The NFL is a “next man up” league. By extension, your fantasy football league is too. You acquired your team during the draft, but it’s the moves you make as the season progresses that will ultimately decide whether you’re destined for the playoffs or planning for next season. Each week, we’ll help you identify available players in more than 50% of ESPN leagues whose value has improved and should be added to your roster as starters or as smart reserves for your bench.
Last week’s bye-mageddon ruined fantasy lineups with six teams on bye, but hopefully you survived, and maybe even got some help from Saquon Barkley’s epic 46.2 fantasy points against the Rams. But hold on tight, we’re not out of the storm yet. Week 14 brings six more teams a bye and now is the time to be proactive.
One player to target for Week 13 is the Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams (36.7% enrolled in ESPN leagues). Williams was outstanding against the Minnesota Vikings, scoring 26.9 fantasy points, his best outing since Week 6, when he scored 28.6 points against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He did well against the blitz, completing 9 of 12 passes for two touchdowns. Williams also had his most completions on throws of 15+ air yards (5-12, 141 yards).
Williams and the Bears have a tough schedule ahead of them, but he’s still worth adding, especially in superflex leagues or as a backup in single-QB formats.
Stafford finished with 19.2 fantasy points on Sunday night against the Eagles. Having Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp on the field made a big difference. Stafford has scored 18 or more fantasy points in four of his last five games and is a low-end QB1 for Week 13 against a New Orleans Saints defense that has allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (21.5%)
Lawrence missed the Jaguars’ final two games before the Week 12 bye with a shoulder injury to his non-throwing arm. The good news? He is expected to practice this week. Lawrence was playing well before the injury, scoring more than 19 fantasy points in three of his last five outings. Don’t overlook Lawrence if you need quarterback depth in a super-flex league.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans (4.0%)
Levis has scored 15 or more fantasy points in three consecutive games after returning from a shoulder injury. He averaged just 7.6 fantasy points per game before this streak, so this is a big step forward. The Titans have the second-best remaining schedule for fantasy quarterbacks, with matchups against the Jaguars and Bengals coming up. Levis is a good option in deeper superflex leagues.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (3.3%)
Young had his best game of the season with 16.5 fantasy points against the Kansas City Chiefs. Don’t overlook it in deeper superflex leagues. The Panthers have the fourth-best remaining schedule for fantasy quarterbacks, making Young a solid option if you need a quarterback.
Next RB up
Jeremy McNichols, Washington commanders (1.2%)
McNichols could be a popular waiver pick this week with the Commanders’ backfield in flux. Brian Robinson Jr. suffered an ankle injury on the first play of Week 12 against the Cowboys and Austin Ekeler suffered a concussion on a late kick return. That leaves McNichols as the healthiest option heading into Week 13 against the Titans. While Chris Rodriguez Jr. was released on Saturday, he could re-sign. If Robinson and Ekeler are out, McNichols would be a flexible consideration behind a Commanders offensive line that ranks second in run-block win rate.
Other RB options
Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders (19.3%)
Abdullah took over the Raiders backfield on Sunday against the Broncos with Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quadriceps) sidelined. He played nearly 90% of the snaps, finishing with 13 touches and 17.5 fantasy points, his second consecutive game with 10 or more fantasy points. With a short week before facing the Chiefs on Friday, Mattison and White could remain out, making Abdullah a solid flex option in deeper leagues. Just keep in mind that Kansas City’s defense has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season.
Bigsby Tank, Jacksonville Jaguars (33.4%)
Bigsby should be fully recovered from his ankle injury after the Jaguars’ Week 12 bye. Travis Etienne Jr. struggled in Week 11, managing just 6.3 fantasy points on 15 touches. Meanwhile, Bigsby scored double-digit fantasy points in three of the four games in which he had double-digit touches, including two with 23-plus points. If he gets more touches, he could deliver. Now is the perfect time to hide Bigsby.
RB stashes
Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (28.3%)
James Conner has yet to play a full season in his NFL career. Conner has averaged 17.7 touches per game this season and Benson would help fill the void if he misses time.
Braelon Allen, New York Jets (16.1%)
Breece Hall is the clear leader of the Jets backfield, averaging 18 touches per game. If Hall misses time, Allen could step in and fill the void. The Jets have the most favorable schedule for fantasy running backs the rest of the season, making Allen a name to hide.
Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (14.2%)
The Rams rely heavily on Kyren Williams, who has averaged 21.1 touches per game this season. If Williams were to miss time, Corum could step in and be fantasy relevant. Head coach Sean McVay tends to lean on a running back when the situation calls for it.
Next WR up
Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers (36.3%)
Legette caught at least four passes in three of his last four games and scored 9.0 or more fantasy points in all of them. With Adam Thielen back, Legette appears to be the Panthers’ only receiver with a full-time role. He should be firmly on the flex radar for Week 13, especially in deeper leagues, facing a Buccaneers defense that ranks sixth in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers.
Other WR options
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans (7.5%)
Westbrook-Ikhine has averaged just 4.6 goals per game over the last six games, but he has still been productive, scoring 12 or more fantasy points in four of those games with five receiving touchdowns. The Titans have the third-most favorable schedule for wide receivers the rest of the season, so don’t overlook Westbrook-Ikhine in deeper leagues.
Devaughn Vele, Denver Broncos (1.7%)
Vele had a season-high nine targets and 80 receiving yards against the Raiders on Sunday, finishing second in team routes run and targets behind Courtland Sutton. Vele has scored 10 or more fantasy points in three consecutive games and is a reliable target for Bo Nix. Vele is on the flex radar against the Browns in Week 13.
Noah Brown, Washington Commanders (10.4%)
Brown scored a season-high 10 goals against the Cowboys on Sunday and finished with 13.1 fantasy points. Brown leads the Commanders with 27 targets over the last four games and gives fantasy managers a reliable floor in Week 13. He has scored 11 or more fantasy points in three of his last five games.
Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers (9.4%)
Romeo Doubs suffered a concussion against the 49ers on Sunday and did not return. With the Packers set to face the Dolphins on Thursday, Doubs is unlikely to clear the league’s concussion protocol in time. If Doubs is out, Wicks will likely take over one of Green Bay’s outside receiver roles. He’s a solid flex option with Week 13 upside.
Next TE up
Other TE options
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (53.0%)
Hill should be a top priority if he’s still available in your league. Injuries to Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and others have opened the door for Hill to see more action. While his usage can be unpredictable, he has had six or more touches in four consecutive games. The Rams defense has struggled, giving up the eighth-most total yards and seventh-most points per game. Hill is in a solid position here, especially after the Rams only allowed 302 total yards to Saquon Barkley.
Can Noah Gray be a quality fantasy option at tight end?
Field Yates breaks down Noah Gray’s fantasy potential after a quality day in Week 12.
Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs (1.8%)
Gray recorded a season-high 22.6 fantasy points against the Panthers on Sunday. With Rashee Rice out for the season, the Chiefs have turned to more two-tight end sets, giving Gray more opportunities. His 26 routes run in that game were just 12 shy of Travis Kelce’s 38. In Week 13, Gray faces a Raiders defense that allows the most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys (11.1%)
Schoonmaker has recorded 11.0 or more fantasy points in consecutive games while filling in for the injured Jake Ferguson. He’s seen 14 targets in that span and with the Cowboys facing the Giants on Thursday, he could see a similar workload if Ferguson remains out. It’s worth noting that Schoonmaker and fellow tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford are splitting plays and routes run, so the situation remains fluid.
