Waiver Wire Week 14: 2022 Fantasy Football

Week 14 we will see the final bye week. We also enter the final regular season week for fantasy. My suggestion is to look ahead at defenses for the first round, and matchup stream. Get a week ahead of the game. The Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Commanders all have a bye week coming up.

Quarterback

Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens

We are waiting on Lamar Jackson’s injury, but Tyler Huntley would be the starter if Jackson misses any games(which is very likely). Huntley completed 27 of 32 passes for 187 yards and rushed ten times for 41 yards and the winning touchdown. Huntley plays like Lamar Jackson, so the offense won’t have to change. Huntley’s rushing ability puts him on the fantasy radar, as well as his impressive completion percentage against Denver.

Mike White, New York Jets

Mike White is a streamable option for the rest of the season. He led the Jets to six red zone possessions and had a one-yard touchdown rush. White had a touchdown pass dropped by Braxton Berrios and missed numerous Garrett Wilson touchdowns. Wilson missed a touchdown by a foot out of bounds and overthrew him on an 80-plus-yard touchdown. White threw for over 300 yards again and pushed 400 this week against the Vikings. White plays Buffalo this week, but after Buffalo, he is home for the Lions and Jaguars, and then on the road for Seattle and Miami.

Brock Purdy, San Fransisco 49ers

Brock Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant at the 2022 NFL Draft. Now he is the starting quarterback for the San Fransisco 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a season-ending foot injury, which puts Purdy in line to start. Purdy went 25 of 37 passes for 210 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Not bad for someone right off the bench. To add, he did it in a winning effort against the Miami Dolphins. The 49ers added Josh Johnson, and the news of Baker Mayfield may be intriguing, but as of now, Purdy is the starter.

Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons

This is a speculative add, more so for deeper leagues, but with the Atlanta Falcons all but out of the playoffs, there is a chance we see Desmond Ridder come in so the Falcons can evaluate their rookie quarterback.

Running Backs

Zonovan Knight, New York Jets

I can’t imagine Zonovan Knight being on any waiver wire, but he is only 39.3% rostered on ESPN. Knight rushed 15 times for 90 yards and caught all five of his targets for 28 yards. Knight is benefitting from Mike White and looks very good on the ground. He had multiple rushes inside the five-yard line, but the Jets decided to throw on 3rd and 4th and goal at the end of the game. Knight is a must-add if on the waivers, and the undrafted rookie looks like a potential league winner, even with Michael Carter returning from injury.

Deejay Dallas, Seattle Seahawks

We don’t know the details of Ken Walker’s injury yet, but if he misses any time, Dallas takes over as the lead back in Seattle. He rushed ten times for 37 yards against the Rams. Dallas hasn’t done much this season, but Ken Walker has been the unquestioned RB1 for the majority of the season. For those in need of a flex play, Dallas would get the Panthers next.

Dallas is however dealing with some version of a high ankle sprain himself. There is alot to monitor in this situation early this week.

James Cook, Buffalo Bills

James Cook has been getting a bigger role in the Buffalo offense. On Thursday night he rushed 14 times for 64 yards and caught all six of his passes for 41 yards. The Bills traded for Nyheim Hines, who was expected to be the pass catcher, but it seems Cook is taking on that role with Hines seeing most of his touches on special teams. Cook must be rostered from here on out going into the fantasy playoffs. He gets a tough matchup this week against the Jets.

Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams

The Rams season has hit a downward spiral, but Cam Akers appears to be reemerging as the RB1 in LA. He rushed 17 times for 60 yards with two touchdowns. Early in the season he was demanding a trade, and it seemed as if the Rams really were trying to be aggressive in doing so, but he stays a Ram. Akers now is auditioning to maintain the top spot, and it seems like he will the rest of the season, and possibly into the next.

Wide Receivers

Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

Get Jameson Williams on your roster now while you can. If Williams was fully healthy entering the NFL draft this past April, he may have been the top wideout taken. Williams has top-tier speed and is on a Lions team that has a good offense (Oh and may have a top QB next year too as the Lions have the Rams' first-round pick). In his debut, he only saw one target but expects the playing time and targets to go up as well.

Demarcus Robinson, Baltimore Ravens

Demarcus Robinson saw an uptick in targets with Tyler Huntley playing quarterback. He caught seven of eight passes for 41 yards. While the yardage isn’t anything that jumps out, the volume does. Robinson is an interesting addition. In two of his last three games, he has seen eight or more targets and should be on fantasy rosters in deeper leagues.

Odell Beckham, Free Agent

The Odell Beckham tour is underway as he just met with the Giants and Bills. The Cowboys want Beckham as well. Odell may or may not have an impact this season, but if he does it would be in the fantasy playoffs, and Beckham is someone you want to roster not only to have but to block your opponents from playing him against you.

Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts

Alec Pierce has been inconsistent all year but has the talent to succeed. He caught four of eight passes for 86 yards and a touchdown on Sunday night against the Cowboys. The Colts have had Quarterback struggles all season, so Pierce is a good dynasty target right now, but he has had multiple weeks this year with eight or more targets. With a bye this week, he should be easy to sneak on your team for free.

Darius Slayton, New York Giants

Someone must be the WR1 for the Giants. Odell Beckham is still a free agent and was hosted by the Giants. Slayton caught six of eight passes for 90 yards on Sunday against Washington. He has been putting up solid numbers under the radar for the Giants. Slayton should be rostered down the stretch, even if Odell does sign with the Giants.

Tight Ends

Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos

Greg Dulcich has been a great addition this year for the Broncos. Against the Ravens, he caught six of eight passes for 85 yards. He started his first three games on a great stretch for the Broncos, then cooled off. Now after this game he looks to build off that against the Chiefs in which the Broncos likely will be playing from behind most of the game.

Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars

For those in need of a streamable tight end, Evan Engram caught five of seven passes for 30 yards and a touchdown. While inconsistent, Engram has put up respectable numbers on the occasion this season and is worth a stream in you’re down a tight end this week.

Chigoziem Okonkwo

Chigoziem Okonwo is unknown to the redraft community. He has seen five targets in back-to-back weeks, and this week caught four of five passes for 68 yards. This is more of a dynasty add, but it’s someone to keep a deep league flier eye on.