Week 12 in the NFL brought a lot of teams that were flying high down to reality. With many talented players on a bye week, it provided lineup issues and possibly even last second waiver wire adds.
Some leagues have playoffs starting this week while others will begin over the next few weeks. Even so, the waiver wire will be important with handcuffs and injuries at the most important positions.
With trade deadlines having passed, here are the top waiver-wire pickups for Week 13:
RB Rashaad Penny — 29.1% rostered (ESPN)
Penny finally had his breakout career game on Sunday against Philadelphia as he finished with 14 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown. The Seahawks have shown to give a lot of attention to the run in recent weeks but with Chris Carson still having issues holding on to the ball, Penny will be a more focused piece of this offense.
We aren’t at the point where the former first-round pick will be taking over the backfield, but head coach Pete Carroll hinted that more of a timeshare could be on the way in Seattle.
With a Monday night matchup against Minnesota on the horizon, look for Seattle to use Penny and other offensive pieces as they try to keep pace with San Francisco in the division race.
QB Ryan Tannehill — 14.9% rostered (ESPN)
Since taking over as the starter in Week 7, Tannehill and Tennessee have a 4-1 record, keeping their playoffs hopes alive. Tannehill’s ability to get everyone involved on offense has made Tennessee look like a legitimate threat.
The former No. 8 overall pick is leading the Titans offense in a strong way as they are averaging almost a full touchdown’s worth of points in his five games compared to what the offense was doing with Marcus Mariota under center.
Against the Jaguars, he finished with three total touchdowns in a dominating performance. The Titans travel to Indianapolis this week for a divisional showdown with many playoff implications. Look for Tannehill to throw the ball over the top as the Colts struggled in that spot last week against Houston.
WR Russell Gage — 3.1% rostered (ESPN)
Atlanta has been so hot or cold this season it is hard to gauge whether they can be a real team to beat. Something that is not hard to gauge is Gage’s talent. He had a solid day against the Bucs with eight catches for 76 yards.
With tight end Austin Hooper expected to miss another game and Gage’s target share in the offense growing, the former sixth-round pick could be in store for some fantasy relevancy.
The Falcons host the Saints on Thanksgiving night so expect a lot of fireworks and Gage to be used more heavily in the passing game.
TE David Njoku — 20.1% rostered (ESPN)
Njoku had one of the scariest injuries ever seen Week 3 against the Jets. He landed on his head and bent his neck in an awkward manner, but was able to avoid a serious, life-threatening injury. He has been warming up before the past two games and is set to make his return Sunday when the Browns travel to Pittsburgh.
With such an unappealing landscape at tight end, most teams need all the help they can get, especially during the playoffs. Not only does Njoku have a great playoff schedule coming up, but he could also slide into a strong red-zone role for the Browns.
Njoku is a great tight end talent that will fit in nicely with a Browns offense that has started to click on all cylinders.
WR N’Keal Harry — 9.3% rostered (ESPN)
The rookie wide receiver out of Arizona State snagged the first touchdown reception of his career Sunday against Dallas. The 10-yard score was his only catch of the day but with heavy rain and wind, it was not the day to throw the ball.
The Patriots spent a first-round pick on Harry so they value his skill set enough to keep him involved. It has also been tough for the Patriots to find a consistent group of wide receivers this season, which means he could be on the way to carving out a role.
Harry is still finding his bearings after being placed on IR for the first half of the season. Look for this young talent to be used more and more in this Patriots offense that is desperate for wide receiver production.
RB Nyheim Hines — 34.7% rostered (ESPN)
With Marlon Mack out indefinitely, the Colts’ committee backfield will have to carry the load. Jonathan Williams and Hines had a majority of touches Thursday night against Houston, but Hines was impressive as well.
With nine carries for 51 yards and two catches for 10 yards, Hines is a great flex option going forward as the Colts still try to figure out issues on offense. The Colts passing offense has struggled, which means they could be looking to get Hines more involved, especially if that means getting him in the slot more.
As a great pass-catching back, Hines has a lot of upside in PPR leagues, especially this week against Tennessee.
WR James Washington — 20.9% rostered (ESPN)
With injuries piling up for the Pittsburgh receivers and some controversy at quarterback, James Washington has been impressive this season. He had a big day in the win Sunday against Cincinnati with three catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.
His 79-yard score in the third quarter showed his quickness and ability to create space. Washington has been pretty boom or bust this season, but the passing offense might be able to improve with Delvin Hodges under center—if that continues to be the case.
Look for Washington to be a big factor as the Steelers host the Browns on Sunday.
