It can be easy to tune out the waiver wire at this point in the season, but it’s crucial to remain vigilant in fantasy football. The NFL is always evolving, presenting fresh opportunities and challenges.
Keeping up with the news can help you spot missed waiver wire pickups, providing an advantage for the rest of the season or at least for one week.
Keep an eye on players returning from their bye week; you can add them from waivers before Tuesday, since they won’t be playing a game.
Scroll for every player pickup suggestion in our Week 12 fantasy football waiver wire report.
➕ UPGRADE YOUR TOOLS: Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy Plus
Week 12 waiver wire: Best fantasy pickups
Joe Burrow, QB. Bengals (75% rostered in Yahoo Fantasy leagues)
Not that the name Joe Burrow is under the radar, but his return is far too near for him to be rostered at just 75%.
The team announced that Burrow is targeting a Week 13 return, which would be just in time for the fantasy football playoffs.
Burrow is attached to two of the more elite WRs in the entire NFL. His only complete game of the season was certainly not a confidence booster; however, it’s not uncommon for Burrow to start slow.
Either way, that rostership should be closer to 100% as the fantasy postseason approaches. Joe Burrow FAAB: 25%
Darnell Mooney, WR, Falcons (31%)
With the news that Drake London has already been ruled out for Week 12, Darnell Mooney becomes one of the top priorities in this week’s waiver wire.
London suffered a PCL sprain in Week 11 and may miss multiple weeks recovering to full strength. Additionally, Michael Penix Jr. may also miss the remainder of the season, potentially making Kirk Cousins the starter.
Last season, in the 14 weeks that Cousins was the Atlanta starter, Mooney was the WR16 overall in fantasy football. It would be foolish to see these two opportunities falling into place and ignore Mooney on the waiver wire. Darnell Mooney FAAB: 15%
Emanuel Wilson, RB, Packers (6%)
While we won’t speculate on the exact nature of the injury, Josh Jacobs left and was ruled out due to a knee injury. If Jacobs were to miss any time, Emanuel Wilson is a must-grab from the waiver wire.
Wilson has proven he can stay relevant in fantasy even with Jacobs healthy. There’s no doubt he would get most of the touches and be productive.
The upcoming matchups are not desirable, as the Packers face the Vikings and Lions over the next two weeks. However, the opportunity is too significant to pass on him regardless of the opponents. Emanuel Wilson FAAB: 10%
Sean Tucker, RB, Buccaneers (25%)
There is hope that Bucky Irving will return soon, but until then, the other two backs will continue to eat. In Weeks past, Rachaad White was the primary beneficiary with Irving out, but in Week 11, it was all Sean Tucker.
Despite facing a favorable matchup, Tucker’s ability to dismantle the Bills’ defense was remarkable. The undrafted running back from Syracuse rushed for over 100 yards and scored twice.
Tucker out-touched White in Week 11, and holds slightly more value moving forward if Irving misses more time. Sean Tucker FAAB: 10%
Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Steelers (32%)
There were a few things that went in favor of Kenneth Gainwell in Week 11.
The matchup was against the Cincinnati Bengals, who have allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing RBs (34.1).
Starting RB Jaylen Warren injured his ankle and played just one snap afterwards. This led to Gainwell receiving an increased workload, during which he caught seven passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
The fact of the matter is, when Gainwell has played as the lead back in this Steelers offense, he thrives. Both times Warren was unavailable, Gainwell was the RB3 and RB5 for the week.
There is also a chance that Mason Rudolph is the starting quarterback, as there is a belief that Aaron Rodgers has a slightly broken wrist. This would only lead to more checkdowns to Gainwell.
If Warren misses any amount of time, Gainwell is a must-start. Kenneth Gainwell FAAB: 10%
NEW – Bam Knight, RB, Cardinals (18%)
Until Trey Benson returns from IR, Bam Knight needs to be rostered more widely in fantasy leagues.
Now that Emari Demercado is likely to miss time with a high-ankle sprain, the only other competition for touches is Michael Carter.
Once Benson returns, he is expected to take over as RB1, which could explain why Knight’s percentage is so low. However, setbacks happen when players are trying to make their way off IR, and at the very least, Knight is a stash. Bam Knight FAAB: 10%
NEW – AJ Barner, TE, Seahawks (9%)
The TE position is insanely scarce in fantasy football, so it’s a bit surprising to see a player such as AJ Barner widely available.
Now, Barner is not this league-winner that will single-handedly win you your weeks, but he’s been reliable.
The touchdown upside is very apparent. Barner has more TDs than Travis Kelce, Dalton Kincaid, and Tyler Warren.
TEs such as David Njoku, Cade Otton, and T.J. Hockenson are all rostered higher than Barner. Yet, Barner is the TE19 overall, which is higher than all of those listed players. AJ Barner FAAB: 10%
Josh Palmer, WR, Bills (6%)
With the news that Keon Coleman was a healthy scratch ahead of Week 11, Josh Palmer’s stock naturally goes up.
Every season, we have the same conversation surrounding the Bills and who Josh Allen will favor in the passing game. While Khalil Shakir is expected to be the WR1 in the offense, with the Coleman news and TE Dalton Kincaid nursing an injury, Palmer should be more involved moving forward as their top field-stretching option. Josh Palmer FAAB: 5%
📋 Week 12 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Flex Half-PPR Cheat Sheet
Week 12 waiver wire streamers: Bye-week sleepers to add
Consider spending a few of your FAB dollars on these one-week plays, and we’ll note any Week 12 pickups who also have long-term value.
QB Fantasy Streaming Pickups
Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (45%)
While the Chicago Bears have been winning games, they have also been allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Rodgers should be able to take advantage of this and have a decent fantasy performance.
Update 11/17: Aaron Rodgers has a fractured wrist, and while he could still play, we wanted to give you a new streaming recommendation
Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals (34%)
Over the past three weeks, few quarterbacks have been as consistent as Jacoby Brissett. Since Brissett became the starter, he’s ranked as the QB8 overall in fantasy football. In Week 12, he’ll face a Jacksonville team that allows the sixth most FPPG to QBs.
WR Fantasy Streaming Pickup
Andrei Iosivas, Bengals (1%)
Ja’Marr Chase has been given a one-game suspension (one that likely won’t get appealed), which makes Iosivas a fascinating player against the New England Patriots in Week 12. The game script should call for more passing, as the Bengals will likely be down.
TE Fantasy Streaming Pickup
Colston Loveland, Bears (48%)
After his breakout game in Week 9, Loveland came back down to earth. However, he was still involved in the offense and had an okay day for fantasy. In Week 12, Loveland will face a Steelers defense that has allowed 16.9 FPPG to TEs, which ranks fourth highest.
Team Defense Fantasy Streaming Pickups
Cleveland Browns D/ST (48%)
There is, of course, a risk involved for allowing points when playing the Raiders, including Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty.
Still, Geno Smith ranks second in most thrown interceptions this season and has been sacked the fourth most times. This should create plenty of opportunities for fantasy points for the Browns’ defense via Myles Garrett and company.
Kicker Fantasy Streaming Pickups
Jake Elliott, Eagles (30%)
Playing the Dallas Cowboys is reason enough to start anyone in fantasy football. A bonus to this particular week is that it is also indoors for Elliott, which is becoming increasingly important with the weather.
MORE: When is my fantasy league trade deadline this year?
Week 12 Fantasy Waiver Wire sleeper stashes & watch list
Try to tuck away these Week 12 sleeper pickups for a few FAAB dollars, as well.
Quarterback waiver pickups to stash this week
- Jameis Winston, Giants (4%)
- Mason Rudolph, Steelers (0%)
- Kirk Cousins, Falcons (1%)
With Jaxson Dart missing Week 10, Winston at least offers some value in deeper leagues if he gets to start again in Week 11.
Aaron Rodgers left Week 11 with an apparent wrist injury against the Bengals. Rudolph may start in Week 12, where he’ll get a solid matchup against the Bears.
While we are unsure of the status of Michael Penix Jr., Cousins becomes an interesting stash if Penix misses time. It’s a decent matchup in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints.
Running Back waiver pickups to stash this week
- Tyler Badie, Broncos (2%)
- Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos (1%)
- Ty Johnson, Bills (2%)
- NEW – Michael Carter, Cardinals (3%)
With J.K. Dobbins being placed on IR, every fantasy manager hopes that RJ Harvey will be the bell cow. That does not seem likely; therefore, one of these Broncos RBs will provide some value.
Johnson had an excellent showing in Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While at best he’s the RB2, it’s not like the Bills have an alpha WR, and Johnson has shown ability in the passing game.
NEW – With Emari Demercado likely to miss time, Carter could see increased opportunities after his role grew in Week 11.
Wide Receiver waiver pickups to stash this week
- Adonai Mitchell, Jets (2%)
- Dyami Brown, Jaguars (3%)
- Xavier Legette, Panthers (7%)
- Michael Wilson, Cardinals (47%)
- Pat Bryant, Broncos (1%)
- NEW – Van Jefferson, Titans (0%)
- NEW – Isaiah Hodgins, Giants (0%)
Travis Hunter is set to miss the remainder of the season, and Brian Thomas Jr. can’t seem to stay on the field. While Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers should be the top WRs, Brown should see some opportunities as well.
Was it pretty? No. Was it even lucrative for fantasy? No. However, it is worth noting that in his first game as a Jet, Mitchell was targeted six times by Justin Fields, which led the team. When Garrett Wilson returns, Mitchell should still be the WR2.
While the consistency is a concern, Legette being just 7% rostered is far too low for the cemented WR2 in a fine offense. Legette was able to haul in a TD from Bryce Young, and some added production through the air.
Wilson has to be included somewhere in this report after his monstrous performance in Week 11. Marvin Harrison Jr. was absent from this game, which resulted in Wilson being targeted 18 times by Brissett. The WR out of Stanford caught 15 passes for 185 yards. So while this is notable, it feels more like an outlier game.
Bryant has been sneaky good for fantasy football over the past four weeks. Since Week 8, he has been the WR35 overall, ahead of notable WRs such as Courtland Sutton and Ja’Marr Chase.
NEW – With the news that receiver Calvin Ridley will miss the remainder of the season, there are new opportunities in Tennessee. In Week 11, Jefferson was targeted seven times by Cam Ward and hauled in a touchdown.
NEW – Hodgins was the leading receiver for the Giants in Week 11 with Jameis Winston as the starting quarterback. While Darius Slayton was out, this is still notable for the future.
Tight End waiver pickups to stash this week
- Brock Wright, Lions (1%)
- Brenton Strange, Jaguars (12%)
- NEW – Noah Fant, Bengals (3%)
Sam LaPorta was placed on IR, giving Wright brand new opportunities in this explosive Lions offense.
Strange’s 21-day window has recently opened, and he is expected to make his return shortly. The Jaguars require some receiving options for Trevor Lawrence.
NEW – With Ja’Marr Chase set to face a one-game suspension, Joe Flacco will look elsewhere with a plethora of targets available. Fant is someone who quietly has some solid weeks from a fantasy football standpoint.
Stash your RB handcuffs from the Week 12 waiver wire
The fantasy football playoffs are just around the corner. It is crucial to think ahead and, in some cases, picture the worst-case scenario.
That is where the RB Handcuffs come into play, preparing for your RB1 potentially going down, with a seamless replacement. Here are our five favorites for you to stash in your fantasy leagues:
- Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (45%)
- Brian Robinson Jr., 49ers (28%)
- Blake Corum, Rams (17%)
- Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars (30%)
- Devin Neal, Saints (2%)
The fact that Tyler Allgeier is rostered in not even half of Yahoo Fantasy leagues is utterly outrageous. You could make the argument to start Allgeier even with Bijan Robinson fully healthy.
The other four are more traditional backups; if any of the starters go down, they’re immediately in line for an increased workload.
Of course, your priorities may change if your top handcuff isn’t on this list.
