FAAB Waiver Wire Bidding - Fantasy Football Pickups to Target for Week 14 (2025)

Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 14 (2025) -- how many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.

Congratulations to those of you still reading this column in the pursuit of fantasy glory, as we're hitting the home stretch before fantasy playoffs descend upon us. You have a clear idea of who still has money in the bank, and how far in advance you must stage your strategy if you're running low. Let's all take a deep breath before crushing our opponents on the chessboard with our famous waiver wire pickups list and our fantasy football waiver wire columns by position -- specially tailored for leagues using FAAB.

It's mandatory that you understand how these FAAB prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for, as every league has a different FAAB landscape by now, and you need to adjust for how much FAAB is left around the horn. This week has many of you fighting for a playoff berth, which you'll have to do without any 49ers, Giants, Panthers, or Patriots in the season's final bye week. And then we're truly off to the races.

As always, I cannot know your specific league outlook, so please try to leverage historical data and personal knowledge of the remaining opponents whenever possible. We still cap the rostered rate at 40% on Yahoo!, but you can adjust if someone is dropped or remains on the wire above that threshold. Those already with a bye should look for injury stashes that stem from desperate teams in a bind that need to clear space.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks

*In an ideal world, you can snag a guy in the 50-75% band, such as Jaxson Dart, Jayden Daniels, Trevor Lawrence, Jacoby Brissett, or Sam Darnold.

Marcus Mariota (QB, WAS) - 10% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%

We may see Jayden Daniels take the starting gig back in Week 14 at Minnesota, but if Mariota draws another start, then his momentum makes him a strong play. Despite a tough assignment against the Broncos, he threw for 294 yards and a pair of TDs (50 attempts!) alongside 10 carries for 55 yards.

The re-addition of Terry McLaurin was a clear X-factor, as he compiled seven catches for 96 yards and a score on 14 targets despite a 51% snap share. The wayward Vikings offense is unlikely to force a gamescript like Denver just did, but Mariota’s rushing potential and McLaurin’s health give this love.

Tyrod Taylor (QB, NYJ) - 4% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%

Taylor completed 19-of-33 throws for 172 yards and a TD while also rushing eight times for 44 yards and his first ground score of the season in the 27-24 win over Atlanta. The bottom line across his four starts has been that rushing for eight times with more than 30 pass attempts has yielded a top-10 QB finish.

You are not so silly as to blindly buy into correlation equalling causation, but that’s roughly the kind of action needed to drag him into fantasy provenance. Can a home date with a resurgent Dolphins defense provide a similar script? Those of you in deep waters streaming Tua and Tyrod can hope for them to nudge each other along!

Tyler Shough (QB, NO) - 7% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%

Shough now draws a top-10 fantasy defense in Tampa Bay after drumming up his offensive chops lately. He’s averaging over 250 yards of passing in the last three games, with seven and six rush attempts over the last two respective contests coming out of the bye.

The Saints are vying for the playoffs, but Shough is playing to prove he’s worthy of consideration as a starting quarterback in 2026. Even without Alvin Kamara, the trio of Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, and Juwan Johnson can go with the light rushing floor to create a streamer.

Tyler Shough ranks since he entered the lineup:

15th out of 40 QBs in PFF grading
26th/39 in success rate
31st/39 out in EPA/dropback

not bad at all for a rookie. definitely better against pressure and creating than I expected

— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) December 1, 2025

Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA) - 20% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%

It takes a leap of faith here, as Tagovailoa hasn’t registered a touchdown in two straight games, despite Miami winning both affairs. He also hasn’t topped 175 yards in his last three games, but now he faces a Jets team that he scored two TDs against in Week 4.

One could argue that Miami’s offense has changed since a midseason loss of Tyreek Hill, with a notable slip in passing volume. The good news on that front is how the Jets have played better of late, winning three of the last five, and pushing teams like the Ravens further than anyone intended.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs

Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB, WAS) - 24% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 15-20%
Aggressive Bid: 20-30%
Desperation Bid: 30-50% (Lower in full PPR)

Rodriguez is Washington’s starting running back; there’s no denying that. He ran hard against a Denver backfield that constantly threatened rushing lanes, but burst through enough would-be tacklers to compile 41 yards and a touchdown on 11 totes.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt was limited to four touches, while Jeremy McNichols continued as the spellback with eight touches. We like seeing Rodriguez score against Denver with Minnesota’s front on deck. And then he’ll kick off many playoffs against a lackluster Giants team, which could make us all forget that he's effectively a zero in the passing game.

Bam Knight (RB, ARI) - 25% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 12-16%
Aggressive Bid: 16-20%
Desperation Bid: 20-25%

With Trey Benson’s return no sure thing and Emari Demercado (ankle) sidelined, Knight spearheaded the Cards’ backfield with 11-62-0 rushing and 3-36-1 receiving (with a lost fumble). Michael Carter chipped in, but Knight’s season-high yardage and finding the end zone in a third straight game illustrate a trustworthy form.

We’ll have to sweat Benson’s practice status, but there’s also a potential issue with Knight, who didn’t play in the final 11 minutes. He entered the game with a knee issue, and that may have flared up, though they also trailed Tampa Bay and could’ve been riding Carter as the passing back.

Then there’s the problem of facing the Rams and Texans next! Alas, starting RB roles are uncommon enough that even lousy chances are notable, especially as we grit our teeth through this last four-team bye. The ambiguous language around Benson is enough to highlight Knight.

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon when asked if RB Trey Benson could be shut down long-term:

"One day at a time."

JG on if IR is a possibility for rookie DL Walter Nolen III:

"One day at a time."

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 28, 2025

Devin Singletary (RB, NYG) - 22% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 12-16%
Aggressive Bid: 16-20%
Desperation Bid: 20-25%

The veteran performed well against a tough Patriots defense on Monday night, garnering over 100 total yards with his third TD in three weeks in the loss. The Giants relied on him even more in the fourth quarter after Tyrone Tracy Jr. was forced from the game with a hip injury.

Tracy was seen taking a cart to the locker room and did not return. Now, Big Blue has an upcoming bye, so Tracy has time to get healthy before a tantalizing matchup with Washington's defense. If he cannot go, then Singletary could play a sizeable role in boosting fantasy teams through a late-season affair. (I'll update this as information about Tracy surfaces.)

Samaje Perine (RB, CIN) - 3% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-12%

Gaining 54 total yards with a fumble isn’t going to cause a stir, but seeing 16 touches next to Chase Brown’s 22 puts Perine on the radar. Now, Brown isn’t “washed,” but Joe Burrow’s return is a rising tide that lifts all boats.

The Bengals dominated the Ravens and are now 4-8, which is only two games out of the division lead. For us, that means there’s hunger with fantasy-friendly matchups the rest of the way (BUF, BAL, MIA, and ARI).

Would anyone be surprised if Cincy averages over 30 points for that? The fumbles have to stop, but the Thanksgiving usage paints Perine as a PPR flex play with contingent upside if Brown went down.

*Make Sure These Cuffs Are Cuffed: Blake Corum, Tank Bigsby, Brian Robinson Jr., Keaton Mitchell

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers

Adonai Mitchell (WR, NYJ) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 7-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-14%
Desperation Bid: 14-20%

Mitchell finally made good on the heavy usage in New York by snatching 8-of-12 targets for a score and 102 yards. He’d only caught three balls for 52 yards despite 13 looks in his first two games for Gang Green, but they stuck with him.

John Metchie III had been hot in those two earlier tilts, but he only had 4-19-0 on his eight targets here. One can’t simply anoint one or the other as the primary man, yet Mitchell’s target advantage and fiery speed seen on the 52-yard house call is what we’re chasing.

Mistakes will agitate you, and a goose egg can strike, but triple digits and a TD don’t grow on trees! Of course, I'd prefer if the tree had a little more dynamism to its branches:

Isaac TeSlaa (WR, DET) - 1% rostered
Tom Kennedy (WR, DET) - 0% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5% / 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7% / 2-4%
Desperation Bid: 7-10% / 4-6%

Amon-Ra St. Brown’s ankle sprain has his Week 14 status in serious jeopardy, and Detroit faces a rapid turnaround against Dallas on Thursday. The Lions elevated Kennedy into the slot role, and he hauled in all four targets for 36 yards.

It was blossoming red-zone aficionado TeSlaa who snagged a 17-yard TD alongside another 18-yard reception for the first multi-catch effort of his career. If you’re angling for talent between these two, then TeSlaa is the upside to chase.

If Kalif Raymond (ankle) is also unable to gear up against the Cowboys, then expect plenty of TeSlaa and Kennedy in a likely shootout. Dallas has beefed up the rush defense and could try to force Detroit to win with its B-team of pass-catchers.

Devaughn Vele (WR, NO) - % rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-10%

With no Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave battling back spasms, and both Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks donning different threads, Vele’s surge in snaps finally turned from wind sprints to actual production on Sunday. The ex-Bronco brought in all eight balls that went his way for 93 yards and a touchdown.

We’d seen him log around 90% of the offensive plays in both Weeks 10 and 12, but four total catches wasn’t catching our eye. It took a lot to get Vele involved, but perhaps this sparks future usage with Tampa Bay’s secondary up next.

Pat Bryant (WR, DEN) - % rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-10%

It wasn’t shocking to see Bryant get more involved as the season wore on, but outdoing Troy Franklin was not on my bingo card. Bryant ran 35 routes to Franklin’s 33, earning seven targets with five of the first-read variety (Franklin had three total targets).

Please recall that before the Week 12 bye, Franklin had seen at least eight looks in five consecutive games, which is an incredible bar to set! Was the bye enough for Denver to flip the switch on Bryant, or was it a one-off oddity? They’ll face the Raiders next before the Packers, Jaguars, and Chiefs line up as pace-pushers for the fantasy playoffs.

Luther Burden III (WR, CHI) - 10% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-10%

Burden touched the ball five times for 36 yards, which tied with Cole Kmet for the most yardage from a non-RB in the win over Philadelphia. Chicago is happy to lean on creative runs when possible, which has overshadowed Burden’s prominent role in the offense.

But they’re about to face three top-10 run defenses in a row, with two against Green Bay and a date with Cleveland in between. Ben Johnson may need to dip into the passing bag if he wants to hold onto his NFC North advantage and take another step toward the No. 1 seed.

*If you want to throw a few bucks at Dontayvion Wicks after a big day, then I won’t stop you. But Jayden Reed may come back into the fold this week, and Christian Watson/Romeo Doubs aren’t subbing out. Wicks is unlikely to be a factor during our playoff weeks.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends

Brenton Strange (TE, JAC) - 32% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 5-8%
Aggressive Bid: 8-12%
Desperation Bid: 12-16%

Scoring his first touchdown of the season, Strange has now turned in two top-eight TE performances since coming back from the IR in Week 12. In half-PPR scoring, that means Strange has been a solid TE1 in half of his healthy games thus far.

It was nice to see him connect for the 21-yard TD, but it was more important to witness the sustained involvement even with both Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers out there. He went from a 71% snap share in Week 12 to 84% on Sunday, with Johnny Mundt playing a season-low 24%. Those seeking some stability shouldn’t overlook Strange!

Darren Waller (TE, MIA) - 30% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-12%

Waller’s first game since getting hurt in Week 7 saw him split TE reps with Julian Hill and Greg Dulcich, but Hill only ran four routes, so don’t fret his presence. Waller ran 19 routes to Dulcich’s 10 and led the team with 47 receiving yards, catching two of his three targets. But the arrow should be pointing up.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was proud of himself for not "overstressing" Darren Waller in his return to the field from a pectoral injury.

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) December 1, 2025

There is plenty of room at the table next to Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane, as Malik Washington and Cedrick Wilson Jr. remain ancillary pieces. I’ll leave you with this: In the five games Waller has played in, he has five end-zone targets, and no other Dolphin has more than one.

Isaiah Likely (TE, BAL) - 5% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-10%

Likely’s five catches for 95 yards could’ve had an additional yard and a touchdown attached to it, but instead we got a lousy fumble out of the end zone. Ball security is critical, so I’m not hand-waving that.

Since the bye, Likely has one fewer catch (two fewer targets) and 47 more yards than Mark Andrews, but Andrews is the red-zone guy. In Thursday’s loss to Cincinnati, Likely ran 20 routes to Andrews’ 25, though we must note that Fantasy Points Data Suite charted Andrews with four first-read targets to Likely’s two.

The good news is that Lamar Jackson, for all of his recent issues, is still able to use his mobility to extend plays and pivot to secondary reads. If Baltimore is going to keep struggling into negative gamescripts, it’ll need to throw, and the lack of any consistent receiving threat behind Zay Flowers leads to Likely stepping into the opportunity.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense (vs. NO) - 28% rostered

FAAB Bid: 2%
Aggressive Bid: 3%
Desperation Bid: 4%

The last time Tampa Bay squared off with the Saints, they racked up five sacks, four turnovers, and a defensive TD, all while allowing a measly three points. But that game was Spencer Rattler’s last straw, which led to Shough’s first real action of the year.

Shough has built up momentum and rapport with his squad since then, but this recent Tampa win over Arizona marked an emergence from a rough stretch of schedule (NE, BUF, LAR). After the Saints, they’ll face Atlanta, Carolina, and Miami, with stud lineman Calijah Kancey (pectoral) potentially returning at some point.

Miami Dolphins Defense (at NYJ) - 20% rostered

FAAB Bid: 2%
Aggressive Bid: 3%
Desperation Bid: 4%

The defense stayed hot with four sacks and a pair of turnovers against the Saints, allowing fewer than 18 points with multiple TOs for a third straight game. The bye week did not break their stride, but it’s worth noting that the Dolphins have played four straight games at home.

This upcoming game against the Jets will bring them to New Jersey, where we’ll learn if they can bring the same punch in the cold. We previously discussed Tyrod Taylor’s improved form, but these are still the Jets!

Tennessee Titans Defense (at CLE) - 3% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

Outside of their recent loss to Seattle, the Titans have quietly mustered a combined 20 sacks over five of the last six games played. We know the offense has done them a few favors over the course of the year when it comes to gamescripts and field position.

And now they’ll face the Browns in a “marquee” matchup of bottom-five offenses. This is their chance to force a young quarterback to make errors, but the team will have to overcome Myles Garrett and company to make Cleveland operate outside of the comfort zone.

Washington Commanders Defense (at MIN) - 5% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

News has already come out of Minnesota that J.J. McCarthy can return from the concussion protocol to start in Week 14, so there’s no free Max Brosmer ticket to punch here. A rusty McCarthy is still worth something, though?

Washington’s defense hasn’t recorded a viable fantasy performance since Week 5 (10 points allowed, five sacks, two TOs), but McCarthy is a wild card. If you’re still reading by now and haven’t already lined up a D/ST beyond the bottom of the barrel, then be grateful that you at least have a solid ceiling to aspire for.

Week 15 lookahead:
-San Francisco (33% rostered, W15 vs. TEN, W14 bye)
-Chicago (22% rostered, W15 vs. CLE, W14 at GB)
-Dallas (10% rostered, W15 vs. MIN, W14 at DET)
-Carolina (6% rostered, W15 at NO, W14 bye)

Week 16 bye-week stashers:
-Buffalo (55% rostered, W16 at CLE)
-Kansas City (42% rostered, W16 at TEN)
-New Orleans (7% rostered, W16 vs. NYJ and W17 at TEN)

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