The 12th week of the 2016 regular season is just about coming to a close with only the Monday Night Football game remaining. Most fantasy football leagues will run their waiver wires late Tuesday or early Wednesday, but we are here to help you get a jump on the best options to consider.
We will be ranking the top players likely to be available in your league at each of the major positions. Some weeks there might not be many good options available, but we’ll scour for the best we can find. Additionally, throughout the week, we will update each of these articles as ownership percentages change (via Yahoo!) and news arrives.
Waiver wire wide receiver rankings, Week 13
1. Anquan Boldin, Detroit Lions (22 percent owned)
The decline of Marvin Jones appears to have most benefited Boldin over the past few weeks. The veteran receiver caught seven passes for 69 yards and a touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Vikings on Thanksgiving. The sure-handed receiver has grown from a red zone target for Matthew Stafford to a quality option, regardless of the Lions’ position on the field. Boldin should continue this production with a favorable matchup against the Saints in Week 13.
2. Torrey Smith, San Francisco 49ers (17 percent owned)
There is no arguing that Smith is a talented receiver; however, his fantasy production has been severely limited by San Francisco’s impotent offense. The 49ers do appear to be improving though, and Smith’s shoulder injury that kept him out of a loss against the Patriots should continue to get better. The San Francisco receiver caught three passes for 24 yards and a score in the 49ers’ loss to the Dolphins. Smith’s usage/production is trending upward.
3. Marqise Lee, Jacksonville Jaguars (10 percent owned)
The Jaguars feature one of the more pass-heavy offenses in the league, a fact that greatly benefits its receivers, including Lee. He caught four passes for 37 yards and a score in the Jaguars’ loss to the Bills. Lee led the team in targets, and with Allen Hurns questionable due to a hamstring injury, Lee will carry a good deal of upside moving into next week.
4. Taylor Gabriel, Atlanta Falcons (five percent owned)
Gabriel has been producing for the past three games he’s played in, and against Arizona he further demonstrated his ability to produce fantasy points. The Falcons receiver caught four passes for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Atlanta’s win over Arizona. In addition, he rushed once for 27 yards. Gabriel tends to be more of a vertical threat, which can lead to inconsistent production. However, Atlanta’s offense is one of the best in the league, and Gabriel is likely to continue his involvement moving forward.
5. Dontrelle Inman, San Diego Chargers (four percent owned)
San Diego owns a very potent passing offense sustained by Philip Rivers — this despite the lack of healthy receivers. Inman caught six passes for 119 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers’ win over the Texans. With Travis Benjamin returning from an injury with little production, and Tyrell Williams’s status not looking good with a shoulder injury, Inman should receive a larger share of the targets moving forward.
6. Malcolm Mitchell, New England Patriots (two percent owned)
Mitchell benefited from the Patriots losing a significant receiving target in Rob Gronkowski during Week 12. The New England wide receiver caught five passes for 42 yards and two scores in the Patriots’ win over the Jets. In addition, Mitchell dropped two other passes in the end zone which could’ve added to his production. The Patriots have a stable of competent receiving targets, leading to production that can be difficult to predict, but Mitchell looks to be a good depth receiver with great upside, especially if any of the receivers ahead of him miss time.
