Here's my top recommended waiver wire and streaming targets ahead of the coming week. Waiver Wire targets are designed to be multi-week roster-worthy options while streaming options are designed to be one-week lineup options based on matchup, injuries, and/or situation. To be eligible as a waiver wire or streaming option, the player must be available in over 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Top Waiver Wire Targets of the Week:
Ezekiel Elliott (RB - New England Patriots) - Elliott had already been serving as a sort of 1B to Rhamondre Stevenson's 1A in the rushing game, but Stevenson went down in Week 13 with what looked to be an ugly injury (currently believed to be an ankle sprain). We don't have an exact timetable for Stevenson's return, but one would anticipate he'll miss at least the next 2 weeks and by that point (Week 16) it may be in the Patriots' best interest to not rush him back. Elliott should serve as the workhorse back once again for the foreseeable future. He's already shown some production this year (7+ points in 8 of 12 games) but will likely remain a high-volume, low-efficiency option for the meantime. An RB2 option while Stevenson is out.
Tyjae Spears (RB - Tennessee Titans) - Derrick Henry went down early in the 4th quarter, paving the way for Tyjae Spears to step in as the definitive lead back in Tennessee where he would go on to end the day with 16 carries for 75 yards (4.7 YPC) and 4 catches (6 targets) for 13 yards. It appears that Henry won't miss any additional time, but you still have yourself a solid RB4 who has established himself to have a somewhat enticing floor on his own (6+ points in 8/12 games). It's worth a gamble (unless desperate for some WR depth) on an elite handcuff as a worst-case scenario come playoff time.
Elijah Moore (WR - Cleveland Browns) - The WR position isn't so undesirable now in Cleveland with Joe Flacco at QB. For the first time since Deshaun Watson's season-ending diagnosis, we saw a Browns WR exceed the 12-point threshold. That was Elijah Moore in Week 13 with 4 for 83. The positive? 12 targets. Under Joe Flacco in 2022, the Jets threw a league-high 188 times in 4 games and had a WR exceed 12+ points in each of those games. With Amari Cooper (head) injured and Moore definitively serving as Flacco's go-to target in his absence, I'm prioritizing Moore as a waiver wire option this week with short-term WR2 potential while Cooper is out and long-term WR3 upside while Flacco is at QB.
Quentin Johnston (WR - Los Angeles Chargers) - Are we finally starting to see the emergence of the Chargers' 2023 1st Rounder? He's shown spurts of potential followed by returns to below-average production throughout his rookie year, but Week 13 saw him in a different type of role with season-highs in targets (7), catches (5), and yards (52) even despite less-than-ideal playing conditions. This may have been another rise before the fall (as he's done this year), but the potential is there for this to be the first step in Johnston becoming a league-winner for fantasy. We've seen it happen several times over the last few years with rookie WRs taking massive strides at the end of their rookie season. Johnston could follow suit.
Curtis Samuel (WR - Washington Commanders) - I probably sound like a broken record as Curtis Samuel has found his way onto the waiver wire targets list for what seems like over half the season, but he still remains available in a majority of leagues and he continues to be productive. Even despite a horrific offensive showing for the Commanders against Miami, Samuel still paced Washington in targets (5), catches (4), and yards (65) and managed another 10+ point performance (his 6th this season), drawing his total to 6 of 11 healthy games at that threshold. He's not going to be a player to go out and win your matchup for you, but he'll give you a serviceable floor if you need a FLEX. Not a bad option to have on your bench should you run into injury problems.
Jonathan Mingo (WR - Carolina Panthers)
Jalin Hyatt (WR - New York Giants)
Joshua Palmer (WR - Los Angeles Chargers)
Noah Brown (WR - Houston Texans)
Isaiah Likely (TE - Baltimore Ravens)
Top Streaming Options of the Week:
Quarterbacks:
Jameis Winston (vs Carolina Panthers)
Gardner Minshew (at Cincinnati Bengals)
Joshua Dobbs (at Las Vegas Raiders)
Runningbacks:
Ezekiel Elliott (at Pittsburgh Steelers)
Tyjae Spears (at Miami Dolphins)
Ty Chandler (at Las Vegas Raiders)
Wide Receivers:
Elijah Moore (vs Jacksonville Jaguars)
Quentin Johnston (vs Denver Broncos)
Rashid Shaheed (vs Carolina Panthers)
Tight Ends:
Isaiah Likely (vs Los Angeles Rams)
Gerald Everett (vs Denver Broncos)
Tyler Conklin (vs Houston Texans)
Defense/Special Teams:
New Orleans Saints (vs Carolina Panthers)
Green Bay Packers (at New York Giants)
Houston Texans (at New York Jets)
Kickers:
Chris Boswell (vs New England Patriots)
Jake Moody (vs Seattle Seahawks)
Daniel Carlson (vs Minnesota Vikings)