FAAB Waiver Wire Bidding - Fantasy Football Pickups to Target for Week 14

December 7, 2022

Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 14 (2022). How many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.

Week 14 approaches and that means you're either facing a must-win spot or you're already looking ahead to those playoff matchups. Week 13 brought several key injuries that not only yield opportunities for their direct backups but also send out ripple effects that we must account for. Don't be stingy and pay close attention to remaining funds for other teams in the hunt, as well as their specific needs.

Joining our famous waiver wire pickups list, our weekly fantasy football waiver wire columns by position, and our free new Who Should I Pickup? Waiver Wire comparison tool, this column focuses on suggested waiver wire bidding percentages for fantasy football owners in leagues using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB).

As a caveat, these prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for. Each league values players differently and will continue to do so. These values are here to provide a baseline or priority order to understand roughly how much you should be looking to spend on a particular player. Specific needs are always reasonable causes for a manual override. Here are my median FAAB bid ranges and adds going into Week 14.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks

Tyler Huntley (QB, GB) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
1% rostered

Huntley came on in relief of an injured Lamar Jackson and would eventually cap off a game-winning drive with a TD plunge. His 10-41-1 rushing line was backed by 187 passing yards and an interception against Denver. He loves throwing to Mark Andrews and a full week of prep to start could yield a top-12 finish in Week 14 at Pittsburgh.

That defense is no pushover but now a stretch run comes with Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh again. PIT and ATL are bottom-10 defenses against opposing QBs, though the Steelers are tougher with T.J. Watt back.

Tyler Huntley rushing in six extended appearances 2021-2022:

7-40-0
6-45-0
13-73-2
6-54-0
12-72-0
10-41-1

205 pass yards per game

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 5, 2022

Mike White (QB, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
18% rostered

White completed 31-of-57 passes for 369 and two interceptions, alongside three rushes for seven yards and a ground score. The efficiency wasn’t great but he battled against an early deficit with chunk plays to rack up the yardage. Corey Davis makes three strong WRs to deploy (another good pickup). He’ll need it at Buffalo in Week 14 before the wonderful home matchups against Detroit and Jacksonville.

Brock Purdy (QB, SF) - FAAB Bid: 2-4%
1% rostered

Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a broken foot and is done for the season, which led to Purdy’s solid day in a 33-17 victory over Miami. He connected on 25-of-37 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns next to an interception and showed good chemistry with San Fran’s incredible weapons.

The 49ers can be run-heavy if needed but Christian McCaffrey is also a plus receiver alongside Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle. The Dolphins' defense is soft this year so Tampa Bay will be a good litmus test in Week 14, but Purdy should get a chance to earn this job. The Niners did sign Josh Johnson as a backup and would also be a nice stash should Purdy flame out.

Sam Darnold (QB, CAR) - FAAB Bid: 1-3%
2% rostered

Darnold still won over Carolina’s bye week as the Panthers released Baker Mayfield. This should be Darnold’s show in the final month with matchups against Seattle, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Tampa Bay in Weeks 14-17. He was quietly effective with two TDs in a 23-10 win over Denver in Week 12 that saw D.J. Moore resuscitated. At least mind that Week 16 Detroit game if nothing else.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs

Cam Akers and Zonovan Knight are both around 45-50% rostered and would demand a healthy chunk of your remaining FAAB. Akers is on the lesser offense but earned a higher share of work, while Knight should see Michael Carter back in Week 14.

James Cook (RB, BUF) - FAAB Bid: 15-25%
24% rostered

Buffalo deployed a three-headed monster at running back against New England in Week 13, with Cook looking the most formidable. His 14 carries edged out Singletary’s 13 (Hines had two), and he ran 16 routes to Singletary’s 13 and Hines’ 11.

#Bills spread out RB work Thursday. Season-high in snaps for James Cook and finally got Nyheim Hines a real role.

* Devin Singletary 33 snaps, 13 routes, 16 opportunities
* James Cook 32 snaps, 15 routes, 20 opportunities
* Nyheim Hines 23 snaps, 10 routes, 4 opportunities

— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) December 5, 2022

While Singletary scored the touchdown, Cook had more rushing yards (64-51) and caught all six of his targets for 41 yards as Singletary caught 0-of-2. This offense is so powerful that any accessible changing of the guard has to be aggressively attacked. Buffalo will look for revenge against the Jets in Week 14.

Ty Johnson (RB, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
9% rostered

Johnson remains a PPR option with Mike White at QB, as TyJo caught 6-of-7 targets for 38 yards next to one three-yard rush. Johnson ran a route on 26 of his 28 total snaps, while Knight tallied 47 snaps (24 routes run) as the primary RB. James Robinson barely played. 

If Michael Carter cannot go in Week 14 at Buffalo then Johnson can stay plugged in. It’s doubtful Carter remains out through Week 15 so don’t count on that juicy Detroit matchup in Week 15.

DeeJay Dallas (RB, SEA) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
Travis Homer (RB, SEA) - FAAB Bid: 3-6%
3% & 1% rostered, respectively

Dallas stepped up with 10 carries and 17 routes run on 32 snaps for Seattle with Kenneth Walker III “jamming” his ankle. Early word is that KW3 may not miss a game and Dallas himself suffered an ankle injury as well. Homer was out due to illness and a knee sprain, so track that as well.

#Seahawks RB Ken Walker will have tests today on what coach Pete Carroll called a "jammed" ankle. The injury -- the hope is it's not serious -- is different from a sprain because the joint jammed down and not one side or the other. Strange injury. Anyway, tests coming.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 5, 2022

This meant that Tony Jones Jr. saw 11 opportunities (seven rushes, four targets), though he only snagged 32 yards on them. We’d think the Seahawks bring in someone for depth, but Dallas and Jones should both be added as contingencies. Seattle faces a Carolina defense next that is a bottom-10 unit versus the run. I prefer Dallas or Homer and pivoting if they’re unable to go rather than rely on Jones, but volume remains king.

Jordan Mason (RB, SF) - FAAB Bid: 3-6%
15% rostered

It was indeed Mason that ran behind Christian McCaffrey despite cries that he’d be eclipsed by Tyrion Davis-Price. Not just a special-teamer, Mason secured 51 yards on eight carries while TDP had zero touches. 

It’s also notable that Tevin Coleman didn’t snipe any usage. San Fran will get to bully bottom-tier rushing defenses in Weeks 15 (SEA) and 17 (LV), but Week 14 versus Tampa Bay isn’t a spot to attack here.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers

Nico Collins (WR, HOU) - FAAB Bid: 10-20%
29% rostered

Collins is the clear alpha among Houston’s wide receivers when Brandin Cooks is out. The second-year WR saw 10 targets while no one else saw more than five, though the low-quality looks only yielded three catches. Luckily, one of them was a TD alongside 35 yards so we didn’t stare at a goose egg amidst a gigantic air-yardage tally.

Nico Collins had 10 targets and 173 air yards in Week 13

3 catches, 35 yards

— Josh Larky (@jlarkytweets) December 5, 2022

He’s seen at least seven looks and averaged nine in Houston’s last four games. With the Texans perpetually in a negative game script, Collins remains a steady FLEX play in 12-team leagues. Facing DAL, KC, TEN, and JAX in the final weeks present plenty of opportunity, even if Cooks returns.

D.J. Chark (WR, DET) - FAAB Bid: 5-10%
16% rostered

Now fully back from injury, Chark operated as a starter next to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds. He led the team with 41 routes run, catching 5-of-6 targets for 98 yards. The Lions are easing Jameson Williams in and Chark should remain heavily involved in another shootout spot versus Minnesota’s secondary in Week 14.

Jahan Dotson (WR, WAS) - FAAB Bid: 2-4%
15% rostered

Dotson re-emerged with a 5-54-1 line on nine targets in Week 13’s tie against the Giants. Washington is off in Week 14 but this is extremely encouraging after Dotson had just two catches in three games following a month-long absence due to his hamstring.

Washington doesn’t have a soft playoff schedule, facing NYG, SF, and CLE in Weeks 15-17, but a healthy Dotson is in the FLEX conversation with Logan Thomas’ fading usage. 

Tutu Atwell (WR, LAR) - FAAB Bid: 1-3%
0% rostered

The Rams are desperate to find production and had both Atwell and Brandon Powell rotating as No. 3 WRs with gadget packages. Atwell had four carries for 23 yards alongside 48 receiving yards on two catches (five targets). Powell had 3-45-0 rushing and 4-39-0 receiving. 

While Ben Skowronek and Van Jefferson are the clear “starters” in terms of snaps and overall workload, it’s clear the Rams scheme Atwell and Powell the ball when they’re on the field. Atwell looks good with the ball in hand and carried a slight involvement advantage over Powell so he’s the name going into a decent matchup against the Raiders.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends

Greg Dulcich (TE, DEN) - FAAB Bid: 10-15%
37% rostered

There’s a trio of tantalizing matchups around 35% rostered, with Dulcich facing KC, Hunter Henry at ARI, and Mike Gesicki at LAC. Dulcich benefited from Courtland Sutton’s hamstring injury rather than another WR like Kendall Hinton elevating to relevance. 

No one wants to rely on Russell Wilson’s arm right now, but Denver will surely be pressed into passing against Kansas City in Week 14. And after that, Dulcich gets the best TE matchup in town against Arizona to open the playoffs.

Noah Fant (TE, SEA) - FAAB Bid: 5-8%
13% rostered

Fant posted a 4-42-1- line on five targets in a comeback win over the Rams, with the score only his second on the season. He’s enjoyed more consistent results of late, logging at least three catches in four straight games. 

The Seahawks leaned on their pass-catchers once Kenneth Walker III left and his being limited or out could continue that trend versus Carolina in Week 14.

Daniel Bellinger (TE, NYG) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
2% rostered

Bellinger’s Week 13 return came six weeks after suffering a fractured eye socket and septum. The vision looked good as he brought in all five of his targets for 24 yards. The mild yardage total speaks to NYG’s reluctance to push the ball deep, but the involvement was strong.

Week 13 TE route involvement leaders

93% - Cole Kmet, George Kittle
92% - TJ Hockenson
91% - Mark Andrews
90% - Dalton Schultz
89% - Dawson Knox, Evan Engram
87% - Travis Kelce
82% - Daniel Bellinger
81% - Greg Dulcich
79% - Hunter Henry
71% - Jack Stoll
70% - Foster Moreau

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) December 5, 2022

He led all receiving options with 64-of-66 snaps, and 33 routes run was right there with the starting WRs and Saquon Barkley. He’ll be needed to keep up with Philly’s offense in Week 14.

Brevin Jordan (TE, HOU) - FAAB Bid: 0-2%
1% rostered

After being benched for three games, Jordan returned to the lineup with four catches for 46 yards. Maybe Houston opted for his receiving chops with Brandin Cooks unavailable, leaving them no choice but to overlook his lesser blocking talents. 

If he winds up playing down the stretch over O.J. Howard and earning more looks than Jordan Akins then deep-leaguers could sneak in ~10 PPR points against KC, TEN, and JAX through the playoffs.

Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE, TEN) - FAAB Bid: 0-2%
0% rostered

Okonkwo made yet another splash play with a 41-yard reception in Week 13, which propelled his 4-68-0 line into double-digit PPR territory. PFF’s Nathan Jahnke noted Okonkwo played in 23-of-26 snaps in 12 personnel this week, which is up from ~50% previously.

He looks far more electric with the ball than Austin Hooper and could be sorely needed if Treylon Burks’ concussion keeps him out against Jacksonville next week. Having over 30 yards in five straight weeks at TE is impressive given the position’s low bar for consistency. Here’s your true dart throw!

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams

May those of you rostering the Cowboys' defense against Houston next week enjoy a truly blessed week.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense (vs. BAL) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
28% rostered

We can be excited for Huntley to get an opportunity and still recognize he’s a backup QB on a team that just squeaked out a 10-9 victory. The O/U in Vegas is around 38 with PIT swinging from 3.5-point dogs to two-point favorites since opening. Baltimore is a stingy offense to lean on but Pittsburgh has held three of their last four opponents to 17 points or fewer, with eight sacks and seven turnovers in that window.

Las Vegas Raiders Defense (at LAR) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
11% rostered

The Raiders just shocked many of us by holding the Chargers to 14 offensive points with a season-high five sacks. That gives them 11 sacks in their last three games ahead of this date with the Rams, who have surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing defenses thus far. John Wolford may be less than 100% on a bad ankle on a short week, so line up the Raiders for Thursday if in need.

Arizona Cardinals Defense (vs. NE) - FAAB Bid: 2-4%
10% rostered

Arizona looks to fire off their bye against a reeling New England squad that just got bullied by Buffalo. The Cards have three sacks or more in three of their last five despite frightful matchups. It’s tough shopping with six teams on bye, but targeting a home team coming off of their bye against a subpar offense checks enough boxes for me.

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