Maybe it’s because we have so many extra games to choose from (I hope you all had an excellent Thanksgiving), but this feels like one of the more exciting sets of early fantasy football waiver wire options we have had since the very beginning of the season. There are tons of interesting names this week, especially at the wide receiver position. Let’s get right to it.
Early Week 14 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Christian Watson (WR – GB) | 36.8% Rostered
This was Christian Watson’s third straight week as the Packers’ clear No. 1 WR, and it was his third straight week providing at least a respectable fantasy score. On Thursday, he tied for the team lead in route participation rate (81%) and easily led in target share (33%) and air yards share (54%). He caught four of his 10 looks for 80 yards, a touchdown and 16.3 half-PPR points (thanks to three rushing yards).
Over the last three weeks, Watson has averaged an excellent 14.1 half-PPR points. He has seen genuinely elite usage in the form of a 28% target share and a 44% air yards share. The impending return of Jayden Reed could change things, but we can cross that bridge when we get there. For now, Watson is seeing the usage and providing production to match, so he should be rostered everywhere.
Zonovan Knight (RB – ARI) | 30.4% Rostered
Once again, Zonovan Knight served as the Cardinals’ clear No. 1 RB today. He played a 50% snap share and saw 11 carries to Michael Carter‘s six. Carter served as the primary passing-down back, but Knight was also productive through the air, catching all three of his targets for 36 yards and a touchdown. Overall, he scored 15.3 half-PPR points.
The only issue with this pickup is that Trey Benson could return soon. When the second-year back is active, he will likely be the team’s top back ahead of Knight. However, Benson actually didn’t practice on either Thursday or Friday after being a limited participant on Wednesday, so he may still be a week or two out. In the meantime, Knight should be rostered as the top back on a Cardinals offense that has been productive with Jacoby Brissett under center.
Alec Pierce (WR – IND) | 40.7% Rostered
Speaking of players who should be rostered in all leagues, we have Alec Pierce. I’ve been beating this drum for the last few weeks, as he has quietly had excellent usage and production all season, with one exception — touchdowns.
Coming into this week, Pierce ranked 14th among receivers in receiving yards per game. He had an 18% target share (solid) and a 45% air yards share (excellent) in the Colts’ hyper-efficient offense. But he had just one touchdown, so he was just the WR40 in half-PPR points per game.
He finally hit pay dirt this week for the second time this season, and he did it in highlight fashion. To go with his touchdown, Pierce caught four of his five targets for 78 yards. That was good for 15.8 half-PPR points, his second-best outing of the season after Week 10, the first time he scored. He should be added off the waiver wire and can be started as a Flex option in most leagues.
Adonai Mitchell (WR – NYJ) | 3.8% Rostered
Since the Colts selected him in the second round of last year’s draft, Adonai Mitchell has consistently flashed talent. The issue is that he has also had more than his fair share of mistakes, from drops to penalties to hilarious fumbles. Given that Indianapolis had three solid wideouts, Mitchell didn’t see the field much with the Colts.
Following his trade to the Jets, as part of the Sauce Gardner deal, Mitchell has been given a chance to make the most of his abilities. Along with another former second-round pick in John Metchie, he has been one of New York’s top two wide receivers over the last three weeks. He saw seven targets in Week 12, but only caught two for 42 yards.
In Week 13, however, he turned his expanded role into points. Mitchell caught eight of a team-leading 12 targets for 102 yards and a touchdown — good for a career-high 20.2 half-PPR points. If the 23-year-old can keep making big plays and limiting his mistakes, he is on track for a breakout as a high-upside Flex option in deep leagues.
Brenton Strange (TE – JAC) | 28.3% Rostered
Brenton Strange caught three of his four targets for 45 yards and a touchdown in Week 13. Last week, his first week back from injury, he went five for five for 93 yards. That’s back-to-back games with at least 11.8 half-PPR points, which isn’t bad at all for the tight end position.
Especially with slot receiver Parker Washington now dealing with a hip injury, Strange should maintain a decent role in the Jaguars’ offense going forward. That makes him a worthwhile add for anyone looking for stability at the notoriously unstable tight end position. However, his ceiling isn’t that high, so he’s not worth chasing in shallow formats or if you already have a solid TE1.
Blake Corum (RB – LA) | 16.6% Rostered
In the first draft of this article, Blake Corum was listed at the very top as by far the best pickup of the week. That was when Kyren Williams was sidelined with an ankle injury, leaving Corum set up to take over as the Rams’ No. 1 RB and be a potential league-winner down the stretch.
However, Williams eventually returned to the game, finishing the game back in his usual role as the Rams’ bell-cow back. Still, Corum did rack up 81 yards and a score on just seven attempts. There’s also a non-zero chance that Williams still misses time with his injury, as ankle issues do sometimes get worse with time.
At the very least, this week was a reminder that Corum is one of the most valuable handcuffs in the NFL. The Rams’ offense is excellent, and he would likely be a workhorse if Williams were to miss time. This is the time of year to stash handcuffs, making Corum a good option for anyone with bench space to spare.
Isaac TeSlaa (WR DET) | 2.3% Rostered
Superstar wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown went down with an ankle injury on Thursday. With Kalif Raymond already out, this left Isaac TeSlaa — a third-round rookie who already has a few highlight catches in a limited role this season — as the Lions’ No. 2 WR behind Jameson Williams. He finished with an 84% route participation rate, by far his highest mark of the season.
TeSlaa only had two targets in Week 13, but he caught both for 35 yards and a touchdown. So far, the rookie has three scores on six career catches, an absurd 50% touchdown rate. Obviously, that won’t continue if he starts seeing more volume, but we certainly aren’t going to complain about it.
St. Brown’s injury is reportedly minor, but I would bet he misses at least a week or two. Raymond has yet to return to practice, so he’s also likely to miss more time. Even with them both out, TeSlaa is a risky option. But he’s a rookie who has flashed playmaking ability stepping into a larger role on an elite offense, so he’s worth a look in deeper formats.
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Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasyPros.com. Find him on Twitter and Bluesky @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.
