These are the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — "widely available" defined as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.
Here are the best bets off the waiver wire for Week 13:
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WR Deebo Samuel, 49ers (ESPN: 61%; Yahoo: 56%): It's easy to forget how good Samuel can be since he has only played five games this season, but Sunday against the Rams was a nice reminder (11 receptions for 133 yards). If he's available in your league and you're fortunate to add him, he's a potential difference maker during the fantasy playoffs.
QB Philip Rivers, Colts (ESPN: 13%; Yahoo: 33%): The run game has been hit-or-miss recently so Rivers has stepped up his game. He has at least 288 yards passing in three straight games and nine touchdown passes against only three interceptions in five games since Indy's bye. He faces the Texans (twice) and the Raiders over the next three weeks.
WR Keke Coutee, Texans (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 1%): Will Fuller is suspended for the rest of the season, Randall Cobb is on injured reserve for at least two more games and Kenny Stills was recently released. Coutee's value extends mostly to deeper PPR formats.
TE Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (ESPN: 14%; Yahoo: 15%): Irv Smith could miss another week with a groin injury and a matchup with the Jaguars is premium for tight ends. Rudolph has 14 receptions (16 targets) for 159 yards over the past three games.
RB Devontae Booker, Raiders (ESPN: 5%; Yahoo: 10%): Booker has had some solid games as Josh Jacobs understudy — he's averaging 5.5 yards per carry with three touchdowns this season. Jacobs exited against the Falcons with an ankle injury (apparently a minor sprain), so he'll need to be monitored this week. If you roster him, Booker should be added as insurance. If you don't, and Jacobs can't play this week, then the understudy will step into a starring role against the Jets.
BONUS: WR Allen Lazard, Packers (ESPN: 28%; Yahoo: 39%): Lazard was second among Packers receivers in targets (six) against the Bears on Sunday night and had a touchdown. He has WR3/flex upside the rest of the way with upcoming games against the Eagles, Lions and Titans.
BONUS: TE Trey Burton, Colts (ESPN: 6%; Yahoo: 19%): I probably sound like a broken record by now. The Colts coaching staff has committed to featuring Burton in the red zone. I've been sounding the clarion call since right before the season began. He has five touchdowns in his last six games. His overall volume will remain inconsistent, but his opportunity to score every week has almost been like clockwork. You can't ask for much more with the way tight ends have contributed (or not) in fantasy this season.
BONUS: RB Alexander Mattison, Vikings (ESPN: 33%; Yahoo: 32%): These roster percentages should be much higher considering how historically fragile Dalvin Cook has been.
BONUS: RB Frank Gore, Jets (ESPN: 19%; Yahoo: 25%): The future Hall of Famer has had double-digit carries in nine of 11 games this season and with La'Mical Perine on injured reserve, Gore ended up with 21 touches and 86 total yards against a good Dolphins defense. His value lies in mostly standard formats with such high volume and weekly touchdown potential (assuming the Jets ever actually score).
BONUS: D/ST Raiders (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 9%): This team was embarrassed against the Falcons and will certainly face a reckoning this week in practice. If there's an offense out there that can help a defense get right, it's the 0-11 Jets coached by Adam Gase. Consider them if you need a streaming option this week.
