Fantasy Football Week 13 Flex Rankings, Waiver-Wire Targets and Projections

As the fantasy playoffs draw near, recognizing the right waiver wire targets to add to one's team becomes significantly more important with every passing week.

Recognizing who is performing consistently and at a high rate, and knowing who to replace in your current lineup to accommodate them, is the difference between a key victory and crushing defeat from week to week.

The same can be said about knowing which superstar to play when and against whom.

Ahead of Week 13 in the NFL, including a full Thanksgiving slate and a big Black Friday match-up, these are the flex rankings and two waiver wire targets who could help propel your team to victory.

All fantasy stats via FantasyPros.com unless otherwise noted.

Week 13 FLEX Rankings

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The top 20 rankings for FLEX players in PPR leagues in Week 13 are:

1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans

2. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens

3. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers

4. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings

5. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns

6. George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs

7. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers

8. Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

9. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets

10. De'Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints

11. Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys

12. Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers

13. James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers

14. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers

15. Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans

16. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers

17. Javonte Williams, RB, Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs

18. Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders

19. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns

20. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints at Miami Dolphins

Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals

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Since stepping under center for Arizona in Week 6 against Indianapolis, Brissett has thrown 11 touchdowns to three interceptions, with one rushing touchdown.

He has finished among the top 10 quarterbacks in fantasy in five of the six weeks that he has started for the Cardinals and the one in which he did not, he ranked 12th.

Arizona is a miserable 3-8, so it is understandable that the majority of football fans do not understand how well the journeyman backup has played, but fantasy managers should know by now.

Perhaps that is why it is surprising that he is still available in 39 percent of ESPN and 53 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Those in need of a QB due to a BYE week or amid an under-performing season must consider adding the LSU product, especially as Arizona passes its way back into games.

A Week 13 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, makes for a favorable match-up that managers should jump at the opportunity to take advantage of.

Projected Stats: 35-47, 375 yards, 2 TDs

Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans

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Since a Week 8 match-up against San Francisco, Higgins has quietly asserted himself in the Houston Texans offense. The rookie receiver has been targeted 32 times, catching 18 balls and scoring three touchdowns during that stretch.

He has put up three double-digit fantasy performances in those outings.

Houston has a Week 13 match-up against the Indianapolis Colts, a team giving up the eighth-most points to opposing wide receivers, making Higgins an intriguing option. He is not the fantasy difference-maker that teammate Nico Collins is, but he has won the trust of the quarterback room and is an exciting, fast threat for an offense that needs it.

Those in need of receiver depth should grab and stash Higgins because if his recent string of success continues, he could be a fringe starter by the end of the season.

The Iowa State product is available in over 75 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.

Projected Stats: five receptions, 60 yards, TD