Sneaky Starts, Pivot Plays, and Post-Waiver Pickups for Week 13 - Zonovan Knight, Elijah Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus

December 3, 2022

Michael Florio's sneaky fantasy football starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 13. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.

There somehow are just two weeks left of the fantasy football regular season! After spending months preparing, debating, drafting, and all that other good stuff, the season just flies by in the blink of an eye. It is not over yet, at least not if you are reading this article. There is still time to get into the playoffs and if you are already in, there is time to prepare. 

That is something I have been preaching this week. If you are comfortably in the playoffs, start getting your lineup playoff-ready. That means you can add the handcuff to your big RBs just in case. If you have been streaming, say quarterback, tight end, or defense, look ahead at who has favorable matchups in the playoffs and get them on your roster now. Some say to just play for the week in front of you and that is typically true, but if you clinched a spot, the best way to use those end-of-the-bench roster spots is to gear up for the stretch run. 

However, if you are not in a position where you clinched a playoff spot already, then this week is the focus. Hopefully, you are not desperate for pivot options since there are only two teams on bye. Just wait until next week when six teams are on bye! For this week, you know I have you covered! 

Quarterback Pivot Options for Fantasy Football 

If QBs Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields don’t play, you can pivot to… 

Jimmy Garoppolo is a great streaming option this week. First, he has averaged 18 fantasy PPG over the last month and does not have a turnover in that span. Second, the Dolphins have allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to QBs this season. And if you are still not sold, they have allowed the fourth-most YAC in the NFL this season. This Niners offense was built on YAC and it's why Jimmy G. and co. went off a couple of weeks ago against the Cardinals. If you are searching for a QB this week, look no further! 

Daniel Jones is what he is at this point. He brings a safe, albeit not that high floor. He is capable of putting up better numbers in the right matchups, which is what he has this week. Not only have the Commanders struggled against the pass but they have been elite at stopping the run. That could lead the Giants to pass more than they normally do this week. Plus, if Saquon Barkley struggles on the ground, we could see more designed runs or just rollouts by Jones. He is a streamer this week. 

Kenny Pickett is definitely diving deeper, but do not laugh! Pickett has put up better fantasy numbers since the Steelers' bye week, twice having topped 16 fantasy points. Plus, he adds some points with his legs, having run for 30 or more yards in three of his last four games. That is the equivalent of 75 free passing yards. Plus, he gets the Falcons, who have allowed a ton of production to opposing offenses all season long. Hopefully, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and Diontae Johnson can take advantage but if they do – Pickett gets the points, too! 

Running Back Pivot Options for Fantasy Football 

If RBs Christian McCaffrey, Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, Michael Carter, and Jerick McKinnon don’t play, you can pivot to… 

Zonovan “Bam” Knight led the Jets backfield in snaps, carries, targets, and yards in Week 12. He went from a player that almost no one heard of to now being someone you can plug and play off the waiver wire. Michael Carter is banged up and has missed practice, while James Robinson was just a straight-up healthy scratch last week. Clearly, Knight has impressed the Jets coaches and could be in for big work if Carter sits against the Vikings. Ty Johnson is an option for those of you who miss out on Knight in deeper formats. 

Jaylen Warren and Benny Snell Jr are both in play with Najee Harris banged up. Obviously, if Harris plays, these two are out of consideration. This is a guessing situation as Warren missed Week 12 with a hamstring injury. The concern is that he re-aggravates it early in the game. However, Warren has been playing over Snell all season. If I had to go with one, I would prefer Warren but the murkiness around this keeps Snell in play in deeper formats as well. 

Zamir White would be in play as a flex, if not higher, if Josh Jacobs was to sit. The Chargers have allowed the fifth-most fantasy PPG to RBs this season. Teams have been able to run all over the Chargers. If Jacobs sits, anticipate White getting the bulk of the groundwork, while Ameer Abdullah would slide in as the pass-catching RB sleeper in this backfield. Neither brings the potential of a Jacobs, but both would be fine fill-in options in this great matchup. 

JaMycal Hasty remains an option as Travis Etienne is banged up. He exited early in Week 12 and we did not see him again for the rest of the day. After the game, both Etienne and head coach Doug Pederson said he was fine and could have returned. Clearly, the Jags are playing the long game with their franchise RB and not looking to push him and get him injured. In his absence, we saw Hasty go off, breaking out a number of big plays. Obviously, Hasty is much more in play if Etienne straight-up sits, but he remains a sneaky deep league option even if he suits up. 

Jordan Mason, Tyrion Davis-Price, and Tevin Coleman are all deep league options with Elijah Mitchell out for the rest of the fantasy season. The issue here is no one can say with any certainty which back would see the most work. They also have to deal with Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel taking touches as well. While Mason and TDP are getting most of the hype from fantasy Twitter, Kyle Shanahan loves Tevin Coleman. If he is elevated from the practice squad, he would be the back I would trust the most, followed by Davis-Price and Mason. 

Wide Receiver Pivot Options for Fantasy Football 

If WRs Mike Williams, DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Jakobi Meyers, and Kadarius Toney don’t play, you can pivot to…

Parris Campbell is coming off a dud, but he was open a bunch on Monday Night Football and Matt Ryan just didn’t throw his way. Before Monday night, Campbell had been averaging over 18 fantasy PPG in Ryan’s four previous starts, with his low game being over 11 fantasy points. One bad game may lead to him getting thrown back on the waiver wire, but that would be an overcorrection in my opinion. I would continue to ride with Campbell, especially if you are in need of a receiver this week. 

Elijah Moore was only targeted twice in Week 12, but one went for 40 yards and the other for a TD. Moore was mentioned as a sleeper here last week as he operates as the Jets' lead slot receiver, and last season, Mike White threw over a quarter of his passes to the slot. He is even more in play this week against the Vikings, who have really struggled against receivers, allowing the second-most fantasy PPG to the position in the past month. Plus, this could be a sneakily high-scoring game. Moore is in play as a pivot option this week. 

Richie James low-key has scored over 13 fantasy points in two straight games. He has scored a touchdown in two straight games and the Giants are decimated at receiver. Because of that, James tied his season-high with six targets and five catches. His 15 fantasy points were a season-high. Plus, as mentioned with Daniel Jones, the Commanders are elite at stopping the run game, which could lead to additional passing attempts by the Giants. 

Olamide Zaccheaus saw a season-high eight targets, five catches, and 91 yards last week. He is the Falcons' best field stretcher and he is the receiver they like to take their downfield shots with. He is the definition of boom-or-bust, but with no Kyle Pitts, it should lead to more volume like it did last week. He faces the Steelers this week, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG to receivers. If you are diving deep, Zaccheaus is a deeper name worth taking a shot on. 

Tight End Pivot Options for Fantasy Football 

If TEs David Njoku, Logan Thomas, and Jelani Woods don’t play, you can pivot to…

Gerald Everett disappointed last week in a great matchup, but he gets a chance to make up for it this week. The Raiders have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Plus, they have just allowed a ton of production across the board, and Justin Herbert is playing his best football of the season right now. Everett is a top pivot option at the tight end position this week. 

Foster Moreau has scored a touchdown in two of his last three games, having topped 12 fantasy points in each of those games. He saw seven targets last week, too, which is nothing to sneeze at when talking about a tight end. The Chargers have allowed nearly 13 fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. If you are in need, Moreau can certainly help you out. 

Hayden Hurst saw a season-high nine targets last week, catching six of them for a season-high 57 yards. Plus, this Chiefs-Bengals game has a chance to be one of, if not the most, highest-scoring game of the week. The Chiefs have allowed just under 12 fantasy PPG to tight ends as well this season. Hurst is in play for those streaming a tight end in Week 13. 

Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio.

Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis