Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 13: Devin Neal, Jayden Higgins among top players to target

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 13: Devin Neal, Jayden Higgins among top players to targetStory byFantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 13: Devin Neal, Jayden Higgins among top players to targetJustin BooneFantasy AnalystMon, November 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM UTC·10 min read

Every Monday during the season, Justin Boone breaks down the recommended fantasy football waiver-wire pickups.

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Roster percentages are generated from Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

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Key injuries to consider

• Baker Mayfield (shoulder)

• Ashton Jeanty (ankle)

• Alvin Kamara (knee)

• Quinshon Judkins (undisclosed)

• Bam Knight (knee)

• Rashee Rice (hamstring)

• Tee Higgins (concussion)

• DK Metcalf (ankle)

Pickups by position

• Quarterbacks

• Running backs

• Wide receivers

• Tight ends

• Defense/Special teams

• Kickers

Week 13’s top-10 overall pickups

1. Troy Franklin, Broncos2. Kyle Monangai, Bears3. Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers4. Devin Neal, Saints5. Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders6. Christian Watson, Packers7. Jayden Higgins, Texans8. Parker Washington, Jaguars9. Colston Loveland, Bears10. Chimere Dike, Titans

Quarterbacks

C.J.. Stroud, Texans

Next Up

Rostered

FAB

at IND

36%

$1

Stroud is QB24 in fantasy points per game on the season, but he was showing signs of improvement in that area before getting hurt and missing the last two outings.

The 24-year-old was a top-12 fantasy quarterback in two of his past three appearances and should benefit from the emergence of rookie wideout Jayden Higgins.

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The matchup with the Colts isn’t ideal, but neither are the fantasy streaming options available on the waiver wire this week.

With Stroud expected to return for this game, he tops the QB pickups heading into Week 13.

Streaming options

• Trevor Lawrence at TEN (49% rostered)

Risky streaming options

• Tua Tagovailoa vs. NO (17% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out)

• Davis Mills at IND (5% rostered)

• Joe Flacco at BAL (43% rostered)

• Jameis Winston at NE (4% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy)

• Aaron Rodgers vs. BUF (29% rostered)

Desperation streaming options

• Bryce Young vs. LAR (22% rostered)

• Tyrod Taylor vs. ATL (3% rostered)

• Cam Ward vs. JAX (7% rostered)

• Tyler Shough at MIA (10% rostered)

• Kirk Cousins at NYJ (8% rostered)

• Shedeur Sanders vs. SF (6% rostered)

• J.J. McCarthy at SEA (40% rostered)

• Geno Smith at LAC (16% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out)

• Marcus Mariota vs. DEN (10% rostered)

• Teddy Bridgewater vs. ARI (0% rostered)

• Mason Rudolph vs. BUF (2% rostered)

Running Backs

Devin Neal, Saints

Next Up

Rostered

FAB

at MIA

3%

$14

Alvin Kamara suffered an MCL sprain in Week 12 and is likely to miss some time — possibly the rest of the fantasy season.

In his absence, Neal played 74% of the snaps en route to racking up 61 scrimmage yards on 12 touches, which were all season highs.

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While most of his production came through the air (five catches for 43 yards), the Saints have one of the easiest RB schedules remaining with the Dolphins, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jets and Titans.

Tight end Taysom Hill will be more involved in the rushing game for however long Kamara is out, but Neal projects as a volume-based fantasy RB3 who has RB2 upside given the soft schedule.

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders

Next Up

Rostered

FAB

vs. DEN

16%

$9

As I wrote last week prior to his bye, Rodriguez has risen to the top of the Commanders’ backfield, despite remaining in a three-man committee.

He’s now produced decent results in three straight outings with 65 yards and a score versus the Seahawks, a touchdown against the Lions and 85 yards on 16 touches this past week in a loss to the Dolphins.

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It’s not week-winning production, but he can certainly be an RB3/flex option in better matchups.

If he can maintain this role, Washington gets the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys in the fantasy playoffs, who are all plus-opponents for running backs this season.

We’ll see if anything changes with the Commanders returning from bye, since that’s often a time when rookies like Jacory Croskey-Merritt see a bump in usage.

Raheem Mostert, Raiders

Next Up

Rostered

FAB

at LAC

1%

$3

Ashton Jeanty suffered an ankle injury near the end of his game against the Browns, which could put his status in doubt for Week 13.

This backfield hasn’t been the most productive even with the first-rounder Jeanty leading the way. In fact, most of the rookies' quality fantasy performances have been thanks to his work as a pass-catcher.

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Regardless, if Jeanty is forced to miss a game, Mostert would be the favorite to handle the most work with Zamir White and Dylan Laube mixing in.

Just remember this is a 33-year-old back in a bad offense that just fired their coordinator and he’ll be facing a tough Chargers’ defense.

If Jeanty is sidelined, Mostert is a desperation fantasy RB3/flex option.

Kyle Monangai is 56% rostered but would be the No. 1 RB add if available.

Kenneth Gainwell is 54% rostered but would be the No. 2 RB add if available.

RB3/Flex options

• Bhayshul Tuten at TEN (48% rostered)

RB3/Flex options (if starter is out)

• Dylan Sampson vs. SF (11% rostered)

RB3/Flex options (if healthy and starter is out)

• Bam Knight at TB (29% rostered)

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Flex options

• Devin Singletary at NE (25% rostered)

• Tyler Allgeier at NYJ (44% rostered)

• Blake Corum at CAR (16% rostered)

• Tyjae Spears vs. JAX (35% rostered)

Risky flex options

• Jaleel McLaughlin at WAS (1% rostered)

• Brian Robinson Jr. at CLE (27% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options

• Ollie Gordon II vs. NO (8% rostered)

• Keaton Mitchell vs. CIN (3% rostered)

• Isaiah Davis vs. ATL (5% rostered)

• Brashard Smith at DAL (4% rostered)

• Michael Carter at TB (6% rostered)

• Nick Chubb at IND (45% rostered)

• Ty Johnson at PIT (2% rostered)

• Jeremy McNichols vs. DEN (2% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out)

• Chris Brooks at DET (0% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster

• Ray Davis (7% rostered)

• Tank Bigsby (19% rostered)

Deep stashes

• Trayveon Williams (0% rostered)

• Malik Davis (0% rostered)

• Kaleb Johnson (15% rostered)

• Dameon Pierce (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes

• MarShawn Lloyd (1% rostered)

• Phil Mafah (0% rostered)

Wide Receivers

Jayden Higgins, Texans

Next Up

Rostered

FAB

at IND

22%

$7

Like most rookies, Higgins is coming on in the second half of the season.

Higgins has been a top-36 fantasy receiver in four of his last five outings, while seeing at least seven targets in each of those contests.

He’s now emerged as the clear No. 2 wideout in a Texans’ offense that’s about to get starter C.J. Stroud back under center.

At worst, Higgins is a WR3/flex option for fantasy, but there’s plenty of upside still to be unlocked here.

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Parker Washington, Jaguars

Next Up

Rostered

FAB

at TEN

40%

$7

After a down week where he only saw two targets, Washington bounced back with five catches for 71 yards and a score.

He’s now finished as a top-20 fantasy wideout in three of his last four games, though one required a special teams touchdown to get it done.

We’ll have to reassess his outlook when Brian Thomas Jr. gets back in the lineup, but for now Washington should be started as a WR3/flex option with a decent weekly projection as an important piece of Liam Coen’s passing attack.

Chimere Dike, Titans

Next Up

Rostered

FAB

vs. JAX

14%

$5

With Calvin Ridley out for the season and Elic Ayomanor sidelined with a hamstring injury, Dike stepped up as the top target in Tennessee.

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The rookie came through with five grabs for 44 yards and a touchdown on seven targets.

It was the third time in his past five games where Dike reached double-digit fantasy points.

It’s hard to trust the Titans’ offense week-to-week, but Dike looks like Cam Ward’s No. 1 option the rest of the way, making him a volatile WR4/flex play in fantasy.

Troy Franklin is 56% rostered but would be the No. 1 WR add if available.

Christian Watson is 48% rostered but would be the No. 2 WR add if available.

WR4/flex options

• Luther Burden III at PHI (11% rostered)

• Kayshon Boutte vs. NYG (37% rostered)

Flex options

• John Metchie III vs. ATL (1% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out)

• Greg Dortch at TB (9% rostered)

Risky flex options

• Tez Johnson vs. ARI (28% rostered)

• Adonai Mitchell vs. ATL (2% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out)

• Mitch Tinsley at BAL (0% rostered)

• Andrei Iosivas at BAL (20% rostered)

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Dart-throw flex options

• Darius Slayton at NE (42% rostered)

• Jalen Coker vs. LAR (4% rostered)

• Xavier Legette vs. LAR (11% rostered)

• Isaiah Hodgins at NE (0% rostered)

• Pat Bryant at WAS (1% rostered)

• Devaughn Vele at MIA (0% rostered)

• Christian Kirk at IND (14% rostered)

• Malik Washington vs. NO (15% rostered)

• Tyler Lockett at LAC (2% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy)

• Elic Ayomanor vs. JAX (15% rostered)

• Matthew Golden at DET (43% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out)

• David Sills V at NYJ (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes

• Jayden Reed (36% rostered)

Tight Ends

Colston Loveland, Bears

Next Up

Rostered

FAB

at PHI

43%

$7

Though Loveland hasn’t come close to his 188-yard, two-touchdown stat line from Week 9, the rookie has been a steady producer since then with 4-55-0, 3-40-0 and 4-49-1.

Those three performances are enough to make him a top-12 fantasy tight end over that span.

That may say more about the state of the tight end position than it does about Loveland, but it’s still a positive sign that he can be a weekly starter for you — while also offering an immense ceiling like we saw in that breakout game versus the Bengals.

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He’s a low-end fantasy TE1 the rest of the way, just don’t be surprised when he’s ranked a little lower this week since the Eagles are one of the toughest opponents on tight ends.

Brenton Strange, Jaguars

Next Up

Rostered

FAB

at TEN

13%

$6

Strange returned to the lineup this week after missing five games and immediately made his presence felt with 93 yards on five receptions.

That puts him back into the fantasy streamer conversation with a chance to flirt with low-end TE1 numbers if he can start finding the end zone.

In the opening month before he got hurt, Strange had at least 45 yards three times, but wasn’t able to score a TD to put him over the top.

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However, if this kind of volume continues, touchdowns will follow.

The Jaguars’ passing game isn’t afraid to feature different players week-to-week

Streaming options

• Harold Fannin Jr. vs. SF (34% rostered)

Streaming options (if healthy)

• Darren Waller vs. NO (20% rostered)

Risky streaming options

• Dalton Schultz at IND (47% rostered)

• AJ Barner vs. MIN (18% rostered)

• Mike Gesicki at BAL (2% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options

• Taysom Hill at MIA (1% rostered)

• Evan Engram at WAS (39% rostered)

• Pat Freiermuth vs. BUF (15% rostered)

• Colby Parkinson at CAR (0% rostered)

• Gunnar Helm vs. JAX (0% rostered)

• Chig Okonkwo vs. JAX (17% rostered)

• Mason Taylor vs. ATL (23% rostered)

• Ja’Tavion Sanders vs. LAR (1% rostered)

• Brock Wright vs. GB (2% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out)

• Dawson Knox at PIT (3% rostered)

• Greg Dulcich vs. NO (0% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster

• Isaiah Likely (5% rostered)

• Terrance Ferguson (0% rostered)

• Elijah Arroyo (1% rostered)

Defenses

Team

Next Up

Rostered

Chargers

vs. LV

39%

Falcons

at NYJ

49%

Jaguars

at TEN

42%

Dolphins

vs. NO

3%

49ers

at CLE

24%

Kickers

Player

Next Up

Rostered

Wil Lutz

at WAS

40%

Brandon McManus

at DET

13%

Evan McPherson

at BAL

38%

Matt Prater

at PIT

43%

Michael Badgley

vs. HOU

11%

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