Best fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 14

Hello and welcome to the Week 14 waiver wire watch!

The Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone and we’ve made it to the month of December. It’s time for you to lock in as we’ve made it to the end of the regular season in most leagues before the kicking off the fantasy football playoffs next week. We still have the Monday night showdown between the Giants and Patriots to get to this evening, but it’s not too early to start looking for ways to fortify your rosters for next week and the push into the postseason.

We’ll go over some performers that you should consider scooping off the waiver wire ahead of Week 14 and as always, we’ll classify a waiver add as someone who is rostered in 60% of leagues at the max. This week also marks the final set of byes across the league, so pay attention to who will and won’t be available.

Week 14 byes: Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (44.5%)

Lawrence and the Jags cruised to a 25-3 victory over the Titans on Sunday, notching their third straight win while officially jumping the Colts for first place in the AFC South. The former No. 1 overall pick had one of his cleanest stat days of the entire season in Nashville, throwing for 229 yards and two touchdowns while also adding an additional 25 yards on the ground.

Lawrence remains one of two top-15 fantasy QB’s in waiver territory and he has a big one coming up against a Colts team that is losing steam in the home stretch of the season. If you need a quality QB that can get you around 20 fantasy points, T-Law is your guy.

Week 14 matchup: vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET

Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals (38.0%)

The Cardinals were officially eliminated from playoff contention in their 20-17 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday, but you don’t care about that. You care about Brissett airing it out and he was one of two QB’s to throw for over 300 yards for the week, finishing with two touchdowns and one interception in the Cards’ loss at Raymond James Stadium

It was the fourth time that the veteran journeyman crossed the 20-point threshold in fantasy and he’s been a quality replacement for Kyler Murray for most of the season. With Murray still not ready to come back, Brissett may end up playing out the string for the rest of the year.

Week 14 matchup: vs. Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m. ET

Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears (59.7%)

The Bears hunted down the Eagles in a 24-15 victory on Black Friday and the combination of that win and the Rams loss actually vaulted them to the top of the NFC standings. They pulled this off by running all over the reigning Super Bowl champions on the ground as D’Andre Swift posted 125 rushing yards and a touchdown while Monangai added 130 and a score as well. The seventh-round rookie has fully emerged as a dangerous, efficient weapon for Chicago’s offense, averaging 4.9 yards per carry while having one of the best rushing EPA’s and success rates in the entire league.

Monangai is rubbing right up against our waiver threshold at 60%, so if you’re lucky enough to see him on your wire, absolutely submit a bid without any hesitation.

Week 14 matchup: @ Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET

Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams (16.6%)

With Kyren Williams tweaking his ankle on Sunday, Corum was able to get some extra reps in the Rams’ surprising 31-28 loss to the Panthers on Sunday. The second-year back out of Michigan had himself a career outing, taking seven carries for 81 yards and a second-quarter touchdown run that put the Rams on top at the very end of the first half.

Corum has been steadily in the mix workload-wise and had registered 10+ carries in three of his last four games prior to Sunday. Williams’ ankle should be fine for next week, but give Corum a look if you need some RB depth.

Week 14 matchup: @ Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET

Christian Watson, WR, Green Packers (36.8%)

The Packers held off the Lions in a 31-24 victory on Thanksgiving Day and we saw both Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson have splendid days catching the football. Watson in particular posted four catches for 80 yards and a second-quarter touchdown that extended their lead, allowing him to finish the week as a top-15 fantasy wideout in all scoring formats.

Watson continues to step up as a big-play threat for Jordan Love, ranking in the top 15 in both ADOT and yards per route run among receivers with at least 100 routes run this season. You’ll want to grab him for a colossal showdown against the Bears this Sunday where first place in the NFC South will be up for grabs.

Week 14 matchup: vs. Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m. ET

Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts (40.7%)

The Colts’ 20-16 setback against the Texans marked their third loss in the last four weeks and they are now in a three-team dogfight for the AFC South title. Wide receiver Alec Pierce was at least a reliable source of offense as he put the team on the board with a second-quarter touchdown, catching four of five targets for 81 in the loss at home.

Pierce remains the most explosive pass-catcher in the league as he is averaging a league-high 20.9 yards per catch. Sole possession of first place in the AFC South will be on the line when they visit the Jags on Sunday, so they’re going to need him to step up big.

Week 14 matchup: @ Jacksonville Jaguars 1 p.m. ET

Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars (28.3%)

Strange has been huge for the Jags since returning from IR a few weeks ago and played a big part in their 25-3 win over the Titans on Sunday. Three receptions for 45 yards and his first touchdown of the season is what the third-year Penn Stte product produced, following up a nice 93-yard effort in his return one week ago.

The Jags are rolling as the offense seems to be getting more in sync late in the year. Strange is definitely a piece that can help you in your push towards the fantasy playoffs.

Week 14 matchup: vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET

Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens (17.9%)

Likely had his best game of the season in the Ravens’ 32-14 loss to the Bengals on Thanksgiving Night, hauling in five of six targets for 95 yards. Well, I don’t think “best” is a way to describe it as he fumbled a would be touchdown right before the goal line for a touchback, costing Baltimore a chance to extend their early lead. Whoops.

Still, his production was encouraging and the team will need him in Sunday’s battle with the Steelers for first place in the AFC North.

Week 14 matchup: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 1 p.m. ET