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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). Priorities and FAAB recommendations are meant to differentiate between some of the options available and are assuming 12-team, single-QB, fantasy formats.
Week 12 teams on bye: Broncos, Chargers, Commanders, Dolphins
Several key injuries to monitor, especially at RB, makes this one of the stronger/deeper waiver wire columns of the year, including three high-priority recommendations and a handful of medium-priority options to consider. Please note that the order of recommendations, especially at RB, is very much subject to change as more concrete injury news comes out about players like Josh Jacobs, Bhayshul Tuten, Bucky Irving, and Jaylen Warren.
QB Streamer of the Week
Jacoby Brissett, AZ, Week 12 vs JAX
Brissett set an NFL regular-season record with 47 completions in last week’s lopsided loss to the division-rival 49ers, where the Cardinals trailed the entire game. He tossed two late TD passes and had a potential third one fumbled away at the goal line.
Low-priority add. Brissett is my favorite short-term streamer, he has a fine matchup at home against the Jaguars this week and another good fantasy matchup at Tampa Bay in Week 13.
5% or less of FAAB.
RB Pickups
Emanuel Wilson, GB, Week 12 vs MIN
Wilson led the Packers backfield with 12 touches for 49 yards and a TD after Josh Jacobs left the game with a knee injury in the first half. Wilson has taken 53 of Green Bay’s 56 RB carries that haven’t gone to Jacobs so far this season. Early reports on Jacobs’ knee injury seem to indicate he’s avoided the worst-case scenario, but his status for this week’s divisional game against the Vikings is still up in the air.
High-priority add. Absent more clarity than we currently have, Wilson is the top waiver priority of the week and is an absolute must-add for a manager who rosters Jacobs. Wilson could be usable immediately as an easy spot starter, and worst case, he’s a great bench stash as a primary backup RB on a solid offense.
30 - 50% of FAAB.
Bhayshul Tuten, JAX, Week 12 at AZ
Tuten had his largest rushing role of his rookie season last week before injuring his ankle late and not returning. He had a 15-74-1 rushing line but didn’t see a target in the passing game. Tuten claimed his ankle was “fine” after the game, but I didn’t see anything definitive as of this writing, a situation to monitor.
High-priority add. It was a hard week for me to prioritize the top RB recommendations with so many injury unknowns. If we learned Jacobs was fine, Tuten would slide up to the top spot, if we learn Tuten will miss a game, he’d be a lower priority, etc. Assuming he is, in fact, relatively healthy, Tuten remains an elite bench stash as an explosive rookie runner with a creative play-caller.
20 - 40% of FAAB.
Sean Tucker, TB, Week 12 at LAR
Tucker had a monster performance against the Bills last week, racking up 140 scrimmage yards and three total TDs while being afforded 21 of the team’s 34 RB opportunities to Rachaad White’s 13. Tucker scored TDs from 43, six, and 28 yards, showing off his explosive RB skill set.
Medium-priority add. Second-year RB Bucky Irving has resumed practicing but remains without a definitive timetable to return. Regardless of Bucky’s status, it really seems like Tucker will have earned himself some sort of role moving forward. This week’s matchup at the Rams isn’t necessarily a spot to target, but Tampa Bay’s schedule really opens up after this week and the Bucs have a great fantasy playoff schedule in Weeks 15-17 (home ATL, at CAR, at MIA).
15 - 25% of FAAB.
Kenneth Gainwell, PIT, Week 12 at CHI
Gainwell was the Steelers’ top receiving option last week, catching seven of his eight targets for 81 yards and a pair of receiving TDs and adding a 9-24 rushing line. He took on a larger role with his RB teammate, Jaylen Warren, leaving the game with an ankle injury. Gainwell caught a TD from each of the Steelers QBs after Aaron Rodgers left the game with an injury to his non-throwing arm/wrist.
Medium-priority add. This was Gainwell’s second game of the year with 100 scrimmage yards and multiple TDs. Another spot where it’s possible Warren could have returned last week had the game been closer, but I still think Gainwell is worth a speculative add ahead of a favorable fantasy matchup against the Bears, regardless of which QB is under center. He'd be an easy start in PPR leagues if Warren missed the game.
10 - 20% of FAAB.
Some additional lower-priority RBs to consider ::
Keaton Mitchell (BAL) - Continues to carve out a complementary role behind Derrick Henry, the speedy Mitchell had eight touches and 54 scrimmage yards last week.
Blake Corum (LAR) - Saw his regular ~40% of the RB work last week but had just five scrimmage yards vs. Kyren Williams’ 96 total yards and a TD.
Tyjae Spears (TEN) - Had nine touches for 34 scrimmage yards last week, seeing 41% of the Titans’ RB opportunities in one of their more competitive games of the year.
Tyler Allgeier (ATL) Scored his seventh rushing TD of the year last week. An elite RB handcuff with some standalone Flex value.
Brian Robinson Jr. (SF) - Another talented handcuff stash.
WR Pickups
Alec Pierce, IND, Week 12 at KC
Pierce was the Colts’ second-leading receiver in Week 10 behind TE Tyler Warren and finally scored his first TD of the year. He has 35 targets over his last four games, and nothing about his recent play would indicate any reason for his opportunities to decrease down the stretch of the season.
High-priority add. AP remains on too few fantasy rosters coming out of the Colts’ bye week. I think Pierce fits in all fantasy formats and has been pretty consistent this year (60+ yards in 6/8 games played) for such a big-play threat (over 20 yards per catch).
20 - 40% of FAAB.
Christian Watson, GB, Week 12 vs MIN
Watson continued his impressive comeback from a significant knee injury suffered last season with a great 4-46-2 game that saw him catch TDs from both Jordan Love and backup QB Malik Willis. He’s now seen 4+ targets and had 45+ receiving yards in each of his four games played this season.
Medium-priority add. While it seems logical that Watson’s role would continue to expand after a healthy first month back, GB regularly rotates and targets 5+ WRs most weeks. Talented slot man Jayden Reed could be back from his broken collarbone in the next few weeks to further complicate matters.
10 - 20% of FAAB.
Luther Burden III, CHI, Week 12 vs PIT
Burden tied for second on the Bears with five targets last week, a career high for the rookie receiver. His three catches last week were tops among Chicago WRs in a close win over their division-rival Vikings.
Medium-priority add. Burden played well ahead of veteran Olamide Zaccheaus last week, a welcome development, and an important one for his chances of fantasy relevance yet this season. Grab him now off of his pedestrian 3-27 line that looks the same as the rest of his recent box scores before your leaguemates notice his role change.
10 - 20% of FAAB.
Some additional WR adds to consider ::
Michael Wilson Jr. (AZ) - Caught an outrageous 15 of 18 targets for 185 yards in Brissett’s record-setting performance. He’s usable again against the Jaguars if Marvin Harrison Jr. misses another game.
Jayden Higgins (HOU) -The Texans’ rookie WR saw seven targets last week, his third time seeing that level of volume in his last four starts. His 55 yards last week were a career best.
Mack Hollins (NE) - The big-bodied veteran WR caught four passes for 64 yards last week and has a 19-264 line over his last four games.
Darnell Mooney (ATL) - The Falcons placed both superstar WR Drake London and starting QB Michael Penix Jr. on injured reserve on Monday. Mooney is the likely top WR option for Kirk Cousins for the foreseeable future.
TE Pickups
Colston Loveland, CHI, Week 12 vs PIT
Loveland’s ownership is approaching 50%, but he’s still widely available. This is as much a reminder to hold him as anything after he was outproduced by his veteran TE teammate Cole Kmet last week in a game where both TEs saw 4+ targets.
Medium-priority add. Like his rookie WR teammate Burden, it seems only logical to me that Loveland’s role would continue to expand as the season progresses. A great bench stash in formats with enough bench spots to accommodate him.
5 - 15% of FAAB.
Juwan Johnson, NO, Week 12 vs ATL
Johnson had a huge 4-92-1 game heading into the Saints bye last week but remains on the vast majority of waiver wires. He’s now caught 17 of 23 targets for an impressive 255-2 line over his last four games.
Medium-priority add. With Rashid Shaheed traded to Seattle, Johnson seems to have a clear path to a secondary role behind star WR Chris Olave. He’s admittedly a more obvious short-term play than Loveland and is the best choice this week for managers looking for an immediate starting option.
5 - 15% of FAAB.
Some additional lower-priority TE adds to consider ::
Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) - The rookie TE remains the Browns leader in catches and receiving yards this year.
Darren Waller (MIA) - A possible early addition to stash on IR through Miami’s bye ahead of his potential return to the lineup.
DEFENSE (Top pickups for Week 12)
Raiders (home vs Browns)
Browns (at Raiders)
Jaguars (at Cardinals)
49ers (home vs Panthers)