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- Week 12 Waiver Targets
By: Tony Kneepkens (@tonytk44)
These are the top players to consider adding from waivers this week. Unless otherwise noted, all players below are available in greater than 50% of Yahoo leagues (as of Sunday evening).
Week 12 teams on bye: Bengals, Bills, Falcons, Jaguars, Jets, Saints
QB Pickups
Anthony Richardson, IND, Week 12 vs DET
AR was announced as the Colts starter for the remainder of the season last week and responded with his best passing game and overall fantasy game of the year in a win over the Jets. He completed 20 of 30 passes for 272 yards and a TD. He ran for another 32 yards and a pair of TDs on the ground.
Medium-priority add. If you are in need of a new QB or an additional QB option, AR is a great waiver addition. While the 32/2 rushing line is what gives him the chance to be a real fantasy difference maker, it’s the fact that he finally completed more than half of his passes that I’m most excited about for AR and the whole Indy offense. The Colts will be on bye Week 14.
5 - 15% of FAAB.
Bo Nix, DEN, Week 12 at LV
Nix rewarded those who streamed him last week with an efficient 307/4 passing game in a blowout win over the Falcons. He completed TDs to four different pass catchers during a game in which the Broncos scored on their first drive and never looked back.
Medium-priority add. Similar to AR above, we have another widely available waiver QB option this week who has shown the ability to score fantasy points with his legs. If you are in need of another QB to stream or play matchups with, you might want to add one of these guys now and hold him through his bye (Denver is also on bye Week 14).
5 - 15% of FAAB.
RB Pickups
Zach Charbonnet, SEA, Week 12 vs AZ
Charbonnet had just five scrimmage yards on his six touches last week continuing to work in a complementary role behind star RB teammate Kenneth Walker. They were the only two backs to play for Seattle in its 20-17 win at San Francisco. When KW3 missed Seattle’s game in Week 3, Charbonnet had over 100 scrimmage yards and a pair of TDs on his 21 touches.
Low-priority add. It’s not the strongest week for widely available RB pickups to come in and help out immediately, but this is a great time to start to position your team and bench for the final fantasy stretch run. I’m in favor of using as many bench spots as reasonably possible on RBs with huge contingent upside and Charbonnet is my favorite of this archetype based on his three-down skill set and Seattle’s overall offensive environment.
10% or less of FAAB.
Cam Akers, MIN, Week 12 at CHI
Akers continues to run as the Vikings’ secondary RB behind veteran starter Aaron Jones. Last week, in a game that Minnesota controlled throughout, Akers handled 10 carries and caught both of his targets, one going for a TD. Jones handled 15 carries and a single target of his own.
Low-priority add. I view Akers as another above-average RB handcuff option based on his standalone role on a productive offense combined with Jones’ history with soft-tissue injuries. If you have a non-RB on your bench and there is no clear plan to play them (like needing them to cover for a bye this week, or Week 14, planning to play matchups in the playoffs, etc.) Akers is the kind of player I’d be looking to add in their place for the fantasy stretch run.
10% or less of FAAB.
Roschon Johnson, CHI, Week 12 vs MIN
Johnson tied a career best with 10 carries last week and accumulated 33 yards and a TD. He also added a catch for eight yards. While 11 RB opportunities on a sketchy offense isn’t always waiver-worthy, I wanted to mention Roschon because the rookie RB got his increased opportunities the week after the Bears changed play callers by firing Shane Waldron.
Low-priority add. D’Andre Swift remains the more versatile Bears RB and is likely to maintain a healthy role of his own, but we should file away Johnson as a lower-end handcuff at worst with the potential to see increased opportunities down the stretch as the Bears fall out of playoff contention in the loaded NFC North division.
10% or less of FAAB.
Some additional lower-priority RB adds to consider:
Blake Corum (LAR) - Primary backup to fantasy star Kyren Williams. Similar to Charbonnet’s situation and breakdown above except we’ve actually seen Charb get a huge role and be reasonably effective with it in Walker’s absence.
Jaylen Wright (MIA) - Back-to-back games with more carries than teammate Raheem Mostert behind starter De’Von Achane. Harder to forecast how this backfield would shake out with an injury, but the speedy rookie’s upside is worth a stash.
WR Pickups
Christian Watson, GB, Week 12 vs SF
Watson had his best game of the season in the Packers’ exciting road victory over the Bears. He caught all four of his targets for 150 scoreless yards. He had catches of 48 and 60 yards in the fourth quarter alone. He was second on the team (to RB Josh Jacobs) in targets in a game in which Jordan Love threw just 17 passes.
Medium-priority add. Watson is supremely athletic, even by NFL WR standards, and he’s had some big games and clutch performances when he’s been able to stay healthy for GB in his young career. He’s a great speculative add to see if he can maintain his leading WR type of usage in a game where Jordan Love throws a few more passes.
10 - 20% of FAAB.
Ricky Pearsall, SF, Week 12 at GB
A rare third straight week in the waivers column, even after his fantasy goose egg as my top waiver suggestion from last week. While his WR teammate, Jauan Jennings, stole the fantasy show, it was encouraging that Pearsall was one of just six SF players targeted by Brock Purdy in the loss to the Seahawks.
Medium-priority add. I still suggest adding Pearsall if you need WR help. Before last week’s blanking, he had a couple of productive games in a row, including some designed carries and other schemed touches. This is a reminder that I wouldn’t be rushing to drop him yet off of his bad game last week, either.
5 - 15% of FAAB.
Some additional lower-priority WR adds to consider:
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (NOS) - The journeyman MVS has somehow turned his seven targets into an outrageous 5/196/3 statline the past two games for the depleted Saints offense. Remember they’re on bye this week.
Adam Thielen, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette (CAR) - The Panthers are coming off their bye and Thielen is reportedly close to returning from injury. A situation to monitor, as at least one of these players will likely be relevant in PPR formats the rest of the season.
DeMario Douglas (NEP) - Douglas is second on the Pats in catches and yards this season, he has 4+ catches in three straight games.
Keon Coleman (BUF) - The Bills' talented rookie WR is available in more than half of Yahoo leagues after missing a couple of games with injury.
TE Pickups
Hunter Henry, NEP, Week 12 at MIA
Henry leads the Pats in catches and receiving yards this season. He led the team with nine targets last week, catching six of them for 63 scoreless yards.
Low-priority add. Henry is a fine option to cover for a bye week (six teams on bye this week, six more Week 14) or play matchups down the stretch. Henry’s lead role in New England’s passing game provides a safer fantasy scoring floor than many of his TE peers.
10% or less of FAAB.
Will Dissly, LAC, Week 12 vs BAL
Dissly continued to operate as the Chargers’ primary TE in their wild win over the Bengals on Sunday night. He had a productive 4/80 receiving line and scored his first TD of the season.
Low-priority add. Dissly is a fine streaming option in a high-total home game against the Ravens this week or a fine longer-term hold in a deeper PPR format.
10% or less of FAAB.
Some additional lower-priority TE adds to consider:
Zach Ertz (WAS) - Second on the Commanders in catches and receiving yards this year. Ertz has 10 catches and a TD over the past two games.
Ja’Tavion Sanders (CAR) - The rookie TE had games of 5/87 and 2/8/1 before the Panthers’ bye last week.
DEFENSE (Top pickups for Week 12)
Commanders (vs Cowboys)
Buccaneers (at GIants)
Browns (vs Steelers)