Fantasy football is a game of inches. You have to pay attention to it every day because it's the little moves that add up to difference-makers over time. For that reason, the waiver wire is crucial for sustaining success.
Here are three free agents to pick up this week:
1. Daniel Herron, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Ahmad Bradshaw's season-ending injury has opened the door for Herron to become a valuable fantasy contributor. Owned in just 15.1 percent of ESPN leagues, Herron's seven fantasy points in Week 12 are obviously unspectacular. But Herron is the same type of dual-threat ball carrier as Bradshaw, a capable rusher and a quality pass-catching option (five catches against the Jaguars yesterday). Indianapolis' offensive line did him no favors in his first game in his new role, but with favorable matchups against the susceptible defenses of the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans in the next three weeks, Herron should produce at a solid level.
2. Rueben Randle, WR, New York Giants
Randle has the workload of an elite receiver, but it just hasn't translated into production just yet. Randle ranks 13th among wide receivers in targets (96), yet he is only averaging 5.6 fantasy points per game in standard leagues. However, an easy slate of upcoming games could help Randle convert those looks into receptions and touchdowns. Three of New York's remaining five games are against opponents who rank 20th or worse in opposing passing yards.
3. Andrew Hawkins, WR, Cleveland Browns
Hawkins is just one of 13 receivers in the NFL to produce nine or more fantasy points in four or more games since Week 7. Consistency, thy name is Hawkins. He's averaging a solid 12.7 fantasy points in PPR leagues, and still managed to catch five balls for 93 yards in Josh Gordon's return this week. He may not be the sexiest addition out there, but week-to-week production is hard to come by.
