Week 12 means there are only two more weeks left until fantasy football playoff time. Chances are, you don’t need any of the players listed in the Week 12 waiver wire, unless you are fighting for a playoff spot. There are definitely a couple candidates below who could help you in a pinch this week. If you are sitting pretty in your league, it’s all about building for the weeks to come. Set yourself up with a couple QBs with good matchups or a couple DSTs in good spots. For example, the Denver Broncos have a tough matchup this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but after that they draw the following: CIN, SF, CLE & OAK. Plan accordingly. Also, the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs are on bye this week, which is deserving after they combined for 105 points on Monday. Wow, what a game!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out @chrismeaney.
Teams on bye:
Los Angeles Rams
Kansas City Chiefs
Key Week 12 Injuries
Quarterbacks
Alex Smith (leg) – done for season
Mitchell Trubisky (shoulder) – questionable
Joe Flacco (hip) – questionable
Sam Darnold (foot) – day-to-day
Ryan Tannehill (shoulder) – will start
Josh Allen (elbow) – on track to start
Running backs
Kerryon Johnson (knee) – considered week-to-week
Doug Martin (ankle) – expected to play this week
Ronald Jones (hamstring) – limited in practice last week
Chris Thompson (ribs) – missed practice Monday
Darren Sproles (hamstring) – likely out
D’Onta Foreman (Achilles) – getting closer to practicing
Wide Receivers
A.J. Green (toe) – could return
Marvin Jones (knee) – missed practice Monday
Tre’Quan Smith (foot) – missed practice Monday
Jamison Crowder (ankle) – sidelined Monday
Randall Cobb (hamstring) – missed last week
DeVante Parker (shoulder) – has chance to play
Jakeem Grant (Achilles) – done for season
Brandon LaFell (Achilles) – done for season
Jordy Nelson (knee) – has chance to play
Martavis Bryant (knee) – day-to-day
Tight Ends
Rob Gronkowski (ankle/back) – likely back
O.J. Howard (ankle) – done for season
Jimmy Graham (broken thumb) – plans on playing
Charles Clay (hamstring) – missed practice Monday
Geoff Swaim (wrist) – RULED OUT
Week 12 Waiver Wire (under 60% Owned on Fantrax)
Running Backs
Gus Edwards – Baltimore Ravens (4%)
Gus Edwards came out of nowhere in Week 11 with 115 rushing yards on 17 carries. He scored a rushing touchdown and had a successful 2-PT conversion. Edwards only had 64 yards on 15 carries in his four other games this season. Edwards finished in the top 10 in carries and touches this week, but it’s not a lock he’ll finish inside the top 10 again. One thing is for certain; the Baltimore Ravens are going to run the ball with Lamar Jackson and the matchup is fantastic. The Oakland Raiders have allowed the second-most rushing yards per game and eighth-most fantasy points to RB’s. You’d have to be in a bad spot to start him in a 10-team league, but he’s definitely worth the high add and start in 12-team leagues. One underrated takeaway, though, is the fact Jackson and Edwards have been likely running read options all year long together at practice. At the end of the day, you are playing a bit of a risky game as Alex Collins will also get some touches. Yes, if you have a number one claim or a lot of money to spend on a back…you do it. Especially if you have no depth. You can also do it to block an opponent as well, if you were in a must win situation.
Elijah McGuire – New York Jets (42%)
Elijah McGuire has looked like the best Jets back in his two games this season as he continues to trend up. He has 60 yards on 13 carries and six catches on 11 targets since returning from injury. His six targets in Week 10 were the second most on the team and Isaiah Crowell only had 19 yards on seven carries compared to six attempts and 30 yards from McGuire.
Josh Adams – Philadelphia Eagles (47%)
Josh Adams has now led the Eagles’ backfield in touches and yards in each of his past three games. Adams had 53 yards on seven carries and scored the first rushing touchdown of his career in Week 11. Adams had nine for 61 in Week 8 and seven for 47 in Week 10. It seems like he’s taken over the backfield, and should be able to rack up a few more touches this week against the Giants. The narrative all season has been to stay away from the crowded backfield in Philly, but Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement have taken a backseat. This game should be a bit closer, so Adams should rack up double-digit carries.
Wide Receivers
Josh Reynolds, WR – Los Angeles Rams (44%)
It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Josh Reynolds rack up a season-high eight targets, six catches and 80 yards in Week 11’s shootout with the Kansas City Chiefs. Reynolds found the end zone and not only should be owned, he should be started each week due to the upside of the Los Angeles Rams’ offense. Remember, Cooper Kupp is done for the season. The Rams are on a bye this week, so people could cut him lose. Snatch him up as he could be a decent piece come playoff time.
Keke Coutee, WR – Houston Texans (49%)
Keke Coutee returned from a two-game absence and scored double-digit points in a PPR setting. He took his role back in the slot and caught five of nine targets for 77 yards. Demaryius Thomas had zero catches on one target and has three catches and four targets through his first two games with Houston. I’d rather roster Coutee than Thomas at this point.
Tre’Quan Smith, WR – New Orleans Saints (49%)
Tre’Quan Smith had a career high 13 targets, 10 catches and 157 yards last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, but this was mostly about the matchup. The secondary in Philly is non-existent, and Smith hadn’t topped three catches in his previous eight games. In fact, Smith put up a zero the week before. He’s 100-percent worth the add, and a play due to the unstoppable offense the New Orleans Saints have, but he’ll be very boom or bust moving forward. NO gets Atlanta this week and Tampa Bay in Week 14.
Josh Doctson, WR – Washington Redskins (50%)
Josh Doctson tied a season-high with seven targets last week and will enter Week 12’s game with Colt McCoy as his QB. It’s hard to imagine Docton’s stock rising with McCoy taking over from Alex Smith, but it can’t get much worse. Doctson does have two touchdowns in his last three games, but has yet to top five grabs and 50 yards. He does have the Eagles and Giants coming up on the schedule, and he’s the only Washington WR you want. Maybe Trey Quinn in deeper PPR leagues. He had four catches for 49 yards last week.
Adam Humphries, WR – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (52%)
There’s going to be another quarterback change in Tampa Bay, but Adam Humphries has stayed consistent throughout. Humphries is averaging 6.5 targets, 4.5 catches and 65 yards over his last six games. Those numbers won’t blow you away, but he had at least 9.7 points in PPR leagues in four of those games. He also has three touchdowns in his last three games. The defense remains awful and there are some decent matchups ahead (SF & NO).
Seth Roberts, WR – Oakland Raiders (12%)
Seth Roberts’ seven targets last week matched a season-high and he’ll probably surpass that in Week 12. Jordy Nelson and Martavis Bryant may be sidelined again this week, while Brandon LaFell is done for the season. This is a deep league PPR add only due to potential volume.
John Ross, WR – Cincinnati Bengals (39%)
John Ross’ ownership didn’t move at all in Fantrax leagues, and with A.J. Green close to returning, it may just stay the same. Ross only has four catches in his two games without Green, but he has two touchdowns. He matched a season-high with seven targets last week and has 13 in his last two games, but he’s only managed 66 yards. He was hard to start without A.J. and he’ll be hard to start when he returns. This is a deep league add only.
Bruce Ellington, WR – Detroit Lions (6%)
Bruce Ellington is in play this Thursday in deep PPR formats if Marvin Jones misses his second straight games. Ellington took over the Golden Tate role last week and caught six of his nine targets for 52 yards. The Detroit Lions will be without Kerryon Johnson, and I don’t expect LeGarrette Blount to have a lot of success against Chicago’s tough run defense. Matthew Stafford will have no choice but to get the ball out quick, which will benefit Ellington. Honestly, he’s probably more of a Thanksgiving DFS play.
Chris Conley, WR – Kansas City Chiefs (8%)
Chris Conley caught seven passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns in Monday night’s shootout with the Los Angeles Rams. The Kansas City Chiefs are on bye and Sammy Watkins could very well be at full health by Week 13. If your roster is set and you’re in a deep league, Conley is a decent depth piece to add. This isn’t the first time Watkins has missed time with a foot injury. You never know, it could linger. They could rest him, which would make Conley a borderline start in 14-team leagues due to how great the offense is in KC.
Tight Ends
Cameron Brate, TE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (49%)
Cameron Brate would be a solid start if O.J. Howard missed time with an ankle injury. Howard reportedly received good news on Monday, but is seeking a second opinion.
Brate only has two good games this season, but he does have three touchdowns and 17 total in his last three seasons.
With O.J. Howard done for the season, Cameron Brate becomes a very solid add. I would roster him over Eric Ebron for the rest of the season. I’d have Brate over the following…
Trey Burton
Austin Hooper
Vance McDonald
Kyle Rudolph
Jeff Heuerman
Chris Herndon
Ben Watson
C.J. Uzomah
Rickey Seals-Jones
Keep in mind Tampa Bay leads the league in yards and passing yards per game.
Jeff Heuerman, TE – Denver Broncos (36%)
There’s not a lot to like here, but there isn’t a lot to like about the TE position. Hopefully you have it on lockdown, but if you don’t, take a look at Jeff Heuerman who has 16 targets, 14 catches and 103 yards in his last two games. He’s found the end zone twice in his last three games, and has at least five targets in four of his last five games.
Jonnu Smith, TE – Tennessee Titans (11%)
Jonnu Smith is pretty much the only tight end waiver wire pickup that didn’t disappoint in Week 11. Smith had a season-high eight targets and six catches last week. He racked up 44 yards and has 89 yards in his last two games. Smith has two touchdowns in his last thee games with 122 yards over that span. There are not a lot of passing options for whoever plays at QB this week for Tennessee and they get Houston who has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to TE’s.
Ricky Seals-Jones, TE – Arizona Cardinals (49%)
This is why the tight end position sucks. Rickey Seals-Jones caught five passes on nine targets for 51 yards in a Week 10 performance and he followed it up with just one catch for five yards last week. RSJ only had three targets in a very nice matchup and is only worth a start this week in 14-team leagues.
Quarterbacks Streams
Jameis Winston vs. SF -> TB has no defense and leads league in yards. Winston is a fine fantasy QB.
Lamar Jackson vs. OAK -> 27 rushing attempts in first start. Will do enough on ground.
Eli Manning @ PHI -> Eagles have no secondary.
Nick Mullens @ TB -> 2QB league start only.
DST Streams
PIT @ DEN
DAL vs. WAS
BUF vs. JAC
IND vs. MIA
CLE @ CIN
Last Reminder
Spencer Ware, RB – Kansas City Chiefs
Malcolm Brown, RB – Los Angeles Rams
Jaylen Samuels – Pittsburgh Penguins
Like these Week 12 Waiver Wire adds? Get more Chris Meaney on his new podcast, By Any Means. Each week he’ll bring in guests from around the industry to break down all the fantasy news you need to know for your march to the championship.
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