Waiver Worthy: Week 13 (2018): Injuries Lead To Intriguing Opportunities For The Fantasy Playoffs

by Will Overton

The playoffs are upon us! If your league isn’t in the playoffs yet this should be your last week before you get there. This is the point in the year where you probably don’t have as much competition for waiver wire pickups, but who you grab and who you don’t is more important than ever. Let’s breakdown the top adds of the week:

Josh Allen – QB, Buffalo Bills
Last week in this spot I talked about how I liked Dak Prescott and Case Keenum as pickups for the playoff run and they are still my top targets to stream this week, but if you want someone a little deeper Josh Allen has some merit. Allen is really doing what Lamar Jackson is in Baltimore without the fanfare or attention from fantasy owners. Allen has thrown for 3 TD in the last two weeks, but it’s what he’s doing on the ground that should excite fantasy owners with 234 rushing yards the last two weeks combined. This matchup with the Jets bodes well for him to continue performing and looking ahead a matchup with the Lions should be solid for Week 15 as well.

Jaylen Samuels – RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Late in the game against the Chargers James Conner went down with a lower leg injury and while I don’t have a ton of information at the time of this writing it may open a door for Jaylen Samuels. Samuels has started showing some merit in the passing game with a TD catch in two of his last four games, but now could see some action carrying the ball too if Conner misses time. Samuels is a flier, but we already know he can catch and the Steelers may just go ultra-pass heavy without Conner so that would benefit him.

Jeff Wilson Jr – RB, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers lost their running back Sunday when Matt Breida was injured and Jeff Wilson Jr took over in the backfield. We now know that Breida has already been ruled out for Week 14, and Wilson certainly looked good in his opportunity. Wilson carried the ball 15 times for 61 yards while also catching 8 passes for 73 yards. The 49ers play from behind pretty consistently and this coming Sunday against the Broncos shouldn’t be any different, Wilson could be the best pickup you could make at the running back position.

Justin Jackson – RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Here is yet another one where injuries dictate the value. We don’t know yet if Melvin Gordon is going to be healthy enough to return in Week 14 or not (though the early word is not), but I think we saw enough in Week 13 to know that Jackson has some value if Gordon doesn’t come back. Austin Ekeler got the volume, but it was Jackson who turned in the value amassing 63 yards on eight carries and scoring a TD. I think if Gordon is out again Jackson sees a much more even share of the work, particularly on the ground.

Marcell Ateman – WR, Oakland Raiders
The receiving corps of the Raiders has been decimated by injuries and I thought that would lead to a bigger share of targets for Ateman, but he was held to only four targets (though he did find the end zone). The Raiders should be playing from behind a lot over the next several weeks and Ateman will certainly be involved, especially in the red zone where his 6’4” frame comes in handy. There are more reliable options out there probably, but there is nice TD upside here making him intriguing.

Dante Pettis – WR, San Francisco 49ers
This might be top WR pickup of the week right now. Despite how bad the 49ers are and the lack of talent at skill positions Kyle Shannahan keeps churning out production for fantasy owners. Pettis has nine catches between the last two weeks with 206 yards and 3 TD. There is absolutely no reason at this point for the 49ers to give some of the looks Pettis has gotten back to Marquise Goodwin or Pierre Garcon, and so I think a strong finish is in order for Pettis.

Ian Thomas – TE, Carolina Panthers
This is mostly due to the fact that the tight end position is shallow and if you need someone to pick up here the options aren’t great. Greg Olson went down this last Sunday with what looks like a season ending injury and Thomas came in and caught five balls for 46 yards. Thomas had a chance as starter earlier this season when Olson was hurt and was pretty mediocre, but he’s in line for a lot of action and should be good for 5–6 targets a week. This week he gets the Browns in a solid matchup making him a decent streaming option.

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