Welcome back to another edition of Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups. We’re heading into Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season. After a week of no byes, we have six teams on bye this week. It’s looking to be a rough week as we lose the likes of Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Stefon Diggs, and Saquon Barkley among others.

For your fantasy football teams, adding the right players off the waiver wire is crucial to your fantasy football success. Follow along with us all season long and we’ll help you make your way into the fantasy football playoffs.

With the above in mind, no matter our record, there are always areas to improve. Regardless of your situation, here are players you should look to add for Week 13 based on CBS Fantasy Sports roster percentages. These players are listed in order of priority. Let’s get right into it with the top waiver wire pickups for your fantasy football teams as we head into Week 13!

For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 60% of leagues according to CBS as of 11/27/23. 

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups Week 13

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups

Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (31% Rostered)

Surprisingly, all it took was for Matt Canada to be fired for this offense to click. It was his highest passing (278) yardage output of the season. Not to mention he also showed improvement completing 24 of his 33 passes. Although, he hasn’t thrown a touchdown since Week 9, don’t be upset as Diontae Johnson dropped it. Pickett is worth up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Gardner Minshew, QB, Indianapolis Colts (40% Rostered)

Minshew finally put up an okay game scoring over 15 points for the first time in two games. His game was saved by a rushing touchdown or else he would have had a single-digit performance for a third week in a row. Minshew has a chance to put up QB1 against a Titans who gave up over 250 passing yards and multiple touchdowns in the two games prior to playing Bryce Young and the Panthers. He’s worth 1-3% of your remaining FAAB.

See if available: Derek Carr (71%) While it’s nice to see Carr pass for over 300 yards, he struggled once again to find the endzone. However, he gets a Lions defense that has been susceptible to the pass. As long as Chris Olave is back, I like Carr the most.

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups

Jeff Wilson, RB, Miami Dolphins (26% Rostered)

For as long as De’Von Achane is out, Wilson is the No. 2 running back behind Raheem Mostert. And Wilson filled in well rushing the ball 11 times for 56 yards along with catching all three of his targets for 17 yards. It was nice to see Wilson get back on the field here. Wilson’s next three matchups are juicy as the Dolphins take on Washington, Tennessee, and the Jets. All things considered, he’s worth adding for up to 10% of your remaining FAAB.

Samaje Perine, RB, Denver Broncos (27% Rostered)

As we push to get our teams in the fantasy playoffs, one back to look at is Perine. While he hasn’t done much over the season, the last two weeks have painted a different picture. He’s reclaimed the RB2 spot from Jaleel McLaughlin after getting back-to-back 60-plus scrimmage yards. He should be more beneficial in PPR leagues and I’d spend up to 5% of your remaining FAAB for him.

Rico Dowdle, RB, Dallas Cowboys (41% Rostered)

Dowdle is strictly a handcuff to Tony Pollard. But that’s not saying anything could happen to Pollard going forward. Dowdle is one of the top handcuffs to lock up at the moment. He’s been getting little opportunities but has excelled when given in. Great stash piece if you can. Overall, he’s worth up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

See if available: Ezekiel Elliott(66%) He is a high-upside handcuff to stash at the end of your bench. Although he didn’t find the endzone, he now has back-to-back games of double-digit touches. If anything were to happen to Rhamondre Stevenson, Elliott could be in the RB2 conversation.

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups

Demario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots (58% Rostered)

Douglas left Sunday’s game with a head injury. At the time of this writing, it doesn’t appear to be a concussion. However, since Week 7, Douglas has seen six targets, yet has only gotten over 55 yards once. With the quarterback carousel going on in New England, it hasn’t affected Douglas’s play. For what it’s worth he’s the new Jakobi Meyers there. As long as he’s cleared for Week 13, he’s worth up to 10% of your remaining FAAB.

Khalil Shakir, WR, Buffalo Bills (28% Rostered)

We have now seen Shakir’s floor and ceiling. Since Week 7 Shakir has seen at least four targets in five of his last six as he’s seen over 90 yards in two of those games. Good enough as a WR3. However, Shakir is on bye Week 13, before heading to Kansas City in Week 14 where we all hope for a shoot out. He’s worth up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Josh Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (37% Rostered)

Palmer is due to come off injured reserve after Week 12. For this reason, I’m willing to add him as Quentin Johnston just isn’t the answer. Once Mike Williams was out for the season, Palmer filled in well with Keenan Allen seeing at least seven targets prior to his injury. If he comes back this week, he’s an easy FLEX play against the Patriots. He’s worth 1% (sneaky add) of your remaining FAAB.

Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions (40% Rostered)

For what it’s worth, since his Week 7 goose egg on six targets, Williams has been seeing the field more. However, he hasn’t seen any more than three targets since the Baltimore game, but he getting looked at deep. With six teams on bye, you could certainly do worse. He’s worth 1-3% of your remaining FAAB.

Jalin Hyatt, WR, New York Giants (9% Rostered)

The Giants pass catchers are not someone I’m rushing to the waiver wire and pick up. However, the rookie put together his best game so far and led the team in every receiving category. Now it may be hard to add Hyatt as the Giants have a Week 13 bye. But he could have a start to a late-season breakout. He’s worth 1% of your remaining FAAB.

See if available: Jayden Reed (68%) Over the last three weeks Reed has scored at least 15 PPR points and needs to be rostered in all leagues. He has at minimum flex appeal going forward.

Rashee Rice (83%) Could we finally Are you seeing a breakout from a Chiefs wide receiver? I think so! Rice had his best game of the season catching eight of 10 targets for 107 yards and a touchdown. Can’t go wrong being the No.2 option behind Travis Kelce. His next four matchups are Green Bay, Buffalo, New England, and Las Vegas again.

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups

Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers (53% Rostered)

With a change in offensive coordinator, Freiermuth exploded for 120 yards on nine (11 targets) catches. It was his first 100-yard game of his career and his first touchdown against the Bengals since 2021. Freiermuth has always had Cincinnati’s number and I see him as a must-start tight end going forward. He’s worth at least 10% of your remaining FAAB.

Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens (44% Rostered)

As expected, Likely took over the top tight-end role in the absence of Mark Andrews. He finished second on the team in targets (six) while leading all pass-catchers with 40 yards. With the Ravens on bye in Week 13, it may be hard to hold onto Likely, but if you can he’s worth the wait. He’s worth at least 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (51% Rostered)

Cotton may not score touchdowns, but he has at least put up 8 PPR points over the last two weeks. That looks pretty serviceable if you ask me for the tight end position that will have a lot of players missing. Don’t go crazy, but he’s worth 1-3% of your remaining FAAB.

Gerald Everett, TE, Los Angeles Chargers (26% Rostered)

Welcome back to the endzone! Everett secured all four of his targets for 40 yards and a touchdown. It was great to see him all over the field Sunday night. Even though the Patriots are a tough matchup, I think Everett has an opportunity to work at least get 40 yards again with a possibility of a touchdown. He’s worth 1-3% of your remaining FAAB.

Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers (3% Rostered)

Kraft operated as the TE1 for the Packers and he returned value by catching a touchdown. However, he caught both of his targets for just 15 yards. For as long as Luke Musgrave is out, Kraft has the opportunity to hold onto the top spot here. For what it’s worth, the schedule is a lot tougher over the next three games.

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