Week 12 is upon us! This is the time of the season when you can make a move that may set you up for serious playoff success. Every season someone off the waiver wire pops at the end of the season and helps fantasy teams win championships. Be the person that adds that player prior to the games starting this week, rather than hoping you have priority for Tuesday.
Remember fortune favors the bold. You cannot expect to win if you take no chances at all, but you need to mitigate that risk if you can. By taking advantage of adding players before they take off, you put yourself in a much better position to win down the stretch.
Good luck in Week 12.
This column refers to players predominantly rostered in under 50% of Yahoo, ESPN, and Sleeper Leagues.
Week 12 Weekend Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Cleveland Browns
Dorian is just a magnificent name. Sounds like something out of historical fiction, Dorian the stable boy that became king or something like that. But his name is not why I have him in this article. Nor is his play from Week 11. Rather, it is his schedule. In four out of the next five games, the Browns are playing teams that give up top-ten fantasy numbers to quarterbacks. The Broncos this week are a nice litmus test to see if Thompson-Robinson will be useful for the rest of the season in your fantasy lineups. If you have a space, give him an add, and let’s see how this goes, as the Browns are playing to win.
6% rostered on Yahoo
2% rostered on ESPN
10% rostered on Sleeper
Other quarterbacks to consider if you are desperate:
- Baker Mayfield – He is 52% rostered in Yahoo leagues but if available and you are in need, he will be a relatively solid play week to week.
- Gardiner Minshew – 15% rostered in Yahoo. Minshew is playing the Buccaneers in Week 12 who give up the third most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots
Elliott is playing roughly 33% of the snaps behind Rhamondre Stevenson for the Patriots. He is getting some run. More importantly than anything else here the schedule is amazing. In the final 6 games of the season, the Patriots face 5 teams in the bottom 11 against running backs. He should get some run and if anything happens to Stevenson becomes a potential league winner.
40% rostered on Yahoo
36% on ESPN
45% on Sleeper
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings
In Week 10 Chandler had 15 carries for 45 yards and a TD. Chandler followed this up in Week 11 with 73 yards rushing and 37 yards receiving. He is simply outproducing the ‘just another guy’ Alexander Mattison. Chandler needs to be rostered at the very least.
47% rostered on Yahoo
45% on ESPN
51% on Sleeper
Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills
With the new offense came a new offensive weapon. Not Leonard, not Latavius but Ty Johnson. Six total touches for 58 yards and a TD. Looks like he could be the change of pace back behind Cook. He played 21% of the snaps in Week 11 which was a season high. The Bills looked to get fast players in space in Week 11 and it worked. A nice speculative addition if you are in deep need.
0% rostered on Yahoo
0% on ESPN
2% on Sleeper.
Other running backs to consider if you are desperate:
- Tyjae Spears – 39% rostered on Yahoo. Spears splits time with Derrick Henry and has a great rest-of-the-season schedule.
- Samaje Perine – All preseason people thought Perine would have some sort of role in the Broncos offense. In Week 11 he saw 7 targets, which he turned into 7 catches for 60 yards. Only 19% rostered on Yahoo.
Wide Receivers
Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens
Three weeks in a row of double-digit fantasy scores. He saw 7 targets in Week 11. Odell turned this into 4 receptions for 116 yards. In that 3 game stretch, he now has either a TD or 100 yards each game. He had a 27% target share in Week 11. The Ravens have a bye in Week 13 but 4 out of their last 5 games are favorable matchups. I like him a lot for the rest of the season. Odell is doing Odel things again. This guy just keeps coming back.
47% rostered on Yahoo
53% on ESPN
57% on Sleeper
Demario Douglas, New England Patriots
In the last 4 games, Douglas has seen 29 targets. He also has 3 double-digit fantasy scores in those 4 games. Douglas has led Patriots wide receivers in snap count during this time. In Week 10 Douglas had a 33% target share. Week 12 is a great week to add and play him as the opponents are the Giants. The Giants give up the fifth most fantasy points to opposing teams’ wide receivers. The Chargers and the Steelers are up after this. That makes 3 weeks of potential fantasy goodness.
35% rostered on Yahoo
31% on ESPN
47% on Sleeper
Other wide receivers to consider:
- Kalil Shakir – His snaps jumped to 71% over the past 4 weeks. He has big play ability with run, and the new offense coordinator gets him in space. He is only 16% rostered on Yahoo.
- Greg Dortch – If Michael Wilson is out again, I would consider playing Dortch. He saw 8 targets which he turned into 6 receptions for 76 yards. He is only 1% rostered on Yahoo.
- Rashid Shaheed – He is 52% rostered in Yahoo. With Michael Thomas going to IR this is someone I would add if available.
Tight Ends
Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons
Looks like Desmond Ridder is playing quarterback again for the Falcons. The next three games are against teams that give up top-10 fantasy points to tight ends on the season: the Saints in Week 12(8th most), the Jets in Week 13(10th most), and the Buccaneers in Week 14 (9th most). At the very least Jonnu will be serviceable.
29% rostered on Yahoo
26% on ESPN
30% on Sleeper
Tanner Hudson, Cincinnati Bengals
Nothing spectacular here but he is seeing targets. Three straight weeks of 6 fantasy points in half-point PPR. Averaging 5 targets per week. If you are desperate, he is an add that is available.
4% rostered on Yahoo
0% on ESPN
7% on Sleeper
Other tight ends to consider:
- Pat Freiermuth – 47% rostered on Yahoo. Returning from injury.
- Isaiah Likely – 50% rostered on Yahoo. Should be the top addition prior to this week if you need a tight end.
Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty