For most folks they're one week away from the fantasy football playoffs. That's pretty much the definition of crunch time. Are there any players on the waiver-wire this week that you might be able to add to help you make the playoffs? Are there any players out there that might be able to have success for your club once the playoffs begin? Let's take a look in the Week 13 Waiver-Wire piece.
A WEEKLY FANTASY BATTLE
Take on Ray Flowers. Show me that you've got more football knowledge than the arrogant one. Sign up for the Weekly Fanduel.com/BaseballGuys.com NFL Salary Cap Contest. Pick your one week squad based on salary cap levels for players. Finish in the top-15 in Week 13 and you will at least double your $10 investment (all top-15 finishers will receive at least $20). Win the battle and you're looking at a $250 windfall. Simple as that. You interested?
FAAB THOUGHTS
(Assuming a $100 Budget)
QUARTERBACKS
Matt Flynn, Packers
The Packers QB in Week 13 barring something unforeseen will be Flynn. Taking over for an ineffective Scott Tolzien, Flynn led a dramatic comeback in Week 12 that resulted in a tie for the Packers as he completed 21 passes for 218 yards an a score, eerily similar numbers to his last outing back on September 29th for the Raiders (21 completions, 227 yards and one score). There are weapons everywhere in Green Bay, but Flynn is still as physically limited as ever. He does face a Lions club that allows the 11th most points to QBs in Week 13, but he's still nothing other than a QB2 option.
FAAB BID: $3-5
Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins
Tannehill isn't over the top good, but the numbers are growing. He's been remarkably consistent this season and in a standard fantasy setup he's very likely to be a top-15 QB this season. Seriously. The reason is that consistency factor. In the SiriusXM Hosts League Tannehill is averaging more points per game that Tom Brady. I know, right? Furthermore he's recorded at least 16.5 points every week. Peyton Manning just went for 15.5 against the Patriots Sunday night. Tannehill and his mates face a reeling Jets defense who can't stop anything over the top, and that's good news for Tannehill and Mike Wallace owners.
FAAB BID: $10-15
Brandon Weeden, Browns
Jason Campbell suffered a concussion in Week 12 so it's going to be Mr. Weeden against the Jaguars in Week 13. On paper facing the Jags should be a boon to the Browns offense, but the Jags actually looked fairly sharp against the Texans in Week 12. Regardless, Weeden is terrible and should only be considered in two QB leagues. Even then, with no teams on Bye this week, I can't think he should be in anyone's lineup. He has a 51.5 percent completion rate and has just six touchdowns and eight turnovers including seven interceptions.
FAAB BID: $1-5
RUNNING BACKS
C.J. Anderson / Montee Ball / Ronnie Hillman, Broncos
Knowshon Moreno carried the ball 37 times for 224 yards an a score in an effort that would tire out Wolverine. Unfortunately his heeling powers will be tested, and they aren't up to Wolverine standards. Moreno tweaked his lower leg in Week 12 and that gives the other runners in this backfield hope. Ball was looking good with seven carries for 40 yards against the Patriots, but then he lost a fumble which is an ongoing issue (he's fumbled three times in just 75 carries this season). Anderson was then called on and he too had success with three carries for 16 yards. Don't forget about Ronnie Hillman who can do something things as well. All depends on the health of Moreno's ankle, but if he's out it's hard to see just how this backfield will play out with any degree of certitude.
FAAB BID for Anderson: $5-10
FAAB BID for Ball: $10
FAAB BID for Hillman: $1-5
Brandon Boldin, Patriots
Stevan Ridley has scored six times over his last seven games. That's the good news. The bad? He's fumbled in his last three games. Obviously that is unacceptable. After his fumble against the Broncos his night was over as he finished with four carries for 14 yards. At this point, it's anyone's guess what his role will be moving forward. You just can't play if you fumble the ball (LeGarrette Blount also fumbled and was only given two carries). Shane Vereen ran the ball 10 times for 31 yards in Week 12. That's not goo. As a side note, he looked terrible as a pass catcher. I know he eight balls for 60 yards, but if you watched the game he, literally, bobbled every pass throw his way. He's having a very hard time catching the ball with the brace on his hand. Up stepped Bolden who ran the ball 13 times for 58 yards an a score. It's possible Boldin will lead the team in carries in Week 13. I doubt anyone at Patriots headquarters even knows who will lead the club at this point.
FAAB BID: $10
Benny Cunningham, Rams
The growing belief is that Zac Stacy (concussion) is unlikely to play in Week 13. With Daryl Richardson a healthy scratch last week, and Isaiah Pead not even getting a touch while active, it sure seems like Cunningham is a nice pickup this week. After all he torched a beat up Bears' defense for 109 yards an a score on just 13 carries, and for the year he's averaging 6.0 YPC on 40 totes. The downside is that he's set to face a suddenly surging 49ers' defense in Week 13 and that might end up being his only start this season. Worth an add, but don't break the bank.
FAAB BID: $15-20
Mike Gillislee, Dolphins
This fifth round draft pick hasn't played a single snap this season. However, with Daniel Thomas suffering a significant ankle injury, it looks like Gillislee will be asked to fill the backup role to Lamar Miller (Marcus Thigpen would seem to be an afterthought). As we've seen all season long the Fish have been exceedingly reluctant to trust Miller with the lead role so an injury to Thomas doesn't immediately send my mind to the place where I feel confident that Miller will all of a sudden be touching the ball 20 times a week. Even so it's hard to see Gillislee starting for anyone in the fantasy game barring an injury to Miller as he's most likely to fill the role of support player.
FAAB BID: $1-5
Dennis Johnson, Texans
Ben Tate is flat out beat up. He's not the game changing talent we've seen in the past due to various injuries. Tate will still be the starter in Week 13 against the Patriots but it's no longer a lock that he's going to see 20 touches, not after Johnson looked sharp running the ball 13 times for 74 yards in Week 12. Remember back when Arian Foster was healthy and Tate would get 8-10 touches a week? We can say that Johnson is the new Tate – at least. It's quite possible that we could be looking at a timeshare with the dreaded “hot-hand” approach out of the Texans backfield. If you're in a 12 team or larger league Johnson shouldn't be on waivers though you should note the Texans take on the Patriots in Week 13, a game in which they will likely be well behind in.
FAAB BID: $15-20
WIDE RECEIVERS
Donnie Avery, Chiefs
Four receptions for 91 yards an a score gets your attention. Find some other shiny object to look at. Avery last scored in Week 1. Ugh. The last time he had 35 receiving yards was Week 5. Ugh. His QB is Alex Smith. Ugh. Nuff said.
FAAB BID: $1-5
Nate Burleson, Lions
I wrote about Burleson Monday in State of the WR. He's the #2 wideout in an offense that throws the ball 42 times a week, the second highest mark in football. He also appeared in 72 of 80 snaps for the Lions in Week 12 as they clearly have no misgivings about running him out there right away. He's got the makings of a weekly play as a WR3. Add him.
FAAB BID: $25-35
Jacoby Jones, Ravens
Run to the waiver-wire an add Jones after he went for six catches, 103 yards an a score in Week 12. Uh, not so much. Jones is like that hot girl at the bar. She smiles at you so you send her a drink. She gets the drink from the bartender and smiles again. You get up your liquid courage and head on over to talk to her. About 35 seconds into your conversation her 6'3”, 235 muscle bound freak of a boyfriend shows up. You've been had my friend. Jones is the same way. He's a fraud. Do you know how many 50 yard games he has this season? One. The only reason he has one is because of poor pass D on his 66 yard reception over the past weekend. The definition of a tease.
FAAB BID: $5
Justin Hunter, Titans
A second round pick out of Tennessee, Hunter has seen 13 targets the past two weeks as his role has grown with the addition of Ryan Fitzpatrick under center. Oops, that's not right. It might look that like depending on which website you use, but the truth of the matter is that Hunter didn't record a single target in Week 11 against the Colts (he was concussed in the game). So in two of the last three games he's had six targets, and he looked sharp against Oakland in Week 12 with six receptions, 109 yards and one score. Is he worth an add in 12 team leagues? He's more of a flier type. This isn't an offense that can consistently keep a rookie like this involved from week to week since he's no better than the third option in the passing game. Deeper leagues though can have at Hunter and hope his rapport with the Bearded One (Mr. Ftizpatrick) grows.
FAAB BID: $10
Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings
Finally. The Vikes finally realized that the talented by raw rookie needs the football in his hands. Patterson started in Week 12, saw 11 targets, and caught eight balls for 54 yards. The Vikings aren't going to suddenly start passing the ball for 300 yards a week, and Christian Ponder lacks the arm strength to challenge defenses deep, but as we've seen on kick returns all year Patterson just needs top get the ball in his hands – he can make yards on his own.
FAAB BID: $10-15
Tiquan Underwood, Buccaneers
Two scores and 108 yards for Underwood in Week 12 are exciting. At the same time he's gone over 65 yards just once in seven games. He's yet to catch more than three passes in a game. He's yet to have more than five targets in a game. Mike Glennon has thrown less than 25 passes in 4-straight games. You sure you want to go all in with Underwood?
FAAB BID: $5-10
TIGHT ENDS
Ladarius Green, Chargers
Part of the new breed of tight ends, Green is 6'6”, weighs 240 lbs, and can run like the wind. He's also surging with 80 yards in each of his last two games an a score in Week 12. Of course his snap count, and more importantly target totals, will be limited by the presence of Antonio Gates. He's more of a desperation play in re-draft leagues, but those of you in dynasty leagues would be advised to scoop him up if he's still available.
FAAB BID: $7-10
Brandon Myers, Giants
Score a touchdown at tight end an it's like we have to talk about you. Myers scored in Week 12. We're talking. It should be a short convo though. The score was his first since Week 1 and Week 2 was the last time he caught more than three passes in a game. Move along.
FAAB BID: $5
Jacob Tamme, Broncos
Five catches, 47 yards an a touchdown. No it's not Julius Thomas it's Jacob Tamme! Stepping in for the injured Thomas he produced like he was the TE1. He's not. The expectation is that Thomas plays in Week 13, and that means adios to the value with Tamme who had a total of 5.7 fantasy points this season before Week 12.
FAAB BID: $1
Ray Flowers can be heard daily on Sirius/XM Radio on The Fantasy Drive on Sirius 210 and XM 87, Monday through Thursday at 7 PM EDT & Friday's at 9 PM EDT. For more of Ray's analysis you can check out BaseballGuys.com or the BaseballGuys' Twitter account where he tirelessly answers everyone's questions.