Week 13 Free Agent Focus

By DS Staff 12:14pm EST 11/29/22

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Here are our top waiver-wire recommendations across fantasy football formats, based on players available in more than half of ESPN leagues. Make sure you check your Free Agent Finder for the best available options in your specific league.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-13%

Lawrence was excellent in Sunday’s come-from-behind win over the Ravens, completing 29 of 37 passes (78%) for 321 yards (8.7 YPA) and 3 TDs. He has now turned in 3 strong outings in a row after an up-and-down start to the season, earning his 3 best Pro Football Focus passing grades of the season.

Now comes a Week 13 matchup with the Lions, who have been the friendliest scoring matchup for QBs this season. Detroit has allowed 3 straight QBs – and 6 for the season – to reach 30 fantasy points. After that comes a Week 14 date with Tennessee, which has been 6th most friendly to QBs as well as the league’s toughest defense against the run.

Lawrence looks less attractive over the final 3 fantasy weeks (for most leagues), with the Cowboys, Jets and Texans all lined up as negative QB-scoring matchups.

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-10%

Garoppolo turned in an underwhelming 222-1-0 passing line in the win over the Saints. But he tossed 4 TDs the week prior and had finished as a top-12 fantasy QB in 4 of his previous 6 games.

Week 13 holds a potential shootout with the visiting Dolphins, who rank 6th in scoring for the year and have had 3 of their past 4 games go over the Vegas total. The 49ers carry the week’s 7th highest implied team total as of this writing, which helps Garoppolo’s upside.

One thing to watch this week will be the reports on the QB’s left knee. He took a hit to the joint against the Saints and called it “a little sore” after the game but added that he never considered leaving.

The Miami game starts the league’s 2nd-best remaining QB schedule.

Gus Edwards, RB, Ravens

Blind-bid recommendation: 60-100%

Edwards returned Sunday as Baltimore’s clear lead back, carrying 16 times for 52 yards and a score. RBs Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill combined for just 3 carries.

Edwards has now toted it 16 times in both of his healthy games this season. Assuming RB J.K. Dobbins isn’t ready to return from his knee injury for Sunday’s matchup with the Broncos, Edwards will be a nice fantasy starter. Denver has allowed 4.7 yards per rush to RBs for the season. Each of its past 2 opponents has delivered a 100-yard rusher.

Beyond that matchup sits a pair of tough spots vs. Pittsburgh, but they sandwich high-ceiling matchups with the Browns and Falcons. Although we’re expecting to see Dobbins back in the lineup at some point, he’s no lock to take the carry lead.

Zonovan Knight, RB, Jets

Blind-bid recommendation: 20-30%

In one of the bigger surprises of the week, Knight played as the #2 back for the Jets, ahead of Ty Johnson and with James Robinson a healthy scratch. When Michael Carter sprained an ankle, it was Knight who saw the most work. He finished with 48% of snaps, with Johnson at 24%.

Knight is a strong between-the-tackles runner but also ran nearly as many pass routes as Johnson vs. Chicago (9-8). Knight rushed 14 times for 69 yards and caught all 3 of his targets for 34 yards.

Carter is dealing with a low-ankle sprain, so we'll have to see if he's back in the mix for Week 13. If he isn't, then Knight looks like the best bet to lead the backfield against Minnesota. Even if he is, the Jets have favored 2-RB approaches all season.

Benny Snell, RB, Steelers

Blind-bid recommendation: 15-25%

We'll see this week how significant Najee Harris' abdominal injury is, but he was quickly ruled out in the middle of a competitive Monday night win over the Colts.

Snell looked solid in relief, taking 12 carries for 62 yards and a score. Of course, Jaylen Warren (hamstring) was inactive for that game and would certainly factor into the plan once he's ready.

We'll see how this Pittsburgh backfield sorts out by the weekend. A matchup with the Falcons, though, makes any potential backfield leader worth grabbing and considering for your lineup.

Joshua Kelley, RB, Chargers

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-15%

Kelley returned to game action Sunday for the 1st time since landing on IR with a Week 6 knee injury. He finished the win over Arizona tied with Isaiah Spiller in carries (2) and 2 targets ahead of him (3-1).

Kelley worked into the #2 RB role behind Austin Ekeler early this season and might be ready to assume the same post. That makes him worth a look at the handcuff level on waivers this week. If you need a potential starter for this week, then look to the guys above or apparent new Rams lead back Kyren Williams.

Zay Jones, WR, Jaguars

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-15%

Jones has earned nice volume all season, with 5+ targets in 7 of his first 9 games and 8+ targets in 5 of those.

He hadn’t turned that opportunity into big fantasy scores … until Sunday. Jones hauled in 11 of 14 targets for 145 yards in the win over the Ravens. His targets represented a huge 37.8% team share alongside a surging Trevor Lawrence.

Next up is the Lions’ bottom-5 WR defense.

Michael Gallup, WR, Cowboys

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-15%

Gallup’s been sluggish coming off last January’s torn ACL, but Thursday was the best we’ve seen him look this season. He set season highs across the board on Thanksgiving with 8 targets, 5 catches and 63 yards.

The 26-year-old could be an asset down the stretch, particularly in plus matchups vs. the Jaguars (Week 15) and Titans (Week 17).

DeAndre Carter, WR, Chargers

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-10%

Carter played a big role in the Chargers’ game plan Sunday vs. Arizona, finishing 2nd on the team with 10 targets and leading the way with 7 receptions and 73 yards. He also scored his 2nd TD in his last 3 outings.

This was Carter’s most productive game of the season, but he’d averaged 5.0 targets and 3.8 catches over the previous 4. He’ll be worth considering as a low-level fantasy starter in a plus Week 13 matchup vs. the Raiders if Mike Williams remains sidelined. Vegas sits 24th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs.

Skyy Moore, WR, Chiefs

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-15%

The rookie played a significant role in Sunday’s win over the Rams, leading the Chiefs with 5 catches and tying for 2nd on the team with 6 targets (14% share).

Moore will carry upside at the WR4 level as long as WRs Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman remain out. (Toney is considered “day to day,” per HC Andy Reid, while Hardman must miss at least 1 more game on IR.)

Week 13 brings a beatable Bengals pass defense.