Week 13 Waiver Wire Fantasy Football Lineup Options After NFL Injury Reports

The good news for fantasy managers this week is that all 32 teams will be active. The bad news is that several key players are dealing with injuries that could leave them unavailable.

We're already four games into Week 13, which could be a massive problem for managers who forgot to set their lineups and/or make waiver claims. The remaining waiver-wire pool has become quite shallow.

Fortunately, a few viable starters may still be available in your league.

Here, you'll find the top remaining plays of the week, the latest from the Week 13 injury report, and the best waiver targets to consider for point-per-reception (PPR) play.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Titans QB Cam Ward

Top 10

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

2. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

3. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

4. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

5. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

6. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

7. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

8. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

9. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

10. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels isn't quite ready to return from his elbow injury, meaning Marcus Mariota will get the start against a tough Denver Broncos defense.

However, it looks like Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will take the field against the Arizona Cardinals. Mayfield suffered a significant shoulder injury against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12. However, head coach Todd Bowles said that Mayfield is "trending" to play, per Scott Smith of the team's official website.

Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy has been ruled out with a concussion.

Managers looking for a fill-in QB should consider Tennessee Titans rookie Cam Ward. While Ward hasn't played well often this season, he is coming off a terrific game and has an enticing matchup.

Ward tallied 23.9 fantasy points against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12. He'll now face a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that has surrendered an average of 20.5 fantasy points to opposing QBs.

Ward is available in over 90 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues. Tyrod Taylor and Kirk Cousins are other quarterbacks to consider off the wire this week.

Running Back

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Saints RB Devin Neal

Top 10

1. De'Veon Achane, Miami Dolphins

2. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

3. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

4. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

5. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

6. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

7. Breece Hall, New York Jets

8. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

9. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

10. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The list of running backs who have been ruled out includes Omarion Hampton, Trey Benson and Emari Demercado. Bucky Irving, Bam Knight and Jerome Ford are listed as questionable.

New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal was limited with an ankle injury during the week. However, he's expected to start in place of Alvin Kamara, who suffered a more severe knee injury in Week 12.

Kamara has also been ruled out.

Neal has shown himself to be a capable pass-catcher, which raises his PPR floor and makes him a strong sleeper candidate this week. Neal replaced Kamara in a high-volume role during last week's game and finished with 11.1 fantasy points. He'll next face a Miami Dolphins defense that has surrendered the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing RBs.

Neal is rostered in 56 percent of Yahoo leagues but only 41 percent of ESPN leagues. He's the "safest" option managers are likely to find on the wire, though backs like Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jaleel McLaughlin are worth consideration in deeper leagues.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Texans WR Jayden Higgins

Top 10

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

2. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

3. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

4. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

5. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

6. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

7. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers

8. Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

9. Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants

10. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Drake London and Noah Brown have both been ruled out this week. Marvin Harrison Jr., Elic Ayomanor, Chris Olave and Josh Palmer are listed as questionable.

As has been the case for most of the season, managers will find more viable WR options than running backs on the waiver wire.

Jaguars wideout Parker Washington, for example, is still available in over 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and over 75 percent of ESPN leagues. He's reached 17 fantasy points in two of his last three games and is set to face a suspect Titans pass defense.

Texans receiver Jayden Higgins is available in over 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues and has a favorable matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. He's topped nine fantasy points in three straight contests and has produced double digits in two of those three.

Tez Johnson, Greg Dortch and Jalen Coker are other receivers to consider this week.

Tight End

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Texans TE Dalton Schultz

Top 10

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

2. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

3. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

4. Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers

5. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

6. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

7. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

8. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

9. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

10. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Darren Waller and Chigoziem Okonkwo are listed as questionable, while Michael Mayer has been ruled out.

Texans tight end Dalton Schultz is a prime waiver target this week, rostered in 52 percent of ESPN leagues and 28 percent of Yahoo leagues. Schultz has topped 11 fantasy points in three of his last four games and has a strong matchup against the Colts.

Indianapolis has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing TEs.

Titans tight end Gunnar Helm is a deeper sleeper who can't be discounted. He had 11.1 fantasy points last week and also has a good matchup. The Jags have surrendered the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

AJ Barner, Mason Taylor and Harold Fannin Jr. are other tight ends to consider.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.