Week 13 IDP Waiver Wire: Pickups & Targets
We get a bye week from bye weeks in Week 13, so the need to fill in for starters is less than usual. That's convenient because there weren't a ton of situations where injuries or usage force our hand as we head into Thanksgiving Week. It's time to dance with the guys who brought you here, and if you're reading a waiver wire article in Week 13, you likely still have something to play for, which we love to see.
With that said, I'd love to hear from you if you're still in contention. There's a saying in this space that 'no one cares about your fantasy team,' but that's not true! I care! Find me in our subscriber Discord, and drop your team in the IDP channel or DM it to me. I'm fascinated by the variations of IDP rosters and scoring settings, so let me see your contender!
My intention here is to cater to a wide variety of leagues every week. IDP leagues are like snowflakes, so if you have specific questions, jump into our subscriber Discord, find the IDP channel, and tag me with any questions you have.
Some of you play in leagues where all of these players are already owned, and some of you play in IDP leagues where only 3-4 players are rostered on each team, so the players listed below might not even be on your radar, so don't be afraid to reach out with specific questions.
Week 13 IDP Waiver Wire
Shaq Thompson (LB) - Buffalo Bills
Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said that linebacker Terrel Bernard is a candidate for injured reserve after suffering an elbow injury on Thursday night. That sounds like a 3-5 week injury, which basically ends Bernard's regular season. Shaq Thompson was the one-for-one replacement here, and the priority waiver wire add for Week 13.
D'Marco Jackson (LB) - Chicago Bears
The Bears are suffering cluster injuries at linebacker as they head into the meat of their schedule. We could see T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell return on Black Friday against the Eagles, but Tremaine Edmunds landed on the IR with a groin injury. That's a big loss, as Edmunds has been a pleasant surprise in 2025 after a few down years since signing in Chicago.
Jackson and Ruben Hyppolitte were Chicago's Week 12 starters, but Hyppolitte hurt his shoulder early against the Steelers. Jackson and Amen Ogbongbemiga played the majority of the snaps, and both had solid days, helping virtually no one. We'll need to see the injury report here, but Jackson is the speculative add in deeper leagues.
Kevin Winston Jr. (S) - Tennessee Titans
The Titans have been using three safeties at a pretty high rate this season, but that dynamic has shifted a bit over the past few weeks. First, they released Quandre Diggs, which opened up an opportunity for third-round rookie Kevin Winston Jr. That opportunity has increased because Xavier Woods has been dinged up of late, so Winston Jr. is getting full-time reps, and he's showing out. Now, this 100% snap role might be short-lived, but the Titans also have nothing to play for, so evaluating their young players should be a priority down the stretch. If you're in a deeper league and need depth at defensive back, Winston Jr. is worth a speculative add if you have an open roster spot.
Sydney Brown (S) - Philadelphia Eagles
A thigh injury forced Reed Blankenship out of Philadelphia's lineup in the third quarter against the Cowboys, and Sydney Brown stepped in, playing every snap in his absence, most of them in the box. Andrew Mukuba, Philadelphia's other starting safety, appeared to have injured his right leg in the fourth quarter as well, so there are two paths to snaps here for Brown on a short week.
