With the Thanksgiving holiday now in the rear-view mirror, fantasy football really kicks into gear. These are the last two weeks before the fantasy playoffs begin in most leagues. Now is the time to make that postseason push if it hasn’t already begun. Those locked into a playoff spot can still fine tune the roster. Whatever position managers finds themselves, there is no question that this fantasy football waiver priorities week thirteen can make the difference between being a participant in the championship tournament or sitting on the sideline.

Fortunately, only two teams take their bye this Sunday. They are the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers. Next week we are finished with the bye madness with six teams not playing. Now is the time to prepare for that.

Without wasting another breath, let’s dive right in. Please remember all ownership percentages are taken from ESPN.

Top Week Thirteen Running Back Waiver Pickups

Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams, 18.6% Owned

Without question, the biggest surprise of the NFL season has to be the demise of the Super Bowl Champion Rams. Of course, injuries are a major reason for their decline. With those injuries, though, come opportunities for others to step forward. In this case, that player is Kyren Williams. Coming off his performance against Kansas City on Sunday, there isn’t a lot to suggest major success is on the way for Williams as he rushed for just 35 yards on 11 carries and caught three passes for 25 more yards.

However, this week’s opponent presents a clear window to prosperity for anyone that can carry the football, as the Seahawks come to LA. Seattle’s defense had been playing much better than earlier in the season, but they took a major step backward against the Raiders in week 12. Fellow running back Cam Akers got just eight carries Sunday and has not impressed anyone all season. Additionally, Darrell Henderson was cut from the team and is now in Jacksonville.

The Rams have little incentive to give Akers major carries going forward, opening the door wide for Williams. The running back position is quite thin on the wire at this time of year. Williams is a player that is quite available and looks to be the team’s backfield leader down the stretch. Managers needing help at RB would do well to place a waiver claim on Williams.

Samaje Perine, Cincinatti Bengals, 38% Owned

A running back getting a major opportunity on a winning team because of injury is Samaje Perine. Few players have done more with the chance handed to him than Perine this season. Star running back Joe Mixon has missed the last two games with a concussion. He may well be back in the lineup in week 13 but that is far from a sure thing. Meanwhile, in the two weeks Mixon has been absent from the lineup, Perine has four touchdowns, three receiving and one rushing.

Best of all, Perine has racked up the fantasy points in those games with 30 and 18. He had 17 carries for 58 yards and caught four passes for another 35 against a tough Titans rush defense. Kansas City, next on the schedule, also has an excellent defense against the rush but is ranked 21st against the pass. If Mixon is out again, Perine will have the opportunity to continue his hot play with his versatility. If Mixon does play, Perine will continue to get opportunities.

Those that own Mixon should have already made a move on Perine. If not, don’t waste another second and get that claim in. For everyone else, Perine makes for a nice roster piece as he plays on a very good Bengals offense and makes for an excellent recommendation on this fantasy football waiver priorities week thirteen edition.

Top Week Thirteen Wide Receiver Waiver Pickups

Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys, 44.5% Owned

It is obvious that the Cowboys’ offense is purring at the moment. One of the biggest reasons for that is the emergence of Michael Gallup. Without question, fantasy managers have been waiting for that statement to be true since Gallup returned from injury. With seven or more targets in two of his last three games, that moment has arrived. Against the Giants on Thanksgiving, Gallup set season highs in catches (5), yards (63) and targets (8).

Everyone keeps talking about the Cowboys adding Odell Beckham. Even if he does sign with Dallas, it will take time for Beckham to get up to playing speed. If and when that is achieved, Gallup should be well entrenched as the number two starter on a Cowboys team that has a great offense. There is little for managers to fear at this point when it comes to Gallup.

He probably isn’t available in all leagues, but if he is in yours’, add him to the roster. This is the highest recommended move regarding a wide receiver on this fantasy football waiver priorities week thirteen edition.

Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo Bills, 16.5% Owned

As if the Buffalo offense wasn’t scary enough, they get another dynamic piece more involved. That piece is Isaiah McKenzie. Against the Lions, McKenzie set season highs in yards (96) and targets (10). He turned the targets into six catches, one for a touchdown, his first since week four. Additionally, his yards per catch (16) were his highest since week two.

Add it all together and McKenzie is resembling the receiver who had a touchdown catch in three of his first four games. Best of all, McKenzie’s fantasy output of 21 points were his most of the season. He had a 20-point fantasy game against Miami in week three. Surprisingly, McKenzie has also been involved in the Bills’ running game, with carries in four of the last five Buffalo games. Further, he scored a rushing TD in week eight against Green Bay, demonstrating his versatility.

Rest assured that there isn’t any other weapon in that offense that is only 16.5 percent owned. If the wide receiver position is a roster need, adding McKenzie is just the right medicine.

Richie James, New York Giants, 0.5% Owned

Hopefully, once earning this recommendation, Richie James can stay healthy and, on the field. Staying on the field is something that his receiver teammates haven’t been very good at this season. Against the Cowboys, James recorded six targets, matching his total in each of his first two games. James turned those targets into five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown. He now has a receiving TD in each of his last two games.

Let’s hope that James forgets about the middle of the season and resembles the player he was in the first two weeks. In those games, James had 10 catches on 12 targets for 110 yards. Most importantly, he scored in double digits in fantasy points in both contests with 14 and 10. James has matched that performance in his last two appearances, pulling in 13 and 15 fantasy points.

At the moment, there aren’t a lot of healthy bodies for Daniel Jones to throw to, but James is currently on the field and is producing. For sure, James has earned his place in this article.

Other Wide Receivers to consider:

It’s always tough to try and figure out the Patriot offense from one week to the next. There are two receivers, though, that deserve attention, if not outright pickups. The first is Nelson Agholor (1.2% owned). He caught six of eight targets for 65 yards and a TD against Minnesota Thursday. All of those stats are more than he had in his previous five games. The 18 fantasy points he scored was his most since week two.

The second is DeVante Parker (9.4% owned). He caught all four targets for 80 yards. Much like Agholor, those stats are more than Parker had put together since week seven. His 12 fantasy points were his most since week three. Both need to demonstrate more consistency before they can be fully trusted, especially with Buffalo on tap. However, if no other wide receiver listed here is available, both will do in a pinch.

It remains to be seen if a quarterback switch will benefit Nico Collins. However, here is a receiver that has 26 targets in his last three games. He has also produced double digit fantasy points in two of his last three, with the third a nine-point showing. Collins is readily available (11.1%) and has a nice fantasy floor. If none of the above-mentioned receivers are available or intriguing, Collins is a nice fallback option.

Top Week Thirteen Tight End Waiver Pickups

Foster Moreau, Las Vegas Raiders, 35.5% Owned

Without question, the tight end position has taken a real shot in recent weeks due to so many injuries. No doubt, the position is thin at the best of times. Fortunately, there is a player that can help a fantasy manager at a time like this and his name is Foster Moreau. He was featured in last week’s article and makes a second straight appearance here. Moreau was targeted seven times in Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, coming away with three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown.

The TD was pivotal to the team, as it tied the score in the fourth quarter and sent the game into overtime, which the Raiders won. Quarterback Derek Carr and Moreau are still working on their chemistry. However, with Darren Waller on the injured list, they have time to get the rough edges smoothed out. On the plus side, Moreau has a touchdown catch in two of his last three games, as well as double digits in fantasy points with 13 and 12.

With the position such a black hole, Moreau provides a ray of sunshine. Clearly, he is the top tight end recommendation on this fantasy football waiver priorities week thirteen edition.

Josh Oliver, Baltimore Ravens, 0% Owned

For the first time ever, a player that has a zero percent ownership rate gets a pickup recommendation in one of my articles. With Isaiah Likely missing Sunday’s game against the Jaguars, Josh Oliver makes history. Oliver made the most of his opportunity, catching four of six targets for 76 yards and a 12-yard touchdown. The catches, targets and yards were all easily Oliver’s most of season.

A 40-yard pass completion showcased Oliver’s explosive capability. That ability is something that the Ravens have been searching for all season. It is not known just how long Likely will be out, but he had just one catch in the two games he played before the injury.

The Ravens like playing two tight ends at the same time in their offense. Oliver will take a lot of heat off his All-Pro teammate Mark Andrews if he continues to put together the same performance going forward. As mentioned, the tight end position is so scarce even the buzzards don’t have a lot of interest in it. Even so, Oliver has a high ceiling, is available in all fantasy formats and has earned his place on this fantasy football waiver priorities week thirteen edition.

Tight End Number Three

Other Tight Ends to consider:

Another Patriot that appeared seemingly out of nowhere Thursday night was Hunter Henry (24.7% owned). Against the Vikings, Hunter brought in three of five targets for 63 yards and a touchdown. The targets match his previous two game total, and his 15 fantasy points tie his output from his last three games. Henry gets a lukewarm recommendation to be sure. However, such recommendations are the position we find ourselves in at the present time.

Top Week Thirteen Quarterback Waiver Pickups

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions, 29.6% Owned

In case anyone hasn’t noticed, the Detroit Lions have been playing much better of late. They beat the Giants in New York and then took the Buffalo Bills to the last play of the game before losing on Thanksgiving. A lot of the credit has to go to a much-improved defense. However, equal credit must be given to Jared Goff.

Over the past five weeks, Goff has thrown six touchdown passes and only one interception. Since week seven, he has completed over 73 percent of his passes three times. Against the Bills’ tough defense, Goff completed 22 of 37 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. This week, the task isn’t quite as mountainous for Detroit, as they face Jacksonville at home.

The Jaguars are hardly a defensive juggernaut, ranking 18th in overall defense and a sorry 24th against the pass. Goff certainly has the offensive weapons to put up some excellent fantasy stats. Managers having someone like Kyler Murray (on bye) would do well to look toward Goff as a surefire roster filler this week. He clearly is at the top of the QB pickups list on this fantasy football waiver priorities week thirteen edition.

Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns, 40.8% Owned

The long-awaited season debut is now at hand. The suspension of Deshaun Watson comes to an end in week thirteen. No one can be sure exactly what he will deliver to the table since he hasn’t stepped on an NFL regular season field in so long. Even so, the time to grab him is now, as he is already heading toward the 50 percent ownership range. What we do know is that his first opponent is his old address: the Houston Texans, the team that ranks 28th in total defense. No doubt about it, Watson will be ready for that game.

If he comes back and plays anything like the Watson of old, that percentage will shoot through the roof, and there will be zero chance he is on the wire in any format. As a reminder of what Watson is capable of, take a look at his 2020 statistics. Not only did he throw for 33 touchdowns against just seven interceptions, but Watson also led the AFC in passing yards (4,823), yards per attempt (8.9) and yards per completion (12.6).

Without question, Jacoby Brissett has played well as the starter for the Browns. However, Cleveland didn’t put up all of that money and deal with all of the hassle to not install Watson as the starter. This is the final week to make a move on acquiring Watson. Trust me, he will be off the shelf in short order.

Other Quarterbacks to consider:

Jimmy Garoppolo was featured in the week eleven waivers article and appears here again. He is right around the 50 percent owned mark, so he won’t be available in all leagues, However, if he is, add him and get him into your starting lineup this week. The 49ers take on the Miami Dolphins and their 20th ranked pass defense at home. With all the offensive weapons that San Fransisco has, Garoppolo will surely put up some tasty fantasy stats in this game.

In week 12, there were a lot of starting quarterbacks that found themselves on the sideline because of injury or ineffective play. The only replacement that made a significant impact was the New York Jets’ Mike White (2.9%). White did it all Sunday against the Bears, completing 22 of 28 passes (78.6% completion rate) for 3 TDs. On the first drive of the game, White was 6 of 7 for 69 yards and an 8-yard TD to Garrett Wilson.

The Jets are winning, but their offense has been microscopic much of the year. However, they do have weapons and it appears they now possess a quarterback that can take advantage of them. In a two quarterback or larger league, adding White makes all the sense in the world. Get him before he is off the market for good.

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy football week twelve waivers edition! As always, I welcome any and all suggestions, comments and input from my readers. Let’s discuss! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Tune in for the Belly Up Fantasy Live Preview Show every Sunday morning at 11 AM EST on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or BellyUpTV. Be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy for all the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the latest sports news! 

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