Fantasy Football 2017: Waiver wire targets for Week 13

Executing the waiver wire in fantasy football is what will separate the champions from the chumps. Here are some players you should target in Week 13.

This is it: one game left in the fantasy football regular season. Some owners can look past this week and prepare themselves for Week 14 and beyond. Others will need to pull off a victory this week in order to have any shot at making the playoffs. Who are the players on the waiver wire who can give owners the best chance of making the postseason?

Let’s take a look, shall we?

For these purposes, we will being using ESPN Fantasy Football as a guideline. Any player that is 50 percent owned or less is eligible.

5. Josh Doctson, WR, Washington Redskins (48.0 percent owned)

Doctson didn’t have a great game last week (two receptions, 28 yards) but he did bail owners out with a touchdown late in the game. The former first-round pick now has back-to-back games with double-digit PPR performances. This week he will take on a Cowboys secondary who has given up seven touchdown passes to opposing wide receivers over the last five games and rank 21st in passing defense.

4. Devontae Booker, RB, Denver Broncos (25.2 percent owned)

Booker only finished with 5.3 PPR points on eight touches in Week 12’s game but keep in mind it was his fifth-straight game with at least eight touches. Not to mention, Booker came up one-yard short of a touchdown in last week’s game. He will continue to operate as the lead running back in Denver’s committee backfield.

3. Rod Smith, RB, Dallas Cowboys (20.5 percent owned)

Smith split time with Alfred Morris in last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers and came out of the game as the better fantasy back. He’s coming off a season-high 11 touches and should around 10-12 touches in a good matchup against the Washington Redskins.

2. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6.0 percent owned)

Doug Martin left Week 12’s game with a concussion and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to play in Week 13. If he’s not, Rodgers will be the guy to own in the Buccaneers backfield. In Tampa Bay’s first three games this season (when Martin was suspended), Rodgers averaged 14 touches a game and should see at least that many touches if Martin can’t go. However, owners need to understand if Martin is cleared from the confusion protocol, Rodgers will not be playable in any format.

1. Rex Burkhead, RB, New England Patriots (43.7 percent owned)

Last week Burkhead found the end zone twice and finished with a season-high in both carries (13) and rushing yards (50). It was his third-straight game with at least nine touches and in two of those three weeks, he finished with at least 13 touches. Burkhead is a versatile weapon and plays in arguably the best offense in the NFL. He’s a RB2 going into Week 13.

Others Receiving Votes

Case Keenum, QB, Minnesota Vikings (37.0 percent owned) – He now has four-straight games with 17+ fantasy points and this week he takes on a beatable Atlanta secondary. He’s a low-end QB1 for Week 13.

Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (24.5 percent owned) – Ekeler finished with 10 PPR points last week and now has three-straight games with double-digit PPR performances. He’s a RB3 in PPR leagues and could start for owners who are in tough situations. At the very least, Melvin Gordon owners need to have this guy on their benches just in case Gordon suffers an injury.

Martavis Bryant, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (41.6 percent owned) – Rookie wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster missed last week’s game and as a result, Bryant finished Week 12 with four receptions, 40 yards and one touchdown. If Juju can’t go for Monday Night Football in Week 13, Bryant will be a high-upside FLEX play.

Next: 2017 NFL Picks, score predictions for Week 13

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns (35.1 percent owned) – The ultra-talented Gordon returns to the field this week and even though he’s a risky play in Week 13, he could pay big dividends during the fantasy playoffs.

Dontrelle Inman, WR, Chicago Bears (5.5 percent owned) – In three games with the Bears this season, Inman has averaged four-plus receptions, 65 yards and 10.8 PPR points per game. He’s a low-upside WR3 who should see 7-10 targets in Week 13.