Check out the top waiver wire targets in fantasy football for Week 14.
Beaten, battered and bruised, the fantasy football world emerges from the ashes as the Week 13 bye-pocalypse is behind us. Now, it’s time to focus on the top waiver wire targets for Week 14.
While we’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to bye weeks, only two teams are getting the week off in Week 14. That would be the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders.
Not only did managers have to deal with six fantasy-relevant teams going through their byes in Week 13, but it also was a slate of games marred by injury. With trade deadlines concluded in the majority of leagues, the waiver wire becomes the most vital tool for fantasy managers over the next month.
We’re also getting to the point of the season in which FAAB isn’t as crucial. Don’t be afraid to spend a bit more on a player who might give your team an edge down the stretch.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Geno Smith
334-6
4
Brock Purdy
314-9
4
Dak Prescott
299-23
3
Jalen Hurts
298-20
2
Matthew Stafford
279-(-2)
3
Running Backs
Rush
Receive
TD
Alvin Kamara
14-51
6-58
2
De’Von Achane
17-73
3-30
2
Derrick Henry
21-102
1-18
2
James Conner
25-105
2
Chuba Hubbard
2-104
2
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
DK Metcalf
6-134
3
Deebo Samuel
3-22
4-116
3
Nico Collins
9-191
1
CeeDee Lamb
2-30
12-116
1
Tyreek Hill
5-157
2
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Sam LaPorta
9-140
1
Trey McBride
8-89
1
Jake Ferguson
6-77
1
Harrison Bryant
5-49
1
Taysom Hill
13-59
2-15
1
Placekickers
XP
FG
Brandon Aubrey
3
4
Matt Gay
1
4
Lucas Havrisik
4
2
Jason Sanders
6
1
Matt Ammendola
1
3
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Chargers
5-1
0
Colts
6-2
1
Dolphins
3-1
1
Falcons
4-3
0
Texans
3-3
0
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB Kenny Pickett – Ankle
QB Derek Carr – Concussion “plus”
WR Tank Dell – Fractured fibula
WR Marquise Brown – Heel
WR Amari Cooper – Head
WR Christian Watson – Hamstring
RB Derrick Henry – Head
RB Emari Demarco – neck
RB Rhamondre Stevenson – Ankle
RB Brian Robinson – Hamstring
TE Tyler Higbee – Concussion
Chasing Ambulances
QB Kenny Pickett – He injured his right ankle that will need a surgical procedure to fix. He is expected to miss at least a few weeks and Mitch Trubisky will replace him for this Thursday’s game against the Patriots.
QB Derek Carr – For the third time this year, Carr left the game injured. This time he was blasted when he threw the ball and suffered a concussion while also injuring his shoulder and back. The Lions Bruce Irvin was penalized for roughing the passer and Carr was carted from the field. Carr just had a concussion three weeks ago, so this a serious situation. Jameis Winston will take over until Carr returns.
WR Tank Dell – The Texans phenom fractured his fibula and will miss the rest of the season. It is a sad ending for a season that has been so bright but he should return in 2024 with no lasting problems. Noah Brown just returned after missing two games with a calf injury and should be the replacement. Brown posted two 150-yard performances in Weeks 9 and 10, so he’s already seen success in the offense. He’ll need to step up into a starting role.
WR Marquise Brown – He was already questionable heading into the game with a heel injury, and reaggravated it during the win over the Steelers. If he cannot go when they return from their Week 13 bye, Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch would share the workload.
WR Amari Cooper – He was already battling a rib injury heading into the game and was crushed by two defenders while trying to catch a pass. He is reported to have a concussion. He was already meshing well with Joe Flacco when he was hurt. There is no true replacement for Cooper who is clearly the best receiver on the team. Elijah Moore would see an uptick if Cooper remains out and he led the team with four catches for 83 yards.
WR Christian Watson – He had already scored twice on the Chiefs, but at the end of the game he went down clutching at his leg with an apparent hamstring injury. He missed three games to start the season with a hamstring issue as well, so another one is concerning. Dontayvion Wicks would become a starter if Watson remains out, but his production would be replaced by Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed.
RB Derrick Henry – Suffered a head injury expected to be a concussion. Henry has been very durable considering his career workload but hasn’t missed time with a concussion. Tyjae Spears will replace him in Miami this week if he remains out.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson – The Pats’ running back suffered an ankle injury and while his X-rays were negative, the early speculation is that he may miss multiple games. An MRI will determine the severity of the sprain but it’s highly unlikely that Stevenson plays on Thursday night at the Steelers. Ezekiel Elliott entered Week 13 with a thigh injury but was active and stepped up once Stevenson left near the end of the first quarter. Elliott handled 17 carries for 52 yards and caught a team-high four passes for 40 yards.
RB Brian Robinson – The Commanders’ back was running well against the Dolphins, gaining 53 yards on seven attempts but injured his hamstring and did not return. There was no immediate speculation as to the severity of the injury or if he would miss any games. Antonio Gibson would see the bigger boost in carries and catches, and Chris Rodriguez would also bump up to being the No. 2 back if Robinson misses any time, but the Commanders enter their bye and that gives Robinson more time to heal.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
Where did all the passes go? – It’s that time of the season when passing starts to decline. There were six teams on bye this week, but it is still notable that there were only two passers that topped 300 yards – Geno Smith (334 yards) and Brock Purdy (314 yards). Bet you didn’t see that coming.
RB De’Von Achane – We can’t be certain how long he will stay healthy, but he’s back to form at least for now. After taking last week off and flopping in Week 11, Achane ran for 73 yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 30 yards, while scoring twice. His 20 touches topped the 12 given to Raheem Mostert.
RB Austin Ekeler – The stud of 2022 just hasn’t been nearly as effective this year. He just ran for 18 yards on 14 carries and caught just two passes for nine yards. He was on the road, but the Patriots run defense has declined to being only average – until this week.
RB Ezekiel Elliott – The injury to Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to last at least a week or two. The ex-Cowboy star gets a chance to handle a workhorse load until Stevenson returns. Three of their next four games are on the road which is not ideal, nor is scoring zero points at home this week. But Elliott can help an RB-hungry fantasy team reach the playoffs.
TE Kyle Pitts – He led the Falcons in Week 13 with eight targets for four catches and 51 yards. That was versus the Jets defense. The Falcons host the Buccaneers this week for a violent shift in the quality of the secondary. He had a minor boost from the Jets taking Drake London (1-8) out of the game, but it is good to see his name atop the box core for once.
RB Tyjae Spears – Derrick Henry consumed 21 rushes for 102 yards and two scores before leaving with a head injury in the loss to the Colts. But Tyjae Spears also turned in 16 carries for 75 yards (4.7 YPC) and caught four passes for 13 yards. He ran well enough that the Titans may not be in a hurry to replace Derrick Henry next season.
WR Jonathan Mingo – The Panthers second-round rookie is picking up steam as the offense appears to intentionally involving him more while relying less on Adam Thielen. This season was over long ago and working on next year by throwing more to the younger players makes sense. Thielen is sighed through 2025 and the Panthers cannot get out of that until after next year, so Thielen still needs to be involved.
QB Joe Flacco – Compared to Dorian Thompson-Robinson or P.J. Walker, the aged Flacco looked sharp passing for 254 yards and two scores in the loss to the Rams. Amari Cooper was lost in the game, and Elijah Moore ended with 12 targets that became four catches for 83 yards to lead the Browns. Flacco needs Cooper to be healthy, but he gets a lighter time for the next two weeks at home against the Jaguars and Bears.
QB Patrick Mahomes – He’s ranked as the No. 14 fantasy quarterback and hasn’t missed any games. Eight of his last nine games did not record more than two passing scores and no games this year had him rushing in a touchdown. Over the last five games, he’s averaged 222 passing yards and 1.4 touchdowns which is pretty much the definition of an average NFL quarterback. What I’m trying to figure out is if we can say that he is a… you know,,, “average quarterback”? Can we even say that aloud? Is that even legal? I’m asking for a friend.
Huddle player of the week
Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Deebo Samuel – You’d think visitors would be less aggressive in the City of Brotherly Love, but not so for Samuel. The 49ers Swiss Army knife caught four passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns at the Eagles, and ran for 22 yards and another score on three carries. Oh yeah, he also gained 60 yards on his two kick returns. He may have several blades, but each one can cut you.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
As it pertains to the sleepers, the options aren’t as plentiful as they would be in a typical week. But that’s not going to stop us from trying to find some diamonds in the rough as managers look to make the final push for the playoffs.
Panthers rookie WR Jonathan Mingo was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice due to an Achilles injury.
The Carolina Panthers just lost one of their 2023 draft picks for the rest of the season, as guard Chandler Zavala hit injured reserve on Wednesday. And unfortunately, they may have to keep their eyes on the health of another rookie.
Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo was added to Thursday’s injury report with an Achilles issue. He was a limited participant for today’s practice.
Mingo is coming off one of his best performances of the season, where he reeled in four receptions for 60 yards in the Week 12 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The second-rounder is now up to 286 yards on 28 grabs on the campaign.
Additionally, three players did not participate in the session—safety Vonn Bell (shoulder), outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr. (back) and tight end Hayden Hurst (concussion).
This Bryce Young stat may make you happy and sad at the same time.
As he probably should have, Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich stuck by his players last week—more specifically, his pass catchers. He told reporters, contrary to popular belief, that the team’s receivers are “getting open enough.”
Well, someone has some numbers that beg to differ.
According to Football Insights, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is the NFL’s most accurate thrower to open/wide open receivers on passes of at least five air yards. But the bad news is that he has the lowest percentage of throws where his receivers have gained open separation.
How often QBs throw to open/wide open receivers and their charted accuracy (5+ air yard passes).
Think this may speak to the stale offense/weapons in CAR, but also Bryce Young’s ability to hammer tighter windows with his arm. pic.twitter.com/mHZLM3j17U
Of the Carolina pass catchers evaluated by NFL’s Next Gen Stats this season, none have averaged more than 3.2 yards of separation. That group includes Hayden Hurst (3.2), Terrace Marshall Jr. (3.1), Adam Thielen (2.9), DJ Chark (2.5) and Jonathan Mingo (2.1).
Young’s rookie campaign certainly hasn’t benefitted from those outcomes. The No. 1 overall pick is averaging just 195.0 passing yards per contest with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions over eight starts.
CB Donte Jackson recorded the Panthers’ highest single-game PFF grade of the season in Thursday night’s loss to the Bears.
Is there a bright side to the Carolina Panthers’ most embarrassing loss of the season? Well, if you’re into Pro Football Focus grades, especially for cornerbacks, then you’ll find some much-needed sunshine today.
Here are the team’s best and worst marks from the 16-13 defeat to the Chicago Bears:
Through the first half of the 2023 NFL season, the Carolina Panthers have trailed the Houston Texans quite decidedly in the first-round quarterback sweepstakes. While C.J. Stroud of the Texans has made the Offensive Rookie of the Year contest redundant and is starting to get legitimate NFL MVP talk, Bryce Young of the Panthers is still trying to find his feet.
Stroud has completed 173 of 279 passes (62.0%) for 2,270 yards (8.1 YPA), 14 touchdowns, one interceptions, and a passer rating of 102.9. He ranks second in DVOA and third in DYAR among all NFL quarterbacks this season — not just rookies.
Coming into Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Bears, Young has completed 161 of 252 passes (63.9%) for 1,375 yards (5.5 YPA), eight touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 77.1. He ranks second-to-last in the NFL behind Daniel Jones of the New York Giants in DYAR, and third-to-last in DVOA behind Jones and P.J. Walker of the Cleveland Browns.
Stroud is the Texans’ franchise quarterback without any doubt, while Panthers head coach Frank Reich is fielding questions about whether he should bench Young in favor of Andy Dalton.
“I suppose that’s a fair question,” Reich said after Carolina’s 27-13 Week 9 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. “But I can honestly tell you that thought’s never even came close to my mind.”
Whether or not the Panthers might eventually sit their first overall pick if things keep going the ways in which they’re going, things are bad with this team and this quarterback.
“I think it’s just understanding that, good or bad, you have to be able to turn the page,” Young said after the Colts loss. “Whatever it is you’ve done, positive or negative, doesn’t entitle you to anything next week and doesn’t entitle you to the next opponent. So just the importance of context.
“We’re all competitors. We all feel this. We’re going to feel this loss. I certainly do.”
“It is what it is. But at the same time, that doesn’t entitle me to anything, good or bad, moving forward. And in the NFL, no one feels sorry for anyone. And we have the opportunity where we have to turn the page, and we have to do it quickly. It’s a great opportunity for us to be able to bounce back.”
Nobody feels sorry for Young, and until he stops repeating some mistakes that have led to a lot of those seven interceptions, he’s going to have issues… because the recurrent themes are problematic for any quarterback.
