Fantasy Football Week 12 Waiver Wire
By Brandon Lane
QUARTERBACK
If available: Kyler Murray (73%)
Derek Carr/Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
*Roster Percentage: 46%/1%
Coming off a Week 11 Bye Derrek Carr is questionable with a shoulder injury and still remains in concussion protocol suffered in Week 10. If Carr is healthy he will get the start in a plus match-up vs the Falcons. If Carr is out we could be looking at another full Jameis experience. When Winston entered the game in Week 10 he looked Chris Olave’s way early and often and took several downfield shots. Not always pretty, but he usually makes the game entertaining and could be an upside streaming option in Week 12.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Roster Percentage: 46%
Speaking of streaming you could find some LOVE here. Jordan Love took advantage of the Chargers horrible defense in Week 11 completing 27-of-40 balls for 322 yards and two touchdowns. Love could FEAST again this Thanksgiving in match-up in Detroit whom have already led to many bountiful days for fantasy quarterbacks this season.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Roster Percentage: 47%
Stafford returned from a thumb injury with a lackluster performance completing 17-of-31attempts for 190 yards and a touchdown. Star receiver Cooper Kupp left this game with an ankle injury and is questionable to play. Superstar Rookie Puka Nacua suffered a shoulder injury and is also questionable. If either, or both of the Rams start receivers are out it will lessen Stafford’s appeal. The Rams take on a Cardinals defense that has played at a higher level than expected this season.
Others to Consider:
Baker Mayfield (47% @ DET), Gardner Minshew (13%)
RUNNING BACK
If available: Devin Singletary (81%), Jaylen Warren (81%), Khalil Herbert (70%), AJ Dillon (62%), D’Onta Foreman (61% Ankle)
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Roster Percentage: 45%
Kenneth Walker suffered an injury to his oblique which sounds like it will keep him out a while or possibly even land him on IR. Charbonnet has been on this list most of the season partly due to his uptick in snaps but mainly due to being one of the elite handcuffs in the game. In Week 11 he saw a full workload once Walker went down (55-of-65 snaps) rushing the ball a career high 21 times for 69 yards. Is he the priority add? YES, but managers should be mindful of the Seahawks harsh schedule over the next few weeks (SF/DAL/SF/PHI) that will likely lead to some tough sledding for this talented rookie.
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings
Roster Percentage: 44%
I was a bit surprised that Alexander Mattison was cleared to play in Week 11 after suffering a concussion the week prior. But I was still high on Ty Chandler regardless due to Mattison’s struggles throughout the season. We saw Chandler take advantage of his opportunities carrying the rock 10 times for 73 yards and hauling in all four of his balls for an additional 37 yards. This week the Vikings have another friendly match-up vs the Bears. Chandler is a FLEX consideration and should be scooped up in most leagues.
Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots
Roster Percentage: 38%
While it’s hard to recommend starting anyone on the Patriots these days Ezekiel Elliott continues to be serviceable, operating behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson. In Week 10 Zeke rushed 13 times for 54 yards. The Pats were off last week and we could see a change under center this week, but with a plus match-up on the horizon against the woeful Giants, Zeke could be a sneaky start in what should be a run-heavy game script.
Others to Consider:
Tyjae Spears (39%), Royce Freeman (16%), Rico Dowdle (16%), Jeff Wilson Jr. (11%), D’Ernest Johnson (0%)
WIDE RECEIVER
If available: Tank Dell (84%)
Noah Brown, Houston Texans
Roster Percentage: 48%
After being a top waiver add last week Brown was eventually ruled out prior to Week 11 with a knee injury. I’m listing him as a priority add again this week even if to stash him on your bench/IR. Even with the Texans ground game finding its groove the team will continue their pass heavy ways the rest of the season. Let’s not forget Brown was on FIRE the previous two weeks gobbling up a whopping 325 yards.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
Roster Percentage: 36%
Reed has gone a bit under the radar in his rookie season, partly due to questionable quarterback play and the team struggling to find it’s identity. But last week we saw Reed get his number called more frequently and in creative ways. In Week 11 he caught four balls for 46 yards and rushed the ball three time for 46 yards and a touchdown. Get ready to pour on the Wiscosin cheese sauce because Reed has a tastee match-up on Thanksgiving day in Detroit.
Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens
Roster Percentage: 33%
Beckham has been surprisingly effective over the last few weeks while only playing on 48% of drop backs. I expect that usage to rise after the Ravens lost TE Mark Andrews for the season. While many expect Isiah to likely absorb a role similar to what he saw last year in Andrews absence, I think its very possible a lot of that usage will go to the upgraded wide receiver core. (monitor Beckham’s shoulder injury)
Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams
Roster Percentage: 26%
I sounds like Cooper Kupp will miss some time with an ankle injury so its time to queue up Tutu Atwell again. Atwell had some nice games while Kupp was on IR earlier in the season and should be considered an add while Kupp is laid up. Rookie phenom Puka Nacua is also questionable with a should injury which could mean that the Rams will rely even more heavily on Atwell.
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
Roster Percentage: 33%
Michael Thomas was played on IR which should lead to an uptick in usage for speedster Rashid Shaheed. Before the Bye Sheed caught 5-of-9 balls for 24 yards. There is a question as to who will be under center this week for the Saints but I do think the Saints scheme the ball more to Shaheed moving forward and if it’s Winston, I expect him to chuck it deep to Shaheed. Also, keep on eye on Rookie A.T. Perry (6’5” with a giant wingspan) who took on the Thomas role and scored a TD in Week 10.
Demario (POP) Douglas, New England Patriots
Roster Percentage: 33%
The Patriots are coming off a BYE and your league mates may have forgotten about Pop Douglas who caught six balls for 84 yards in Week 10. He’s taken on the WR1 role for the Pats and while it seems likely a quarterback change could be coming Douglas is worthy of stashing in deeper leagues. We saw what Brandin Cooks did against the Giants, so POP him in your lineup and see what happens.
Others to Consider:
Jameson Williams (20%), Zay Jones (18%), Rondale Moore (15%), Michael Wilson (12%), Khalil Shakir (11%), A.T. Perry (1%)
TIGHT END
If available: Pat Freiermuth (51%)
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
Mark Andrews suffered a season ending ankle injury. This LIKELY means we get a low-end TE1 option off of waivers this week. Charlie Kolar could also see some uptick in usage but Likely is the add here. I don’t expect Isaiah will see the same target share he saw in his fill-in role for Andrews last season with the upgraded WR core but he is still a must-add in all leagues.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Roster Percentage: 29%
The Patriots need more play makers in the passing game and perhaps I’m wrong, but I think during the Week 11 Bye the Patriots realize they need to get back to the early season usage of Henry. In Week 10 he caught 3-of-5 targets for 21 yards. New England has yet to name their starting quarterback this week but regardless of who is under center I think Henry becomes a safety value moving forward.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Roster Percentage: 22%
Otton caught 4-of-5 targets for 49 yards in Sunday’s 27–14 loss to the 49ers. The match-up against the Colts in Week 12 is a good one. While they have been stingy against receivers finding pay-dirt, TEs have found success catching the ball.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Roster Percentage: 41%
Cooper Kupp is likely out this week which could lead to Tyler Higbee seeing an uptick in usage. If Kupp and possibly Nacua are out the Rams will have little choice but to look Higbee’s way.
Others to Consider:
Jonnu Smith (28%), Michael Mayer (11%), Tyler Conklin (20%), Donald Parham Jr. (5%), Tucker Kraft (0%)
DEFENSE
New England vs NYG
Denver vs CLE
Tennessee vs CAR
New Orleans vs ATL
*Roster percentages based on Yahoo
