RADIO
Michael Florio's fantasy football sneaky starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 13 of 2025. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
The good news is that there are no teams on bye this week. The bad news is you have just two weeks to get your team into the fantasy football playoffs!
Using my many leagues as judgment, teams that are 7-5, 6-6, and even 5-7 in some cases are very much still alive. Some are on life support more than others, but win out, and you never know.
With no teams on bye, it should be easier to field a starting lineup. As always, though, there are sneaky starts and pivot options for Week 13 and those in need of a lineup boost. Let's dive in!
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Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for QB
Jacoby Brissett deserves more respect! No matter the fact that he has averaged 21 fantasy PPG and scored over 18 in all six of his starts, he remains widely available on the waiver wire. In fact, he has finished as a top-12 fantasy QB in all six weeks he has started. He gets a great chance to stay hot this week against the Bucs, who are top five in fantasy PPG allowed to QBs. And he has a strong fantasy playoff schedule, including the Bengals in Week 17. Add him already!
Joined my guy @MikeGarafolo on The Insiders to talk some Week 13 waiver wire targets! pic.twitter.com/n9IlL7VV8m
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 26, 2025
Trevor Lawrence has scored over 15 fantasy points in six of his last seven games. That is not much, but it does show he brings a safe floor. On top of that, he has been running more as of late, with over 20 rushing yards in three of his last four. He has three rushing touchdowns in that span as well. He gets the Titans this week, who struggle to get after the QB. You likely do not have to dive deep at QB given no byes, but if you do, I like Lawrence in this matchup.
Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for RB
Trey Benson has had his practice window opened, so it is possible he returns this week against the Bucs, who are in the top 11 in fantasy PPG allowed to RBs. Plus, Benson is a dual-threat back who can be utilized on the ground or through the air. He had shown to be a safe-floor option before his injury. He has an RB2 ceiling and is a solid flex play if he suits up this week.
Kenneth Gainwell is in play this week against the Bills. He continues to split reps with Jaylen Warren, being the much more featured back in the passing game. He saw six targets last week from Mason Rudolph, the second most on the Steelers. He has 14 targets in his last two games. Oh, and he gets the Bills this week, who have been run all over this season. They have allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to RBs this season. Gainwell, who has been surprisingly reliable as a flex option as of late, remains in play in this fantastic matchup.
#Steelers Week 12 RB Usage
- Kenneth Gainwell: 52% snaps, 10 carries, 18 routes, 6 targets (122 yds)
- Jaylen Warren: 49% snaps, 18 carries, 10 routes, 0 targets (68 yds, TD)— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 23, 2025
Kyle Monangai played over D'Andre Swift last week. He played 56 percent of the snaps, with 12 carries and 16 routes -- all of which led the Bears backfield in Week 12. He also saw the goal-line touch and turned it into a touchdown. It was his second straight week with a dozen carries. Monangai has been trending up, but playing over Swift is a huge step forward for the rookie. I do not love the matchup, but if you are in need, he brings some upside.
#Bears Week 12 RB Usage
- Kyle Monangai: 56% snaps, 12 carries, 16 routes, 0 targets (48 yds, TD)
- D'Andre Swift: 43% snaps, 8 carries, 13 routes, 1 target (29 yds, fumble lost)For fantasy purposes? pic.twitter.com/pxq5gjzh8B
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 23, 2025
Kareem Hunt went off for 104 yards and a rush TD on 30 carries. His fantasy stock takes a bit of a hit with Isiah Pacheco returning this week, but Hunt will remain heavily involved and has the goal-line job on lock. He is in play on Thanksgiving Day against a Cowboys defense that has been better against the run, but still should allow some points.
Isiah Pacheco himself is also an option for those diving deeper. Like Hunt, he is more of a floor player due to how the Chiefs distribute RB work. If things return to how they were before Pacheco got hurt, he should lead the backfield in carries and see some usage in the passing game. That makes him a flex option for those in need.
Emanuel Wilson could make for a deeper-league option even though Josh Jacobs is expected back this week and does not carry an injury designation. Coming off an injury, Jacobs may not get as many carries and split more work with Wilson. Last week, Wilson played 55 percent of the snaps with 28 carries and two targets. He turned those into 125 yards and two scores. The Lions are a tough matchup, and it's not ideal, but if you're in a deep league, then Wilson could help if you're in a tough spot with your RBs.
Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for WR
Christian Watson has led the Packers in snaps and routes in each of the last three weeks, showing that he has taken over as the Packers' WR1. He gets the Lions this week, who can be had through the air. The Lions have allowed the most yards to receivers on deep passes since Week 8, which bodes well for Watson. So does the game being indoors, as Watson has averaged 30 more YPG indoors than outdoors in his career. Lastly, Jordan Love has thrived against man coverage this season, and the Lions play it at the highest rate. If he plays well, it should translate to success for his WR1.
Michael Wilson has become a breakout star with Marvin Harrison Jr. sidelined. He has 33 targets in his last two games with 25 catches and 303 yards. Imagine if he started scoring touchdowns? Now, he gets the Bucs, who are in the top 10 in fantasy PPG allowed to WRs. He is a must-play if Harrison sits again.
His teammate Greg Dortch has also stepped up with Harrison out, and has 15 targets in the last two weeks. In each game, he had six catches, topped 50 yards, and scored a touchdown. That is both a safe floor and some upside. Given the matchup, he is in play for those diving a bit deeper at receiver.
Mitchell Tinsley and Andrei Iosivas are in play with no Tee Higgins this week. Notice the order I put them in? Iosivas saw one more target than Tinsley last week, and I do think he brings a safer floor. Tinsley, though, is better suited to play the Higgins role out wide, and as the X. Plus, he Mossed Christian Gonzalez last week and was a star in the preseason. If you just want a safe 8-10 points, I would take the shot on Iosivas. If you are swinging for the fences, though, Tinsley would be my pick.
That's a Tinsley touchdown
📺: #NEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/TIK04eQcIf
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 23, 2025
John Metchie III and Adonai Mitchell are in play for those deep league managers. Metchie has scored a touchdown and broken double-digit fantasy points in each of his last two games. He saw seven targets from Tyrod Taylor last week. Mitchell has 13 targets in his last two games. The production hasn’t been there, but he saw the third-most air yards of all players in Week 12. There’s upside there.
Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for TE
Brenton Strange returned for the Jags last week and led them with 93 receiving yards on five targets. He has scored around 10-plus fantasy points in all but one of his games this season. For the five or six fantasy managers in each league who have a must-start tight end, you can ignore this. But that is an extremely safe floor for those who have had to stream. He gets the Titans this week, who are not a slam-dunk tight-end matchup, but Strange should be able to find some success in this one.
AJ Barner has the second-most targets for Seattle since Week 5. That could translate to fantasy success this week as he gets the Vikings, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy PPG to tight ends in the last month. They’ve allowed the second-most yards to the position since Week 8. Plus, for those who have been streaming TEs, he gets the Colts, Rams, and Panthers. All have struggled against tight ends this season or as of late.
Juwan Johnson has been a very safe floor option this season. He has scored double-digit fantasy points in all but three games this season, when he was banged up. He’s done so in each of his last five games. This week, he faces the Dolphins, who have allowed the sixth-most yards, second-most touchdowns, and fourth-most fantasy PPG to tight ends. He is a solid streaming option this week and moving forward.
Johnson is not the only Saints tight end you can stream this week! Even if Taysom Hill is more of a QB and RB, he is fantasy eligible at tight end. After Alvin Kamara exited last week, Hill led the Saints with 10 carries. He also threw two red-zone passes and ran five routes. He gets the Dolphins, who have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL. The floor is low, but he brings sneaky upside this week.
Colston Loveland has been performing better as of late. His recent stats are highly elevated by that Bengals game, but he has topped 40 yards in four straight and has scored three touchdowns in that span. I do not love his matchup, but he is seeing volume. Plus, the Bears could be chasing points and may have to throw in this one.
Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.
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