Week 12 Waiver Wire (Fantasy Football)
It’s hard to believe it’s Week 12 already. This is the time of the fantasy year when we fall into separate camps in terms of our teams’ outlook. You either know you have a bye, are trying desperately to snag that last playoff spot, are bitter and want to play spoiler, or you have given up and you hate fantasy football. Don’t be that guy or gal. If you know that a playoff run is off the table, do be that player that does everything possible to make your league mates curse you for dashing their championship hopes.
No matter which group you fall into, now more than ever is the time to dissect and crush your league’s waiver wire. Grab handcuffs, look ahead at the playoff schedule, and give yourself a cushion in case of last-minute changes and injuries. A perfect example is Robert Woods‘ sudden absence in Week 11. Make sure your roster is flexible enough to overcome these unforeseen roadblocks.
Make sure you listen to the Week 12 Waiver Wire episode to hear The Fantasy Footballers break down of each player and who they think you should target for the remainder of the year. Also, check out Week 11 Injury Recap for up-to-date news and fantasy implications for your starters.
Make sure you listen to the Week 12 Waivers + Full Stream Ahead, The Crushed Soul of Jason.
WR
As mentioned above, Robert Woods’ sudden absence most likely had owners scrambling last minute for replacements. Not only should you look to see who the Woods owner had to drop in order to pick up a fill-in, but you should also be aware that Brandin Cooks is expected to be available to play on Monday, per Sean McVay. If owners dropped either Woods or Cooks, they are both worth a look even with a tough matchup against Baltimore. With Cooks at 72% ownership and Woods at 93%, it’s unlikely they are available, but it is worth checking.
New York Giants’ Darius Slayton (25%) and Dallas Cowboys’ Randall Cobb (15%) are two interesting names to consider if you need some depth at the WR position. Their matchups are brutal for the next few weeks, but they do get better in the playoffs. Slayton may continue to reap the benefits if Sterling Sheperd and Evan Engram continue to miss time. He faces Philadelphia, Miami, and Washington in Weeks 14 – 16.
After a slow start, Cobb has excelled since Week 10 with over 100 yards per game and a touchdown in each. Those performances did come against the 4th and 10th worst defenses against WRs in Minnesota and Detroit, but he is proving a reliable target for QB Dak Prescott. He will face the 6th worst Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16.
Probably Owned (but worth checking)
MIA DeVante Parker (59% owned)
CLE, PHI /, @NYJ, @NYG, CIN
SEA Josh Gordon (61% owned)
@PHI, MIN, / @LAR, @CAR, ARI
HOU Will Fuller (61% owned)
IND (Thurs), NE, / DEN, @TEN, @TB
Main Waiver Wire Pickups
NYG Darius Slayton (25% owned)
@CHI, GB, / @PHI, MIA, @WAS
SF Deebo Samuel (54% owned) / Richie James (0% owned)
GB, @BAL, / @NO, ATL, LAR
PIT James Washington (8% owned)
@CIN, CLE, / @ARI, BUF, @NYJ
ATL Russell Gage (3% owned)
TB, NO, / CAR, @SF, JAX
KC Mecole Hardman (33% owned)
BYE, OAK, / @NE, DEN, @CHI
DAL Randall Cobb (15% owned)
@NE, BUF, / @CHI, LAR, @PHI
RB
The waiver wire for running backs can be summed up in one word. Headache. We like to say that in fantasy football volume is king. For the most part, this is true. However, when we’re talking about a player such as Kalen Ballage, it just doesn’t have the same warm and fuzzy feeling. Prior to Week 10, Ballage’s highest snap percentage was a whopping 40.8% in Week 1. Now that he is the “bell cow” (if you can even call him that), his snaps have increased to 81.8% and 76.8%. I would be more excited about his workload if his rushing yards per attempt were higher than 2.15 and his yards per reception were higher than 1.6 in that last two games.
Marlon Mack is out for the foreseeable future with a hand injury and while we thought this would be Nyheim Hines (17%) and Jordan Wilkins (1%) in the backfield, Jonathan Williams (4%) stepped up to the plate. He rushed 13 times for 116 yards and added a 31-yard reception against Jacksonville. Out of all of these running backs, I am the most excited about Williams’ potential. Jordan Wilkins is listed as questionable with an ankle injury and Hines is healthy and involved in the passing game.
KC Darrel Williams (5% owned)
BYE, OAK, / @NE, DEN, @CHI
DET Bo Scarbrough (1% owned) / DET JD McKissic (33% owned)
@WAS, CHI, / @MIN, TB, @DEN
PIT Trey Edmunds (3% owned)
@CIN, CLE, / @ARI, BUF, @NYJ
MIA Kalen Ballage (37% owned) / MIA Myles Gaskin (0% owned)
CLE, PHI /, @NYJ, @NYG, CIN
IND Nyheim Hines (17% owned) / Jonathan Williams (4% owned) / Jordan Wilkins (1% owned)
@HOU (Thurs), TEN, /@TB, @NO, CAR
BAL Gus Edwards (7% owned)
@LAR, SF, / @BUF, NYJ, @CLE
WAS Derrius Guice (48% owned) / WAS Adrian Peterson (52% owned)
DET, @CAR, / @GB, PHI, NYG
SF Raheem Mostert (15% owned)
GB, @BAL, / @NO, ATL, LAR
TE
It feels like this may be the first time I am not cringing at the tight ends on the waiver wire for Week 12. With Chris Herndon on IR, Ryan Griffin has filled in admirably at the position. He is 0% owned in Yahoo! leagues and has 20 receptions on 23 targets for 252 yards and four TDs since Week 6. He has averaged 12.6 yards per reception with an 87% catch rate and over 10 yards per attempt since that time. As Sam Darnold continues to improve and exorcise his ghosts, Griffin looks to continue to be involved in the game plan. His remaining schedule is equally positive, seeing Oakland, Cincinnati, Miami, Baltimore, and then Pittsburgh.
Jacob Hollister is another name to consider if you need help at the TE position. Hollister has gotten the increased workload with Will Dissly sidelined for the season. He has scored at least 1 TD in the last two games and is coming into Week 12 fresh off of a bye. His remaining schedule is tough, but a bad matchup didn’t stop him from 8 receptions, 62 yards and a TD in Week 10 against San Francisco’s stout defense.
A sneaky name who may be completely off of the fantasy radar is the Browns’ David Njoku. Baker Mayfield needs help of all kinds as a QB, and maybe the addition of Njoku could be the positive turn the team needs. Before his injury at the beginning of the year, Njoku had 4 receptions on 6 targets for 62 yards and TD against Tennessee. His usage in Week 12 is still up in the air, but his schedule is juicy with Miami, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Arizona, and Baltimore.
NYJ Ryan Griffin (0% owned)
OAK, @CIN, / MIA, @BAL, PIT
DEN Noah Fant (28% owned)
@BUF, LAC, / @HOU, @KC, DET
SEA Jacob Hollister (31% owned)
@PHI, MIN, / @LAR, @CAR, ARI
HOU Darren Fells (56% owned)
IND (Thurs), NE, / DEN, @TEN, @TB
SF Ross Dwelley (14% owned)
GB, @BAL, / @NO, ATL, LAR
PHI Dallas Goedert (19% owned)
SEA, @MIA, / NYG, @WAS, DAL
CLE David Njoku (18% owned)
MIA, @PIT,/ CIN, @ARI, BAL
MIA Mike Gesicki (17% owned)
CLE, PHI /, @NYJ, @NYG, CIN
Make sure you listen to the Week 12 Waiver Wire episode to hear Andy, Mike, and Jason’s take on these players as well as their QB and DST streamers of the week.
Comments
I had an incident with javelinas at a golf course near Tucson. It was the end of the day and I was trying to play one last hole in the near darkness when I decided to head back to the club house (lost 2 golf balls, my rule for quitting when it’s getting dark). I saw something out of the corner of my eye and a pack of “something” ran across the cart path about 15 yards in front of me. I thought they were wild pigs but too small but had horns. I was about to go when I looked over and saw about 10 more coming and they ran right in front of my golf cart. I’m lucky that they didn’t run into my golf cart and now that i know what they can do to an actual car, I’ll think twice about playing golf in the foothill mountains in Tucson.
Oh, that and I own both Jared Goff and Kyler Murray, who do I start when they’re playing head-to-head (the more dynamic higher ceiling quarterback against the better defense, or the steadier lower-ceiling quarterback against a much easier defense).
Love your guys show I’m in the heat of the battle struggling to decide between Baker mayfield and josh Allen.
Are you guys seriously on board playing mayfield over Allen week 12? How about rest of the way?
Would you consider dropping Sony Michel at this point especially when you have james white?
best laid plans – mack was my RB for Cook and he gets hurt.
Cannot complain and have to thank you and also my league (10 teams) – lol – drafted
Lamar (11th round), pick #2 – McCaffrey – next picks were Cook &Evans, couple rounds late Kupp. listen to you and picked up Darren Waller and John Brown (played him for the first time last week). been going with 1 QB on your advice
love your show – hoping mack is not a sign of things to come
thanks again