Happy Thanksgiving week! As you gather around the table, hopefully, your turkey is perfectly golden and you’ve managed to dodge Uncle Andy’s infamous green bean casserole. While you and your league mates enjoy the holiday festivities, take a moment to sneak away for a quick check on next week’s top waiver-wire pickups. Trust me, you’ll be thankful you did!
Get Ahead of the Game
Our weekly Waiver Wire Watchlist is designed to help you identify players who are primed for fantasy breakouts. By utilizing Aaron Schatz’s DVOA metrics and FTN’s advanced statistics, we pinpoint players with favorable short-term matchups and promising workload trends. The goal? To find these gems before they explode in value.
More importantly, we aim to spotlight these players a week before their breakout performances. We’ve successfully highlighted talents like JK Dobbins, Jerry Jeudy, and Jameis Winston before they made waves. Why wait and spend your hard-earned FAAB dollars or waiver priority when you can snag the next breakout star for free?
Week 14 Fantasy Waiver Wire Watchlist: RB
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (40% owned in ESPN leagues/32% in Yahoo leagues)
Reason: Finally healthy
Time Frame: Rest of season
Bigsby has been sidelined with an ankle injury since Week 10, but he’s on the verge of returning. He’s shown to be the more effective running back in Jacksonville, boasting a 5.7% rushing DVOA compared to Travis Etienne’s -5.1%. With the Jaguars increasingly leaning on him, Bigsby is set to see more opportunities, especially with a manageable schedule ahead.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans (39% owned in ESPN leagues/41% in Yahoo leagues)
Reason: Finally healthy
Time Frame: Rest of season
Spears has faced his fair share of injuries this season, including a recent concussion. However, if he can clear the protocol, he could see an uptick in usage as the Titans look to lighten Tony Pollard’s load. With the Titans likely playing from behind, Spears could become a valuable asset in PPR formats.
Week 14 Fantasy Waiver Wire Watchlist: QB
Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (35% owned in ESPN leagues/46% in Yahoo leagues)
Reason: Favorable opponent schedule
Time Frame: Rest of season
Wilson has just two tough matchups left, against Philadelphia and Kansas City. The rest of his schedule is ripe for attacking. Over the past month, he’s been on fire, leading the league in deep pass completions. If he can connect on a few long balls, he could easily finish as a top-five fantasy quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets (35% owned in ESPN leagues/45% in Yahoo leagues)
Reason: Preemptive streamer
Time Frame: Week 14
With six teams on bye next week, the waiver wire will be buzzing. Rodgers has a favorable matchup against Miami, making him a strong streaming option for those needing to fill a gap. If you’ve relied on other quarterbacks this season, now is the time to grab Rodgers before the rush.
Week 14 Fantasy Waiver Wire Watchlist: WR
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns (47% owned in ESPN leagues/55% in Yahoo leagues)
Reason: Big-play ability
Time Frame: Rest of season
Tillman has stepped up since Amari Cooper’s absence, significantly improving his production. He’s currently in concussion protocol but could be a valuable asset once cleared. If you have a spare roster spot, snatch him up now to reap the benefits during the playoffs.
Week 14 Fantasy Waiver Wire Watchlist: TE
Noah Fant, TE, Seattle Seahawks (18% owned in ESPN leagues/4% in Yahoo leagues)
Reason: Healthy again
Time Frame: Rest of season
Fant’s return from a groin injury could be a game-changer in deeper leagues. He’s had several productive outings this season and could be a solid streaming option, especially with favorable matchups against the Packers and Rams on the horizon.
More Options to Consider
- More Quarterback Options: Jameis Winston (positive game scripts), Trevor Lawrence (favorable schedule), Will Levis (upcoming matchups), Derek Carr (solid schedule).
- More Running Back Options: Alexander Mattison (favorable schedule), Tyler Allgeier (injury-upside handcuff), Gus Edwards (injury replacement).
- More Wide Receiver Options: Adam Thielen/Xavier Legette (competent QB play), Keon Coleman (upcoming matchups), Quentin Johnston (favorable schedule).
- More Tight End Options: Will Dissly (upcoming matchups), Hunter Henry (rest of season), Zach Ertz (heavy workload).
Week 14 Fantasy Waiver Wire Watchlist: Defense
For Week 14, consider these defensive matchups:
- Titans vs. Jaguars
- Saints at Giants
- Bengals at Cowboys
- Jaguars at Titans
With the fantasy playoffs just around the corner, now is the time to make strategic moves. Keep an eye on these players, and don’t hesitate to make those roster adjustments. After all, every point counts as you aim for that championship!
