Week 14 waiver wire roundup
An update on the latest injuries and the waiver wire options that could help you get by.
🤕 Pain index
🚫 Nope: Taysom Hill (knee), Theo Johnson (foot), Jordan Mason (ankle), Christian McCaffrey (knee),
🏴☠️ Not bloody likely: Tyler Higbee (knee)
🫤 Looking iffy: Romeo Doubs (concussion), Dallas Goedert (knee), Trevor Lawrence (shoulder, concussion), Ladd McConkey (knee)
✅ Looking good: Baker Mayfield (leg), Demarcus Robinson (hand), Matthew Stafford (ankle)
Note: The above are estimates based on the latest news and injury reports. Always double-check your own rosters before Sunday kickoff!
🎯 Waiver wire targets
Percentages reflect how many teams have that player rostered in Yahoo! Sports fantasy leagues.
Teams on a bye this week: Broncos, Colts, Patriots, Commanders, Ravens or Texans
Quarterback
Need someone behind center who’s widely available and has been a top 5 fantasy QB in each of the last two weeks? Caleb Williams (55%) is your man. He’ll take on the 49ers, who qualify as an unfriendly matchup for QBs (13th toughest) but are banged up, and he just torched a tougher defense for quarterbacks on Thanksgiving day in the Lions (seventh-worst).
Other QBs to consider: Russell Wilson (36%), Jameis Winston (16%)
Running Back
Isaac Guerendo (8%) is now the featured back in San Francisco after both Christian McCaffery and Jordan Mason were lost to season-ending injuries. The rookie has shown flashes this season, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, including 19 yards on four totes and a touchdown in Week 13. “He’s the clear priority on the wire this week ahead of a matchup with Chicago. This is an empty-the-wallet situation, people,” writes Yahoo’s Andy Behrens. … I mentioned Tank Bigsby (44%) last week, and while he didn’t set the world on fire in his return from injury, with 35 yards on eight touches, he roughly split snaps with Travis Etienne, and a negative game script was the bigger problem. He should have more opportunities to show off his explosiveness this week against the Titans. … If you think there’s a chance the Jets put the banged-up Breece Hall out of his misery with there being very little to play for ROS, then Braelon Allen (32%) could actually be a fantasy difference-maker. The Jets do have the most favorable schedule for fantasy running backs down the stretch.
Other RBs to consider: Alexander Mattison (46%), Blake Corum (14%)
Wide Receiver
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (18%) is flagged here once again after bolstering his case with two touchdowns and a season-high eight targets. A reminder that he has a nice schedule down the stretch with two matchups against the Jaguars, along with the Bengals and Colts. “Since DeAndre Hopkins was traded, NWI has an 18 percent target share and a 25 percent air yards share. He also leads the team with five end zone targets,” adds NBC's Kyle Dvorchak. … In one of those “what year is it” performances, Adam Theilen (33%) caught seven balls for 83 yards and a touchdown for Carolina on Sunday. He saw 10 targets and finished as fantasy’s WR6 (PPR). While Week 14’s matchup with the Eagles is a tough one, “Thielen could be a dice roll that pays off with the Panthers potentially needing to chase points,” writes NFL.com’s Dan Parr.
Other WRs to consider: Xavier Legette (27%), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (31%), Romeo Doubs (45%)
Tight End
Not a lot of great options out there, especially with Taysom Hill out for the season, but Pat Freiermuth (51%) is probably your best bet. He “is heating up at the right time, finishing with seven targets and a season-high 18.8 fantasy points against the Bengals on Sunday. That's two straight games with four-plus catches and double-digit fantasy points,” writes ESPN’s Eric Moody.
Other TEs to consider: Will Dissly (41%), Juwan Johnson (3%)
Initial Week 14 player rankings
Each week, I’ll add a link to the rankings here once they’re up (typically on Wednesday). Or, bookmark this link and check back there.
