Fantasy Football Today: Waiver Wire! Chris Rodriguez or Devin Neal? Good WR and TE Options Too

Episode Date: November 25, 2025
Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg

Episode Overview

This episode dives into Waiver Wire priorities for Fantasy Football Week 13, focusing on running back options Devin Neal and Chris Rodriguez, plus a slew of interesting wide receiver and tight end candidates. The FFT crew analyzes matchups, role clarity, and potential for short- and long-term production, offering guidance on how aggressively to pursue each name. Lively banter and a few Thanksgiving references set an energetic, familiar tone.

Main Waiver Wire Takeaways

Top Waiver Priorities

Running Backs

• Devin Neal - Clear top priority this week due to his pass-catching upside and favorable matchup, but with caveats regarding Saints RB committee and Alvin Kamara’s impending return.
• Chris Rodriguez - Next up after Neal, with presumed lead-back status in Washington, though viewed as TD-dependent and with limited pass game work.
• Devin Singletary - Also in consideration (if available), but consensus is that Neal and Rodriguez come first.

Notable Quotes:

• “Devin Neal is the prize this week…he had five catches for 43 yards. I think that's a huge part there.” – Adam (04:31)
• “Neil has not shown us the ability to be a dominant rusher in the NFL yet. So is he just going to be a pass catcher?...You got to view him as a flex.” – Jamey (17:34, 17:44)

Wide Receivers Jamie and Dave break down a “fab five” of intriguing but flawed WR pickups, all with some opportunity due to injuries/role changes:

• Andre Iosivas (CIN, at BAL)
• Chimere Dike (JAC, vs. JAX)
• Jaden Higgins (IND, at IND)
• John Metchie (ATL)
• Greg Dortch (ARI, at TB)

Dave’s Top 3, prioritizing rest-of-season value:

1. John Metchie
2. Jaden Higgins
3. Chimere Dike

Jamie’s top two “for this week":

• Iosivas and Dortch.

All are considered viable, especially for teams seeking a one-week plug, though none are locked-in starters.

Memorable Moment:
“You can make a case for so many of these guys... There’s a lot to like about these guys, there’s a lot to be concerned about.” – Jamie (64:12)

Tight Ends

• Brenton Strange (JAX) and Dalton Schultz (HOU) are the top priorities, with Schultz getting a rest-of-season edge if available.
• Darren Waller is worth a stash if cleared to play.
• In deep/dark throw leagues: Mike Gesicki, Taysom Hill, Colby Parkinson, and Gunner Helm were all discussed.

“Strange and Schultz should be at the top of your list. Waller’s no guarantee to play.” – Dave (29:30)

Quick Position-by-Position Waiver Lists

Quarterbacks

• Shallow Leagues: Tua Tagovailoa, CJ Stroud, Trevor Lawrence
• 12-team Leagues: Jacoby Brissett (high priority if available)
• Deep Leagues/2QB: Max Brosmer, Teddy Bridgewater, Shadur Sanders

Running Backs

• Top Adds: Devin Neal, Chris Rodriguez, Devin Singletary (if available)
• Deep/Speculative: Zonovan Knight, Jaleel McLaughlin, Michael Carter, RJ Harvey

Wide Receivers

• Prioritize as needed:
  1. Andre Iosivas (> John Metchie/Higgins for pure upside)
  2. Chimere Dike, Jaden Higgins, Greg Dortch
  • Troy Franklin (if available) is ranked above all (66:11).
  • Parker Washington, Chris Godwin, Christian Watson, Terry McLaurin (in shallow leagues)

Tight Ends

• Brenton Strange, Dalton Schultz, Darren Waller
• Deep: Juwan Johnson, Kade Otten, Theo Johnson, Harold Fannin, Mike Gesicki, Colby Parkinson

DSTs & Kickers

• D/ST Streamers: Chargers (top pick), Jaguars, Falcons, 49ers, Dolphins
• Kicker Streamers: Ka’imi Fairbairn, Brandon McManus, Mike Badgley, Jake Elliott, Chad Ryland

Waiver Wire Decision Discussions & FAB Strategy

• Don’t go overboard:
  Jamie cautions against overspending FAB on any RB or WR outside Neal/Rodriguez due to one-week/injury-related upside.
  “I wouldn’t go too crazy with the receivers… I wouldn’t go too crazy on any of these guys.” – Jamey (14:41)

• Neal vs. Rodriguez:
  Both regarded as solid RB3/flex types, but not likely league-winners. Neal gets the edge for PPR formats due to receiving role. “These are warm bodies that play running back. These are not guys that are going to change your fantasy fortunes.” – Dave (18:53)

• Wide Receivers:
  None are viewed as locked-in, rest-of-season answers. Prioritize based on short-term need and matchups.

Notable Quotes & Banter

• On waiver wire QB options:
  “Waiver wire quarterbacks are the cranberry sauce. We can live without the cranberry sauce.” – Dave (02:43)

• “Are you starting any of those five WRs over Justin Jefferson with Max Brosmer? – Adam
  “No, not yet. I’m actually kind of hopeful the QB change helps.” – Jamie (10:20)

• On what the FFT crew will do if they win the “Best Sports Podcast” vote:
  “I will do a two-hour live stream every Sunday morning from 11 to 1.” – Adam (11:39)

• On DST Streams:
  "Chargers, Chargers, Chargers. The Raiders are bad. ... That offensive line is a disaster." – Jamie (32:21)

Key Timestamps

• Waiver RBs Rundown: 03:03–05:36
• WR “Fab Five” Discussion: 06:24–09:34, in-depth through 10:02
• Position-by-position Lists: ~26:56–32:47
• FAB/Expectations for Top RBs: 13:02–17:34
• DST & Kicker Streamers: 32:21–35:28
• Shallow & Deep League Pickups: 36:18–43:37
• Drop-o-meter Segment: 51:59–55:51

Deep & Shallow League Speculative Pickups

Deep (85%+ available):

• QB: Cam Ward
• RB: Devin Neal, Jaleel McLaughlin, Michael Carter
• WR: John Metchie, Chimere Dike, Greg Dortch
• TE: Brenton Strange (if he qualifies), Mike Gesicki, Colby Parkinson, Gunner Helm
• IDP: Isaiah McDuffie (Green Bay, if Quay Walker out) (45:08)

Shallow:

• Parker Washington (WR), Chris Godwin (WR), Terry McLaurin (WR, stash if available), Juwan Johnson/Theo Johnson (TE), Trevor Lawrence (QB), Jacoby Brissett

Listener Questions / Common Start-Sit Decisions

• McLaurin or John Metchie (stash)?
  “I’m clearly stashing McLaurin,” Jamie (41:23)

• Can Jayden Daniels (when healthy) be a top-10 QB ROS?
  “He could be toward the bottom of that list.” – Dave (40:00)

Lighthearted Moments

• Dave tries (unsuccessfully) to block the sun with preschool teaching “ABCs” cutouts – leads to gentle ribbing, laughter (20:36, 74:18).
• “Jamie, what are you going to do for our listeners if we win this thing?” – Adam
  “I think you should shave three lines in your head.” – Jamie (11:18)
• “One of the suggested punishments if the Giants lose is for me to eat pumpkin pie on camera.” – Adam (74:57)

Bottom Line Advice

• RBs: Spend moderate FAB for Devin Neal (especially in PPR); Chris Rodriguez is safer for volume leagues.
• WRs: Add one of the “fab five” if desperate, but don’t overspend—most are short-term flexes.
• TEs: Stream Strange or Schultz if available; stash Waller if you can.
• DST: Target the Chargers first.
• Watch for late-week injury news to clarify priority on several names, especially at RB and WR.

Final Thought:
“These are warm bodies that play running back. These are not guys that are going to change your fantasy fortunes.” – Dave (18:53)

For a tough waiver week, the FFT crew delivers sharp context, actionable tiers, and some much-needed humor. If you need a Week 13 plug-in—or just a little fantasy therapy—you’ll find both here.

(End of summary)