Joe Serpico shares his top fantasy football waiver-wire pickups heading into Week 14.
Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns in a shootout with the Bengals. Cincinnati’s defense has been getting torched all year, so I’m a little hesitant to completely buy in on Wilson. The Steelers get the Browns at home next, so Wilson is a decent starter for those in need of a quarterback this week. It’s hard to trust him afterward, however, with the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs looming in the fantasy playoffs.
Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears: The top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has finished as QB4 and QB3 the last two weeks against the Vikings and Lions, both strong defenses. He has five touchdowns and no turnovers in the two games, but he has also made an impact as a runner more as the season has progressed. The Bears play the 49ers, Vikings and Lions in the next three weeks. Williams will be a top-10 QB this week with six teams on a bye — and I’m not afraid to start him in the fantasy playoffs, either.
Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers: Mason is rostered in most leagues, but if you are in a league where he is available, spend all your remaining FAAB to land him. Christian McCaffrey suffered a knee injury on Sunday night against the Bills and is said to be done for the season. The injury vaults Mason, who was RB9 through the first seven games of the season with CMC on the shelf, back into the starting lineup. In a year that has been relatively light with high-impact waiver-wire additions, Mason is a game-changer at running back. No matter your RB situation, add him and start him with confidence.
Brandin Cooks, WR, Dallas Cowboys: The numbers weren’t that great in his return on Thursday against the Giants with just 16 yards and a touchdown, but he was targeted seven times. The Bengals and Panthers, two of the league’s worst defenses, are next up for the Cowboys. CeeDee Lamb also missed a good portion of Sunday’s game, which could leave Cooks as the de facto No. 1 receiver against those soft secondaries.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, Tennessee Titans: All the man does is catch touchdowns. Westbrook-Ikhine only has 20 receptions on the season, but eight of them have been for scores. The Titans are another team with a very favorable schedule for receivers down the stretch. At worst, he is a solid bye week fill-in this week.
Arizona Cardinals D/ST: Arizona has finished as a top-10 fantasy defense the last four weeks, and the Cardinals have arguably the easiest schedule of any team the rest of the season. They play the Seahawks, Patriots and Panthers the next three weeks. Play the matchups with your defenses in these critical weeks.
Indianapolis Colts D/ST: The Colts are on a bye this week, but if the Cardinals are not available and you can afford to stash a defense on your bench, do so with Indianapolis. The Colts play a decent Broncos offense in Week 15 before playing the Titans and Giants during the fantasy playoffs. If your league stretches into Week 18, they close the season out with the Jaguars.
Top Handcuffs (Rostered in less than 50 percent of leagues)
Ray Davis
Tyler Allgeier
Zach Charbonnet
Isaac Guerendo
Braelon Allen
Tyjae Spears
Cam Akers
Roschon Johnson
Kenneth Gainwell
Trey Benson