The playoff push is in full force for many fantasy football owners, so the competition in finding waiver wire prospects is not as fierce.
For many, the year is over, and therefore, there’s little reason to jump on the waiver wire for any new players. However, for those vying for a playoff spot or who are looking to create a better roster for the playoffs, this week’s waiver wire provides a few options for depth.
Last week I already identified Wendell Smallwood as an option, so that should still apply for the coming weeks, too, with injuries still an issue in Philadelphia.
Here’s the rest of the week 13 waiver wire in fantasy football.
Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers
I’m a little slow to the Kaepernick bandwagon, but with byes still out there in the NFL, and the possibility of some bad matchups remaining for some fantasy quarterbacks, Kaepernick should be owned.
Whether on the ground or through the air, Kaepernick is single-handedly contributing the biggest fantasy output of any San Francisco player. He finished with the most fantasy points among quarterbacks in week 12, which was a solid day considering several quarterbacks finished with high totals.
He’s gone for at least 22 fantasy points in three of the last four games, and went for almost 300 yards passing and more than 100 yards rushing in week 12 against Miami.
He has matchups against Chicago, the New York Jets, Atlanta and Los Angeles during the remaining fantasy season. Those are all plus-quarterback matchups. He’s owned in less than 30 percent of fantasy leagues, so he should be the hottest item on the waiver wire in week 13.
Marquess Wilson, WR, Chicago Bears
Somebody has to catch balls for the Bears. And in week 12 it was Wilson.
That is the best option going forward, too. Injuries have decimated the Bears this season with its skill position players. So even though the quarterback position isn’t a fantasy monster, somebody is going to catch balls.
Cameron Meredith was the popular pick earlier this season, but he’s faded in recent weeks, opening the door for Wilson. Wilson was targeted 11 times in week 12, going for eight catches and 125 yards receiving.
It’s likely the Bears will often find themselves trailing, forcing them to throw more. Wilson should get enough targets to justify owning a spot on your fantasy roster for the next few weeks.
Rex Burkhead, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are not familiar with this territory. And now all of sudden most of their fantasy options are injured. I expect more injuries to occur in the future as the Bengals look to rest their way through the rest of 2016.
And when those injuries continued to mount in week 12, Burkhead has some value going forward.
He may not be an immediate option, but it’s only a matter of time before Jeremy Hill fails to suit up for the Bengals. That means Burkhead will play even more than he did in week 12 in place of Giovani Bernard.
He can catch the ball out of the backfield and carried the ball five times during week 12’s loss to Baltimore. He’s a solid addition for your playoff run, especially with the possible volume he could garner.
