Week 12 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: 30 Players to Add Before Week 12
- Mikey Henninger
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
If you're reading a Week 12 waiver wire article, it means two things:
The fantasy football playoffs are almost here, and
Every roster spot matters more than ever.
Week 12 gives us one of the most important waiver runs of the entire 2025 season. Between injuries, role changes, late-season breakouts, and shifting depth charts, this is a critical moment to strengthen your roster — without burning your waiver priority on players who won’t help you win.
Below are 30+ Week 12 fantasy football waiver wire targets, broken into quick-hit blurbs, clear context, and actionable analysis you can use. Whether you’re trying to secure a playoff seed or make a late surge, these are the names you should know heading into Tuesday night.
How to Use Your Waiver Wire Priority Wisely in Fantasy Football
One of the biggest edges you can create — especially this late in the season — is understanding when NOT to use your waiver claim.
Your waiver priority is leverage. It’s draft capital. It’s not something to burn because a player “might be useful someday.”
Here’s how to think about it:
1. Only use your waiver claim if you can realistically see the player in your starting lineup.
If you don’t see a path to starting them this week or next, don’t waste priority.
2. Treat the #1 waiver spot like the 1.01 in your draft.
Being first in line for the next big injury or depth-chart flip can win you a league. Being first in line to grab a kicker or defense does absolutely nothing for you.
3. League size, scoring settings, roster construction, and manager behavior matter.
Some leagues hoard RBs. Some stream WRs. Some ignore TE entirely. Make decisions based on your league environment — not generic advice.
4. When in doubt, wait.
Many players can be added for free after waivers clear — especially WRs and TEs. RBs with sudden volume are almost always where priority should go.
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Let’s dive in.
📋 WEEK 12 WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
Below are the top waiver-wire names for Week 12 — 30+ players who could matter as you push toward the fantasy playoffs.
Each blurb is short, actionable, and built for quick decision-making.
If you want even deeper context on player roles before making your waiver decisions, check out our Week 11 Takeaways & Week 12 Usage Trends report — it breaks down snap shares, red-zone workloads, and emerging roles: https://www.basementbrewedff.com/post/week-11-fantasy-football-takeaways-week-12-usage-trends
Week 12 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: RUNNING BACKS
Emanuel Wilson — RB, Packers
Played 79% of the snaps after Josh Jacobs went down, handling 12 touches for 49 yards and a touchdown. If Jacobs misses Week 12, Wilson becomes one of the top RB3/flex waiver adds of the week.
Sean Tucker — RB, Buccaneers
Handled a massive 21 touches for 140 yards and 3 TDs in Week 11. Has RB3/flex potential even in a tough matchup vs the Rams. But this hinges on Bucky Irving’s Week 12 status — if Irving returns, Tucker becomes a shakier claim.
Kenneth Gainwell — RB, Steelers
Played 63% of the snaps after Jaylen Warren exited, racking up 16 touches and 2 TDs (including 7 catches). The volume was elite — but Warren said he “could have returned” in Week 11, making Gainwell a risky claim unless Warren is ruled out.
Devin Singletary — RB, Giants
17 touches for 47 yards and 2 TDs. Most importantly, he dominated all premium touches:
6 carries inside the 10
4 carries inside the 5
Tyrone Tracy handled none. Singletary has TD-driven RB3/flex appeal in Week 12.
Bhayshul Tuten — RB, Jaguars
Season-high 32% snaps and 15 carries for 74 yards and a TD. But context matters: the Jaguars led 35–6, creating ideal garbage-time usage. Meanwhile, Travis Etienne handled 19 carries and all meaningful goal-line work. Tuten is a bench stash, not a priority.
Chris Rodriguez — RB, Commanders
Played 45% of the snaps and handled 16 touches for 85 yards. Croskey-Merritt played far less and was less efficient. Both saw goal-line work, but Rodriguez looks like the preferred early-down option moving forward.
Kyle Monangai — RB, Bears
13 touches for 37 yards and a TD. Handled more scoring-position work than D’Andre Swift (2 touches inside the 10 vs Swift’s 1). The role isn’t huge, but the red-zone usage matters.
Ollie Gordon — RB, Dolphins
9 carries for 45 yards and a TD, matching De’Von Achane’s goal-line workload. Still TD-dependent, but viable as a matchup-based RB3/flex.
Blake Corum — RB, Rams
Brutal efficiency (5 yards on 9 touches), but handled 3 carries inside the 10 while Kyren Williams saw only one. A bench stash with goal-line upside in deeper leagues.
Tyjae Spears — RB, Titans
Caught all 5 targets for 31 yards. Titans project for a pass-heavy script as 12.5-point underdogs in Week 13, making Spears a viable desperation PPR play.
Bam Knight — RB, Cardinals
Another 9 touches for 45 yards and a TD. If Emari Demercado and Trey Benson miss Week 12, Knight becomes an RB3/flex desperation option.
Michael Carter — RB, Cardinals
Played 43% of snaps after Demercado got hurt, catching 5 of 7 targets. Strictly a PPR-only flier if Demercado (and Benson) are out.
Week 12 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: WIDE RECEIVERS
Tre Tucker — WR, Raiders
8 targets, 4 catches, 47 yards, and a TD. He’ll have volatile weekly volume but projects as the Raiders’ theoretical WR1 moving forward — making him worth a speculative add.
Darnell Mooney — WR, Falcons
With Drake London expected to miss Week 12 (and potentially more), Mooney becomes the next man up for 10+ available targets. David Sills, KhaDarel Hodge, and Casey Washington rotate behind him.
Alec Pierce — WR, Colts
Colts return from their bye with a likely shootout against Kansas City. Pierce has 7+ targets in 3 of his last 4 games and remains heavily involved.
Michael Wilson — WR, Cardinals
Caught 15 of 18 targets for 185 yards in Week 11. Faces the Jaguars next — a friendly matchup. Very strong add.
Luther Burden — WR, Bears
Played more snaps (44%) than Olamide Zaccheaus (13%), suggesting a role shift. Back-of-roster stash with upside.
Jayden Higgins — WR, Texans
Out-snapped Xavier Hutchinson again and has 14 targets, 9 catches, 97 yards, and a TD across the last two weeks. With pass-heavy matchups ahead, he could surge down the stretch.
Troy Franklin — WR, Broncos
8 targets again, posting a 4/84 line. Still available in 41% of Yahoo leagues. Broncos are on bye, but he should not be on waivers.
Christian Watson — WR, Packers
Played a position-high 78% of snaps and caught 4 of 5 targets for 46 yards and 2 TDs. Trending up with Jordan Love.
Greg Dortch — WR, Cardinals
Played 68% of snaps and caught all 6 targets for 66 yards and a TD. WR4/flex if Marvin Harrison Jr. misses Week 12.
Isaiah Hodgins — WR, Giants
Caught 5 of 6 targets for 57 yards with the Lions up next. Deep-league WR4/FLEX.
Xavier Legette — WR, Panthers
Posted 8 targets, 4 catches, 83 yards, and a TD in Week 11. Friendly matchup vs SF in Week 12. Athleticism + role = upside.
Adonai Mitchell — WR, Jets
Better days are coming. It’s only a matter of time before he overtakes everyone not named Garrett Wilson. Worth stashing.
Week 12 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: TIGHT ENDS
Dalton Schultz — TE, Texans
9 more targets in Week 11. Has 5+ targets in 8 of 10 games. Locked-in TE1 streamer with a safe floor.
Colston Loveland — TE, Bears
Played 75% of snaps even with Cole Kmet active. Dominant athletic profile, growing role, viable TE2 with upside.
AJ Barner — TE, Seahawks
Out of nowhere, 10 catches on 11 targets for 70 yards in Week 11. Hard to trust, but athletic TEs can surge late. Monitor usage.
Week 12 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: QUARTERBACKS (Superflex / 2QB)
Tyrod Taylor — QB, Jets
Jets are reportedly benching Justin Fields. Tyrod is the starter and a priority add in Superflex/2QB.
Kirk Cousins — QB, Vikings
Michael Penix’s season appears over. Cousins becomes the rest-of-season starter and should be rostered everywhere in 2QB.
Shedeur Sanders — QB, Browns
Dillon Gabriel is in concussion protocol. Shedeur is worth a speculative add in Superflex and deeper formats.
FINAL THOUGHT
This week matters. These waiver decisions matter. And the managers who stay aggressive but smart in late November often end up playing deep into December.
If you're setting lineups, entering DFS contests, or making player prop bets this week…
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Good luck in Week 12!