Now that the Thanksgiving holiday is behind us, managers need to really buckle down and prepare their rosters for the upcoming fantasy postseason. After all, championship tournaments in all leagues are only weeks away. Whether a manager is fortifying a title contending level roster or desperately needing a furious playoff push, now is the time to make it happen! Fortunately, this fantasy football pickups post Thanksgiving edition is here to help! The waiver claims department is pretty bare this time of year. Let’s not waste another second and dive right in!

Running Backs

Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions, 46% Owned

No one probably expected a Detroit Lion to lead over this week’s edition, yet here Jamaal Williams is at the top of the list. Fellow running back D’Andre Swift was expected to continue an impressive fantasy campaign against the Bears, but endured a shoulder sprain in the second quarter and didn’t return. Williams took over and had a nice game, rushing 15 times for 65 yards.

The rushing touches were the most Williams has had this year and the yards was just below his season high of 66. Williams also caught all five targets for 18 additional yards. It has clearly been tough sledding offensively for Detroit this season. However, if Swift does miss this next game against Minnesota, Williams must be at the top of the list of running backs to add. The Vikings are middle of the road in fantasy points allowed to ball carriers, giving Williams a nice opportunity to shine. If available, go get him.

Dontrell Hilliard, Tennessee Titans, 23.9% Owned

Scanning the waiver wire for running backs this week can be a frustrating task. There simply isn’t a lot to pick from. Even so, if a manager has an open roster spot, stashing Dontrell Hilliard makes sense, even if he is on bye in week 13. While the Titans lost to the Patriots Sunday, Hilliard’s 68 yard run for a touchdown clearly demonstrates the ability he has. That run wasn’t the only play that stood out for Hillard. He rushed for 131 on just 12 carries. That comes out to an eye popping 10.9 yards a carry.

The biggest plus is that running the football isn’t the only skill set that Hillard has. He caught eight passes the week before against Houston. Obviously, the biggest negative to his day against N.E. was a fumble. However, his 47 fantasy points scored the past two weeks can’t be ignored. The Titans are having all kinds of trouble passing the football and the run should be the order of the day in week 14 against Jacksonville. Hilliard is clearly worth a stash if at all possible, given the limitations of the position on the wire.

Wide Receivers

Cedric Wilson, Dallas Cowboys, 11.3% Owned

Even though Dallas lost the game to the Raiders, their passing game was back in full operation. That was great news for Cedrick Wilson. Pressed into service due to the absences of fellow receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb, Wilson was in the starting lineup Thanksgiving afternoon. He certainly made the most of his opportunity, as he was targeted a healthy 10 times with seven catches for 104 yards.

For the day, Wilson racked up 19 fantasy points. He has now been targeted 17 times in his last two games. Of course, Cooper and Lamb will eventually make their way back onto the field. However, the chances of one or both missing the Thursday matchup with New Orleans is high. No one knows which Saints team shows up from one game to the next. What ever the case, Wilson needs to be on teams until heath is restored to the Dallas receiver core. He certainly leads the way for receivers on this fantasy football pickups post Thanksgiving edition.

Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons, 18.6% Owned

Without question, one of the most droppable players in fantasy football this season has to be Russell Gage. Having missed five complete games and posted a big donut in two others certainly explains the reason why. However, Gage needs to be back on manager’s radar after catching six of seven targets against Jacksonville. The catches resulted in 62 yards and a touchdown. Gage led all Falcon receivers in catches, targets and receiving yards on the day.

Best of all, Gage finished with 18 fantasy points, his high water mark of the season. Unless Calvin Ridley unexpectedly makes an appearance this week, Gage is the clear number one receiver going against Tampa. The Bucs defense hasn’t been all that of late, having allowed 29 or more points in three of their last four games. Gage is readily available and in a great spot this coming week. He definitely is worth the pick up.

Tight Ends

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears, 12.9% Owned

Without doubt, Cole Kmet has tremendous breakout potential. He was featured in last week’s Thanksgiving edition and proved he belonged with a huge game against the Lions. Kmet was targeted 11 times, resulting in eight catches for 65 yards. The Bears didn’t have much going on offense in this game, but Kmet was clearly a standout. The catches and targets were the most of his young career.

True, the Arizona defense, next on the schedule, isn’t the easiest to play against, but Kmet has shown that he can play on the NFL stage. All that he needs now is to catch a touchdown pass now and again and he will be a front line tight end. The bin is always lean at this position this time of year and a talented player this available has to be snatched up. Without question, Kmet belongs on this fantasy football pickups post Thanksgiving edition.

Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts, 1.0% Owned

It is quite a shock to the system to see a recommendation for Jack Doyle, I’m sure. I can scarcely believe that I am typing this even now. However, his play Sunday demands attention, especially when considering the lack of options at the position coming into week 13. Against the Buccaneers, Doyle had his biggest game of the season, catching six passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. Doyle was targeted seven times, his highest total since week two.

The end result was 20 fantasy points, by far his most on the season. A player that appears out of nowhere like this is often a candidate to go right back to invisibility the next week. That kind of prediction can be held off for at least another game as the vulnerable Texan defense is up next on the schedule. There is almost no one as available as Doyle is. His high potential makes him a must add for any manager having tight end problems on the roster. Go get him today.

Quarterbacks

Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans, 20.3% Owned

Without question, the quarterback pool is super shallow if Tyrod Taylor is getting recommended for pickup off waiver wires. However, that is the situation we find ourselves in on this fantasy football pickups post Thanksgiving edition. Even with a lackluster (at best) Texan team, Taylor has the ability to put up good numbers this season when healthy. Obviously, that has been the key for him as he has only appeared in five games this year. The good news is that Taylor has appeared in the last three Houston games and should be in the starting lineup going forward.

Against the Jets, Taylor completed 17 of 26 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Obviously, you would like to see more passing yards, but the two TDs more than make up for that. Indianapolis is next up and they are fresh off allowing 38 points to the Bucs. They are also not far removed from giving up 64 points in two games against the Jets and Titans. Taylor is a dart throw, to be sure, but he certainly can be a worthy add in two QB and larger leagues this week.

Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts, 45% Owned

There can be no doubt that the past few weeks haven’t been kind to Carson Wentz. In fact, he has been listed as a sit candidate by this very commentator not that long ago. However, one has to take in many factors when deciding which player to grab off the wire from week to week. The overriding factor for this game is Wentz’ week 13 opponent, the Houston Texans. Against Tampa on Sunday, Wentz completed 27 of 44 passes for 306 yards and three TDs.

He finished the game with 45.5 fantasy points, his third game of the season with 40 or more. Wentz would have had an even better day if not for the two interceptions. Even so, any manager will take a QB capable of delivering a 40 point game in fantasy. For sure, Wentz showed Sunday the Colts are not all about giving the football to Jonathan Taylor. Without question, Wentz certainly won’t be available in larger leagues, but is worth a look to the wire in any case. Against Houston, he can deliver a key late season fantasy victory this week for a manager.

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy football pickups post Thanksgiving edition! As always, I welcome input, questions and suggestions from all of my readers. Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports & Picks for all the latest NFL and sports news!

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