As many fantasy football leagues enter the last week of the regular season, Week 14 will be a make-or-break matchup for countless managers. This makes any waiver additions extremely crucial, even more so than usual.
If you are dealing with an injury or need a spark in your starting lineup, these players could provide a short-term boost and carry you over the edge. I wouldn’t be surprised if these players get some managers into the playoffs by the end of Week 14.
While none of these players have very obvious long-term potential for your roster, they could come through with a clutch performance if you have the confidence to start them ahead of the playoffs.
Let’s get into this week’s list, as well as some honorable mentions!
AD Mitchell (WR, NYJ)
2.7% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
After being traded to the Jets ahead of the NFL trade deadline, second-year wideout AD Mitchell was quiet through his first few weeks in New York. Many believed that he would fade into irrelevancy, merely a forgotten asset thrown in to allow the Colts to acquire superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner.
However, Mitchell has seen a significant rise in volume over the past few weeks, recording 19 targets over his last two contests. This volume has translated to production, allowing Mitchell to rack up 144 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown off of 10 receptions during that span.
A clear change occurred in Mitchell’s usage once Tyrod Taylor took over as the Jets’ starting quarterback. Taylor has consistently looked Mitchell’s way, even connecting with the former Colt on a 52-yard touchdown pass against Atlanta in Week 13.
If this usage can develop into more of a trend for Mitchell with Taylor under center, he has the chance to become a major asset in New York’s passing attack, especially as a deep threat. AD Mitchell is a very young player, and it’s clear that he has plenty of untapped potential.
Mitchell is a high-priority addition this week and should receive solid volume going forward. Because of a trade deadline transaction, he has the opportunity to be a fantasy playoff hero for a struggling Jets offense.
If you have the chance, adding him to the end of your bench as a high-upside option could be extremely beneficial.
Dontayvion Wicks (WR, GB)
1% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
In the absence of first-round pick Matthew Golden, Dontayvion Wicks led the Packers in receiving yards in the team’s Week 13 win over Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. The third-year receiver has been a big-play threat in Green Bay’s offense this season and has shown more reliability as of late, allowing him to take on a larger role in Green Bay’s wide receiver committee.
It’s no secret that the Packers’ offense has been hot recently, scoring 20+ points in each of their last three games. Wicks has been a solid contributor to that effort, and could continue to be if Golden were to miss more time.
Wicks does have some standalone value, however. He sees the field regularly, and despite Green Bay’s fairly even target distribution among their weapons in the receiving game, Wicks has been able to make a solid impact this season.
Nonetheless, Week 13 was a season-best performance for the Virginia product. He recorded 94 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in an impressive effort. If he gets more volume, he could provide a couple of weeks of value to end the season.
Devaughn Vele (WR, NO)
0.6% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
Before the start of the 2025 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints made one of the quietest moves of the offseason in trading for former Broncos wideout Devaughn Vele, who was entering his second year. Vele had come on strong for Denver in 2024, but the team had too many young receivers to field at once, so Vele was the odd man out.
Vele started off the season quietly, not even recording a snap share above 50% until Week 8. However, since week 10, the former Bronco has taken over as the second wide receiver in the absence of Rashid Shaheed, who was traded to Seattle at the deadline. That increase in usage finally paid off for Vele, who registered eight receptions off of eight targets for 93 yards and a touchdown against Miami in Week 13.
Similar to AD Mitchell, Vele was put in an advantageous position due to a trade deadline transaction and has also benefited from a quarterback change. Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has looked solid through limited action so far, and if he develops a strong connection with Vele, the two could make for a solid duo.
If Vele continues to take over the second wideout position for New Orleans, he could have some solid value as a bench piece. Don’t sleep on the underrated wideout just because of his slow start to the season on a new team. He has the chance to make some noise over the next few weeks.
Isaiah Likely (TE, BAL)
7.5% Rostered in ESPN Leagues
After being limited by injury through the first month of the season, Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely finally put together an impressive receiving performance in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals, totaling five receptions from six targets for 95 receiving yards.
It’s easy to forget that the fourth-year tight end logged 477 receiving yards and six touchdowns back in 2024, finishing as a top-20 tight end in fantasy football. If Likely can put together a few more solid performances, he could end up being a league-winner, like many thought he would be before the start of the season.
For this to happen, however, quarterback Lamar Jackson will need to get back on track. The Ravens’ passing game has felt like a shell of its former self over the past few weeks, but if Likely can create an offensive spark, he could see more volume heading into the fantasy playoffs.
Overall, Isaiah Likely has proven his fantasy value in the past and could be a valuable piece for a playoff run.
HM. Bryce Young (QB, CAR)
HM. Keaton Mitchell (RB, BAL)
HM. Jalen Coker (WR, CAR)
HM. Brenton Strange (TE, JAX)