We’re almost there. The fantasy playoffs loom largely on the horizon, but there’s still one more waiver run in the regular season of most leagues. The pickings are pretty slim this week, especially at running back. But there are a few diamonds in the rough.
Remember, we cast a wide net every week in our waiver wire advice. Below you’ll see recommendations for shallow, regular, and deep leagues. Players are listed in order of priority and the suggested auction budget percentage is in parentheses.
Keep in mind that some leagues may be more aggressive or conservative in terms of bidding, so know your league tendencies. Regardless of the size of your league, it’s suggested that you work your way down the list and prioritize the top players in your waiver claims for this week.
Shallow leagues (8-10 teams)
Quarterback
1. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco (25%) – He’s the top quarterback pickup in back-to-back weeks after posting a massive stat line on Sunday. With Kaepernick, it’s rarely pretty, but he adds so much with his legs. He’s currently second among quarterbacks in rushing yards despite not taking over as the starter until Week 6.
Running back
1. Kenneth Dixon, Baltimore (35%) – Running back is extremely thin on the wire right now, so it’s wise to shoot for upside. Dixon has just that, and is seeing his role in the Ravens offense increase. This past week, he split touches with Terrance West 50-50, and that workload should continue to increase down the stretch.
2. Dion Lewis, New England (35%) – Speaking of increasing workloads, Lewis saw 10 touches this week, which was up two from the previous week. Unlike James White, the Patriots are using Lewis as both a runner and a receiver. With his dynamic ability, he has the potential to be a real difference maker in the fantasy playoffs.
3. Tim Hightower, New Orleans (25%) – Mark Ingram out-snapped Hightower in Week 12, but the Saints backfield remains a fairly even committee. Ingram is the preferred fantasy back, but Hightower is seeing enough volume to sustain flex value.
Wide receiver
1. Sammy Watkins, Buffalo (50-100%) – After an extended absence, Watkins is back and looks very much like himself. He only played 45 percent of the Bills offensive snaps, but flashed his typical upside on a 62-yard reception deep down the sideline. Spend whatever you have left on Watkins if he’s still available in your league.
2. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City (35%) – The rookie has turned into one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers. That ability was on full display in Week 12 when he pulled off the rare feat of scoring as a runner, receiver, and returner. With that said, Hill has limits to his upside. He’s still just a slot receiver and does not play an every-down role in the Chiefs offense.
Tight end
1. Ladarius Green, Pittsburgh (25%) – We still aren’t at a point where Green is playing a sizeable chunk of snaps, but the writing is on the wall for a December breakout. On Thanksgiving, Green played just 14 snaps and saw three targets. That may not sound like a lot, but it was actually 15 percent of the total aimed passes. With tight end such a tricky position this season, Green’s upside is very appealing for the fantasy playoffs.
2. Vernon Davis, Washington (20%) – There’s a chance Davis was added and then tossed back into waivers in your league. He vaults back into fantasy relevance this week with the potential that Jordan Reed misses time due to a shoulder injury he sustained on Thanksgiving. Davis was a top-10 fantasy tight end in both weeks Reed missed earlier this season.
Regular leagues (12 teams)
Quarterback
1. Ryan Tannehill, Miami (5%) – Tannehill put up strong numbers in Week 12, but we need to discount his stat line a little because he faced the 49ers. That being said, the Dolphins have trending in the right direction over the second half of the season. Tannehill is in play as a streamer against the Ravens this week.
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