Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups: Cam Newton, Adrian Peterson, Gardner Minshew, Taysom Hill, More Week 14 Adds
Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images. Pictured: Panthers QB Cam Newton
Another week in the NFL is in the books.
Backup quarterbacks continued to play key roles this week with Daniel Jones (neck) and Jalen Hurts (out) both getting added to the injury reports. Mike Glennon, Gardner Minshew II, Taysom Hill and Andy Dalton each got their first start for their respective teams, though Minshew was the only one of the four to pick up a win.
Heavy favorites dominated the Sunday slate, as the Cardinals, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Colts and Rams all entered the week as at least touchdown-favorites and covered. There were some big upsets, as the Chargers trounced the Bengals, Washington eked out a win over the Raiders, the Steelers defeated the Ravens by way of a failed two-point conversion to end the game, the Seahawks bested the 49ers and the Lions came from behind to beat the Vikings for their first win of the year.
We have another four teams on bye in Week 14, and those teams are chock-full of fantasy-relevant players, meaning managers will need to find replacements for the following:
Colts: Jonathan Taylor, Carson Wentz, Michael Pittman Jr.
Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, Myles Gaskin, Mike Gesicki, Jaylen Waddle.
Patriots: Mac Jones, Kendrick Bourne, Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith.
Eagles: Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Dallas Goedert.
Managers may also need replacements for Logan Thomas (knee), Adam Thielen (ankle) and Miles Sanders (ankle), who all will, or are in jeopardy of missing time.
Whether you need bye-week fill-ins for Indianapolis, Miami, New England or Philadelphia players, or a Week 14 streamer, make sure to check out The Action Network’s top targets at each position — all of whom are available in at least 50% of Yahoo! leagues — who you should prioritize come Tuesday night.
Note: Yahoo! roster percentages are reflected in parenthesis and as of Monday.
Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups
Fantasy Waiver QBs to Target
Taysom Hill, Saints (34% rostered)
It wasn't the prettiest, but Hill did get the job done for fantasy in his first start this year. He completed 19 of 41 attempts for 264 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions for a lackluster passing performance, but tacked on 11 carries for 101 yards on the ground. His upside is inextricably tied to his rushing prowess, which is unlikely to be impacted by his finger injury. He has low-end QB1 streaming value in the right matchup, which should come as early as next week on the road against the Jets.
Priority: High.
Cam Newton, Panthers (29%)
I suspect this will not be the most popular name in this column, as many managers were burned by Newton's rancid Week 12 performance in Miami, though the Dolphins defense has looked a lot better of late. The former NFL MVP completed just five of 21 attempts for 92 yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions and tacked on three rushes for five yards and a touchdown. A dud like this was always within the range of outcomes for Newton, who posted a 26-fantasy point game the week prior. Perhaps the ousting of offensive coordinator Joe Brady coupled with the soft Week 14 matchup against Atlanta could be just what the doctor ordered for Newton vis-à-vis fantasy.
Priority: Low to medium if streaming quarterbacks.
Gardner Minshew II, Eagles (5%)
Minshew got the start in a pinch this week against the Jets with Jalen Hurts unable to play with an ankle injury. He was near-perfect in the contest and completed 20 of 25 attempts for 242 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and four rushes for 11 yards. It's unlikely Philadelphia abandons the Jalen Hurts Project entirely after just one start, but who's to say the team doesn't turn to a quarterback platoon of sorts? Minshew is worth stashing in superflex and two-quarterback leagues for now, even though the Eagles' Week 14 bye.
Priority: Low to medium in superflex/two-quarterback leagues.
Fantasy Waiver RBs to Target
D'Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard (40%, 40% rostered)
Foreman led this Frankenstein backfield against the Patriots before the Titans' bye and saw 20 touches for 112 scrimmage yards, though it was Hilliard who ended up with the better day for fantasy. He tallied 13 touches for 133 all-purpose yards and a rushing touchdown, putting up his second week in a row with solid production. Both could be worth rostering, especially with the Tennessee passing game struggling.
Priority: Medium to high.
Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles (41%, 12%)
Scott was active for this game, but you wouldn't have known it from the box score. He missed practice all week with a non-COVID-19 illness, giving way to massive games from Miles Sanders and Kenny Gainwell. Sanders tallied 24 carries for 120 yards and tacked on three catches for 22 yards, while Gainwell saw 12 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 33 yards. Sanders was also banged up in the game and exited with an ankle injury that could mean more opportunities for Scott and Gainwell moving forward. Both are worth rostering if you can spare the spot through the Eagles' Week 14 bye.
Priority: Medium.
Devontae Booker, Giants (28%)
Saquon Barkley led the Giants' backfield with 11 carries for 55 yards and caught six passes for 19 yards. Booker was a factor, too, and saw six carries for 36 yards and caught four passes for 18 yards. It appears Joe Judge isn't entirely ready to hand over the reins to Barkley, who missed three weeks with an ankle injury. It's a matter of when — not if — this 4-8 Giants team starts thinking about their future beyond the 2021 season, which could mean shutting down Barkley amid another lost season. Booker's role could increase as a result down the stretch.
Priority: Low to medium.
Tevin Coleman, Jets (41%)
Coleman dominated the Jets' backfield in Week 13 and saw 11 of the teams' 14 running back carries. He accounted for 59 yards and reeled in three of four targets for 19 yards. It appears he will be the alpha while Michael Carter is on injured reserve ahead of Ty Johnson, who saw one carry for one yard in the contest. The Jets face the Saints next week in what could be a dicey matchup.
Priority: Low to medium.
Rashaad Penny and Adrian Peterson, Seahawks (6%, 15%)
Penny and the newly-added Peterson split carries during the Seahawks' 30-23 win over the 49ers. Penny saw 10 carries for 35 yards and caught a 27-yard pass while Peterson saw 11 carries for 16 yards and a touchdown. Peterson's patented 1.5 yards per carry won't turn many heads, but he does remain a touchdown threat — even in his advanced age. Both are deep-league considerations only.
Priority: Low.
Carlos Hyde, Jaguars (12%)
Jaguars' star running back James Robinson was a game-time decision for this contest against the Rams due to heel and knee injuries. He ultimately played, but split carries with Hyde and saw eight carries for 24 yards and caught one pass for 11 yards. Hyde saw nine carries for 24 yards and a touchdown and could see more work with Robinson seemingly becoming a permanent fixture on the injury report this year.
Priority: Low.
Fantasy Waiver WRs to Target
K.J. Osborn, Vikings (3% rostered)
Osborn was used sparingly in the team's Week 13 loss to the Lions and was the Vikings' third-most targeted player behind Justin Jefferson and Tyler Conklin. He caught four of seven targets for 47 yards and a touchdown and could be in for a significant uptick in targets while Adam Thielen nurses a sprained ankle. Thielen will likely be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks depending on the severity of the sprain. Osborn would be next in line as the Vikings' No. 2 — an enviable role given Thielen has already found the end zone 10 times this year.
Priority: High.
Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds, Lions (6%, 4%)
St. Brown led the Lions in every receiving category in the team's first win of the season against the Vikings. He caught 10 of 12 targets for 86 yards and a touchdown and could be emerging as the No. 1 receiver on Detroit's unimpressive depth chart. Reynolds also had a nice day for fantasy and reeled in four of seven targets for 69 yards. He could be a nice deeper-league add.
Priority: Medium to high for St. Brown; medium for Reynolds.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers (18%)
Valdes-Scantling has been peppered with targets of late and saw 19 targets over the two games prior to the Packers' Week 13 bye. He could be emerging as Aaron Rodgers' No. 2 option behind Davante Adams and has high-upside flex appeal, especially in Green Bay's Week 14 matchup against the Bears.
Priority: Medium.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans (13%)
Westbrook-Ikhine caught two of six targets for 25 yards and the Titans' lone passing touchdown before their Week 13 bye. The nice performance comes on the heels of his first 100-yard game this year. He will be well-rested entering Tennessee's Week 14 matchup against Jacksonville and could be the team's No. 1 wideout once again with A.J. Brown and Julio Jones banged up.
Priority: Medium.
Russell Gage, Falcons (34%)
Gage posted another solid game this week against the Buccaneers. He caught six of seven targets for 62 yards and a touchdown — his best fantasy performance of the season. The Year 4 wideout has at least six targets in five of seven games this year and could have deeper league flex appeal down the stretch.
Priority: Low to medium.
DeAndre Carter and Adam Humphries, Washington (4%, <1%)
Humphries tied Logan Thomas and Terry McLaurin as the second-most targeted pass catcher for Washington this week. He caught four of five targets for 38 yards while Carter caught just one pass for six yards. Carter did have a three-game touchdown streak going in Weeks 8, 10 and 11 (Week 9 bye). Both could see an increase in targets with tight end Logan Thomas out for the year with a torn ACL and MCL.
Priority: Low.
Fantasy Waiver TEs to Target
Tyler Conklin, Vikings (30% rostered)
Conklin was the Vikings' second-most targeted pass catcher in the team's 29-27 stunning defeat to the Lions. He has been a serviceable streaming option in the right matchups and could have an increase in targets in store while Adam Thielen misses time with a sprained ankle. Conklin is a nice streamer for any Dallas Goedert, Mike Gesicki or Hunter Henry managers for this week.
Priority: Medium to high.
John Bates, Washington (<1%)
You could be forgiven for not knowing who the Football Team's third-string tight end is. Apparently it's Bates behind Logan Thomas — who suffered a torn ACL and MCL during the team's Week 13 matchup in Las Vegas — and Ricky Seals-Jones — who has been out since Week 10 with a hip injury. Bates reeled in three of four targets for 42 yards last week and could have some TE2 or deeper league streaming potential with Thomas likely done for the year.
Priority: Low.
How would you rate this article?
Follow Us On Social
