Methodology
In this weekly article, I’m going to look ahead to the following week. I’ll point out a few players below 40% owned on ESPN who have strong matchups next week that you can pick up ahead of time to beat the waiver run. I’ll also try and get ahead of breakouts that could happen in the current week, as predicting breakouts is the best way to save your FAAB budget.
With added IR spots in most leagues, you can also shift injured players there, opening up a roster spot for these options. Since most of these additions will occur on the weekend, I’ll exclude any players from the Thursday night game, as you won’t be able to add them to your rosters. This season more than any other, it’s essential to remain active and stay ahead of your league mates. I hope you find value in this column and that it helps you succeed on a week-to-week basis.
With playoffs approaching, I’ll begin to focus on playoff matchups as part of this content. However, fantasy football is always a weekly game. It’s tough enough to look one week ahead, let alone multiple.
I won’t limit myself to any specific number of players or force myself to choose specific positions, outside of a few exceptions. Each week, I’ll provide one look ahead streamer at quarterback and D/ST, as those positions are easy to predict every week. Quarterback streaming mostly comes from the opposing defense and D/ST from the opposing offense, and we know those schedules ahead of time.
I’ve listed the players in the order I would add them to my roster. Let’s jump right in!
Must Adds
Michael Pittman, 35.1% owned
Pittman is my only must-add for the week. He only had three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in Week 11, but he’s seen heavy action since he returned in Week 8. I believe that Pittman has clearly passed T.Y. Hilton as the Colts’ top receiver, and he has excellent matchups in Week 13 against the Texans and Week 14 against the Raiders. Add Pittman to your team now and ride him to and through your playoffs.
Deeper Options
Jalen Reagor, 22.7% owned
Reagor would be a must-add, but his quarterback Carson Wentz has displayed complete incompetence as a passer. The Eagles gave Reagor 88 and 93% of offensive snaps in Weeks 10 and 11, and he caught four passes in each game. I believe that Reagor has passed Travis Fulgham as the Eagles’ top receiver, although Dallas Goedert and potentially Zach Ertz will compete for the top overall target. Unfortunately, Wentz is awful, but maybe Reagor can shine through anyway.
Jordan Reed, 15.1% owned
Reed is no George Kittle, but the 49ers need passing weapons. Brandon Aiyuk is on the COVID-19 list, Kittle is on injured reserve, and Deebo Samuel continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Only Samuel might play this week, but he won’t be 100%. Therefore, Reed will see some involvement in the offense, especially considering that he caught five of six targets for 62 yards in Week 10. As long as Reed remains healthy, he’ll at least be a TE2 play in the future that you can slot into your lineup.
Devontae Booker, 5.8% owned
The Raiders added Josh Jacobs to the injury report Thursday with a hip injury. I doubt Jacobs misses any time from that injury, but Booker would step into the lead role if he somehow does. Booker has 54 carries this season for 320 yards and three touchdowns, and he has 10 receptions for 65 yards. Of course, Booker is nowhere near Jacobs as a talent, but he’s a capable NFL backup. Therefore, Booker is a decent handcuff to add, especially late in the season, where pure depth is less important.
Will Dissly, 1.6% owned
Greg Olsen suffered a ruptured plantar fascia injury in Week 11, which will likely force him to miss the rest of the season. The Seahawks draw a dream schedule, playing the Eagles in Week 12, followed by the Giants and Jets. Dissly played 65% of snaps in Week 11 in Olsen’s place, although he only caught one pass for 10 yards. Dissly had stretches as a TE1 in both 2018 and 2019, so he may come back to that form with Olsen out.
QB of the Week
Kirk Cousins, 21.5% owned
Cousins has recently been a decent fantasy quarterback, putting up 22.96 fantasy points against the Cowboys in Week 11. In Week 12, Cousins has a fair matchup against the Panthers, but he draws a dream matchup against the Jaguars in Week 13. If you need a Week 13 streamer, Cousins will at least be a high-end QB2 in that game, so feel free to pick him up a week in advance. But, there are other options, so he’s not a must-add.
D/ST of the Week
Raiders, 2.9% owned
The Raiders are a horrible D/ST, averaging less than one fantasy point per game on the season. However, they play the Jets in Week 13, meaning that they will automatically be a top-five play for the week. I’m not saying that you have to add the Raiders, but they’re by far the best streamer to pick up in advance.
Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.
Previous Look Ahead Articles: Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12
