December 7, 2016

Demetri Raftopoulos examines which NFL wide receivers and tight ends saw a surprisingly high number of targets in Week 13 of the fantasy football season and could become a desirable waiver target and add for Week 14.

The long-awaited fantasy playoffs have arrived. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean everyone's lineup is completely healthy. The players below should relieve untimely injuries and give teams a much-needed boost on their way to glory.

Here is a look at the surprise target grabbers from Week 13, and a look at possible wide receiver breakout options for Week 14 based on the usage they are seeing in the passing game. You can ask me more waiver wire and game day questions on Twitter @DemetriRafto.

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Surprise Week 13 Target Grabbers

Zach Ertz - (TE, PHI)

With Jordan Matthews sidelined because of an ankle injury, Carson Wentz looked to his tight end 15 times, the second largest amount of targets in the league in Week 13 (behind Odell Beckham, Jr.). Ertz reeled in nine receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown, exceeding fantasy expectations.

Ertz heads into a favorable matchup Week 14 against a Washington Redskins club that allows the 11th-most fantasy points to wide tight ends. He is a solid streaming option for owners of Rob Gronkowski, Zach Miller, and Jordan Reed, and will remain a TE1 if Matthews misses more time as the first round of the fantasy playoffs approaches.

Robby Anderson - (WR, NYJ)

One of the biggest surprises of Monday night's lopsided contest was how unmotivated the New York Jets looked as Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts dropped 41 points at Met Life. Another surprise was the lack of involvement from Brandon Marshall and how often rookie wide receiver Robby Anderson was targeted.

Anderson led Gang Green with 12 targets, reeling in only four of them, but scored the first touchdown of his young career. He added 61 receiving yards. Replacement quarterback and fellow rookie, Bryce Petty, favored Anderson during the second half of Monday night's loss, and could do the same next week against the San Fransisco 49ers. Petty is set to start the last four games of this very forgettable campaign in New York. Anderson is not on the fantasy radar but is a boom-or-bust play for daily fantasy.

Dennis Pitta - (TE, BAL) 

In one of the biggest surprises of the week, Pitta turned in his best fantasy showing of the season in Baltimore's blowout victory against the Miami Dolphins. Pitta grabbed nine of his 11 targets for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Watch out for the tandem of Pitta and Joe Flacco as the Ravens refuse to let off the gas down the stretch.

Pitta has been targeted 10 or more times in four separate weeks, but has failed to produce for standard formats since Week 2, while sprinkling in sporadic numbers for PPR leagues. It's difficult to believe that he'll repeat his explosive performance against the New England Patriots Monday night, but the risk might be greater to leave him on the bench.

Possible Week 13 Breakout Options

Tyler Boyd - (WR, CIN)

Tyler Boyd will remain on this list heading into fantasy playoffs. Boyd has been targeted 15 times over a two-game span in the absence of A.J. Green. In Cincinnati's last contest, Boyd reeled in four of six targets for 66 yards; underwhelming for standard leagues, but decent for PPR. It is unlikely that Green will suit up against the Cleveland Browns in Week 14, inviting more opportunities for Boyd to produce.

We also never really need a reason to start anybody against the winless Browns, even if they have allowed only 13 touchdowns through the air this season. Boyd has only one score, and will likely need to find the end zone to exceed projections in standard formats, but should see another boost in target volume to hold WR3 appeal in PPR formats.

Malcolm Mitchell - (WR, NE)

Malcolm Mitchell will also remain on this list. This isn't a cop-out, rather a loud warning not to leave Mitchell on the wire for the second straight week. The Patriots have been known to operate in a bit of a crapshoot offense, where different targets produce each week. With the exception of Julian Edelman, Mitchell has been a constant since the injury to Rob Gronkowski.

Despite failing to find the end zone for the third straight week, Mitchell has produced for fantasy in each game over that span. Mitchell caught eight of his 10 targets against the Los Angeles Rams and heads into a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14. Regardless of who they're playing, anybody Tom Brady targets 10 times in a game is a safe bet in my book.

Marqise Lee - (WR, JAX) 

Marqise Lee has also shown face on this list multiple times, and will have even more of a reason if Allen Hurns can't suit up for Week 14's matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Hurns sat out of last week's contest against the Denver Broncos with a hamstring injury; an ailment that often lingers for an extended time. Of course there is the awful play of Blake Bortles to consider. This is surely a risk as Bortles has enjoyed neglecting his own on-field children to play catch with the neighbor across the street.

Despite being tough against wide receivers this season (second in yards allowed per game) the Vikings have displayed vulnerability often, and could open up plenty of options for Lee. Allen Robinson has also underperformed like crazy as he continues to lose trust from fantasy owners down the stretch. Lee could have more appeal in daily fantasy contests, but is a guy to stash in deeper PPR leagues.

Other Options: Brandon LaFell (WR, CIN) @CLE, Adam Thielen (WR, MIN) @JAX, Lance Kendricks (TE, LA) vs ATL