Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups: Cam Akers Season, Finally

Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups: Cam Akers Season, Finally article feature image
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Joe Scarnici/Getty Images. Pictured: Rams RB Cam Akers

The Week 13 waiver wire is about one thing:  fine-tuning.

It's about finding that WR3, RB handcuff, or potential one-week replacement to help finish the regular season off in fine fashion and make the fantasy playoffs.

The final two teams go on bye this week:  Tampa Bay and Carolina.

Here are the top remaining waiver pickups for Week 13!

Also check out Sean Koerner's rest-of-season tiers and week-by-week projections to prepare for the postseason.

Note: We've limited recommendations to players owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. All data as of Monday.

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Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups

Running Backs

Brian Hill, Falcons

Ownership: 47%

Hill was a hot DFS start this week when Todd Gurley was ruled out with a knee injury. Yet for the second time in two seasons, Hill disappointed as the starter.

He gained only 55 rushing yards on 13 carries. Teammate Ito Smith actually out-touched Hill in the second half, and ended with 65 yards and a rushing touchdown. Smith also added four receptions.

Hill has simply never taken hold of the opportunities that have been presented. His teammates were reportedly disappointed he didn't get a chance to start in Week 1, but that doesn't translate to on the field production.

He is not worth a fantasy claim in any format.

Adrian Peterson, Lions

Ownership: 46%

Peterson tallied 55 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Detroit's 41-25 Thanksgiving Day loss.

His role moving forward is very much in flux, with rookie D'Andre Swift set to return and head coach Matt Patricia now fired.

Will interim coach Darrell Bevell rely on a 35-year old plodder during his audition for the head job? Unlikely.

Peterson is a touchdown-or-bust desperation play in 14-team leagues only.

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Alexander Mattison, Vikings

Ownership: 32%

There is only one team that should roster Alexander Mattison during the fantasy playoffs: those with Dalvin Cook.

Cook fantasy owners held their breath when the star running back was helped off the field early in the third quarter after a fumble. Fortunately, Cook returned later in the game.

It is time to have insurance for Cook during the most critical point of the season. All Cook owners should put in a claim for Mattison, just in the event of an injury. The Vikings have the fourth-highest run percentage of any NFL team.

Minimize risk and handcuff Dalvin Cook.

Cam Akers, Rams

Ownership: 29%

If you are in desperate need of an RB3/Flex play, running back Cam Akers is definitely worth strong consideration.

Akers has started to gain control of this backfield, with 84 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 23-20 loss to the 49ers. While teammate Darrell Henderson had one more carry, he also had 65 fewer rushing yards than Akers.

With upcoming games against Arizona, New England, and the Jets, Akers could gain the majority of rushing opportunities during the fantasy playoffs.

Akers is the Week 12 waiver wire add with the biggest upside.

Frank Gore, Jets

Ownership: 25%

Gore is similar to Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald. Veteran players who are beloved by their coaches, and provide consistent fantasy volume with limited upside.

In Week 12, Gore turned 18 carries into 74 rushing yards, and also caught all three of his targets for 12 receiving yards. With La'Mical Perine on the injured reserve, Gore remains the only remaining Week 13 waiver RB that will get the majority of his team's rushing attempts.

If you are desperate at the running back position, Gore is a touchdown-dependent RB4/5 in Week 13 against the Raiders.

Ito Smith, Falcons

Ownership: 1%

Smith is only worth consideration if Todd Gurley is out again.

However, Smith may have passed Brian Hill for the RB2 spot in Atlanta with his 75 total yards and one touchdown performance.

Smith is an RB3/4 PPR play in Week 13 if Gurley remains sidelined.

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Wide Receivers

Nelson Agholor, Raiders 

Ownership: 43%

On a day where the Raiders had their worst offensive showing of the season, Agholor managed to salvage five receptions and 54 receiving yards.

The veteran wideout still has five touchdowns in the past eight games and has a fantastic matchup against the Jets in Week 13.

Agholor is still WR3/4 play in favorable upcoming games against the Jets, Chargers (Week 15), and Dolphins (Week 16).

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T.Y. Hilton, Colts

Ownership: 38%

I write this blurb with much hesitancy.

Hilton finally connected with quarterback Philip Rivers on a 50-yard bomb that saw him tackled at the one-yard line. Later, he caught his first touchdown pass of the season, finishing with four receptions and 81 yards.

In Week 13, Hilton faces a Houston Texans team that he historically torched.

If you are willing to overlook the brutally disappointing season, Hilton has a fantastic slate of opponents the next three weeks — the Texans twice and the Raiders.

Hunter Renfrow, Raiders

Ownership: 17%

Renfrow paced all Las Vegas receivers with seven receptions and 73 yards on nine targets. This stat line was likely a byproduct of a blowout loss to Atlanta.

His seven receptions are more than he has accumulated over the past three weeks combined.

Renfrow is only a WR4/5 option in PPR formats, even in a great Week 13 matchups at the Jets.

Breshad Perriman, Jets

Ownership: 12%

Perriman's speed always allows for the big play, and he did convert eight targets into four receptions and 79 yards.

With beatable upcoming pass defenses in Las Vegas and Seattle, Perriman should be on the radar as a WR4/5 rest of season.

Denzel Mims, Jets

Ownership: 7%

Similar to Perriman, Mims has the athletic skills to produce big plays for the Jets.

Entering Week 12, his 40% air yards share was fifth among all wide receivers (PlayerProfiler). The Jets trust Mims to make plays, he's just not seeing accurate targets.

The return of starting quarterback Sam Darnold should help that accuracy, and the athletic rookie does have a chance at WR4/5 production against that same generous New York schedule of pass defenses.

Gabriel Davis, Bills

Ownership: 3%

With fellow wideout John Brown placed on the injured reserve, rookie Gabriel Davis took advantage of his opportunity.

Davis turned four targets into three receptions, 79 yards, and a touchdown in Buffalo's 27-17 win over the Chargers.

He earned high praise from teammate Stefon Diggs earlier this season, and will now have his chance over the remaining four weeks of the fantasy season.

With Buffalo facing tough run defenses in San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Denver, and New England, Davis could approach consistent WR3/4 production.

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Tight Ends

Logan Thomas, Washington

Ownership: 41%

Thomas continues his on-and-off relationship with this waiver wire column.

He earns his way back in with four receptions, 20 yards, and a touchdown in Washington's 41-16 blowout of Dallas on Thanksgiving.

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Washington's schedule of Week 15 against Seattle, and Week 16 against Carolina provides decent opportunity for consistent TE production.

We will reluctantly recommend Thomas again as a dart throw TE streamer in Week 13, even in a brutal matchup at Pittsburgh.

Jordan Reed, 49ers

Ownership: 25%

Reed saw six targets in Week 12, but suffered from poor accuracy from quarterback Nick Mullens.

Given the QB play and injury history, it's hard to trust Reed moving forward. But the upside is there in Week 13 against a Buffalo team that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Trey Burton, Colts

Ownership: 19%

Burton caught his second touchdown in two games, along with three receptions and 42 yards in the Colts 45-26 loss to Tennessee.

While he does battle for targets with Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox, Burton's red zone usage provides weekly fantasy scoring opportunities.

He is a decent streaming option next week against Houston.

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings

Ownership: 14%

With fellow tight end Irv Smith Jr. and wide receiver Adam Thielen ruled out, Rudolph had his most productive fantasy game of the season.

The veteran tight end saw eight targets and produced seven receptions and 68 receiving yards.

Thielen should return next week, but if Smith is out again, Rudolph has a great matchup at home against Jacksonville. The Jaguars allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

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