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Maybe the most brutal bye week of the 2023 fantasy football season has arrived. We've got six teams out this week that includes several high-powered offenses and many players across the fantasy football community feel like their rosters have been stretched quite thin. Now's the crucial moment to refine your start/sit tactics, akin to honing your blades for the ultimate showdown. Not all players we spotlight will become superstars, but discovering that overlooked talent can catapult you to fantasy football stardom.
By the time you read this, Thursday Night Football will have been played. This week, we have teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants all taking a break. Week 14 marks the final bye week, giving the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders a rest before the bye weeks are out of our lives for good.
Looking at Week 13, it's vital to observe how certain teams are faring, especially those in the playoff hunt. Would the New York Giants shut down a player like Saquon Barkley at the end of the year? We can't base our strategies solely on what-ifs, but understanding teams' motivations can guide our choices. Even if your roster is robust, remember, in fantasy football, the search for the next breakout star never ends. Stay alert, keep your strategy sharp, and let the waiver wire magic begin!
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Weekend Waiver Wire Stashes Before Week 13
Samaje Perine (RB), Denver Broncos
36% rostered on Yahoo, 37% on ESPN
After a horrendous 1-5 start to their season, the Broncos have rebounded nicely under new head coach, Sean Payton to win five games in a row to now sit at 6-5 and back in the thick of the AFC Playoff race. Denver's backfield has been murky this season as it's featured the likes of Perine, Javonte Williams, and the rookie, Jaleel McLaughlin. Nonetheless, Perine is clearly the best receiver out of the backfield among the group and he's started to become much more involved in their offense of late. Perine has two 13.6+ PPR games in the last two weeks and the Broncos get a juicy matchup against the Chargers defense in Week 14.
Demario Douglas (WR), New England Patriots
28% rostered on Yahoo, 37% on ESPN
The Patriots' offense has indeed been underwhelming in fantasy football this year. They've faced significant struggles, and a brewing quarterback dilemma, and their 2-9 record speaks volumes - a scenario unfamiliar to Patriots fans for the past three decades. Amidst this challenging season, one standout has been Douglas, affectionately known as "Pop". He's been a glimmer of hope for New England.
Douglas hasn't practiced all week and is in danger of missing tomorrow's Week 13 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers, whose secondary has struggled mightily at times this year. The good news is that since Pop has been playing full-time in Week 7, he's seen a 22.4% target share and looks to be the No. 1 target in the Patriots offense. Several fantasy managers have probably dropped Douglas with his current injury status, but if your league has injured reserve slots, go ahead and stash Douglas.
Kenneth Gainwell (RB), Philadelphia Eagles
26% rostered on Yahoo, 14% on ESPN
D'Andre Swift has been the standout star in the Eagles' backfield, firmly seizing the lead role. This shift has led fantasy managers to swiftly part ways with Kenneth Gainwell, who's been dropped in leagues at an astonishing rate. Swift's performances have been nothing short of impressive, yet those much-coveted rushing touchdowns have been elusive, often overshadowed by Jalen Hurts' red zone prowess and the Eagles' favored 'tush-push' strategy.
Gainwell, despite his agility and adept catching abilities, hasn't quite carved out his niche in the Eagles' strategy. However, should Swift be sidelined, Gainwell is poised to take over as the top running back. This situation underscores the unpredictable nature of the NFL, where luck can change as quickly as a coin flip. Remember, injuries are an unfortunate but inherent part of the game. So, view your fantasy bench as a strategic reserve, always ready to unveil a hidden gem that could clinch your victory at the most crucial moment.
Roschon Johnson (RB), Chicago Bears
21% rostered on Yahoo, 21% on ESPN
The Chicago Bears offense in 2023 along with their running back rotation has been quite a rollercoaster this year. The Bears will be on a bye in Week 13, but it does appear that Johnson has begun to carve himself out a bigger role in this offense. In their Week 12 win over the Vikings, Roschon had ten rushes for 35 yards, but he shined as a receiver with five receptions for 40 yards.
He also played 74 percent of the snaps and may have overtaken starter Khalil Herbert. There's always a chance D'Onta Foreman comes back in Week 14 and makes this a full split, but for now, there's nothing wrong with taking a chance on Johnson given his upside.
Jalin Hyatt (WR), New York Giants
4% rostered on Yahoo, 2% on ESPN
The Giants' offense has been bad for fantasy this season, but a large part of it has been due to their offensive line issues. The unit was better in Week 12 and the rookie WR was able to get loose. Hyatt had six targets and finished with five receptions for 109 yards. He's a big-play, deep-threat type of WR that needs his offensive line to block long enough for him to get downfield. New York is on a bye in Week 13, but rookie QB Tommy Devito has looked more capable than expected and that could be a good sign for Hyatt the rest of the way.
Tyjae Spears (RB), Tennessee Titans
34% rostered on Yahoo, 32% on ESPN
A player who's been featured in this article several times this season, but has not quite broken out yet, Spears has all the makings of a viable running back in fantasy. While starting RB Derrick Henry had a better game in Week 12, Spears's skills as a receiver from the backfield are impressive, and he's already a valuable asset in fantasy football for his pass-catching abilities. For Spears to become a fantasy game-changer, an unlikely scenario where Henry is sidelined would be needed. But, since we're dealing in 'what-ifs' here, Spears deserves a mention.
Spears has garnered 40 targets this season and boasts an impressive 5.1-yard average per carry. With the Titans' playoff hopes dimming, could Spears get more playtime? With Henry's contract ending this season, the team might be less concerned about his usage. Spears, therefore, is a smart pick, particularly in keeper leagues. He might still be available and his potential is noteworthy. Keep an eye on the Titans' RB dynamics for the rest of 2023 – it could be interesting.
Rico Dowdle (RB), Dallas Cowboys
12% rostered on Yahoo, 10% on ESPN
Disclaimer: Since Rico Dowdle already played in Thursday's Night's game, he is only available for pickup in some leagues that allow it. Many leagues lock players from being added if they already played. Nonetheless, Dowdle is worth a look when your league's waivers run.
Dowdle only had five carries for 15 yards in Week 13, but he did have one reception for 15 yards and a TD. Tony Pollard may be leading the pack as the starting RB for the Cowboys, but don't overlook Dowdle - he's the unmistakable second-in-command in their offense. The Cowboys have been on fire offensively recently, and in the fantasy realm, we're always on the hunt for those bench players who are just one step away from a significant role in their team's lineup. Dowdle might seem like a sudden emergence, yet he's caught the favorable eye of the Cowboys' coaching staff.
Aaron Rodgers (QB), New York Jets
UPDATE SUNDAY 12/3: According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Aaron Rodgers is now unlikely to return in 2023.
24% rostered on Yahoo, 19% on ESPN
I know, it does seem crazy to think that Rodgers could return to play less than three months removed from a complete Achilles tear, but this week the Jets activated his 21-day window to return. Are they just playing games with us to keep the fanbase energized and people in the seats for the rest of the season, or is Rodgers going to try and return?
This would be a huge boost to RB Breece Hall and WR Garrett Wilson, who have both been negatively affected by some horrible quarterback play from the Jets' backups behind Rodgers this season. If your league has an injured reserve spot, Rodgers might be worth stashing just in case, because we just never know.
We hope you like these selections ahead of Week 13! Even if you don't have room to pick up some of these players, it's important to stay ahead of your league mates and preserve FAAB so that you have it at the end of the year when you need it. Feel free to follow me on Twitter/X for more waiver and player analysis throughout the season!
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