Week 14 Waiver Wire Top Fantasy Pickups After Latest NFL Injuries

Injuries are an unfortunate part of every NFL season, and they continue to be a problem for fantasy football managers in Week 14.

Additionally, the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers are on bye this week, leaving more top fantasy performers unavailable. With playoff spots on the line in most season-long leagues, many managers will need to turn to the waiver wire.

Fortunately, a few viable starters might still be available in your league, even after waiver claims have been processed.

Here, you'll find the top remaining plays of the week, the latest from the Week 14 injury report, and the best waiver targets to consider for point-per-reception (PPR) play.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Saints QB Tyler Shough

Top 10

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

2. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

4. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

5. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

6. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

7. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

8. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

9. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

10. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

This week's injury report is rather short at the quarterback position. The New York Jets have ruled out Justin Fields, though he was set to back up Tyrod Taylor anyway.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed practice during the week with an ankle injury. However, offensive coordinator Todd Monken has stated that he expects Jackson to play, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough has been up-and-down as a rookie but looks like a high-floor sleeper against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week. Shough tallied 18.4 fantasy points last week and could have a similar outing against Tampa, which has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs.

Shough is still available in over 90 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Other quarterbacks to consider off the wire this week are C.J. Stroud, Taylor and Shedeur Sanders.

Running Back

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Cardinals RB Bam Knight

Top 10

1. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

2. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

3. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

4. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

5. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

6. Breece Hall, New York Jets

7. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

8. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

9. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

10. Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The New Orleans Saints have ruled out Alvin Kamara, which leaves Devin Neal as a reasonable sleeper for the second straight week—though Neal is not available in the majority of Yahoo leagues.

Trey Benson and Emari Demercado are also out, while Dylan Sampson and Ty Chandler are questionable.

Managers aren't going to find a trustworthy starting running back on the wire at this point in the week. However, Arizona Cardinals fill-in Bam Knight should have a reasonable workload-based floor this week.

Knight has topped 13 fantasy points in three straight games, though he'll struggle to hit that mark against the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles has surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. That's obviously not ideal, though Knight is available in over 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Rams backup Blake Corum, who topped 14 fantasy points in Week 13, is worth consideration in larger leagues. Kyren Williams has been limited with an ankle injury, nd Corum could see considerable mop-up reps if L.A. gets out to an early lead.

Corum is also available in over 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Chris Rodriguez Jr., Tyler Allgeier and Bhayshul Tuten should be considered emergency options in Week 14.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

Texans WR Jayden Higgins

Top 10

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

2. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

3. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

4. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

5. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

6. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

7. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

8. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

9. Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

10. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Drake London, Rome Odunze, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Mike Evans are among the notable receivers who have already been ruled out for Week 14. The list of questionable receivers includes Parker Washington, Noah Brown, Chris Olave, and Matthew Golden.

A couple of receivers stand out as quality boom-or-bust plays off the waiver wire.

Houston Texans rookie Jayden Higgins will face a good Kansas City Chiefs defense but has topped nine fantasy points in four straight outings. Assuming Kansas City focuses on limiting Nico Collins, Higgins could be the star of Houston's passing attack this week.

Higgins is available in 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

New York Jets receiver Adonai Mitchell has been wildly inconsistent this season, but he did tally an impressive 24.2 fantasy points in Week 13. The Miami Dolphins have surrendered the eight-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers, but Mitchell's big-play ability gives him an intriguing ceiling.

Mitchell is available in over 70 percent of Yahoo leagues and 60 percent of ESPN leagues. Josh Downs, John Metchie III and Dontayvion Wicks are other receivers to consider in deeper leagues.

Tight End

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Ravens TE Isaiah Likely

Top 10

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

2. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

4. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

5. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

6. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

7. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

8. Harold Fanning Jr., Cleveland Browns

9. Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders

10. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Michael Mayer has been ruled out, while Dalton Kincaid is questionable.

Reliable tight ends on the wire are few and far between at this point in the week. It's worth checking on Brenton Strange and Harold Fannin Jr., who both have top-10 potential this week, however.

Strange is rostered in 67 percent of Yahoo leagues but only 36 percent of ESPN leagues. Fannin is rostered in 55 percent of ESPN leagues but only 38 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Ravens No. 2 tight end Isaiah Likely is a more realistic waiver target, available in over 80 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. He's a boom-or-bust option, but he did tally 12.5 fantasy points last week.

Darren Waller, AJ Barner and Colston Loveland are other tight ends to consider in deeper leagues.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.