Christopher Harris, Fantasy 9y

Free-agent finds for Week 13

Fantasy NFL

Waiver-wire news changes throughout the week as injuries and depth-chart shenanigans overtake us. So be sure to follow me on Twitter by clicking on the link next to my headshot at the bottom of the column, and I'll keep you updated as news warrants.

Let's get to the best fantasy roster additions heading into Week 13:

Standard ESPN league finds

Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland Raiders (owned in 10.1 percent of ESPN leagues): Murray graduates from "speculative" to "must-own" after just four touches Thursday night. That prime-time showing was enough to make the football world wonder what the Raiders have been waiting for. Why have they been trundling out Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew when they had this 6-foot-3, 225-pound second-year player in the stable? With his four touches against the Kansas City Chiefs, Murray scored a red zone TD and then busted loose for a 90-yard score before suffering a concussion. There's no guarantee Murray gets healthy in time for Week 13 versus the St. Louis Rams, nor do I feel particularly sure that: (a) the Raiders are smart enough to make Murray their full-time back, or (b) any Raiders RB can be consistent enough to become a trustworthy fantasy starter. But if you're in Hail Mary mode, Murray's your guy.

Daniel Herron, RB, Indianapolis Colts (15.1 percent): "Boom" also makes the jump up from "speculative," as the Colts made him a full partner with Trent Richardson in their backfield in Week 12. Herron played 31 snaps against the Jacksonville Jaguars; Richardson played 40. And though Richardson scored a short TD, Herron shone by comparison. (Frankly, I'm not sure how hard it is to shine by comparison. See also: Donald Brown.) Herron will also be difficult to trust right away in must-win situations, but it wouldn't be shocking to see Indy shift its workload in his direction. Richardson's vision and game sense just don't pass muster.

Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins (11.2 percent): Here's a third player taking the jump up to the big list. Landry's LSU teammate, Odell Beckham Jr., has been my binky for two months (as Fantasy Underground podcast listeners can attest), but obviously he's long since owned in your league. Fellow rookie Landry isn't the same kind of athletic marvel, but he's not bad. On tape, he's a decisive player who gets open and is physical after the catch, especially for a non-huge receiver. Try not to get blinded by two TDs in Week 12 versus the Denver Broncos. Instead, focus on the fact that Landry has 24 targets in his past three games, compared to seven for Brian Hartline. Landry isn't the focal point of this Dolphins' attack, but he's trending in the right direction.

St. Louis Rams Defense (24.0 percent): This unit has lived up to its preseason billing during the past month, with a regular pass rush, some turnovers and last week's 99-yard Janoris Jenkins pick-six. They get the Raiders at home in Week 13, and while the Raiders' line has done a decent job protecting Derek Carr (who has been sacked only 12 times), Oakland still represents a positive matchup for opposing fantasy defenses. You could certainly also look at the New York Giants (4.4 percent), as they get to face the Jaguars, but realize that this Giants D hasn't scored more than four fantasy points in a game since Week 4, and has gone for zero or negative fantasy points three times in that span. This will be a true test of the Jags' ability to create a top-12 fantasy defense every single week so far in 2014 -- which, yes, is something they've actually done. They stink.

Other solid waiver adds, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins (49.6 percent); Branden Oliver, RB, Chargers (41.2 percent); Knile Davis, RB, Chiefs (32.8 percent); Andrew Hawkins, WR, Browns (44.6 percent).

Speculative standard-league finds

LeGarrette Blount, RB, New England Patriots (20.1 percent): I am under no illusion that the Pats will settle on Blount as their main ball carrier. And in fact his "big game" in Week 12 required Jonas Gray to oversleep, garbage time against the Detroit Lions and a late alteration of a game plan that saw New England run the ball six times in the first half. For me, there are too many week-to-week variables to render any Patriots RB trustworthy, but you're free to add Blount and hope for December clarity.

Kenny Stills, WR, New Orleans Saints (15.7 percent): With Brandin Cooks out, Stills has an opportunity to establish himself as more than just a situational deep threat. Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, Stills produced 98 yards on eight grabs (though three of those came with Baltimore playing a soft prevent). Investing heavily in Drew Brees' ancillary weapons isn't safe, but Stills is more than a one-trick pony as a receiver. I think adding him in situations where you need upside and can tolerate risk makes some sense.

Tim Wright, TE, Patriots (4.5 percent): Wright played a season-high 55 snaps in Week 12, easily beating his previous single-game high of 21. (He had played 11 snaps in consecutive weeks leading into Sunday.) So while it's tempting to overreact to Wright's two Sunday scores (six total this season), realize that the Pats don't consistently use their "12" formation (with two tight ends). Tight end is a maddening position, and if you don't have one of the elites, I can't convincingly steer you away from taking a shot on Wright. My guess, though, is that just when you start to trust him, he'll disappear.

Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints (34.4 percent): Frenchy returned Monday night after a four-game absence and picked up where he left off, mostly serving as a drain on Mark Ingram. But with Khiry Robinson's return nowhere in sight, Thomas has a chance to be a bigger part of New Orleans' vanished screen game. He caught six passes Monday and is usually a decent bet to play about 30 snaps per game, giving him some PPR flex appeal.

Jordan Cameron, TE, Cleveland Browns (40.1 percent): Cameron has missed four games because of a concussion, but was able to practice some in advance of Week 12 and reportedly has a chance to suit up Sunday versus the Buffalo Bills. Not only was he hugely disappointing in the season's first two months -- failing to catch more than three passes in any single game -- but he carries a big risk of re-injury. Still, Cameron is only a year away from solid fantasy production, and the TE position is a vast wasteland.

Other speculative standard-league waiver adds, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Bryce Brown, RB, Bills (7.8 percent); Anthony Dixon, RB, Bills (14.4 percent); Bernard Pierce, RB, Ravens (10.6 percent); Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Ravens (21.5 percent); Charles Sims, RB, Buccaneers (28.4 percent); Theo Riddick, RB, Lions (8.0 percent); Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers (29.8 percent); DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers (22.9 percent); Kenny Britt, WR, Rams (35.8 percent); John Brown, WR, Cardinals (25.4 percent); Cecil Shorts, WR, Jaguars (41.1 percent); Davante Adams, WR, Packers (9.6 percent); Greg Jennings, WR, Vikings (42.3 percent); Markus Wheaton, WR, Steelers (12.9 percent); Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings (16.0 percent); Owen Daniels, TE, Ravens (34.8 percent); Mychal Rivera, TE, Raiders (47.6 percent).

Deeper-league finds

Charles Johnson, WR, Minnesota Vikings (0.3 percent): Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. If you're going to basically run a high school offense, you really should have better throwing accuracy. But Johnson (who was a Super-Deep Sleeper of mine back in August, though back then he played for the Browns) underwent a bit of a bust-out, playing a season-high 62 snaps (his previous high had been 24). Johnson has passed Jarius Wright on the Vikings' depth chart and has nine grabs in his past two games combined. He's not usable right now outside of very deep leagues, but you can stash him.

Robert Turbin, RB, Seattle Seahawks (2.6 percent): This is a reminder as the fantasy playoffs approach that handcuffs are still important, and the Seahawks appear to have landed on Turbin as their heir apparent should Marshawn Lynch get hurt. Lynch missed two series Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals and Turbin filled in, while Christine Michael (2.5 percent) sat.

Other solid waiver adds for deep-leaguers, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Josh McCown, QB, Buccaneers (16.7 percent); Joseph Randle, RB, Cowboys (5.6 percent); Lance Dunbar, RB, Cowboys (1.3 percent); Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers (19.0 percent); Benny Cunningham, RB, Rams (9.8 percent); Juwan Thompson, RB, Broncos (5.4 percent); Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers (39.7 percent); Robert Woods, WR, Bills (3.5 percent); Andre Holmes, WR, Raiders (12.6 percent); Donte Moncrief, WR, Colts (1.8 percent); Allen Hurns, WR, Jaguars (13.6 percent); Jacob Tamme, TE, Broncos (8.1 percent).

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