there. This week, as always, we saw some injuries take down a few key fantasy players. Don’t worry, I’m here to help fill in those gaps and get you playoff-ready. Players listed below are rostered in Sleeper leagues at a 50% or less percentage rate.
Joe Flacco – rostered in 7% of leagues
No, you haven’t gone back in time. It is 2023 and we’re talking about Joe Flacco, Super Bowl MVP by the way, Joe Flacco. After signing with the Browns to take the reins while DTR recovers from a concussion, he posted 21.16 fantasy points off of 254 yards and two touchdowns. Going into Monday night, those numbers put Flacco in the top ten for his position in fantasy scoring. The Browns are at home against the Jags this week and they give up the tenth most points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks.
Gardner Minshew – rostered in 27% of leagues
I’ll admit, the turnovers are a potential problem, but the fact that the backup QB as kept the Colts in the playoff hunt is impressive. One of the better backups in the NFL, Minshew is averaging 13.3 fantasy points per game. Week 13’s divisional matchup against the Titans saw Minshew throw for 312 yards and two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He’s thrown for multiple touchdowns since Week 8. This week they travel to Cincinnati to face a struggling Bengals team turning to another backup quarterback for the rest of the season.
Matthew Stafford – rostered in 51% of leagues
Stafford just barely misses the 50% or lower requirement but since he’s on the cusp I thought he should be in the conversation, especially if your league is one of the 49% of leagues where he is available to claim. Stafford has been putting up serious numbers, including eight touchdowns since the Week 10 bye. Even against a stout Cleveland defense, Stafford still ended the day with 28 fantasy points. If your team is still alive at this point in the season and in need of quarterback help, he’s a smash for sure.
Ezekiel Elliott – rostered in 46% of leagues
Hopefully none of you were forced to watch this absolute abomination of a game (Patriots vs. Chargers) this week. Even though it was easily one of the worst NFL games of the season, one takeaway was that Zeke will have an increased role in the weeks to come. He posted 50+ yards in the air and on the ground this week. Rhamondre Stevenson left the game with an ankle injury, likely to cause him to miss multiple games. Zeke will undoubtedly inherit the lead-back role while Stevenson recovers, as the only other running back on the depth chart at the moment is JaMycal Hasty. The Patriots aren’t exactly a prolific passing offense this season so if they are going to score, it’s likely to be on the ground.
Tyjae Spears – rostered in 45% of leagues
In a week where Derrick Henry exited the game with a concussion, Spears saw his highest snap percentage all season at 67%. He ran for 75 yards and was targeted in the passing game six times resulting in 13 yards. Should King Henry miss some time in concussion protocol, you’ll definitely want to make sure his handcuff is on your roster.
Chris Rodriguez – rostered in 2% of leagues
This is one for the deeper roster leagues. Rodriguez could be in line for an expanded workload given the Brian Robinson hamstring injury that pulled him out of the game this weekend against the Dolphins. With Robinson sidelined, Gibson and Rodriguez are the two backs left standing. Rodriguez participated in 22% of the snaps this week and ran for 29 yards, following Robinson’s second-half absence. He’s definitely a long shot, but the waiver wire at running back is pretty bare this time in the season.
Dontayvion Wicks – rostered in 3% of leagues
Over the last five games, Wicks has averaged a 36.4 snap percentage. Love targeted Wicks four times for 43 yards against the Chiefs Sunday night. Christian Watson left the game with another hamstring injury, a nagging injury that has forced him to miss several games this season. That injury could/should allow Wicks to work his way into the offense even more so this week against the Giants. New York has allowed an average of 29.5 points to opposing teams receivers this season.
Elijah Moore – rostered in 49% of leagues
Amari Cooper left the game early yesterday with a concussion which is a situation that will need monitoring this week. Moore stepped into the WR1 role for the team and saw a season high 12 targets resulting in 83 yards. No doubt that this has been a disappointing season for Moore, but with several serious injuries at the position this week, he could be the pickup that pushes your team into the playoffs.
Jameson Williams – rostered in 41% of leagues
Williams celebrated his first touchdown of the season in style by diving into the endzone on a 19-yard run. While his targets have been in the single digits this season, you can’t ignore that he is a weapon on one of the league’s best offenses who will be looking to build their lead in the NFC North against division rival Chicago this week.
4. Honorable Mention – Demario Douglas- rostered in 37% of leagues
Assuming he returns from concussion protocol in Week 14. He’s averaging double digit fantasy points (HPPR format) in each of the last three weeks. Clearly, the Patriots were missing his production in Week 13’s mess of a game against the Chargers.
Brevin Jordan- rostered in 14% of leagues
Dalton Schultz was out with a hamstring injury this week, so Brevin Jordan was the next man up. Jordan was on the field for 75% of snaps and posted 64 yards on three receptions. Those number resulted in 9.4 fantasy points (HPPR format), against a hot Denver defense. Houston plays the Jets in Week 14 and will need all hands on deck after losing their star rookie Tank Dell.
Tucker Kraft- rostered in 10% of leagues
Kraft’s role in the offense has increased quite a bit over the last two weeks since Musgrave was put on IR. He’s been on the field for 96% and 95% of snaps during that time as well. With Watson going down due to reaggravating his hamstring, Green Bay will have targets to distribute. The Giants haven’t done much well this season, but they do have a stingy defense versus opposing teams tight ends. Even so, the volume should be there for Kraft to make it onto your roster
Tyler Higbee – rostered in 44% of leagues
Just an FYI- this is all contingent on his clearing concussion protocol. Higbee blew the doors off the hinges in Week 12 with a 19.9 point performance, his best of the season. Tight End has been a frustrating position over the last few years. The Stafford led Rams have been hot over the last two weeks and haven’t show any reason why they would slow down. Sure, they play Baltimore in Week 14 but they put a beat down on the third best defense overall in Cleveland this weekend.
Houston Texans @ the New York Jets – rostered in 9% of leagues
Houston plays the Jets in Week 14. The Jets are on a five-game losing streak in which the most points their offense has scored is 13 points. The Texans are coming off of one of their best defensive games all season, forcing three interceptions and three sacks. The Jets seem lost and have a losing record at home. Houston just looks better and better every week.
Green Bay Packers @ New York Giants – rostered in 13% of leagues
Green Bay faces off against the fighting Tommy Devitos in Week 14. The Packers have recorded multiple sacks in their last three games. The Packers are ranked 21st overall in their Defense/Special teams, but for fantasy purposes, looking at the matchup is a must. The Giants offensive line hasn’t been good this season, to say the least. Not to mention, their rookie quarterback, Tommy Devito, is only averaging 10.9 fantasy points per game against opposing teams’ defense.
Minnesota Vikings @ the Las Vegas Raiders – rostered in 14% of leagues
The Vikings travel to Las Vegas this week and are hoping to get Justin Jefferson back in the lineup. He can’t play defense, but his presence should give Dobbs more options and keep them on the field. Minnesota has allowed 20 or fewer points to opposing teams offenses in seven of their 12 games this season.
