Weekly Hail Mary: Week 13
Each week, HMF will provide you with at least one “Hail Mary” at RB, WR, and TE - a guy who is not generally regarded as a starter for the week, but who has the potential to pay off big. These are lottery tickets that are not likely to hit, but if they do, you’ll be thrilled, as you can likely grab them for free off your waiver wire. We only focus on players who are available in at least one-third of Yahoo! leagues.
In other words, if you’re desperate, we’re giving you a prayer. The Hail Marys for Week 13:
Running Backs
LeGarrette Blount, Lions (14% owned). He’s not necessarily a “good” player, but he does have a history of producing touchdowns when given an opportunity. On Thanksgiving, he was given an opportunity with Kerryon Johnson out, and he turned it into two touchdowns. We’ve seen this movie before, so get in on it while the gettin’ is good.
Rex Burkhead, Patriots (18%). He has been activated from injured reserve and has returned to practice. He was the Patriots’ goal-line back last year, and also saw some work in the passing game, so he may vulture some goal line touches from Sony Michel and some pass game work from James White. Goal line touches and receptions are like a running back cheat code for fantasy.
Frank Gore, Dolphins (25%). Not a sexy name, but a repeat name on this list. On Sunday, he had 14 carries for 67 yards and a couple receptions. That makes it four straight games with 15+ touches. You typically can’t find that kind of workload on the waiver wire. Granted, Gore has grown allergic to the end zone as he has grown older, but at least the volume is there.
Justin Jackson, Chargers (1%). Check to see if Austin Ekeler is available of course, but he’s rostered in about 70% of Yahoo! leagues, so chances are that he’s not on the waiver wire in yours. But with Melvin Gordon out, there’s a chance Jackson sees an uptick in carries while Ekeler retains the passing down work. Jackson was a 7th round draft pick of the Chargers this year, and very quietly received 7 carries on Sunday, which he turned into 57 yards. People were going crazy over Josh Adams a few weeks ago when he was putting up similar stat lines. I’m not saying it’s likely, but I also wouldn’t be shocked to see Jackson get 15 carries against the Steelers on Sunday night.
Wide Receivers
Josh Doctson, Washington (12%). Let me be frank: I think Josh Doctson stinks. But he’s become one of the last men standing in Washington, and he has amassed 17 targets over the past two weeks. He gets Philly’s banged up secondary on Monday night, so it’s probably now or never for Doctson. If he’s going to produce, it should be this week.
David Moore, Seahawks (10%). Just when you drop the guy, he starts producing again. He’s a touchdown maker - if there is such a thing - but he’s still not getting a ton of work. He has no more than 4 receptions in any game this season, but nevertheless has 5 touchdowns on the year - so basically one every other week. He’s a flex play gamble.
Dante Pettis, 49ers (1%). True confession: I was totally in the tank for Dante Pettis leading into this season. The 49ers traded up to get him, and everyone thought they’d have a good offense with (what we expected to be) Jimmy Garoppolo under center. Kyle Shanahan praised him, and he scored a touchdown in Week 1. Then…. the season happened. And Pettis kinda disappeared. But he’s gotten healthy and started to put it together over the last couple weeks - despite Nick Mullens being under center - and has 13 targets over the past couple weeks, finding the end zone again Sunday. Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin are banged up, so Pettis is certainly the best of the receivers that San Fran has healthy. Who knows, the rookie could continue to improve as the season wears on.
Trey Quinn, Washington (1%). Unlike his teammate Josh Doctson, I do actually like this guy. Quinn, a former five star recruit, actually has talent, despite being “Mr. Irrelevant” in the draft. He secured 5 of 6 targets on Thanksgiving and secured his first career touchdown. With Colt McCoy under center, the smart money says that Washington is going to continue to funnel targets to its slot receiver (Quinn) and tight ends.
John Ross, Bengals (10%). Ride the touchdown streak! It’s never pretty, but Ross somehow finds the end zone every week for a short score. Kind of amazing that a guy who is 5’11 is a red zone threat… but somehow he is. Five touchdowns in eight games this season.
Tight Ends
Gerald Everett, Rams (9%). He was on bye this past week, but he scored two touchdowns the last time we saw him. The Rams will be without Cooper Kupp the rest of the season, and Everett provides a big target over the middle and in the red zone for one of the best offenses in the league. Fantasy success is often tied to good offenses, so you could certainly do worse than hitching your wagon to Everett. Like with most tight ends, it’s probably going to be a touchdown-dependent ride.
C.J. Uzomah, Bengals (26%). Buyer beware: Uzomah has been getting ample opportunity, but hasn’t done much with it. He did get 13 targets against the Browns, which was 5 more than any other Bengal. That’s not much more you can ask for from a tight end off the waiver wire.