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We're 12 weeks down and only a couple of weeks away from the playoffs in most fantasy football formats. If you're on the postseason's cusp, then feel free to empty the wallet and do what it takes to enter the party. Depth is critical and planning ahead can yield dividends, especially in lining up defensive streams. Get after it!
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 by any means 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 13.
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FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks
Mike White (QB, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
4% rostered
White teed off on a toothless Bears defense in Week 12, completing 22-of-28 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns. He leaned heavily on star rookie Garrett Wilson and resuscitated a certain WR to be discussed later as well.
The Jets needed him even more once Michael Carter left the game with an ankle injury. White’s clearly the man for Gang Green over Zach Wilson. It won’t always be a cupcake matchup, but Minnesota is a bottom-10 defense coming up in Week 13. The Vikes have allowed 300 yards or multiple touchdowns to opposing QBs in six straight games.
Jordan Love (QB, GB) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
1% rostered
Love impressed in relief of an injured Aaron Rodgers (ribs) on Sunday night, going 6-for-9 with 113 yards and a long touchdown to Christian Watson. Philadelphia may have been leaning into a conservative prevent defense toward the end but that doesn’t take away from the sharpness and placement of his throws.
There was one truly questionable decision where Love could’ve hit Allen Lazard intermediate but he went for a kill shot into the endzone instead. I don’t have a problem with that. Let’s see if the 4-8 Packers want to see what their 2020 first-round pick has cooking regardless of Aaron Rodgers’ rib status.
Sam Darnold (QB, CAR) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%
2% rostered
Much like White, Darnold also breathed life into a stagnant offense. The Panthers weren’t pressed much by the Denver Nathaniel Hacketts, but Darnold still connected on 11-of-19 throws for 164 yards and a score. He added a rushing TD as well.
Carolina is on their BYE so this isn’t an urgent add. Those in 2QB formats will want to make the move with Seattle, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Tampa Bay coming through Weeks 14-17. That Detroit matchup could sneak you through the traditional semifinals week.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs
Zonovan Knight (RB, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 20-40%
Ty Johnson (RB, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 10-15%
0% & 1% rostered, respectively
The Jets lost Michael Carter to an ankle sprain, which allowed Zonovan Knight and Ty Johnson to form a 1-2 punch. James Robinson was a healthy scratch and Knight was elevated, which paid off as the rookie delivered 103 total yards on 14 carries and three catches.
Johnson mixed in with a 16-yard catch and five carries for 62 yards and a score. His 32-yard TD scamper flashed his agility and a more competitive game against Minnesota in Week 13 should demand plenty from both RBs, assuming Carter cannot go.
Zonovan Knight took over the early-down work, with James Robinson a healthy scratch.
48% snaps
42% attempts
27% route participation
11% targets
0% long-down distance
0% two-minuteMichael Carter was injured on sixth drive.
Before injury, Knight: 31% snaps, 33% atts
— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland) November 28, 2022
Jaylen Warren (RB, PIT) - FAAB Bid: 5-8%
15% rostered
While Warren was out with a hamstring injury, Najee Harris left Monday night’s game in the second quarter with an abdominal issue. This gave rise to a split backfield of Anthony McFarland and Benny Snell. Snell, who scored on MNF, is the lean if having to choose between those two.
Both of them did fine but Warren is the one with the fantasy upside should Harris miss time. Otherwise, those two would cannibalize each other’s value behind a subpar offensive line. Let’s hope Warren is ready for Week 13 at Atlanta. And if he builds momentum for plus RB matchups against CAR and LV in Weeks 15-16 then that’s just gravy.
Jordan Mason (RB, SF) - FAAB Bid: 5-6%
1% rostered
Elijah Mitchell will miss 6-8 weeks with a sprained MCL and Christian McCaffrey is day-to-day with knee irritation on a team that loves to pound the rock. Mason ran it five times for 25 yards in their 13-0 victory over the Saints and could suddenly see a double-digit workload next to CMC and possibly Deebo Samuel.
Next week against Miami could be a heavyweight bout and Week 15 at Seattle could see Mason sneak in 10-12 high-value touches to kick off the fantasy playoffs. San Fran runs the ball roughly 46% of the time, a top-10 rate in the NFL, so don't turn your nose up at the backup role here.
JaMycal Hasty (RB, JAX) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
3% rostered
Hasty stepped up after Travis Etienne’s early foot injury with 95 total yards and a receiving touchdown on 17 touches. The rushing line was a subpar 12-28-0 but he’s a versatile option with good hands that offers multiple avenues to success.
Early indications are that Etienne will be okay for next week, he was even on the sideline in pads while Week 12 wrapped up. Darrell Henderson could be elevated into a significant role early on should Etienne not be able to go as well.
Joshua Kelley (RB, LAC) - FAAB Bid: 0-2%
4% rostered
Kelley returned and resumed his role as Austin Ekeler’s primary backup on Sunday, logging 14 snaps to Isaiah Spiller’s eight and Sony Michel’s being a healthy scratch. His pass-protection chops get him on the field for passing downs as well, which led to two catches for 16 yards on three targets in Week 12.
It isn’t much, but the Chargers' offense remains a valuable one to be mindful of. If something happened to Austin Ekeler we may very well get a maddening committee, but Kelley looks like he’d be the 1A chair of it.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers
Elijah Moore (WR, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 10-20%
26% rostered
Moore only saw two targets in Week 12, but Mike White’s throws were of high quality and led to a happy Elijah. There was a 42-yard gain and a 22-yard touchdown on the rainy day, which could lead to confidence and renewed good spirits.
Elijah Moore’s snaps since Week 7 benching
W8: 17%
W9: 45%
BYE
Week 11: 54%
Week 12: 35%Dip may be concerning to some but don’t be mislead, Garrett Wilson’s snaps dropped too from 100% to 83%. Both played relatively less in 31-10 blowout yesterday so expect more Moore in W13
— Kev Mahserejian (@RotoSurgeon) November 28, 2022
The Jets have made it through their schedule’s rough patch and have above-average WR matchups in their next four games (MIN, BUF, DET, JAX). Time will tell whether Moore can separate from Corey Davis as the true No. 2 down the stretch but we know his upside is easily worth a stash to find out.
Zay Jones (WR, JAX) - FAAB Bid: 4-8%
25% rostered
Jones paced Jacksonville with 14 targets, 11 catches, 145 yards, and the two-point conversion that clinched the win on Sunday. This comes after he posted an 8-68-0 line on 10 targets before their BYE.
An ailing RB corps could put more on the receivers’ shoulders here. Luckily, the Jags face two generous secondaries in Detroit and Tennessee next, meaning Jones could be the key to your playoff push. Jamal Agnew is available in nearly every league and looks like their regular No. 3 WR again following an injury disruption if you’re in deep, deep waters.
Richie James (WR, NYG) - FAAB Bid: 2-4%
2% rostered
James brought in 5-of-6 targets for 41 yards and a touchdown on Thanksgiving as the G-men seek out stability in the WR room. Their offensive line is banged up so throws usually have to be quick, but James has the slight edge over Isaiah Hodgins and Lawrence Cager in the running next to Darius Slayton. Unable to ride Saquon Barkley thanks to the line troubles, Daniel Jones will need James and company against Washington next week.
Nelson Agholor (WR, NE) - FAAB Bid: 1-3%
1% rostered
Agholor led New England’s wide receivers with six catches on Thanksgiving, registering 65 yards and a TD on eight targets. He stepped up with Jakobi Meyers limited with a shoulder injury, which could carry over with the Pats playing on Thursday against Buffalo.
We’ve seen spike weeks from Agholor in the past so you know there’s a low floor. You could also turn to DeVante Parker (13% rostered), who battled a minor knee issue to catch four balls for 80 yards in Week 12. Either way, NE will be without Damien Harris and trying to keep up with Buffalo’s potent offense. Look for deep shots to Agholor.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends
Foster Moreau (TE, LV) - FAAB Bid: 4-8%
39% rostered
Moreau had three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown on seven targets in Week 12’s electric win over Seattle. That gives him two scores in the last three games and his highest target tally since Week 8 (9).
We can’t expect the passing volume of a 40-34 slobber knocker often, though Week 13 versus the Chargers may oblige. PFF had Moreau and Davante Adams as the only LV playmakers to be on for all 77 snaps in Week 12. Stay on the field and good things can happen!
Week 12 TE route involvement leaders
95% - Mark Andrews
93% - Cole Kmet
90% - Foster Moreau, George Kittle
81% - Evan Engram
80% - Greg Dulcich
79% - Hayden Hurst
77% - Dawson Knox
76% - Austin Hooper, Tyler Conklin
74% - Travis Kelce, David Njoku, TJ Hockenson— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) November 28, 2022
Tyler Conklin (TE, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 2-4%
18% rostered
Conklin only saw three targets on Sunday but was able to haul all three in for 50 yards. As previously discussed, the Jets have a new gear with Mike White under center. While Conklin has only seen eight targets in their last three games, he’d seen six or more in five of their first eight contests.
Even if the volume remains lower, Conklin is a viable TE streamer with NYJ boasting a threatening passing arm. They have three top-10 TE matchups on the horizon with Minnesota (9th) in Week 13, Detroit (3rd) in Week 15, and Seattle (1st) in Week 17.
Jordan Akins (TE, HOU) - FAAB Bid: 0-2%
0% rostered
Akins only played half of Houston’s offensive snaps but ran a route on 26 of his 31 plays. His five catches yielded 61 yards and his first touchdown since Week 3. Now with over 60 yards in three of his last six games, as well as Brevin Jordan being benched, Akins is a sneaky start in Week 13 against Cleveland.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams
Seattle Seahawks Defense (at LAR) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
18% rostered
The Seahawks got flamed by Josh Jacobs in Week 12, but they’ll lick their wounds and look for redemption against an ailing Rams “offense” here. Now down Allen Robinson to boot, the Rams barely had Bryce Perkins throw. He still managed to absorb three sacks and throw two interceptions against KC. The Rams are a weekly target for streamers.
Cleveland Browns Defense (at HOU) - FAAB Bid: 3-5%
7% rostered
The Browns enjoyed a win over the Bucs in Week 12 and will look to stay hot against Houston next. The Texans switched to Kyle Allen but it changed nothing. They surrendered five sacks with two interceptions and a DEF TD yielded for the second straight game. Dameon Pierce can’t get rolling so Cleveland’s pass rush will feast.
Pittsburgh Steelers Defense (at ATL) - FAAB Bid: 1-3%
20% rostered
A healthy Steelers defense could force Atlanta into mistakes next week, and there’s an outside chance they face a Desmond Ridder debut as well. The Steelers only combined for eight sacks across seven games without T.J. Watt, registering 14 in four Watt-infused contests. They’ve also forced multiple turnovers in three straight with Watt back.
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