This season has been a struggle for the Green Bay Packers passing offense and many of their fantasy football pieces. Still, four different wide receivers had strong games against the Los Angeles Chargers. WR Dontayvion Wicks might be fourth on the depth chart but is an intriguing player going forward. Is he a worthwhile waiver addition? Let’s dive in.
Should Dontayvion Wicks Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 12?
First off, let’s go through a couple of issues. The first is that Wicks is currently in the league’s concussion protocol. While that’s not a likely long-term concern, the Packers play the early game on Thanksgiving Day. It’s hard to clear protocol on a full week, so Wicks is virtually a lock to miss Week 12.
The second issue with Wicks? Playing time has been hard to come by. Since WR Christian Watson returned to a full-time role in Week 5, the rookie’s highest snap percentage was 44% in Week 10. It’s hard to be a truly viable fantasy asset for a normal-sized league with that limited playing time.
But given how he’s looked and how some other Packers’ wide receivers have played, there might be a bigger role coming soon. Watson’s managers must feel the pain of his season, as the second-year WR has struggled to regain the 2022 form he saw with QB Aaron Rodgers.
Wicks might be the better option for the Packers if they’re willing to make the swap. He’s had some of the better per-snap efficiency metrics on the team, and he leads the team in yards per route run, followed by WR Jayden Reed, WR Romeo Doubs, and Watson. Wicks subbing in for Watson may be a boon for the Packers’ struggling offense.
MORE: 2023 WR Fantasy Football Rankings
Even with the limited playing time, Wicks is an interesting deep flier. He played a bunch for Watson to start the year as a late-round rookie WR and seemed to earn QB Jordan Love’s trust. He went from two to four to six targets prior to Watson’s return, compiled over 40 yards each in two games, and caught his only touchdown in Week 3.
Recently, Wicks has been seeing more opportunities. Despite playing 30-45% of snaps the last month, Wicks has four or more targets in four straight weeks, including five in Week 11. It’s hard to be a solid fantasy option with that target opportunity, but Wicks has gotten better.
He caught three or four passes in each of his last three games and managed 49 yards (Week 9), 51 yards (Week 10), and then a whopping 91 yards (Week 11). That progression allowed him to hit and then exceed his career single-game yardage mark in each week. The latter total also happened to have put him at WR26 in Week 11, the first WR3 finish of his career.
Most of his matchups are decent down the stretch, too. The Detroit Lions this week could be good for him, and after a rough Kansas City Chiefs matchup in Week 13, he’s got the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings. The Panthers represent the only “tough” matchup, but that’s more a result of the Panthers’ struggles overall.
Wicks is an interesting add-and-stash player. He’s not someone to play this week, nor likely Week 13, but if the Packers suffer a WR injury or bench a struggling player, Wicks will be a popular waiver wire add. If you want to beat someone to the punch, he’s a decent speculative add now, but he’s not the highest-priority move or worth a claim.
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