Snap Count Observations: Transactions to Make for Week 12 (Fantasy Football)
Buffalo Bills
Tyrell Shavers 54%
Tyrell Shavers saw a significant uptick in playing time for the Buffalo Bills in Week 11 against Tampa Bay, capitalizing on Keon Coleman’s benching due to a missed team meeting. While Dawson Knox served as the pass-catching snap leader, Shavers’ emergence as a vertical threat (highlighted by his 43-yard TD) could earn him more high-leverage targets moving forward. If Coleman’s discipline issues persist or Shavers continues to capitalize on limited opportunities, he could become a sneaky flex option in favorable matchups. Still, Shavers appears to be far from a consistent option. The team elevated and noticeably used Gabe Davis quite a bit in this matchup, and mixed and matched WRs, with 10 different players receiving a Josh Allen target.
Conclusion: There is no go-to passing option in Buffalo, so Shavers should remain a desperation play and not a priority add.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rachaad White 60%; Sean Tucker 44%
Sean Tucker exploded in Week 11 against Buffalo, piling up 106 rushing yards and three TDs, including a 28-yard receiving score. Despite Tucker’s breakout, Rachaad White still logged a higher snap share than Tucker. Also, White was decently effective (over five yards per carry). Meanwhile, Bucky Irving has been practicing and looks poised to return in Week 12. All to say, this backfield split looks messy.
Moreover, Sean Tucker’s explosion is impressive on the surface, but it should be taken with a grain of salt given how vulnerable Buffalo has been to the run this season. The Bills rank among the league’s worst units in several rushing-defense metrics. As such, Tucker’s performance is likely his best output all season.
Conclusion: The Buccaneers’ backfield appears to be headed toward a three-way timeshare, which means that all Bucs RBs are less desirable. Let someone else overpay for Tucker.
Arizona Cardinals
Michael Wilson 82%; Xavier Weaver 72%; Greg Dortch 6%
Michael Wilson’s Week 11 outing was a career day — he hauled in 15 of 18 targets for 185 yards in a game where Arizona threw the ball non-stop trying to rally from a large deficit. This volume spike was driven by Jacoby Brissett’s historic 47-completion, 452-yard passing game. That absurd passing workload inflated all Cardinals’ receiving stats, so while Wilson’s numbers jump off the box score, they came in a game script that forced Arizona away from any semblance of balance.
On the other hand, Jacoby Brissett’s comfort with intermediate-to-deep looks and his willingness to stand in the pocket have lifted the outlook for all Cardinals pass catchers. For example, Brissett’s presence has increased completed air yards and target volume. In addition, Brissett has a clear chemistry with Wilson and Trey McBride, which suggests their roles and weekly ceilings look healthier with Brissett under center. The WR1 for the Cardinals has had a consistent and respectable output ever since Jacoby became QB1.
However, let’s not forget that Michael Wilson has been mostly invisible prior to this game. In 39 career games, he has only exceeded 70 receiving yards five times (including this past week). And, he only has eight career TDs. Wilson has not been a player who has popped on the screen throughout a big NFL sample size. Now, most of those games came with Kyler Murray, who we are quickly learning was not a strong passer, so perhaps he gets a small pass. Indeed, Murray somehow made the greatest WR prospect in a generation look mid.
Conclusion: In total, Michael Wilson appears to be a viable start without Marvin Harrison Jr. healthy, but given Wilson’s long history of mediocre statistical output, I remain skeptical that consistent, excellent fantasy success will continue.
Washington Commanders
Chris Rodriguez 45%; Jacory Croskey-Merritt 27%; Jeremy McNichols 25%
Chris Rodriguez has emerged as Washington’s primary ball carrier, earning on-field trust from coaches and even receiving a team captain designation. For two straight weeks, there has been a major discrepancy between his snaps and Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Despite a brief shoulder concern, Rodriguez served as the lead option in the Commanders’ backfield in Week 11 and should remain that way for the foreseeable future.
Conclusion: If you haven’t already, JCM should be dropped.
Green Bay Packers
Josh Jacobs 22%; Emanuel Wilson 71%
Emmanuel Wilson stepped in for the injured Josh Jacobs in Week 11 and handled all the workload, finishing with a TD. It does not appear that Jacobs will play in Week 12 and maybe beyond, making Wilson a big-time waiver target.
Notably, MarShawn Lloyd continues to ramp up rehab work and has shown encouraging progress toward returning, though the team will likely manage his timeline cautiously before restoring him to a regular role. He is probably a few weeks from returning, which means Wilson will carry the load for a week or two, making him a must-add.
Conclusion: Emmanuel Wilson is the top waiver add this week.