Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. These players include potential bye-week fill-ins, players who are returning from injury, and defenses to look at in advance.
Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers
In most leagues, these guys aren't available. But if you're fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.
WR Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans (84% rostered on Sleeper)
The Titans have the best schedule for wide receivers from this week through the fantasy playoffs, and Ridley has finally demonstrated why the Titans traded for him. Since the departure of DeAndre Hopkins, Ridley is averaging 10.6 targets per game. You might still be able to snag him since managers who dropped him probably moved on to other options.
QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (88% rostered on Sleeper)
I realize the chance he is available in your league is slim, but Mayfield may be dropped in a few leagues after two rough outings and a bye week in Week 11, but brighter days are ahead. He will get back Mike Evans, his number one target, allegedly in Week 12. After that, he has a delightful run of matchups, including two against Carolina, who have allowed the sixth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans (13% rostered on Sleeper)
In a loss to the Chargers last week, Levis put up over 19 fantasy points, which was good enough for a QB1 finish. At this point in the season, you probably have at least one solid starting quarterback on your roster and are looking for upside in another (or to keep that upside away from your league mates). After this week against Minnesota, the Titans have only one other matchup that has yet to give up points above expectation to the quarterback position. For those of you with C.J. Stroud, Jayden Daniels, or Lamar Jackson and have a bye in the critical Week 14, Levis takes on Jacksonville, the absolute best matchup for opposing quarterbacks.
Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets (0% rostered on Sleeper)
The Jets are on the brink of collapse, and if (or when) it happens, we might see Aaron Rodgers step away from the field for the rest of the season. Rodgers is not a spring chicken, and Taylor is a decent quarterback in his own right. He could support offensive options in Garrett Wilson, Davante Adams, and Breece Hall and was a decent starting quarterback for three seasons in Buffalo. In Week 15, the Jets play the Jags, who have given up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Drew Lock, New York Giants (0% rostered on Sleeper)
The Giants seem ready to move on from Daniel Jones, and once they admit that, they will want to sit him so he doesn't get injured and cost them money. Enter Drew Lock. This is a deeper league suggestion, but the matchups for Lock would be very palatable going into the fantasy playoff run.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Running Backs
Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (22% rostered on Sleeper)
I have mentioned Corum here before. If you are looking to be playoff-bound with your roster, insure what you have with backups of your own running backs. For example, if you have been riding with Kyren Williams and are clearly playoff-bound, look to Corum. Kyren is the guy in Los Angeles, and if the team continues to fight for the NFC West, they might need to give him some rest and give Corum a shot. Managers probably won’t be grabbing him in advance of their tough matchup with the Eagles in Week 12, but after that, it is New Orleans and Buffalo, who give up the second and third most fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Cam Akers, Minnesota Vikings (22% rostered on Sleeper)
Aaron Jones was carted off on Sunday, and initially, it looked bad for the star running back. He did return to the game after undergoing x-rays for a potential chest injury. The results were clear, but rostering his backup, Cam Akers, is vital in case he has another bad hit moving forward. Ty Chandler was supposed to be the backup for Jones, but lately Akers has been performing well enough to slide into that RB2 position for Minnesota. In a deep league, you could still consider Chandler if Akers is already rostered, but it is a tougher road for him to find relevance.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Wide Receivers
WR Mike Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers (23% rostered on Sleeper)
It was unclear how Williams would incorporate into the offense, given that the team already boasted a downfield threat in George Pickens, but Williams looks like he might be okay in Pittsburgh. He only had one target, but I think we will see more schemed for Williams moving forward, as the Steelers have the best fantasy schedule for wide receivers for the rest of the year. There are two scarier matchups against the Eagles and Chiefs in there, but there is a world where Kansas City has sewn up that division and is resting players.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Tight Ends
Davis Allen, Los Angeles Rams (2% rostered on Sleeper)
Allen played 80% of snaps on Monday nights and caught five of his six targets. In a world where several tight ends are injured, and other decent ones are on byes, I would consider Allen, who is steadily getting more targets on an offense that (usually) can convert touchdowns. The Rams play in Week 14, when six other teams are on a bye, so Allen could be plugged into an adequate matchup there.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills (6% rostered on Sleeper)
Dalton Kincaid has had a rough season, and now he has a knee injury, and Buffalo goes on a bye in Week 12. If you are in desperate need of a tight end, Knox could be used in a pinch - they have a great matchup against Kansas City this week, who has given up the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. The Bills have a bye the following week, so fantasy managers might not invest, but they do have a good matchup in Week 14 against the Rams.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Defense/Special Teams
Green Bay Packers (61% rostered on Sleeper)
Fantasy managers may have dropped the Packers because of their bye last week, but they have a great three-week run during the fantasy playoffs. Green Bay should be fighting for the NFC North, which means that all their primary defensive weapons should take the field. They play Seattle, New Orleans, and Minnesota during the fantasy playoffs - all teams that have given up fantasy points over expectation to opposing defenses.
Arizona Cardinals (7% rostered on Sleeper)
I mentioned the Cardinals last week, but you should still be able to grab them as they are on a bye this week. This defense has scored double-digit fantasy points and at least three sacks in three of the last four weeks. Once again, their schedule for the next five weeks post-bye is excellent, and they play New England and Carolina back to back in the first two weeks of the fantasy playoffs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (27% rostered on Sleeper)
The Bucs have a bye this week, so managers might have to drop them, but after that, they play the Giants, the Panthers, and the Raiders leading up to the fantasy playoffs. They are a great way to bolster your playoff chances.
To follow Julia Papworth and learn more than just waiver wire stashes, follow her on Twitter/X!