We reach Thanksgiving week, with three matchups on deck this Turkey Day to kick off Week 13. As family time, travel and meal prep can easily become all-consuming this week, be sure to remember to complete your waiver wire claims and set your roster early this week.
The following four players are ones you should consider putting in a waiver-wire claim for ahead of Week 13. All players are rostered in less than half of leagues, with one even earning deep sleeper status at less than 5% rostered.
Rostered percentages and scoring figures via FantasyPros. Week 12 waiver wire advice can be viewed here.
Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)
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Rostered: 49%
Week 12 stats: 18-of-30, 256 pass yds, 3 pass TD, 3 INT, 5 rush att, 29 rush yds, 20.1 pts
Lawrence has a high ceiling and a mediocre floor, but many fantasy managers will find that the promise of high scoring from his dual passing and rushing threat is too tempting to pass up. In his last four games, he’s carried the ball at least five times and tallied three rushing touchdowns. In Week 12, he didn’t find the end zone on the ground, but did toss three touchdown passes.
Since the Jaguars’ Week 8 bye, Lawrence has finished with more than 20 points twice, putting him among the top 10 fantasy QBs. That’s start-worthy even in 12-team leagues.
Running Back
Devin Neal (New Orleans Saints)
Rostered: 4%
Week 12 stats: 7 att, 18 rush yds, 5 rec, 43 rec yds, 11.1 pts
Neal’s starting potential in Week 13 is largely dependent on Alvin Kamara’s status. Kamara left the Saints’ Week 12 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons with a knee injury. Though he thankfully avoided a major injury (h/t Nick Underhill), diagnosed with an MCL sprain, he could still miss some time.
Even if Kamara misses only one week, it’s worth putting in a claim for Neal for your Flex spot. Neal will be especially valuable in full PPR leagues, as he caught five passes for 43 yards in relief of Kamara last week in addition to seven carries.
Wide Receiver
Christian Watson (Green Bay Packers)
Rostered: 48%
Week 12 stats: 5 rec, 49 rec yds, 9.9 pts
Since his Week 8 return from injury, Watson has been slowly reclaiming the WR1 role in Green Bay. In Week 11, he had his highest-scoring week of the season, tallying 20.6 points thanks in large part to two receiving touchdowns. Even if Watson isn’t finding the end zone multiple times per game, however, his usage should give fantasy managers confidence about starting him in Week 13 against the Detroit Lions. Watson saw seven targets in Week 12, the most of any game he’s played this season and the most on the team.
Watson is also Jordan Love’s downfield threat, meaning his scoring potential has a high ceiling.
Tight End
Colston Loveland (Chicago Bears)
Rostered: 43%
Week 12 stats: 4 rec, 49 rec yds, 1 rec TD, 14.9 pts
Loveland enjoyed his second-highest-scoring week of the season in the Bears’ Week 12 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, with 14.9 points and his second game finding the end zone.
Loveland enjoyed a 68.4% route share, per PFF, emerging as the Bears’ No. 1 tight end. While it’s still possible that Cole Kmet could vulture targets from Loveland, the offense is clearly shifting toward the latter. Managers can feel confident about starting Loveland in 12-team leagues until or unless his targets take a major hit. As he’s only available in about half of leagues, be sure to submit a waiver wire claim for him this week.