NFL Waiver Wire: Week 13 Pickups

After a quiet week on the waiver wire (though who knew Dontrelle Hilliard was going to blow up), there should be a lot of action this week. Unfortunately, the players to go after this week are a result of some bad injuries. Let's take a look.

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and remaining budget.

QUARTERBACK

Primary Targets

Taysom Hill, NO - I have to say, I'm intrigued with Hill now that he's been named the starter for the Saints. During a four-game stint as a starter last season, Hill scored 28.6, 20.3, 27.9 and 25.9 fantasy points — great fantasy games all. The red flag is that those games were against teams ranked 20th or lower against quarterbacks. The Saints just gave Hill a good amount of money, and Sean Payton is a good enough offensive mind to utilize Hill's strengths. It wouldn't surprise me if Payton held out Hill last week against the Bills (No. 1  against the position) and waited to start him this week at home against Dallas. Other than the Buccaneers, Hill faces defenses 17th or lower against quarterbacks in the Saints' remaining games. As usual, bump him up in super-flex/two-quarterback leagues. FAAB: $15-$25

RUNNING BACK

Primary Targets

Alexander Mattison, MIN - Dalvin Cook injured his shoulder Sunday. It was reported he has a separated shoulder and torn labrum but should only miss two games and could be back Dec. 20. That sounds optimistic, but for now we'll take the Vikings at their word. Alexander Mattison was only 49 percent rostered on Yahoo at the time of the injury, meaning it's a coin flip if he's available. While Mattison have averaged only 3.6 yards per carry this season, he averaged 4.5 and 4.6 the last two seasons, showing there's potential for better efficiency. Even if the efficiency doesn't rise much, the volume will be there and he'll handle all goal-line work. Here's the spot to blow all of your FAAB or your No. 1 waiver option. Kene Nwangwu, a fourth-round pick out of Iowa State, will back up Mattison while Cook is out and could handle some change-of-pace/third down duties. I like Cook over Chuba Hubbard or Jamaal Williams as he's in better offense and can help  immediately. FAAB: As much as you have relative to your league

Chuba Hubbard, CAR - While it would be great if his name was pronounced (CHUB-ba) it's actually pronounced (CHOO-ba); just so you know the correct pronunciation of Carolina's starting running back. Christian McCaffrey was placed on IR on Monday and will miss the rest of the season. Hubbard proved capable of handling a full workload earlier this season when CMC was out, averaging 13.3 fantasy points (PPR) per game over that five-game stretch. The difference now is he'll play with Cam Newton, but that also means some of the goal-line work will go to Newton. He's not ranked as high as Mattison as he is on bye this week and faces the Bills and Saints defenses in two of the four games thereafter. Still, he's not a bad consolation prize if you miss on Mattison; I'd put in a second claim after Mattison for him, using all my FAAB. Unlike Williams and Mattison, he's guaranteed the starting job the rest of the season with both Dalvin Cook and D'Andre Swift expected to return at some point. FAAB: As much as you have relative to your league

Jamaal Williams, DET - Williams could easily be in the same "all-in" status as Hubbard and Mattison this week if we knew D'Andre Swift's shoulder injury was going to cause him to miss more than one week. The shoulder has been issue since hurting it Week 10 in Pittsburgh, and the Lions may exercise caution as they head into the latter part of a season that is a lost cause. Williams is capable of handling a full workload, ending up with 20 touches after Swift left. Williams has an increased value in PPR formats even if he only goes 5-5-18 like he did last Thursday. If this were last week, he'd be the top waiver-wire priority. Rookie Jermar Jefferson will backup Williams and get a modest amount of work while Swift is out. FAAB: $50-$75 or "all-in" if Swift is out for the season

Matt Breida, BUF - The Buffalo backfield situation seems like it's always in flux.  Zack Moss was a healthy scratch Sunday for the first time since Week 1. Moss was active Week 2 and ended up rushing for two scores, so who knows what this week may bring. Seriously, though, Moss averages only 3.5 yards per carry while Devin Singletary averages 4.7 yards. Breida, in a small sample,  averages 5.2 yards per carry, so the Singletary/Breida tandem would make sense for the Bills to use for time being. The division of work this week against the Patriots should be a good indicator of what to expect; remember too Singletary has five fumbles this season. FAAB: $5-$10

WIDE RECEIVER

Secondary Targets

Kendrick Bourne, NE - It looks like Bourne is starting to separate himself from the rest of the Patriots' receivers. He has been the most fantasy relevant player at the position for them this season. He's up to five touchdowns on the season and is on pace for almost 900 receiving yards. It's a tough matchup for him this week against the Bills, and outside of good matchups it'll be tough to count on him on a weekly basis. FAAB: $3-$6

Jauan Jennings, SF - Word came Monday night that Deebo Samuel will miss 1-2 weeks  with a groin strain. This elevates Jennings on the depth chart and puts him as the second wide receiver to Brandon Aiyuk. Jennings just missed a spectacular catch in the end zone Sunday, with his second foot barely landing out of bounds. He did hit paydirt Sunday for his second professional touchdown, and his three targets from the game should increase as long as Samuel is out. FAAB: $2-$4

Hail Mary

Josh Reynolds, DET - Reynolds gave the Lions hope on Turkey Day with a long earlier score, but, as usual, Detroit couldn't pull out a win. Reynolds has history with Jared Goff from their time with the Rams. Overall, Reynolds has been quiet this season so it's tough to tell if he was a one-hit wonder this game or this was a building block for the rest of the season. This week should be a good indicator as Detroit welcomes the Vikings, the worst team in the league against wide receivers. FAAB: $1-$2

TIGHT END

Secondary Targets

Cole Kmet, CHI - Kmet has been a target monster as lately, recording 11 targets on Thanksgiving and at least six in three of his previous four games. I'd feel better about Kmet except Jimmy Graham still appears to be the main target in the red zone, limiting Kmet's scoring opportunities. The schedule is split as Kmet will get the Vikings (twice) and the Cardinals, both of whom are top-3 against the position. The other three games on the schedule are good matchups. FAAB $3-$6

Jack Doyle, IND - It's hard to get overly excited about Doyle, but then again, the tight end position has been terrible this season. Doyle actually has six or more fantasy points in five consecutive games (PPR), averaging 9.7 fantasy points during that span. It's a great matchup for him this week against Houston, but then he's on bye and next faces New England and Arizona, the top two teams at the position. Temper expectations. FAAB: $3-$6

DEFENSE

Miami Dolphins - You might say the Dolphins are something of a streaky team as they've won four in a row after losing seven in a row. During their four-game winning streak they've allowed 10 or fewer points three times (only 17 the other) and have a good home matchup against Daniel Jones and the Giants this weekend. Believe it or not, they've scored the seventh-most fantasy points of any defense this season on most Yahoo formats. After Week 14's bye, they have a nice four-game stretch to finish the season. FAAB: $3-$6