Fantasy Football Week 13 Quarterback and Tight End FAAB: Shedeur Sanders, Jameis Winston, and More

We are running out of NFL weeks. The playoffs will take us into February, but for fantasy football purposes, many leagues will start their postseason after just two more weeks, leaving owners with a final gasp to make a move.

Rounding out your roster is imperative right now, as it gives you options in case of injury rather than having to scrounge around on the waiver wire at the most important time of year. If you have a lot of remaining FAAB budget, it's time to start thinking about putting it to use and adding players (though there's no need to waste if you don't need anyone).

Let's look at some of the hottest QB and TE names on the waiver wire heading into Week 13 and what reasonable FAAB bids look like for each. Your numbers may vary based on your roster needs and available budget, but this is a good baseline to start from. All bids are based on a $100 budget.

Use FantasySP's waiver wire tool to find the players who are being added most to fantasy rosters each week!

Quarterback

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

We can keep this one short: Brissett keeps throwing the ball a ton (averaging 43.5 attempts per game) and putting up numbers as a result, and he is a guy you can consider every week right now.

The Cardinals have a great matchup against the Buccaneers in Week 13 before tougher games against the Rams and Texans, so Brissett will be more of a streamer type the rest of the season.

Conservative Bid: $2-4

Need Bid: $6-8

Desperation Bid: $11

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Stroud has missed three straight games, and the Texans won all three, bringing them above .500 for the first time this season. It seems pretty clear: Davis Mills should remain the starter, right?

Of course not. Mills was a five-star college recruit and had a fine career, eventually being drafted in the third round. He looks like a quarterback; he can handle the position and lead a team when called upon. He has a low ceiling, though, and projects as a good backup. That's perfectly fine, but it doesn't bring the upside of a player like Stroud.

Stroud has been pretty good this season, averaging around 230 passing yards in his seven full games with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has often been better in real life than in fantasy football, something likely to continue.

Stroud is a guy you can consider in the right matchups, but he's not a great fantasy QB. The remaining schedule mixes tough and easier games, so it's better to think of Stroud as a guy to pick up when the matchup is right but not a player to keep on your roster unless you're in a deep league or desperate at quarterback.

Conservative Bid: $1

Need Bid: $2

Desperation Bid: $3-4

Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns

My response to picking up Sanders last week: “Lol. LMAO!!!” That sentiment hasn't changed. Just looking at his numbers, you would think Sanders had a strong game, as he averaged 10.5 yards per pass attempt (league average is generally around 7.0).

He completed just over half his passes, though, and 56.5% of his yardage came on two plays. One was a long pass down the field, which he deserves credit for, but Sanders' touchdown came on a 66-yard screen pass to running back Dylan Sampson that was caught behind the line of scrimmage.

Sanders and the Browns took advantage of a horrendous Raiders team to put together a good game, but this won't be the norm. There are still good matchups to come, with the Titans, Bears, Steelers, and Bengals remaining on the schedule, but Sanders will be a low-level fantasy player. Consider him with matchups if you're intrigued, but don't waste FAAB dollars.

Conservative Bid: $0

Need Bid: $1

Desperation Bid: $2

Cameron Ward, Tennessee Titans

Ward had his best fantasy day of the season in Week 12, throwing for 256 yards and a touchdown and running for 37 yards and another score. I thought Ward could have a little fantasy intrigue heading into the season because he would use his legs; that hasn't been the case, as Ward has averaged just 10.5 rushing yards per game with his first score coming on Sunday.

This is now two straight games in which Ward has topped 30 yards, though, so maybe we will finally see the young QB utilize a weapon that made him a college star. It could also be a blip on the radar, but we won't know until we get more information on the top overall pick.

The matchups the rest of the way aren't great, so there probably won't be many weeks to use Ward in your lineup. Week 17 against the Saints is fine, but do you want to rely on Ward if you're in the fantasy championship? This is a player to skip for now and reevaluate in 2026.

Conservative Bid: $0

Need Bid: $1

Desperation Bid: $2

Jameis Winston, New York Giants

Winston had a big day against the Lions on Sunday, throwing for 366 yards on 10.2 per attempt with two touchdowns and an interception. That's a good fantasy day, but Winston took it to another level by catching a pass and running 33 yards for a touchdown, something that made him QB1 for the week.

We've seen Winston put up big stats before, but the main problem is opportunity. Jaxson Dart could return from a concussion as soon as this week, and that would take away Winston's entire fantasy value.

The schedule is friendly in terms of soft pass defenses the rest of the way, so if Winston gets more time, he will have streaming value. It's more likely the he will return to the bench soon, though, leaving his sound bites as his biggest contribution to fans each week.

Conservative Bid: $0

Need Bid: $0

Desperation Bid: $1

Tight End

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

It makes sense to keep questioning Loveland's ascent to fantasy relevance. He started the year barely involved in the passing game, and there is competition at his position (Cole Kmet) and from a strong group of wide receivers (Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, others) for targets.

After four catches for 49 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers on Sunday, Loveland is now averaging 4.3 receptions and 65.5 receiving yards in four November games while scoring three times. It's time to accept that he is a real part of this offense and now on the fantasy radar until further notice.

Chicago has a run of tough tight end defenses coming up, with the Eagles, Packers, Browns, and Packers again their next four games. Loveland probably still belongs in the streaming category, though he is working his way toward more. If he starts showing out against these tougher teams, all questions will be answered.

Conservative Bid: $1-2

Need Bid: $3-4

Desperation Bid: $5-6

Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

Parkinson has been here a few times, but I kept brushing him aside, assuming there wouldn't be enough to go around with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams hogging targets. It made sense to be skeptical after he caught nine passes for 68 yards in his first six games combined.

Parkinson has now caught a touchdown in three straight games, though, and had four catches for 41 yards in two of them (the other was just two catches for 14 yards). It's still true that he has to fight with others for targets, and Parkinson also has a low floor, but he has now been involved in three straight games, putting him on the streaming radar.

He won't score a touchdown every game, and when he doesn't, he's not going to be much of a fantasy player. Matthew Stafford leads the league with 30 touchdown passes, so there will still be opportunities, but don't count on Parkinson as your weekly option. He's a player to consider with the matchups as a lower-level streamer.

Conservative Bid: $1

Need Bid: $2

Desperation Bid: $3

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

Strange returned in Week 12 after missing five games (and a bye), leading the Jaguars with five receptions and 93 yards. The yardage was a career high, and it wasn't just a product of one play, as Strange's longest reception was 30 yards.

Strange is a receiving tight end, so he has a chance to be useful in the passing game most weeks, but he's not a great player, and the Jaguars have a lower-level passing game, leaving Strange with both a low floor and ceiling.

Remaining games against the Titans (twice), Colts (twice), and Jets leave him with chances at more decent games, but don't expect Strange to come in and save your tight end spot. While he will be involved and find some success, Strange is going to have low or moderate numbers just as often.

Conservative Bid: $0

Need Bid: $1

Desperation Bid: $2-3