Welcome to week 12 of last-minute moves to make. This article is intended to give you late-week waiver and free-agent advice based on late-week news and gameday inactives. Injuries and other late-week developments can have a huge impact on lines and rosters, and being up-to-date on these, especially before waivers and free agency locks before kickoff, is a huge advantage.
Thanksgiving creates some oddities in the NFL schedule. With three Thursday night games and a Friday game, the NFL creates a week 13 without any short weeks. The week 13 Thursday Night game is Dallas against Seattle, and both teams have a full week to recover between games. Likewise, the Monday Night Football game is played between Minnesota and Chicago, who both have a week 13 bye.
Week 13 also has six byes, including Buffalo, Chicago, Las Vegas, Minnesota, New York Giants, and Baltimore. This can make late-week waiver stashes difficult, but there are options to improve your odds for future weeks.
Stash Bailey Zappe
The New England Patriots quarterback position is in flux. Mac Jones has struggled and was benched at the end of week 11, before the team's week 11 bye. Head coach Bill Belichick left the question about who would start open during the week, but Mac Jones will be starting. Bailey Zappe would be the backup quarterback if Jones struggles and warrants a stash, particularly in deeper quarterback premiums. You can use a roster spot created by cutting a roster fodder player with a week 13 bye.
Stash Chase Edmonds
Rachaad White was placed on the injury report late in the week with a knee injury. The reports have been that the injury was minor and White is active for week 12. The team has elevated Chase Edmonds to the backup role, ahead of Ke'Shawn Vaughn who has been made inactive. Edmonds could be a spot starter if White's injury costs him time later in the season. Additionally, rookie Sean Tucker has elevated ahead of Vaughn on the depth chart and could get an opportunity for a late-season audition if the team falls out of contention.
Prioritize Backup Quarterbacks
If you are playing in quarterback premium formats or in a format where quarterbacks are not plentiful on the waiver wire, begin planning ahead. If Jameis Winston is available, he warrants an addition, with Derek Carr struggling and banged up in recent weeks. Additionally, look to the backups of your quarterbacks. Prioritize the quarterbacks with a history of production, draft pedigree, and a strong offense. These include Mike White, Tyler Huntley, Cooper Rush, Jacoby Brissett, and Teddy Bridgewater.
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