Week 13 was pretty quiet for injuries, and I expected the waiver wire to be pretty quiet this week as a result. Even if your team’s championship hopes are still alive, it is easy to ignore the waiver wire at this time of year. That may be a mistake. There are plenty of players who can help you, or who at least have more potential than some highly-owned bench fodder who can safely be dropped. The waiver adds listed below include their ownership in Yahoo! fantasy leagues as well as the amount in FAAB I would be willing to spend out of a $100 budget.

 

10-Team League Waiver Adds

Giovani Bernard, RB, CIN (10%) – Prior to Joe Mixon’s concussion Monday night, I had Giovani Bernard listed as a potential handcuff, and against the Steelers we got to see why. Bernard rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries and added two receptions for 19 yards. Cincinnati’s only other runner is Brian Hill, who was signed off the Falcons’ practice squad less than a month ago. Bernard showed Monday night he is still a talented runner, and he could have the job all to himself if Mixon misses any time. $100

Peyton Barber, RB, TB (5%) – A week after vulturing two short touchdowns from Jaquizz Rodgers, Peyton Barber got the overwhelming majority of Tampa Bay’s running back touches with Doug Martin out. Barber carried the ball 23 times for 102 yards and also caught all four of his targets for 41 yards. Fantasy players can probably expect similar usage against the Lions if Doug Martin remains out, but there is a chance Barber remains involved even if Martin returns. It would be nearly impossible to start Barber next week if Martin is active, but he could easily be the latest in a long line of running backs to come out of nowhere and provide huge numbers in the fantasy playoffs. $50

Mike Davis, RB, SEA (8%) - I don’t think Davis, the Seattle running game or their schedule the next two weeks are any good. That being said, Davis appears to have the early-down job to himself going forward, and he had a solid fantasy day despite a tough matchup against the Eagles Sunday. I doubt I will ever feel good about using him, but starting running backs are hard to come by this time of year. $30

Jermaine Kearse, WR, NYJ (46%) – After failing to do so in the first 10 games of the season, Kearse has back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since the Jets’ bye. That streak will likely come to an end at Denver this week, but the Broncos’ defense hasn’t exactly been intimidating. At the very least, Kearse should have a relatively high floor. $20

Arizona Cardinals DEF (41%) – The Cardinals have at least one interception in 10 of their 12 games, and Marcus Mariota has thrown 12 interceptions this season. All it takes is a turnover or two for a big fantasy day from your defense. $3

Stephen Anderson, TE, HOU (0%) – C.J. Fiedorowicz suffered his third concussion of the season Sunday, and he is in all likelihood done for the season. Anderson took advantage of increased playing time to catch five of 12 targets for 79 yards and a touchdown. Both Braxton Miller and Bruce Ellington left the game with injuries as well, and while Anderson may have more competition for targets if they or Will Fuller V are healthy, he should be a matchup play down the stretch at the very least. $20

Dede Westbrook, WR, JAX (28%) – I doubt Westbrook will be playable if Allen Hurns ever returns, but he could be extremely useful until then. Westbrook has six receptions in each of his last two games, and he has a chance to keep that production up thanks to a very favorable schedule the rest of the way. $15

Jameis Winston, QB, TB (49%) – Winston has at least 30 passing attempts in every game this season except for the two in which he we knocked out by an injury. Winston should be pretty safe down the stretch, even if none of his matchups are a slam dunk. $3

James Conner, RB, PIT (4%), Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC (37%), Chris Ivory, RB, JAX (12%), Matt Breida (5%) – These are all handcuffs, which is why I have them all clustered together. There is no guarantee any of these backs will actually be good if the starters go down, but I feel pretty confident they will get most of the running back touches for their respective teams. Conner and Ekeler feel like must-handcuffs, while the others are a bit more of a luxury. That being said, I’m sure most fantasy teams can find room on their rosters for these players. It is also worth noting Peyton Barber and Aaron Jones could be considered handcuffs as well, though I believe they have more value than the players above, which is why I listed them separately. $1

 

12-Team Leagues

Kerwynn Williams, RB, ARI (3%) – Kerwynn Williams was pretty bad in his first starting opportunity, and there is little reason to believe this time will be significantly different. That being said, he should get plenty of work so long as Arizona can keep their games close, and that has some value. $10

Buffalo Bills DEF (16%) – Buffalo’s defensive numbers don’t look great, but they held the Chiefs to 10 points in Week 12 and the Patriots to 23 last week. They get Indianapolis and Miami the next two weeks, and they will be playable in both games. $2

Trey Burton, TE, PHI (1%) – Zach Ertz left Sunday’s game against the Seahawks with a concussion, and Trey Burton finished with four catches on seven targets for 42 yards as a result. He had 41 receiving yards and a touchdown in the only game Ertz missed this season. The Eagles play a late afternoon game this week, and Ertz’s owners may want to roster Burton if it looks like Ertz is going to be questionable Sunday. $5

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, SF (16%) – The only thing Garoppolo didn’t do Sunday was get in the end zone, but he did have 293 passing yards and only one interception against a good Bears defense. He should have a far easier task against Houston and Tennessee Weeks 14 and 15, though he is obviously far from a sure thing. $1

Ryan Grant, WR, WAS (2%) – It is nearly impossible to find a 12-team WR add this week. Similarly, it is nearly impossible to trust any Washington wide receivers. Grant caught his fourth touchdown of the season Thursday, and he actually has more targets, receptions and yards than the much more highly-owned Josh Doctson. I would probably rather own Doctson as well, but I think they are essentially the same player, at least for fantasy. $1

 

14+ Team Leagues

Chris Thompson, WR, HOU (0%) and Cobi Hamilton, WR, HOU (0%) – With Will Fuller V, Braxton Miller, Bruce Ellington and C.J. Fiedorowicz all dealing with injuries, Thompson and Hamilton could see significant playing time opposite DeAndre Hopkins this week. Thompson played a season-high 50 offensive snaps against the Titans but was only targeted twice. Hamilton was inactive for the second consecutive game since being promoted from Houston’s practice squad, but he could easily be the Houston’s number two receiver this week, as Thompson is known more for his special teams contributions. I would rather add Thompson, but that could change as more news comes out of Houston during the week. $1

Cleveland Browns DEF (1%) – Cleveland’s defense has been pretty poor at times this season, but they held the Chargers to just 19 points last week. They get Green Bay, Baltimore and the Bears the next three weeks. None of those offenses are scary, and none of the quarterbacks are any good. $2

Tion Green, RB, DET (0%) – Green carried 11 times for 51 yards and a touchdown Sunday, and he could see a similar workload and production if Ameer Abdullah is out and Matthew Stafford can play. There is no reason to believe Green is any good, but Tampa Bay’s defense is pretty bad, so there is some deep-league appeal here.

David Njoku, TE, CLE (5%) – Njoku has caught four passes for at least 47 yards in each of his last two games, and while he could go back to being an afterthought in the passing game next week, he has the physical tools to take advantage of even limited opportunities. In deep leagues, sometimes it is best to take a chance on talent and simply hope the volume continues. $5

DeShone Kizer, QB, CLE (4%) – I’m not suggesting DeShone Kizer is any good, but Green Bay’s defense isn’t any good, either. Kizer finally has some quality receivers in Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman, and all it takes is a couple of big plays from either to make his fantasy day. $2

Shane Vereen, RB, NYG (5%) – You probably don’t want any part of this backfield, even in a deep league, but Shane Vereen could have some PPR appeal if Wayne Gallman’s hip injury keeps him out. Geno Smith doesn’t have much else to throw to, and Vereen could see a lot of work if the Giants wind up in a negative game script. $2