2025 Fantasy Football: Week 12 Weekend Waiver Wire

Welcome back to the Weekend Waiver Wire, the stretch of the season where fantasy managers either set themselves up for a championship run or get left scrambling. Week 12 isn’t just about plugging gaps anymore; it’s about positioning your roster for Weeks 15–17, where titles are won. The sharp players are already targeting schedules, and this year’s playoff landscape offers plenty to exploit.

This week, we’re focusing on the wide receivers and tight ends with the clearest paths to fantasy glory. Below, you’ll find each player’s matchup for Weeks 15–17 along with their opponent’s fantasy points allowed ranking. For example, if the Jaguars currently allow the second-most points to quarterbacks, they’ll appear as “Jaguars (2nd).”

Last week, we had quarterbacks and running backs; this week, it is wide receivers and tight ends. Let’s look at who has easy schedules as a playoff advantage.

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

If you want to win in December, you start building the foundation now — and this week’s stashes are the first bricks. Let’s dive in.

More Week 12 Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Weekly Rankings | Dynasty Risers and Fallers

Week 12 Weekend Waiver Wire

Quarterbacks

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

Jacoby Brissett has been one of the most reliable fantasy QBs over the past five games. In all of his starts, he’s cleared 258 passing yards and thrown multiple touchdowns. The Jaguars are up in Week 12, and they give up the fifth most fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. He is still available in about 40% of leagues; he should be rostered everywhere.

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

Against a tough Panthers defense in Week 10, Shough passed for 282 yards and two touchdowns. His next three games are against the Falcons, the Dolphins, and the Buccaneers. If you are somewhat desperate at quarterback, he is not a bad option.

Other quarterbacks to consider:

Kirk Cousins – If you are completely desperate

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders – 213 yards, 2 TDs, 5 carries, 49 yards rushing

Quarterback Notes: Brissett is still available in roughly 40% of leagues and should be rostered everywhere. Mariota is neither a bad nor a great option. With Jaxson Dart out, Jameis Winston gets to play against the Lions, where he will sling it.

Running Backs

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucky Irving is out against in Week 12. In Week 11, Tucker had massive numbers in a good match-up: 106 yards and two touchdowns rushing, and 2 receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown. With Bucky out you might want to pivot to Tucky.

Devin Singletary, New York Giants

Sixteen carries, 44 yards, and two touchdowns get him in this article. The following two match-ups are tough, but so was Week 11 against the Packers. The playoff schedule is not overly daunting against the Commanders (6^th), Vikings (20^th), and Raiders 19^th).

Other Running Backs to Consider:

Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals – 5 carries, 24 yards, TD, 4 targets, 4 receptions, 21 yards receiving

Chris Rodriguez, Washington Commanders – 15 carries, 9 yards, 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards receiving

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars – 15 carries, 74 yards, TD

Brian Robinson Jr., San Francisco 49ers – 8 carries, 24 yards

Tyler Algeier, Atlanta Falcons – 3 carries, 10 yards, TD

Running Back Notes: Tucker is relevant for at least one more week. Singletary is a guy who has standalone value right now. I still love adding. Allgeier should be rostered everywhere now. He has tremendous standalone value with all the injuries to the Falcons. Robinson and Tuten should be rostered as handcuffs now. Like right now, run out and do it today!

Wide Receivers

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

At least until Jordan Reed is back in the picture, Watson appears to be the Packers’ primary target. In his last game, he saw five targets and turned that into four receptions, 46 yards, and two touchdowns

Darius Slayton, New York Giants

Slayton saw four targets and turned that into four receptions and 89 yards in Week 10. He was out last week with a hamstring injury. When he is back, he may become instrumental for your fantasy team down the stretch run.

Other Wide Receivers to Consider:

Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons – 7 targets, 3 receptions, 34 yards

Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals – One week plug and play with Ja’Marr Chase being suspended

Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals – 6 targets, 6 receptions, 66 yards, TD

Wide Receiver Notes: Watson and Slayton are nice additions that can help now. Iosivas and Dortch are great plug-and-plays for Week 12. Mooney is someone I would watch this week. If I were needy at wide receiver, I might add and hold to see how it goes.

Tight Ends

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

His schedule is not exceptionally difficult the rest of the way. This week, the Bears play the Steelers, and the Steelers give up the sixth most fantasy points to opposing teams’ tight ends. I might like Cole Kmet a little bit more as he seems to see more targets, but I decided to write about the fantasy community darling so I could say this.

AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks

Barner produces when the matchup is right. In Week 12, the matchup is not right. But Week 13 looks pretty straightforward, and the playoff schedule is not bad. He could be a nice addition and hold to use as a tight end streamer.

Other tight ends to consider:

Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans – 3 targets, 3 receptions, 56 yards

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears – 5 targets, 5 receptions, 45 yards

Tight Notes: Both Bears tight ends look like decent plug-and-plays for Week 12. Okonkwo is also someone I would consider playing this week if I required a tight end in deeper leagues. Barner could have value.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!