Fantasy football Week 13 waiver wire pickups: Booker's a great insurance policy

Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker (23) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Isaac Brekken/AP)

We enter the last non-COVID-19 related byes of the NFL regular season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers take a seat. Week 13 also means that the fantasy football playoffs are rapidly approaching, and that makes every roster decision extra important.

Here are my top-five waiver-wire pickups owned in less than 50 per cent of most leagues. As always, ask me any fantasy questions on Twitter @AndyMc81 using #AskAndy.

Devontae Booker - RB - Raiders

Yahoo! League Ownership - 9%

News came down Monday afternoon that Raiders star running back Josh Jacobs is nursing an ankle sprain with a chance to play Sunday. This is an issue that needs to be tracked into the weekend, making Devontae Booker the top handcuff grab for Week 13.

Even if Jacobs dresses, there’s a good chance the game script will develop into getting Booker touches. Travelling to face the winless Jets, Las Vegas can avenge their dud performance in Atlanta by laying the smackdown on New York. If they can gain a comfortable lead then Booker could see some solid mop-up duty.

The 28-year-old has flashed some standalone flex value already in 2020 with three combined touchdowns over consecutive weekends in mid-November. During that stretch he averaged a phenomenal 6.8-yards per carry. At the very least, Booker makes for an excellent insurance policy.

Ryan Fitzpatrick - QB - Dolphins

Yahoo! League Ownership - 20%

The magic is back people! Dust off the wand as Fitz-Magic gets set to start again in South Beach and battle a bottom-tier Bengals defence. Tua Tagovailoa is expected to miss at least this weekend’s action with a thumb issue, and that’s positive news for managers of Dolphins players. Tagovailoa is the hopeful future of the franchise, but Ryan Fitzpatrick raises the immediate fantasy stock of DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki and provides explosion opportunities himself!

The bearded veteran was a fantasy QB-6 from Weeks 2 to 6 before being benched for Tagovailoa, and delivered 19.28-FPTs as well as a pair of passing touchdowns on Sunday. It will be tough for any other widely available quarterback to beat Fitzpatrick’s potential against Cincinnati.

Cam Akers - RB - Rams

Yahoo! League Ownership - 29%

Is this finally the emergence of Cam Akers? The rookie’s usage in the Rams crowded backfield has been sporadic all season, however we finally saw some workload separation. Akers was more explosive than Darrell Henderson all afternoon, scored a touchdown and helped make Malcolm Brown a non-factor for a second straight game.

The second-round draft pick from Florida State should earn more handoffs the rest of the way, but it’s tough to feel too confident with Henderson and Brown floating around. Akers is definitely a running back to scoop up now, even if it is as a depth stash for the playoffs.

Keke Coutee - WR - Texans

Yahoo! League Ownership - 1%

The wide receiver choices for Deshaun Watson to throw to are disappearing fast. Will Fuller is now suspended six games for a PED violation, Randall Cobb remains on IR and the club released Kenny Stills last Friday. All of a sudden, Keke Coutee finds himself as the Texans No. 2 behind Brandin Cooks.

In his past two outings, Coutee’s caught a touchdown and a two-point conversion, which is a good sign that Watson has confidence with him inside the red zone. The schedule is not friendly for Houston when it comes to facing tough pass defences as the Colts, Bears and Indianapolis again are their next three opponents. However, a generous target volume should still be there regardless. Set your expectations for Coutee as a WR-3/flex with high-ceiling possibility.

Trey Burton - TE - Colts

Yahoo! League Ownership - 39%

Trey Burton is back on the TE-1 streamer scene after hauling in a touchdown for the second straight week as well as out-targeting his two tight end teammates. In PPR formats, Burton makes for a nice TD-dependant choice as he continues to be a favourite endzone weapon for Phil Rivers.

The Colts take on a middling Texans defence next. This matchup gives Burton upside starter potential in season long leagues and a cheap contrarian option for DFS contests.

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