NFL fantasy football: Top QB, RB, WR and TE Week 13 waiver wire pickups

Fantasy football is often unforgiving, but the 2025 NFL season has taken it to new lengths. Every week, a starter disappears without warning, a cornerstone of our rosters goes down, and fantasy managers are left scrambling for replacements.

We get a one-week reprieve from byes over Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t make the job any easier, given the wave of attrition we’ve been dealing with. Now, as momentum builds toward the fantasy playoffs, finding that diamond in the rough can be the difference between making the cut and missing out.

As we head into Week 13, it's time to find the next under-the-radar fantasy gem before someone else does - and hopefully set ourselves up for that sweet moment when we watch, live on DAZN with NFL Game Pass, as our latest waiver pickup shocks our opponents into submission.

Catch every snap of the NFL season on DAZN

UK fans can pick up an annual pass for the rest of the NFL season – playoffs, and Super Bowl included – for the discounted price of £84.99. If you prefer more flexibility, monthly subscriptions are available from just £17.99.

Game Pass gives you access to every game live or on demand, along with RedZone, NFL Network, and round-the-clock programming. You’ll also get DAZN’s weekly original shows, including Downs 2 Business, Kittle Things, and the X’s & O’s coaching breakdown.

Click here for more details and to sign up.

QB

1. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
3. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
4. Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
5. Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets

This article assumes Joe Burrow is rostered in most fantasy leagues. If he's somehow still sitting on waivers, grab him immediately. If he's gone, you’re left sifting through players who complement strong fantasy rosters more than they move the needle themselves.

Lawrence has been disappointing most of the season, and even in a game where he threw three touchdowns vs the Falcons last weekend, his shaky moments continued with three interceptions. With that said, he's still a better choice than the rest of the available quarterbacks, especially against the Titans' defense in Week 13.

Cousins received praise from Raheem Morris after helping the Falcons snap their five-game skid against the Saints. He'll remain the starter when Atlanta takes on the Jets this weekend, and beyond.

Ward's completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio have improved in recent weeks. He'll face the Jaguars this weekend, whose defense is tied for third in the most passing touchdowns allowed (25).

Sanders got the nod to continue as the Browns' starting quarterback, but he should be started only by fantasy managers desperate for a QB2 in superflex leagues.

Jets' head coach Aaron Glenn thought Taylor "played very well" against the Ravens, but the 36-year-old might find it hard to replicate similar numbers against the imposing Falcons' defense in Week 13.

RB

1. Chris Rodriguez, Washington Commanders
2. Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints
3. Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns
5. Emmanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers

If your league mates ignored our advice to add Rodriguez last week, perhaps because the Commanders were on a bye, then he should be the priority this week. In Week 11, he had more carries than Jacory Croskey-Merritt and looked more explosive, outproducing his younger teammate by far.

• Read next | Unforgettable moments in NFL history that defined Thanksgiving football

Kamara entered Week 12 with an ankle injury and exited early with a knee issue. Neal struggled to find open running lanes against the Falcons, but he tied for second on the team in carries and targets. If he commands a similar workload this weekend, he should be far more productive against the Dolphins' defense.

Tuten had a game to forget, and remains the clear No.2 behind Travis Etienne in the Jaguars' backfield. He should tally more than 17 yards per game going forward, but he remains a desperation play at best.

Sampson had a strong outing, but his 82 all-purpose yards will be nearer his floor than his ceiling unless he garners more targets and carries. Quinshon Judkins was fine after missing a few plays, so Sampson is a gamble.

Wilson is an excellent insurance policy for Josh Jacobs' owners. Jacobs is day-to-day and was limited in practice on Tuesday, but if he misses Week 13, Wilson becomes a must-start option yet again.

WR

1. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
2. Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans
3. Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
4. Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans
5. Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals

Watson appears on this list for the third straight week because he's producing solid numbers and is still rostered in only a third of all leagues.

Higgins has the trust of Davis Mills and has logged strong performances in three straight games, averaging almost eight targets and 45 yards over that period. He also has two touchdowns in the last three weeks.

Burden's targets, receptions, yards, snap share, AND route share have all been climbing after his mid-season dip. He's essentially replacing Olamide Zaccheus in recent games.

• Read next | Broadcast schedule: Which NFL games and shows are on DAZN in Week 13

Dike has had season-long value in leagues that reward return yardage, and he's now becoming more involved in the offense with Calvin Ridley on IR and Elic Ayomanor missing time with a hamstring injury.

Iosivas was on the list last week with Ja'Marr Chase suspended, and he remains here with Tee Higgins likely to miss Week 13 with a concussion.

TE

1. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins
3. Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
4. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
5. Mason Taylor, New York Jets

This list assumes that players such as Colston Loveland, Dalton Schultz, and Harold Fannin are not available. If they are, prioritise them above the players mentioned here.

Strange returned to the lineup last week and produced a huge 93-yard performance on five targets. Excluding the game where he exited early with a hip injury, he's had 45 yards or more in four of his five games this year.

In Gesicki's first game back from injury, he tied for second on the team in targets (6) and yardage (35). The Ravens aren't typically a positive matchup for tight ends, but with Kyle Hamilton struggling with shoulder and groin injuries, there's reason to think Gesicki could do well.

With Kamara leaving early, Hill had a season-high 12 touches, including 10 carries. The Dolphins have given up the fourth-highest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

Mason Taylor's ceiling is limited in the Jets' offense, but with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback, the young tight end had his second-highest target volume since early October.