Every week, Nate Hamilton will cover fantasy football waiver wire pickups. Read his Week 13 Waiver Wire picks and FAAB tips (Free-Agent Acquisition Budget) for fantasy football.
DomiNate the Waiver Wire for Week 13
What a crazy Week 12. Between COVID, injuries, and postponed games, we may have never witnessed such a dysfunctional fantasy football week like this one.
Now more than ever is the most important time to shape up your rosters. It’s time to rid unproductive players and replace them with some upside as we head into the fantasy playoffs.
(Note: Roster % is as listed for Yahoo! leagues. FAAB bid range is based on a $100 budget.)
Week 13 Waiver Wire Fantasy Football Pickups
Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings (40% rostered)
Kirk Cousins has quietly been a great option at the quarterback position for fantasy football this year. He has multiple touchdown passes in seven of his last nine games. He’s thrown 3 touchdowns in five of those games.
He thrived in Week 12 even without COVID-19-listed Adam Thielen, as rookie Justin Jefferson helped pick up the slack against the Carolina Panthers.
Kirk Cousins has some favorable matchups the rest of the way (vs. Jaguars, at Buccaneers, before things get tougher vs. Bears and at Saints), which could pay off big for you in the fantasy playoffs.
It’s time to re-evaluate your quarterback position and compare Cousins to your current QB.
- Kirk Cousins FAAB bid range: $11-$15
Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers (56%)
Why is Deebo Samuel rostered in about half of fantasy leagues? It could be a case of “out of sight, out of mind." Before resurfacing from injured reserve Sunday, he hadn’t played since Week 7 and it appears many may have forgotten about him.
He came back in a big way in Week 12, catching 11 of his 13 targets for 133 yards. Prior to missing time due to a hamstring injury, Samuel had 5 or more targets in Weeks 5, 6, and 7, totaling 13 catches for 150 yards and a TD in that span.
The 49ers have one of their key players back and he should be rostered and in your fantasy lineups. He could be a valuable asset come playoff time.
- Deebo Samuel FAAB bid range: $8-$12
Gabriel Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills (3%)
Gabriel Davis was featured in my weekly “Fantasy Dilemma" video last week. Davis presents upside at the wide receiver position with Bills wideout John Brown on Injured Reserve.
Davis has 70 or more yards and a touchdown in two of the last three games. He will only be expected to handle a larger target share from quarterback Josh Allen in Brown’s absence, and Buffalo throws so often that Davis should get at least a handful of looks even when everyone is healthy.
Gabriel Davis is a decent flex option moving forward.
- Gabriel Davis FAAB bid range: $3-$6
Latavius Murray, RB, New Orleans Saints (60%)
Latavius Murray has seen an increased workload since Taysom Hill has taken over at quarterback for the Saints. Murray now has double-digit carries in back to back games. He’s coming off his best game of the season (19 carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns).
With Drew Brees not expected to return until Week 15 (at best), Latavius Murray will continue to be more involved in this offense, possibly at the continued expense of Alvin Kamara. Especially when it’s been working for the Saints.
New Orleans hasn’t lost a Drew Brees-less game yet.
- Latavius Murray FAAB bid range: $3-$6
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Week 13 Waiver Wire: Pickups for Deep Leagues ($1-$6 FAAB)
Keke Coutee, WR, Houston Texans (1%)
With the latest news of Will Fuller being suspended for the remainder of the regular season (drug violation), Keke Coutee becomes the next man up. The Texans are fresh off releasing wide receiver Kenny Stills as well. This leaves Brandin Cooks and Coutee as the main wideouts for Deshaun Watson to target going forward.
Coutee does have a pair of catches in his last two games, including a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
Collin Johnson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (0%)
DJ Chark and Chris Conley both missed Week 12, which led to additional targets for Johnson. He was impressive enough (4 receptions on 8 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown) to warrant more targets if and when all Jaguars’ wide receivers are healthy and return to action.
Nate Hamilton is a regular contributor to the fantasy football industry and brings his nearly two decades of experience as a fantasy football player to The Game Day. He also writes The Game Day’s weekly DFS tips article.
He provides advice & analysis on a daily basis via Twitter (@DomiNateFF). He has previously written content for FantasyPros, The Fantasy Footballers, and Fantrax. He is a co-author of Amazon’s #1 Best Selling “The Fantasy Football Black Book” with Joe Pisapia. Nate hosts his solo podcast “The DomiNate Fantasy Football Show" and performs weekly AMA live streams on Twitter/Periscope. He is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA).
