Week 12 Waiver Wire (and Wake Early Wednesday)
Below are the players I'm considering adding to my rosters before week 12 kicks off. All of these players are near or below 50% rostered in Yahoo leagues and therefore likely to be available in most leagues.
Important note: I'm typically pretty frugal with my waiver priority and FAAB, usually only spending on a player that can win me the week. In other words, if they're just "depth" adds and nice-to-haves that might not even see my lineup, then I'd rather wake up early on Wednesday morning and add them for "free" instead of using a waiver claim for them.
Pro Tip: It's a little extra effort, but I have a recurring Wednesday morning "appointment" (reminder) on my calendar with a link to a Google Doc. Inside that google doc are the links to alllllll 20+ of my leagues followed by a bulleted list of who I plan to add/drop in each one. This helps me keep track without spending waiver priority for convenience, a short-sighted move.
Quarterback
As usual, there are no QBs that I'd recommend using priority or FAAB on this week. Here are a few streamers to consider after waivers clear if you're in a pinch:
Jared Goff - 51% rostered - We're a long ways away from the days of Jared Goff scoring 26+ fantasy points twice in three weeks (weeks 2 and 4), but he has a chance to rack up some numbers in garbage time on Thanksgiving during breakfast. The visiting Bills are 9 point favorites and should have no issues pouring points on Detroit's swiss cheese defense, meaning Goff will likely have to throw a lot more than the 32.7 pass attempts per game that he's currently averaging. The Lions have an implied total of 22 points, the 14th highest on the 32 team slate. The matchup itself certainly isn't roses against a Bills defense that's holding QBs to the 4th fewest fantasy points per game, but 4 QBs in the last 5 games against Buffalo have been able to score 15 or more fantasy points against them.
Trevor Lawrence - 59% rostered - Trevor Lawrence is averaging a solid 16.9 fantasy points per game and in week 12 gets a Ravens' defense allowing the 8th most fantasy points to QBs, including the 4th most passing yards and 12th most passing TDs. The main concern is that the Jaguars have an implied total of just 19.75, the 10th lowest on the 32 team slate.
Taylor Heinicke - 14% rostered - This is about as gross as it gets but if you're desperate, Heinicke's Commanders have a solid implied total of 23 points—the 11th most on the 32 team slate—in an expected victory over a Falcons defense that's offering the 10th most fantasy points per game to QBs including the 2nd most passing yards and 11th most passing TDs.
For the superflexers and 2QB leaguers: Trevor Siemian is a priority add with Justin Fields' status in limbo.
Running Back
There is one RB I'd consider using waiver priority or FAAB on this week:
Latavius Murray - 24% rostered - Mike Boone is still on IR, Chase Edmonds is expected to miss multiple weeks, and the Broncos released Melvin Gordon, freeing up 11.5 touches per game that need to find a new home. Already averaging 14.8 touches of his own, Murray suddenly looks like a workhorse in Denver's backfield. It'll feel gross, but he's a legitimate RB 2 from here on out.
Beyond that, here are several others to consider adding to your squad after waivers clear:
Samaje Perine - 9% rostered - Samaje Perine would be a surefire waiver claim if we knew for a fact that Joe Mixon would miss week 12. We don't, however, and with a concussion, it's always entirely possible Mixon clears protocol and suits up which would render Perine entirely useless in fantasy leagues again. And even if it is Perine week, he'll have a tough draw against a Titans defense that's holding RBs to the 5th fewest PPR points per game, including the 2nd fewest rushing yards and 2nd fewest TDs. Personally, I don't plan to use any sort of priority or FAAB on Perine. I won't blame you if you do though!
Kyren Williams - 28% rostered - Kyren Williams led the Rams' backfield in snaps—by far—playing 55% of the Rams' offensive snaps in week 11 (Cam Akers played 39% and Darrell Henderson played 6%). He was also the only RB to receive any targets (2) in the passing game. It's only a matter of time before the touches follow the increase in playing time. Next up is a Chiefs defense allowing the 7th most PPR points per game to RBs, including the MOST catches (7.1 per game) and MOST receiving yards (50.1 per game).
Cam Akers - 27% rostered - Kyren Williams is coming, but Cam Akers dominated the Rams' week 11 backfield touches, getting 14 carries for 61 scoreless yards. That's at least worth a bench spot.
Marlon Mack - 2% rostered - Mike Boone is still on IR, Chase Edmonds is expected to miss multiple weeks, and the Broncos released Melvin Gordon, freeing up 11.5 touches per game that need to find a new home. Latavius Murray is first in line, but Marlon Mack is the only other active RB on Denver's roster. If the Broncos insist on using two RBs, then Mack is worth a speculative add after waivers run.
Justin Jackson - 0% rostered - Justin Jackson surprisingly played more snaps than D'Andre Swift in week 11, getting 10 touches (compared to Swift's 8) for 77 scoreless yards. It's likely an anomaly, but he should be on your radar.
Alexander Mattison - 37% rostered - not a standalone option, but Mattison is a league-winning bench stash if something happens to Dalvin Cook.
Wide Receiver
There are not any wide receivers I'd use priority or FAAB on this week. That said, here are several WRs I'm considering adding after waivers clear:
Josh Palmer - 59% rostered - on the off chance he hit your waiver wire, scoop him off there. Mike Williams aggravated his ankle injury and might miss additional time. Even if he doesn't, Palmer is, at worst, the WR 3 in a Justin Herbert offense.
Parris Campbell - 40% rostered - Parris Campbell has 11 or more PPR points, 6 or more targets, 5 or more catches, and 57 or more yards in each of the last 4 games—plus 3 TDs—he's played with Matt Ryan at QB. He's scored 18 or more PPR points in 3 of the last 4 games with Ryan. He is a must add in PPR leagues.
Darius Slayton - 51% rostered - has 11 or more PPR points in 5 out of his last 6 games, including each of the last 4. Wan'Dale Robinson is regrettably out for the season, freeing up 6 targets per game that need to go elsewhere.
Treylon Burks - 20% rostered - has 14 targets over the last 2 games and had a career best 18.1 PPR points in week 11 on 8 targets, 7 catches and 111 scoreless yards. He's likely to be maddeningly inconsistent in this run-first offense, but with Tennessee starting to click offensively and Burks emerging as their WR 1, he's worth a bench spot at worst.
Donovan Peoples-Jones - 45% rostered - coming off a season high 17.1 PPR points and has 11 or more PPR points in 6 of the last 7 games, including each of the last 5. He was number 4 on the my TD Regression Cheat Sheet last week and finally found the end zone. Deshaun Watson set to return next week.
Van Jefferson (28% rostered) - ramped up to 73% of the Rams' offensive snaps (previous high was 53%) and garnered 5 targets, which tied Allen Robinson for the team high. There's nothing exciting about the add, but he doesn't belong on waivers in deeper leagues.
Jameson Williams - 23% rostered - On Monday 11/21, Jameson Williams was designated to return from injured reserve, opening up a 21-day practice window where he can be expected to be activated to the active roster within 3 weeks. Candidly, it's unlikely a rookie receiver coming off a torn ACL begins his season after week 12 and makes significant fantasy noise. But he is an explosive receiver—the 12th overall pick in this year's draft is one of the best prospects in the class—and has some really good matchups coming up including the Jaguars (11th most PPR points per game to WRs), Vikings (3rd most) and Panthers (9th most) in 3 of the last 5 games.
Zay Jones - 19% rostered - popped for 14.8 PPR points on 10 targets, 8 catches and 68 scoreless yards his last time out. Has possible shootouts with the bottom-5 Ravens and Lions defenses coming up.
Julio Jones - 17% rostered - quietly has 10 or more PPR points in 3 of 5 games he's played this season, including 2 of the last 3.
Demarcus Robinson - 5% rostered - Very likely an anomaly, but Robinson played a season high 78% of the Ravens' offensive snaps, catching 9 of 9 targets for 128 yards (21.8 PPR points). Don't use priority on him, but can't hurt to take a flier after waivers run if you have the space; it's not like Baltimore's WR remove is set in stone, and his week 12 opponent—the Jaguars—have allowed the 11th most PPR points per game to WRs, including the 2nd most TDs.
Tight End
As usual, there are no tight ends I would use waiver priority on. Here's who I'd consider in a week 12 pinch however:
Dawson Knox - 71% rostered - 13 targets, 11 catches and 127 yards (23.7 PPR points) over the last 2 weeks. His week 12 opponent, the Lions, came into week 11 allowing the 2nd most PPR points per game to TEs—including the most TDs per game.
Juwan Johnson - 30% rostered - Juwan Johnson has scored 12 or more PPR points in 4 of his last 5 games, including each of the last 3. Just understand it's TD or bust for him as he's never been higher than 5 catches or 44 yards.
Foster Moreau - 40% rostered - averaging 5.2 targets per game and this week gets a Seahawks defense that's allowing the 4th most PPR points per game to opposing TEs, including the 11th most catches, 2nd most yards and 8th most TDs
Team Defenses
I'll never use waiver priority on a defense, but there are several defenses I'd be looking to stream in week 12 if I can find them. Assuming I can't get the 49ers (96% rostered), Cowboys (91% rostered), I'd be going for the:
Kansas City Chiefs - 47% rostered - their opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, have an implied total of just 14.75 points, the fewest on the entire 32 team slate
Denver Broncos - 63% rostered - their opponent, the Carolina Panthers, have an implied total of just 16.25 points, the 2nd fewest on the entire 32 team slate
Miami Dolphins - 25% rostered - their opponent, the Houston Texans, have an implied total of just 16.5 points, the 3rd fewest on the entire 32 team slate
Indianapolis Colts - 29% rostered - their opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, have an implied total of just 18.25 points, the 6th fewest on the entire 32 team slate
Like this type of analysis? Assuming you don't want to miss anything, please be sure to follow/subscribe to the following and if you'd like to help me build this business, please remember to "like," rate and review wherever you can!