Since you were kind enough to click on this article, I will take it as a positive sign that you’re here because your team is still alive and kicking with an eye on the fantasy playoffs. I will start by saying congratulations on making it this far. You’ve already done better than two of the busted teams I managed this season, so don’t take it for granted and embrace the excitement of the elimination games that may be starting this week for those of you on the playoff bubble. Hopefully, my streaming recommendations throughout this season helped you get to where you are in some way.
Giving thanks is the hot theme of the week so let’s all take a moment to be thankful that bye weeks are officially behind us. That means the streaming options should be plentiful this week as we venture into the most crucial matchups of the fantasy season. Here are a few RB/WR/TE streamers that I feel can push your team into the promised land of the fantasy playoffs.
* Players marked with an asterisk below can also be found in the priority waiver wire adds article referenced at the end.
Running Back
Jonathan Williams (RB, Indianapolis Colts)
Although I saw Williams as a nice speculative add last week, I was hesitant to plug him in right away until we got a look at the Colts backfield split between Williams, Jordan Wilkins, and Nyheim Hines. After amassing a workload that included 26 carries for 104 yards and touchdown (plus three catches for 17 yards), it’s safe to say that I am sold on Williams handling lead duties while Marlon Mack recovers from a hand injury. Running behind a menacing offensive line that grades out as one of the league’s best, Williams has both the volume and supporting cast in place to succeed against the Titans’ middling run defense at home this week. The Colts are banged-up everywhere in the passing game and I think they will continue to make an effort to ride their bruisers up front in run-heavy game plans.
LeSean McCoy (RB, Kansas City Chiefs)
The Chiefs backfield isn’t the easiest to figure out, but any time you can get piece of an elite offense in a good matchup (vs Oak), it’s worth taking a shot. Even if Damien Williams (ribs) returns to the lineup, I can’t imagine he will be at 100%, leading to a relatively safe bet on McCoy seeing double-digit touches this week. McCoy’s 5.1 yards per carry is seventh in the league (just behind some guy named Christian McCaffrey) and his added skills as a pass-catcher should provide a decent floor even if he doesn’t reach his ceiling. With a surplus of weapons on offense, predicting touchdowns from your Chiefs players can be tricky business, but McCoy has produced when called upon with two touchdowns on his five carries inside the 5-yard line this season.
Additional RBs to consider: Rashaad Penny*, Bo Scarbrough, Benny Snell
Wide Receiver
Dede Westbrook (WR, Jacksonville Jaguars)
He’s not as widely available as some of the others in this article, but he is still up for grabs in a number of fantasy leagues and could help you out this week and beyond. Westbrook’s average targeted air yards (7.2) might best tell the story of his utility with Nick Foles back at the helm for the Jaguars. Although he’s not seeing as much action downfield, Westbrook has been able to get open underneath as a trusted option on high-percentage throws, highlighted by his eight catches on nine targets for 69 yards last week. While that ultimately makes him more valuable in PPR formats, Westbrook should still be able to produce solid floors in standard leagues with a schedule that begins with the Bucs this week (they’re dead last vs WRs; start him) and finishes with the Chargers (sit), Raiders (start), and Falcons (start).
Robby Anderson (WR, New York Jets)
If you’re looking for a “safe” play, keep scrolling. This isn’t your guy. For those on the gutsier side, this could be the streamer that plays a key role in dominating your opponent this week. With his 15.6 average targeted air yards (fifth-most) and low target volume (six or less targets since Week 8), Anderson is essentially the antithesis to everything I just said about Westbrook. He was dropped by a lot of fantasy teams during his recent rough stretch but showed signs of life in Week 12 with four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. Anderson will be a free agent at the end of the season and has already been through the Jets shopping him at the trade deadline so it’s in his best interest to finish strong as an audition for his next team if nothing else. This week he takes on a Bengals team that could help him pad those season receiving totals.
Additional WRs to consider: DeVante Parker, Sterling Shepard, Anthony Miller, A.J. Brown, Randall Cobb*, Russell Gage
Tight End
Jack Doyle (TE, Indianapolis Colts)
As mentioned above with Jonathan Williams, the Colts’ pass-catchers are in rough shape right now. T.Y. Hilton returned to the lineup but could only play limited snaps while Eric Ebron landed on the injured reserve for the remainder of the season (ankle surgery). That leaves Jack Doyle as a primary candidate to pick up the available targets. When Jacoby Brissett took on an impromptu role as the Colts QB1 for the season in 2017, he connected with Doyle for 80 catches, 690 yards, and four touchdowns. These two have shown rapport in the past and Doyle should now have one of the safer floors outside the elite group of tight ends. I see Doyle as back-end TE1 rest of season and he gets the Titans in Week 13 (bottom-third vs TEs).
Additional TEs to consider: David Njoku, Jacob Hollister, Ryan Griffin, Mike Gesicki
Looking Back
Accountability is everything so here’s a quick look back at last week’s recommendations
Derrius Guice (RB, Washington Redskins): Guice saw a slight uptick in his share of the backfield with Adrian Peterson, finishing with 10 carries for 32 yards and one catch for six yards. He’s worth hanging onto as a matchup-based Flex/ RB3 who could see an increased role down the stretch.
Bo Scarbrough (RB, Detroit Lions): Scarbrough’s ownership level should continue to rise after he recorded 18 carries for 98 yards last week (5.4ypc), also losing a fumble. Despite the lack of work in the passing game, starting running backs don’t grow on trees and Scarbrough has shown well as an early-down pounder. Keep him as a Flex/ RB2 rest of season.
Deebo Samuel (WR, San Francisco 49ers): Deebo took a backseat in the 49ers pecking order among receivers with Emmanuel Sanders and George Kittle back in the lineup. Fortunately, he came through for teams that started him, catching both of his targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. He’s a great player to keep handy on your bench but his targets will be inconsistent with Kittle and Sanders back in the picture.
James Washington (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers): Washington got a boost once Devlin Hodges entered the lineup as they connected on 79-yard bomb that made up the bulk of his production (three catches on seven targets for 98 yards and touchdown). His run after the catch was the most impressive part of that play and provided a glimpse of his elusiveness in the open field. That said, I would relegate Washington to the bench this week until we see the full effect of the Steelers quarterback change.
Ryan Griffin (TE, New York Jets): Griffin did what any great streaming tight end does: he caught a touchdown. There wasn’t much else to speak of as he caught all three of his targets for 13 yards, but Griffin should remain a solid TE streamer each week given his rapport with Sam Darnold near the end zone.
Make sure to check out the priority waiver wire adds article every Tuesday for more insight on who you should be submitting claims for heading into each Wednesday. Good luck in Week 13!
(Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire)