Tell your friends (just not your leaguemates until next week)

by Optimus Staff

Published On: November 24th, 2025

Thanksgiving week is finally here, and while everyone else is arguing about who ruined the mashed potatoes or why the turkey is somehow both dry and undercooked, you’re focused on the only feast that really matters: the Week 13 waiver wire buffet. Playoff spots are tightening like your waistband after round three, and this is the time of year when the so-called “leftovers” can turn into a full-blown league-winning meal. Grab a plate, shove your way to the front, and let’s see what the Optimus team has cooked up for you this week.

THERE ARE NO BYES THIS WEEK!!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!!

Week 13 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we start to turn our attention to playoff runs, now is the time to start making sure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you end up losing your high-end RB to injury. So every week, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints | Sleeper 10% | ESPN 1.8%% | FAAB 50%

Before we go getting ahead of ourselves with Devin Neal here, I want to make one thing very clear – this is a terrible offense that insists on using Taysom Hill way more than it should. I mean, 10 carries for 17 yards to a 35-year-old pseudo-TE. What are we doing here? So we really need to limit our expectations for his rushing output. In addition, the offense doesn’t score, so his TD output is more than likely to be 0.

Now with that out of the way, starter Alvin Kamara has an MCL injury. We don’t know how severe it is, but it’s reasonable to expect he will miss at least a week and potentially the rest of the year. While Neal’s ceiling is capped, his five receptions on seven targets in Week 12 show an active involvement in the passing game, which will keep his floor nice and high. In other words, he’s doing what we hoped we’d get out of Alvin Kamara coming into the year. For those of you with any PPR element in your league, this is free money.

You shouldn’t rush out to add Neal because you think you have a new RB1, but for a guy who will float around that RB2/RB3  cusp and be a solid contributor in a Flex role? Neal will be invaluable for as long as Kamara is sidelined. 

Week 13 Handcuff Who Matters:

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams | Sleeper 23% | ESPN 13.7% | FAAB 5-10%

Embed from Getty Images

With Matt Stafford tearing up the NFL, the Rams’ rushing attack in general has fallen off of late. Even with that in mind, Blake Corum needs to be rostered for all Kyren Williams managers. The Rams do a great job of funneling their offense through their top options, meaning Corum if Williams goes down. With an acceptable 4.15 YPC average, if Corum is getting 15-20 touches per game, there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t be an RB2 week-in and week-out, with RB1 upside thanks to the Rams’ prolific offense. Thanks to his time at Michigan, Corum is also used to being the centerpiece of an offense, so the added wear and tear on his body shouldn’t be a problem.

Wide Receivers:

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans | Sleeper 24% | ESPN 23.3% | FAAB 4-6%

To say that the Houston Texans’ receiving corps has been frustrating is an understatement. Constantly playing veterans like Christian Kirk and Xavier Hutchinson over Day 2 rookies like Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins has sapped this team of much-needed juice within their pass-catching group outside of Nico Collins. At least Higgins has seen his playing time increase over the past month.

Higgins saw his second-highest routes per dropback of the season (68%) with a season-high nine targets in the Thursday game against the Buffalo Bills. It was a little inefficient, with a 4-38 line, but he also scored his third touchdown in his last five games. It’s been more of a slow burn than a meteoric rise for Higgins, which can be a little annoying for fantasy managers. However, he’s getting to where we want him for fantasy. Luckily, there’s still room to grow as well, so he’s a player I’m looking to stash at the very least for the end of the fantasy season and into the playoffs.

Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 36% | ESPN 11.2% | FAAB 3-4%

Embed from Getty Images

With Ja’Marr Chase spitting his way onto a real-life bench in addition to fantasy benches in Week, Andrei Iosivas got to see a little more time in the sun next to Tee Higgins in Week 12. While Iosivas has been a consistent route runner this season for Cincinnati, he’s rarely targeted in his WR3 role – a similar role to Jahan Dotson in Philadelphia. However, unlike Dotson and the Eagles, Iosivas finds fantasy relevance when players are out of the lineup, and we got that this week. With a 4-61 line on six targets, Iosivas was solid at the very least. That will likely continue in Week 13, albeit for injury-related reasons.

With Tee Higgins already ruled out for Thursday, that puts Iosivas back on the menu for a spot start against Baltimore, which allows the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. With the Bengals slicing their tight end pie four ways in most games, that leaves Chase and Iosivas as the players who will run routes at or close to full route participation. That’s hard to find on the waiver wire, but it’s likely as a one-week add. If you need the spot start, Iosivas is the pickup for Week 13.

Quarterbacks:

* As a general rule, these fantasy football waiver wire QB recommendations apply to 2QB and Superflex leagues, unless otherwise noted.

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans | Sleeper 15% | ESPN 5.2% | FAAB 0-1%

If you’re out in these streets looking for a QB ahead of Week 13, pickings are thin, my friends. However, a coaching change and some confidence have given us a late-bloomer who could help you lock down your lineups ahead of the fantasy football playoffs.

Yes, I am talking about Titans’ rookie QB Cam Ward, and no, I have not been kidnapped. 

The hyped-up rookie from Miami hasn’t exactly had the easiest freshman NFL campaign. Through his first six NFL games, Ward was the overall QB33, logging only two games with double-digit fantasy points. 

After Ward’s ugly start and a coinciding 1-5 record, the team parted ways with head coach Brian Callahan, naming offensive coordinator Mike McCoy the interim head coach.

Since McCoy’s takeover, we’ve seen noticeable improvement from Ward. Aside from a bleak Week 9 performance against the Chargers, the rookie has cut down on mistakes, throwing only three INTs – none since Week 8 – and losing just one fumble. Ward is getting more comfortable with his feet, as well, notching nine carries for 70 yards and a rushing TD over his last two games.

Last week’s game against Seattle highlighted the rookie’s progress, with Ward logging 23.9 fantasy points and ranking QB4 on the week ahead of Monday Night Football. That’s a much improved ceiling to go along with a much higher floor – double-digit points every week – than we had from him early in the season. He won’t be a smash start in any week, but he’ll be a viable security blanket option in a pinch as bye weeks and injuries pile up.

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars | Sleeper 43% | ESPN 28.8% | FAAB 10-15%

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For as much as I have called Jaguars’ QB Trevor Lawrence mid this season, it might be time to admit that the fifth-year signal caller is showing signs of life as we approach the fantasy playoffs.

Through Jacksonville’s first seven games this season, Lawrence was boring and inefficient. Heading into their bye in Week 8, he was completing 58 percent of his passes, throwing for nine TDs and five INTs, and ranked as QB18 in fantasy points per game.  

Since the team’s bye, however, the former first-overall pick has been QB6 in total points and QB12 in points per game. The uptick has been mainly due to an increase in rushing volume for Lawrence, who has 97 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 24 attempts over the last four games. In that span, he also has five passing TDs, six INTs and two lost fumbles.

I can’t say for certain whether Lawrence will continue to slot in as a top 12 QB for the rest of the season, and I’m not willing to risk finding out now in 1QB leagues. However, in 2QB formats, he’s a solid starter for most of the rest of this season. 

The Jaguars’ next three games are against Tennessee, Indianapolis and the New York Jets, all solid matchups for Lawrence. You might want to let him ride the bench in Week 16 versus Denver, but he’ll be viable again in the fantasy championships against Indianapolis in Week 17, should you be so lucky to make it there. 

Tight Ends:

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars | Sleeper 23% | ESPN 10.9% | FAAB 45% 

On The Express Sunday evening, I talked about how I can absolutely see Brenton Strange as a TE1 the rest of the season. Now, I’m not saying he’s a top option, but it’s more than that. Outside of Trey McBride, the TE position has been an overall disappointment this year. Again. Even Tyler Warren and Brock Bowers have turned in disappointing seasons, despite oodles of promise for both at different times. It’s as much the fact that nobody is keeping Brenton Strange out of the TE1 club as anything else.

Now, with that said, it’s not like Strange is some slouch. Before his injury, Strange was a centerpiece of the Jacksonville offense, and that was back when both Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas were healthy, neither of whom is healthy now. In his first game back from IR, Strange turned in a very passable 5/93 stat line on seven targets. Yes, it’s still Trevor Lawrence throwing the ball, but any TE who can put up those kinds of numbers needs to be rostered. And probably starting more often than not, come to think of it.

It’s not easy to find starters on the waiver wire at this time of year. If you need a TE and the rest of your roster is settled, you’re perfectly justified in spending 100% of whatever is left of your FAAB on Strange. If not, though, about half of whatever you have left is a good plan.

Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.3% | FAAB 3-5%

Considering how the season started, it’s odd to think about Cam Ward as a potentially viable NFL QB. As one of the beneficiaries of this, Gunnar Helm becomes one of our sneaky TE options. In fact, Helm tied for the team lead in targets in Week 12 with seven, and he was able to turn six of them into receptions for 51 yards. 

Dynamic? Heck no! But he’s serviceable. And if you’ve been rolling out the likes of Harold Fannin over the last several weeks, lost Sam LaPorta, or just sick of suffering through T.J. Hockenson or Kyle Pitts, Gunnar Helm is a low-ceiling, high-floor replacement. We know Tennessee is going to throw the ball a lot. It appears that Ward can do enough with the ball to get Helm some volume. In Week 13 onward? We take those.

Don’t break the bank on him; this could very well be a one-week wonder for Helm. But 5% of your remaining FAAB on the chance that he produces at this level for the rest of the year is well worth it.

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:


Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 3% | ESPN 2.3% | FAAB 0-1%

To be clear, this one falls under the one-week-rental category. The Miami Dolphins D/ST unit has been pretty bad this season, logging only two games with double-digit fantasy points through 11 games. However, this week the hapless Dolphins are up against the equally hapless New Orleans Saints, who are giving up the fifth most points to fantasy D/STs (9.7).

You can close your eyes while you submit the claim if you’d like, but the Dolphins are a solid option as a streaming unit in Week 12. The Tyler Shough-led Saints gave up 16 fantasy points to a middle-of-the-road Atlanta defense last week, and with RB Alvin Kamara possibly out, it’s only going to get worse for New Orleans. Take advantage of this week and lock in the Miami defense for free on the waiver wire – then kick them to the curb before Week 14.

Atlanta Falcons | Sleeper 46% | ESPN 36.4% | FAAB 0-1%

Yes, I am recommending a D/ST unit I just called middle-of-the-road as a solid fantasy football waiver wire pickup. While the Atlanta Falcons unit isn’t impressive, they draw another soft matchup this weekend against the Tyrod Taylor-led New York Jets.

It’s no secret, nor is it shocking, that the 2025 Jets squad is a disaster. In keeping with tradition, they can’t decide on a QB, and their stars are either underperforming or injured. With Justin Fields benched and Taylor firmly locked in as the starter, they host a Falcons defense that harassed rookie Saints QB Tyler Shough into two turnovers and no touchdowns with five sacks last weekend. It’s fair to say the Jets’ line is worse than the Saints’, and Taylor might spend a good portion of this Sunday on his back at Met Life Stadium.

After this week, Atlanta will turn back into the pumpkin it is, but you can ride them this week and feel very good about it. They shouldn’t cost you much, if anything, on the waiver wire, and you can move on from them ahead of Week 14. 

Kickers:

Harrison Mevis, Los Angeles Rams | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 24.6% | FAAB 0-1%

The thiccer kicker is here, folks, and it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere anytime soon. Harrison Mevis, who stands 6-feet and 245 pounds, was elevated from the practice squad by the Los Angeles Rams after fellow kicker Joshua Karty struggled through the first nine games of the season. Since taking over kicking duties in Week 10, Mevis has been perfect, making all 13 of his PAT attempts and nailing both of his field goal attempts – both over 40 yards. 

While Karty remains on the active roster in Los Angeles, Mevis has locked himself in as the kicker for a very powerful offense that seems to score at will. Since taking over, Mevis is ranked as K11, with last week’s 13-point performance making him K4 ahead of Monday Night Football.

If you’re still streaming kickers, Mevis is a very solid and inexpensive option on the waiver wire. Despite the fantastic nickname, there’s been little fantasy hype behind him, and he should be free on your waiver wire this week. If you’re tired of the streaming game, set and forget Mevis for the rest of the season.

Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans | Sleeper 36% | ESPN 34.7% | FAAB 2-3%

If you need to solidify your kicker slot ahead of a fantasy football playoff run, there isn’t going to be a better option on the waiver wire than Ka’imi Fairbairn ahead of Week 13. 

The 10th-year kicker out of UCLA has been brilliant this season and is currently ranked as the K5, despite missing two games. As many managers do in kicker leagues, Fairbairn was dropped en masse after missing two games due to an injury in Week 9 against Denver. However, after the break, Fairbairn came back in force this past weekend, logging 12 fantasy points in a shocking win over the Buffalo Bills.

Fairbairn has been the most consistent kicker in the league this season, aside from Brandon Aubrey in Dallas. His floor is safe – sitting around eight points every week – and his ceiling is well into the double digits. If you’re hunting for a kicker and Fairbairn is available, he should be your first priority, though you shouldn’t need to pay up to roster the veteran Texan.

For more wavier wire advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

Thanksgiving week is finally here, and while everyone else is arguing about who ruined the mashed potatoes or why the turkey is somehow both dry and undercooked, you’re focused on the only feast that really matters: the Week 13 waiver wire buffet. Playoff spots are tightening like your waistband after round three, and this is the time of year when the so-called “leftovers” can turn into a full-blown league-winning meal. Grab a plate, shove your way to the front, and let’s see what the Optimus team has cooked up for you this week.

THERE ARE NO BYES THIS WEEK!!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!!

Week 13 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we start to turn our attention to playoff runs, now is the time to start making sure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you end up losing your high-end RB to injury. So every week, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints | Sleeper 10% | ESPN 1.8%% | FAAB 50%

Before we go getting ahead of ourselves with Devin Neal here, I want to make one thing very clear – this is a terrible offense that insists on using Taysom Hill way more than it should. I mean, 10 carries for 17 yards to a 35-year-old pseudo-TE. What are we doing here? So we really need to limit our expectations for his rushing output. In addition, the offense doesn’t score, so his TD output is more than likely to be 0.

Now with that out of the way, starter Alvin Kamara has an MCL injury. We don’t know how severe it is, but it’s reasonable to expect he will miss at least a week and potentially the rest of the year. While Neal’s ceiling is capped, his five receptions on seven targets in Week 12 show an active involvement in the passing game, which will keep his floor nice and high. In other words, he’s doing what we hoped we’d get out of Alvin Kamara coming into the year. For those of you with any PPR element in your league, this is free money.

You shouldn’t rush out to add Neal because you think you have a new RB1, but for a guy who will float around that RB2/RB3  cusp and be a solid contributor in a Flex role? Neal will be invaluable for as long as Kamara is sidelined. 

Week 13 Handcuff Who Matters:

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams | Sleeper 23% | ESPN 13.7% | FAAB 5-10%

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With Matt Stafford tearing up the NFL, the Rams’ rushing attack in general has fallen off of late. Even with that in mind, Blake Corum needs to be rostered for all Kyren Williams managers. The Rams do a great job of funneling their offense through their top options, meaning Corum if Williams goes down. With an acceptable 4.15 YPC average, if Corum is getting 15-20 touches per game, there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t be an RB2 week-in and week-out, with RB1 upside thanks to the Rams’ prolific offense. Thanks to his time at Michigan, Corum is also used to being the centerpiece of an offense, so the added wear and tear on his body shouldn’t be a problem.

Wide Receivers:

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans | Sleeper 24% | ESPN 23.3% | FAAB 4-6%

To say that the Houston Texans’ receiving corps has been frustrating is an understatement. Constantly playing veterans like Christian Kirk and Xavier Hutchinson over Day 2 rookies like Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins has sapped this team of much-needed juice within their pass-catching group outside of Nico Collins. At least Higgins has seen his playing time increase over the past month.

Higgins saw his second-highest routes per dropback of the season (68%) with a season-high nine targets in the Thursday game against the Buffalo Bills. It was a little inefficient, with a 4-38 line, but he also scored his third touchdown in his last five games. It’s been more of a slow burn than a meteoric rise for Higgins, which can be a little annoying for fantasy managers. However, he’s getting to where we want him for fantasy. Luckily, there’s still room to grow as well, so he’s a player I’m looking to stash at the very least for the end of the fantasy season and into the playoffs.

Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 36% | ESPN 11.2% | FAAB 3-4%

Embed from Getty Images

With Ja’Marr Chase spitting his way onto a real-life bench in addition to fantasy benches in Week, Andrei Iosivas got to see a little more time in the sun next to Tee Higgins in Week 12. While Iosivas has been a consistent route runner this season for Cincinnati, he’s rarely targeted in his WR3 role – a similar role to Jahan Dotson in Philadelphia. However, unlike Dotson and the Eagles, Iosivas finds fantasy relevance when players are out of the lineup, and we got that this week. With a 4-61 line on six targets, Iosivas was solid at the very least. That will likely continue in Week 13, albeit for injury-related reasons.

With Tee Higgins already ruled out for Thursday, that puts Iosivas back on the menu for a spot start against Baltimore, which allows the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. With the Bengals slicing their tight end pie four ways in most games, that leaves Chase and Iosivas as the players who will run routes at or close to full route participation. That’s hard to find on the waiver wire, but it’s likely as a one-week add. If you need the spot start, Iosivas is the pickup for Week 13.

Quarterbacks:

* As a general rule, these fantasy football waiver wire QB recommendations apply to 2QB and Superflex leagues, unless otherwise noted.

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans | Sleeper 15% | ESPN 5.2% | FAAB 0-1%

If you’re out in these streets looking for a QB ahead of Week 13, pickings are thin, my friends. However, a coaching change and some confidence have given us a late-bloomer who could help you lock down your lineups ahead of the fantasy football playoffs.

Yes, I am talking about Titans’ rookie QB Cam Ward, and no, I have not been kidnapped. 

The hyped-up rookie from Miami hasn’t exactly had the easiest freshman NFL campaign. Through his first six NFL games, Ward was the overall QB33, logging only two games with double-digit fantasy points. 

After Ward’s ugly start and a coinciding 1-5 record, the team parted ways with head coach Brian Callahan, naming offensive coordinator Mike McCoy the interim head coach.

Since McCoy’s takeover, we’ve seen noticeable improvement from Ward. Aside from a bleak Week 9 performance against the Chargers, the rookie has cut down on mistakes, throwing only three INTs – none since Week 8 – and losing just one fumble. Ward is getting more comfortable with his feet, as well, notching nine carries for 70 yards and a rushing TD over his last two games.

Last week’s game against Seattle highlighted the rookie’s progress, with Ward logging 23.9 fantasy points and ranking QB4 on the week ahead of Monday Night Football. That’s a much improved ceiling to go along with a much higher floor – double-digit points every week – than we had from him early in the season. He won’t be a smash start in any week, but he’ll be a viable security blanket option in a pinch as bye weeks and injuries pile up.

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars | Sleeper 43% | ESPN 28.8% | FAAB 10-15%

Embed from Getty Images

For as much as I have called Jaguars’ QB Trevor Lawrence mid this season, it might be time to admit that the fifth-year signal caller is showing signs of life as we approach the fantasy playoffs.

Through Jacksonville’s first seven games this season, Lawrence was boring and inefficient. Heading into their bye in Week 8, he was completing 58 percent of his passes, throwing for nine TDs and five INTs, and ranked as QB18 in fantasy points per game.  

Since the team’s bye, however, the former first-overall pick has been QB6 in total points and QB12 in points per game. The uptick has been mainly due to an increase in rushing volume for Lawrence, who has 97 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 24 attempts over the last four games. In that span, he also has five passing TDs, six INTs and two lost fumbles.

I can’t say for certain whether Lawrence will continue to slot in as a top 12 QB for the rest of the season, and I’m not willing to risk finding out now in 1QB leagues. However, in 2QB formats, he’s a solid starter for most of the rest of this season. 

The Jaguars’ next three games are against Tennessee, Indianapolis and the New York Jets, all solid matchups for Lawrence. You might want to let him ride the bench in Week 16 versus Denver, but he’ll be viable again in the fantasy championships against Indianapolis in Week 17, should you be so lucky to make it there. 

Tight Ends:

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars | Sleeper 23% | ESPN 10.9% | FAAB 45% 

On The Express Sunday evening, I talked about how I can absolutely see Brenton Strange as a TE1 the rest of the season. Now, I’m not saying he’s a top option, but it’s more than that. Outside of Trey McBride, the TE position has been an overall disappointment this year. Again. Even Tyler Warren and Brock Bowers have turned in disappointing seasons, despite oodles of promise for both at different times. It’s as much the fact that nobody is keeping Brenton Strange out of the TE1 club as anything else.

Now, with that said, it’s not like Strange is some slouch. Before his injury, Strange was a centerpiece of the Jacksonville offense, and that was back when both Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas were healthy, neither of whom is healthy now. In his first game back from IR, Strange turned in a very passable 5/93 stat line on seven targets. Yes, it’s still Trevor Lawrence throwing the ball, but any TE who can put up those kinds of numbers needs to be rostered. And probably starting more often than not, come to think of it.

It’s not easy to find starters on the waiver wire at this time of year. If you need a TE and the rest of your roster is settled, you’re perfectly justified in spending 100% of whatever is left of your FAAB on Strange. If not, though, about half of whatever you have left is a good plan.

Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.3% | FAAB 3-5%

Considering how the season started, it’s odd to think about Cam Ward as a potentially viable NFL QB. As one of the beneficiaries of this, Gunnar Helm becomes one of our sneaky TE options. In fact, Helm tied for the team lead in targets in Week 12 with seven, and he was able to turn six of them into receptions for 51 yards. 

Dynamic? Heck no! But he’s serviceable. And if you’ve been rolling out the likes of Harold Fannin over the last several weeks, lost Sam LaPorta, or just sick of suffering through T.J. Hockenson or Kyle Pitts, Gunnar Helm is a low-ceiling, high-floor replacement. We know Tennessee is going to throw the ball a lot. It appears that Ward can do enough with the ball to get Helm some volume. In Week 13 onward? We take those.

Don’t break the bank on him; this could very well be a one-week wonder for Helm. But 5% of your remaining FAAB on the chance that he produces at this level for the rest of the year is well worth it.

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:


Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 3% | ESPN 2.3% | FAAB 0-1%

To be clear, this one falls under the one-week-rental category. The Miami Dolphins D/ST unit has been pretty bad this season, logging only two games with double-digit fantasy points through 11 games. However, this week the hapless Dolphins are up against the equally hapless New Orleans Saints, who are giving up the fifth most points to fantasy D/STs (9.7).

You can close your eyes while you submit the claim if you’d like, but the Dolphins are a solid option as a streaming unit in Week 12. The Tyler Shough-led Saints gave up 16 fantasy points to a middle-of-the-road Atlanta defense last week, and with RB Alvin Kamara possibly out, it’s only going to get worse for New Orleans. Take advantage of this week and lock in the Miami defense for free on the waiver wire – then kick them to the curb before Week 14.

Atlanta Falcons | Sleeper 46% | ESPN 36.4% | FAAB 0-1%

Yes, I am recommending a D/ST unit I just called middle-of-the-road as a solid fantasy football waiver wire pickup. While the Atlanta Falcons unit isn’t impressive, they draw another soft matchup this weekend against the Tyrod Taylor-led New York Jets.

It’s no secret, nor is it shocking, that the 2025 Jets squad is a disaster. In keeping with tradition, they can’t decide on a QB, and their stars are either underperforming or injured. With Justin Fields benched and Taylor firmly locked in as the starter, they host a Falcons defense that harassed rookie Saints QB Tyler Shough into two turnovers and no touchdowns with five sacks last weekend. It’s fair to say the Jets’ line is worse than the Saints’, and Taylor might spend a good portion of this Sunday on his back at Met Life Stadium.

After this week, Atlanta will turn back into the pumpkin it is, but you can ride them this week and feel very good about it. They shouldn’t cost you much, if anything, on the waiver wire, and you can move on from them ahead of Week 14. 

Kickers:

Harrison Mevis, Los Angeles Rams | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 24.6% | FAAB 0-1%

The thiccer kicker is here, folks, and it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere anytime soon. Harrison Mevis, who stands 6-feet and 245 pounds, was elevated from the practice squad by the Los Angeles Rams after fellow kicker Joshua Karty struggled through the first nine games of the season. Since taking over kicking duties in Week 10, Mevis has been perfect, making all 13 of his PAT attempts and nailing both of his field goal attempts – both over 40 yards. 

While Karty remains on the active roster in Los Angeles, Mevis has locked himself in as the kicker for a very powerful offense that seems to score at will. Since taking over, Mevis is ranked as K11, with last week’s 13-point performance making him K4 ahead of Monday Night Football.

If you’re still streaming kickers, Mevis is a very solid and inexpensive option on the waiver wire. Despite the fantastic nickname, there’s been little fantasy hype behind him, and he should be free on your waiver wire this week. If you’re tired of the streaming game, set and forget Mevis for the rest of the season.

Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans | Sleeper 36% | ESPN 34.7% | FAAB 2-3%

If you need to solidify your kicker slot ahead of a fantasy football playoff run, there isn’t going to be a better option on the waiver wire than Ka’imi Fairbairn ahead of Week 13. 

The 10th-year kicker out of UCLA has been brilliant this season and is currently ranked as the K5, despite missing two games. As many managers do in kicker leagues, Fairbairn was dropped en masse after missing two games due to an injury in Week 9 against Denver. However, after the break, Fairbairn came back in force this past weekend, logging 12 fantasy points in a shocking win over the Buffalo Bills.

Fairbairn has been the most consistent kicker in the league this season, aside from Brandon Aubrey in Dallas. His floor is safe – sitting around eight points every week – and his ceiling is well into the double digits. If you’re hunting for a kicker and Fairbairn is available, he should be your first priority, though you shouldn’t need to pay up to roster the veteran Texan.

For more wavier wire advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

Thanksgiving week is finally here, and while everyone else is arguing about who ruined the mashed potatoes or why the turkey is somehow both dry and undercooked, you’re focused on the only feast that really matters: the Week 13 waiver wire buffet. Playoff spots are tightening like your waistband after round three, and this is the time of year when the so-called “leftovers” can turn into a full-blown league-winning meal. Grab a plate, shove your way to the front, and let’s see what the Optimus team has cooked up for you this week.

THERE ARE NO BYES THIS WEEK!!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!!

Week 13 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we start to turn our attention to playoff runs, now is the time to start making sure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you end up losing your high-end RB to injury. So every week, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints | Sleeper 10% | ESPN 1.8%% | FAAB 50%

Before we go getting ahead of ourselves with Devin Neal here, I want to make one thing very clear – this is a terrible offense that insists on using Taysom Hill way more than it should. I mean, 10 carries for 17 yards to a 35-year-old pseudo-TE. What are we doing here? So we really need to limit our expectations for his rushing output. In addition, the offense doesn’t score, so his TD output is more than likely to be 0.

Now with that out of the way, starter Alvin Kamara has an MCL injury. We don’t know how severe it is, but it’s reasonable to expect he will miss at least a week and potentially the rest of the year. While Neal’s ceiling is capped, his five receptions on seven targets in Week 12 show an active involvement in the passing game, which will keep his floor nice and high. In other words, he’s doing what we hoped we’d get out of Alvin Kamara coming into the year. For those of you with any PPR element in your league, this is free money.

You shouldn’t rush out to add Neal because you think you have a new RB1, but for a guy who will float around that RB2/RB3  cusp and be a solid contributor in a Flex role? Neal will be invaluable for as long as Kamara is sidelined. 

Week 13 Handcuff Who Matters:

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams | Sleeper 23% | ESPN 13.7% | FAAB 5-10%

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With Matt Stafford tearing up the NFL, the Rams’ rushing attack in general has fallen off of late. Even with that in mind, Blake Corum needs to be rostered for all Kyren Williams managers. The Rams do a great job of funneling their offense through their top options, meaning Corum if Williams goes down. With an acceptable 4.15 YPC average, if Corum is getting 15-20 touches per game, there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t be an RB2 week-in and week-out, with RB1 upside thanks to the Rams’ prolific offense. Thanks to his time at Michigan, Corum is also used to being the centerpiece of an offense, so the added wear and tear on his body shouldn’t be a problem.

Wide Receivers:

Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans | Sleeper 24% | ESPN 23.3% | FAAB 4-6%

To say that the Houston Texans’ receiving corps has been frustrating is an understatement. Constantly playing veterans like Christian Kirk and Xavier Hutchinson over Day 2 rookies like Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins has sapped this team of much-needed juice within their pass-catching group outside of Nico Collins. At least Higgins has seen his playing time increase over the past month.

Higgins saw his second-highest routes per dropback of the season (68%) with a season-high nine targets in the Thursday game against the Buffalo Bills. It was a little inefficient, with a 4-38 line, but he also scored his third touchdown in his last five games. It’s been more of a slow burn than a meteoric rise for Higgins, which can be a little annoying for fantasy managers. However, he’s getting to where we want him for fantasy. Luckily, there’s still room to grow as well, so he’s a player I’m looking to stash at the very least for the end of the fantasy season and into the playoffs.

Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 36% | ESPN 11.2% | FAAB 3-4%

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With Ja’Marr Chase spitting his way onto a real-life bench in addition to fantasy benches in Week, Andrei Iosivas got to see a little more time in the sun next to Tee Higgins in Week 12. While Iosivas has been a consistent route runner this season for Cincinnati, he’s rarely targeted in his WR3 role – a similar role to Jahan Dotson in Philadelphia. However, unlike Dotson and the Eagles, Iosivas finds fantasy relevance when players are out of the lineup, and we got that this week. With a 4-61 line on six targets, Iosivas was solid at the very least. That will likely continue in Week 13, albeit for injury-related reasons.

With Tee Higgins already ruled out for Thursday, that puts Iosivas back on the menu for a spot start against Baltimore, which allows the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. With the Bengals slicing their tight end pie four ways in most games, that leaves Chase and Iosivas as the players who will run routes at or close to full route participation. That’s hard to find on the waiver wire, but it’s likely as a one-week add. If you need the spot start, Iosivas is the pickup for Week 13.

Quarterbacks:

* As a general rule, these fantasy football waiver wire QB recommendations apply to 2QB and Superflex leagues, unless otherwise noted.

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans | Sleeper 15% | ESPN 5.2% | FAAB 0-1%

If you’re out in these streets looking for a QB ahead of Week 13, pickings are thin, my friends. However, a coaching change and some confidence have given us a late-bloomer who could help you lock down your lineups ahead of the fantasy football playoffs.

Yes, I am talking about Titans’ rookie QB Cam Ward, and no, I have not been kidnapped. 

The hyped-up rookie from Miami hasn’t exactly had the easiest freshman NFL campaign. Through his first six NFL games, Ward was the overall QB33, logging only two games with double-digit fantasy points. 

After Ward’s ugly start and a coinciding 1-5 record, the team parted ways with head coach Brian Callahan, naming offensive coordinator Mike McCoy the interim head coach.

Since McCoy’s takeover, we’ve seen noticeable improvement from Ward. Aside from a bleak Week 9 performance against the Chargers, the rookie has cut down on mistakes, throwing only three INTs – none since Week 8 – and losing just one fumble. Ward is getting more comfortable with his feet, as well, notching nine carries for 70 yards and a rushing TD over his last two games.

Last week’s game against Seattle highlighted the rookie’s progress, with Ward logging 23.9 fantasy points and ranking QB4 on the week ahead of Monday Night Football. That’s a much improved ceiling to go along with a much higher floor – double-digit points every week – than we had from him early in the season. He won’t be a smash start in any week, but he’ll be a viable security blanket option in a pinch as bye weeks and injuries pile up.

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars | Sleeper 43% | ESPN 28.8% | FAAB 10-15%

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For as much as I have called Jaguars’ QB Trevor Lawrence mid this season, it might be time to admit that the fifth-year signal caller is showing signs of life as we approach the fantasy playoffs.

Through Jacksonville’s first seven games this season, Lawrence was boring and inefficient. Heading into their bye in Week 8, he was completing 58 percent of his passes, throwing for nine TDs and five INTs, and ranked as QB18 in fantasy points per game.  

Since the team’s bye, however, the former first-overall pick has been QB6 in total points and QB12 in points per game. The uptick has been mainly due to an increase in rushing volume for Lawrence, who has 97 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 24 attempts over the last four games. In that span, he also has five passing TDs, six INTs and two lost fumbles.

I can’t say for certain whether Lawrence will continue to slot in as a top 12 QB for the rest of the season, and I’m not willing to risk finding out now in 1QB leagues. However, in 2QB formats, he’s a solid starter for most of the rest of this season. 

The Jaguars’ next three games are against Tennessee, Indianapolis and the New York Jets, all solid matchups for Lawrence. You might want to let him ride the bench in Week 16 versus Denver, but he’ll be viable again in the fantasy championships against Indianapolis in Week 17, should you be so lucky to make it there. 

Tight Ends:

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars | Sleeper 23% | ESPN 10.9% | FAAB 45% 

On The Express Sunday evening, I talked about how I can absolutely see Brenton Strange as a TE1 the rest of the season. Now, I’m not saying he’s a top option, but it’s more than that. Outside of Trey McBride, the TE position has been an overall disappointment this year. Again. Even Tyler Warren and Brock Bowers have turned in disappointing seasons, despite oodles of promise for both at different times. It’s as much the fact that nobody is keeping Brenton Strange out of the TE1 club as anything else.

Now, with that said, it’s not like Strange is some slouch. Before his injury, Strange was a centerpiece of the Jacksonville offense, and that was back when both Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas were healthy, neither of whom is healthy now. In his first game back from IR, Strange turned in a very passable 5/93 stat line on seven targets. Yes, it’s still Trevor Lawrence throwing the ball, but any TE who can put up those kinds of numbers needs to be rostered. And probably starting more often than not, come to think of it.

It’s not easy to find starters on the waiver wire at this time of year. If you need a TE and the rest of your roster is settled, you’re perfectly justified in spending 100% of whatever is left of your FAAB on Strange. If not, though, about half of whatever you have left is a good plan.

Gunnar Helm, Tennessee Titans | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.3% | FAAB 3-5%

Considering how the season started, it’s odd to think about Cam Ward as a potentially viable NFL QB. As one of the beneficiaries of this, Gunnar Helm becomes one of our sneaky TE options. In fact, Helm tied for the team lead in targets in Week 12 with seven, and he was able to turn six of them into receptions for 51 yards. 

Dynamic? Heck no! But he’s serviceable. And if you’ve been rolling out the likes of Harold Fannin over the last several weeks, lost Sam LaPorta, or just sick of suffering through T.J. Hockenson or Kyle Pitts, Gunnar Helm is a low-ceiling, high-floor replacement. We know Tennessee is going to throw the ball a lot. It appears that Ward can do enough with the ball to get Helm some volume. In Week 13 onward? We take those.

Don’t break the bank on him; this could very well be a one-week wonder for Helm. But 5% of your remaining FAAB on the chance that he produces at this level for the rest of the year is well worth it.

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:


Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 3% | ESPN 2.3% | FAAB 0-1%

To be clear, this one falls under the one-week-rental category. The Miami Dolphins D/ST unit has been pretty bad this season, logging only two games with double-digit fantasy points through 11 games. However, this week the hapless Dolphins are up against the equally hapless New Orleans Saints, who are giving up the fifth most points to fantasy D/STs (9.7).

You can close your eyes while you submit the claim if you’d like, but the Dolphins are a solid option as a streaming unit in Week 12. The Tyler Shough-led Saints gave up 16 fantasy points to a middle-of-the-road Atlanta defense last week, and with RB Alvin Kamara possibly out, it’s only going to get worse for New Orleans. Take advantage of this week and lock in the Miami defense for free on the waiver wire – then kick them to the curb before Week 14.

Atlanta Falcons | Sleeper 46% | ESPN 36.4% | FAAB 0-1%

Yes, I am recommending a D/ST unit I just called middle-of-the-road as a solid fantasy football waiver wire pickup. While the Atlanta Falcons unit isn’t impressive, they draw another soft matchup this weekend against the Tyrod Taylor-led New York Jets.

It’s no secret, nor is it shocking, that the 2025 Jets squad is a disaster. In keeping with tradition, they can’t decide on a QB, and their stars are either underperforming or injured. With Justin Fields benched and Taylor firmly locked in as the starter, they host a Falcons defense that harassed rookie Saints QB Tyler Shough into two turnovers and no touchdowns with five sacks last weekend. It’s fair to say the Jets’ line is worse than the Saints’, and Taylor might spend a good portion of this Sunday on his back at Met Life Stadium.

After this week, Atlanta will turn back into the pumpkin it is, but you can ride them this week and feel very good about it. They shouldn’t cost you much, if anything, on the waiver wire, and you can move on from them ahead of Week 14. 

Kickers:

Harrison Mevis, Los Angeles Rams | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 24.6% | FAAB 0-1%

The thiccer kicker is here, folks, and it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere anytime soon. Harrison Mevis, who stands 6-feet and 245 pounds, was elevated from the practice squad by the Los Angeles Rams after fellow kicker Joshua Karty struggled through the first nine games of the season. Since taking over kicking duties in Week 10, Mevis has been perfect, making all 13 of his PAT attempts and nailing both of his field goal attempts – both over 40 yards. 

While Karty remains on the active roster in Los Angeles, Mevis has locked himself in as the kicker for a very powerful offense that seems to score at will. Since taking over, Mevis is ranked as K11, with last week’s 13-point performance making him K4 ahead of Monday Night Football.

If you’re still streaming kickers, Mevis is a very solid and inexpensive option on the waiver wire. Despite the fantastic nickname, there’s been little fantasy hype behind him, and he should be free on your waiver wire this week. If you’re tired of the streaming game, set and forget Mevis for the rest of the season.

Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans | Sleeper 36% | ESPN 34.7% | FAAB 2-3%

If you need to solidify your kicker slot ahead of a fantasy football playoff run, there isn’t going to be a better option on the waiver wire than Ka’imi Fairbairn ahead of Week 13. 

The 10th-year kicker out of UCLA has been brilliant this season and is currently ranked as the K5, despite missing two games. As many managers do in kicker leagues, Fairbairn was dropped en masse after missing two games due to an injury in Week 9 against Denver. However, after the break, Fairbairn came back in force this past weekend, logging 12 fantasy points in a shocking win over the Buffalo Bills.

Fairbairn has been the most consistent kicker in the league this season, aside from Brandon Aubrey in Dallas. His floor is safe – sitting around eight points every week – and his ceiling is well into the double digits. If you’re hunting for a kicker and Fairbairn is available, he should be your first priority, though you shouldn’t need to pay up to roster the veteran Texan.

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By Published On: November 24th, 2025

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