With it being Week 12, we’re nearing the home stretch, and the fantasy football waiver wire is drying up. There are a few interesting names, but also, there are some stashes who could bring significant upside if things break right (or wrong). Start maximizing the upside on your bench for the playoff run.
HEADS UP
- Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo
- Listed in order of preference — I’ll regularly prioritize potential upside over immediate replacement production
- RB backups have a separate secondary list based on only if the lead option got hurt
- No FAB suggestions: It varies wildly by league tendencies and always relative (ex: if you lost your RB1 to injury and there is a clear backup, you’re going to be more aggressive)
- Streaming QB and TE are grouped together — weekly ranking can change once projections/ranks run — DST could shift a bit too
- Emojis for brevity
- 😏 = mentioned multiple times, multiple weeks — either you want him, or don’t
- 🫡 = priority Next Man Up (should be stashed) and with deeper startability
BYES: ATL, BUF, CIN, JAX, NO, NYJ
WORRY REPORT
(Scale 1-5: more ducks = more worry)
- Jayden Daniels, QB, WSH — 🦆🦆🦆 — Since Daniels suffered his rib injury (Week 7), he has 8, 8, 3 and 7 rushing attempts, respectively, in his ensuing four games. Even if you take out the Steelers treating him like Lamar Jackson (3 attempts), it’s nearly three fewer carries per game than Daniels’ 10.5 per game mark through Week 6. Additionally, Daniels looks off throwing the ball, short-hopping some passes, which makes sense if he’s feeling pain while throwing. That’s before factoring in the added level of Kliff Kingsbury’s offense having short routes for second and third reads — Daniels is averaging an extremely low 2.3 aDOT on second reads (per FantasyPoints Data). I’m giving Daniels three ducks because I’m not sure he’s getting back to early-season Daniels before the Week 14 bye.
- Aaron Jones, RB, MIN — 🦆🦆🦆 — Since Week 8, Jones is RB26 (RB31 in FPPG) with no more than 11.1 fantasy points in a game. The issue isn’t volume, as Jones has 21, 25, 19 and 16 touches, respectively, in those games… or maybe it is. Maybe the Packers knew what they were doing in keeping Jones shy of true bell-cow work, thereby getting the most explosive version of Jones. In fact, despite facing the Rams and Colts in the first two of those four games, Jones had just 3.1 and 3.0 YPC in those contests, and now a road game against the Bears is on tap. Cam Akers is working into the mix more, so there is some hope that lesser volume equals improved efficiency, especially with few worrisome matchups the rest of the way.
- Jaylen Waddle, WR, MIA — 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆— These aren’t your 2023 Dolphins. Waddle’s struggles look to be twofold. First, Waddle doesn’t look 100%, and that wouldn’t be surprising given his production, as Waddle is known to struggle mightily when less than 100%. A good part of that is his explosiveness, which is the second point — with defenses sitting back, the entire team is struggling to use its speed as well as it did last year. Between the “book being out” on how to limit this offense and the uncertainty of Waddle’s health, you could consider a sabotage drop in shallower leagues. If nothing else, Waddle should remain on benches until we see improvement.
POWER UP PLAYERS
(Scale 1-5: more Mario mushrooms = more excitement)
- Anthony Richardson, QB, IND — 🍄🍄🍄 — I was among the few who didn’t see the benching as a terrible decision. Richardson needed to get his mind on track, and that’s not just with decision-making. He needed to know that being benched was on the table if he played poorly enough. Richardson is still just 22 — let’s not crush the guy for needing a wake-up call. Heck, I reference Marqise Lee all of the time as someone who was lazy in routes, technique and sometimes effort because it was so easy for him in college. It took a few years, but Lee finally improved his football play and turned the corner (unfortunately, injuries took their toll soon after that). Richardson had his best NFL game in Week 11, and it was far from perfect, but we don’t need perfect… in fantasy. We need Richardson to be a mid-level passer just to have that Top 5 potential, and after Sunday’s game, his stock is up. I’m not giving him the “Power Up Punch,” but he’s back in play as a QB1, albeit, still risky.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, SEA — 💪🏼🍄 — I mentioned that Week 11 would be telling for JSN taking the No. 2 role in Seattle (Smith-Njigba replaced DK Metcalf before the bye, and with Metcalf back, we needed to see if the Seahawks woke up and put JSN clearly ahead of Tyler Lockett). Well, Smith-Njigba wasn’t just the No. 2. Week 11 showed he might be on Metcalf’s heels. JSN is a Top 20 receiver the rest of the way.
STREAMING QUARTERBACKS
Week 12
- Anthony Richardson, IND (vs DET)
- Bo Nix, DEN (at LV)
- Geno Smith, SEA (vs ARI)
- Caleb Williams, CHI (vs MIN)
- Matthew Stafford, LAR (vs PHI)
- Drake Maye, NE (at MIA)
Week 13
- Anthony Richardson, IND (at NE)
- Matthew Stafford, LAR (at NO)
- Caleb Williams, CHI (at DET)
- Geno Smith, SEA (at NYJ)
- Aaron Rodgers, NYJ (vs SEA)
- Bo Nix, DEN (vs CLE)
- Russell Wilson, PIT (at CIN)
WAIVER WIRE RUNNING BACK RANKS
- Jonathon Brooks, CAR — Fell under 60% for the first time (bye, plus Chuba Hubbard doing his thing), but Miles Sanders is out, and while Brooks taking the lead is probably unlikely without a Hubbard injury, given his talent, he could be Flex-worthy if in a timeshare. Plus, there’s the added upside the event Hubbard did get hurt — and upside is what we want this late.
- Gus Edwards, LAC — Timeshare work with touchdown potential.
- Roschon Johnson, CHI — Becoming more like “Gus Bus” by the week.
- Jerome Ford, CLE — Timeshare appears here to stay — Nick Chubb could get back to a workhorse role next year — and the Browns schedule has several potential pass-happy matchups.
- Jaylen Warren, PIT — 🫡
- Trey Benson, ARI — 🫡
- Zach Charbonnet, SEA — 🫡
- Justice Hill, BAL — It appears Keaton Mitchell didn’t take Hill’s role, even with Hill’s recent lackluster play.
- Cam Akers, MIN — Would share with Ty Chandler if Aaron Jones missed time, but he’s getting lesser Edwards-like work each week, as well.
- Jaylen Wright, MIA — Next up if De’Von Achane got hurt, but as you’ll see below, I don’t think Raheem Mostert is done.
- MarShawn Lloyd, GB — Back after his appendectomy, Lloyd has timeshare potential, and even if that doesn’t happen, he’d be in the Top 20 conversation if Josh Jacobs got hurt.
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL — 🫡
- Ray Davis, BUF — 🫡
- Braelon Allen, NYJ — 🫡
- Khalil Herbert, CIN — 🫡
- Tyjae Spears, TEN — 🫡 Hurt (concussion), which is why he’s so low this week.
DUMPSVILLE
(order I’d drop)
- Audric Estime, DEN — He was worth the upside chase, but as Sean Payton is apt to do, he lied, and it’s back to “Don’t go chasing Broncos running backs, please stick to the trusted backfields that you’re used to.”
- Raheem Mostert, MIA — I believe Mostert would go back to his 2023 workload if Achane got hurt, which means he’s still a “Next Man Up” of sorts, but his weekly work has all but dried up.
MEH, I’LL PASS
- Ameer Abdullah, LV — Even if Alexander Mattison and Zamir White are out, this is the second verse of “Don’t go chasing…”
PURELY NEXT MAN UP RANKS
(if an injury occurs ahead of them)
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL
- Braelon Allen, NYJ
- Ray Davis, BUF
- Zach Charbonnet, SEA
- Jaylen Warren, PIT
- Trey Benson, ARI
- Gus Edwards, LAC
- Blake Corum, LAR
- Austin Ekeler, WSH
- Jordan Mason, SF
- Jaylen Wright, MIA
- Jonathon Brooks, CAR
- Khalil Herbert, CIN
- Raheem Mostert, MIA
- Jerome Ford, CLE
- Roschon Johnson, CHI
- Tyler Goodson, IND
- Cam Akers, MIN
- Justice Hill, BAL
- Devin Singletary, NYG
- Tyjae Spears, TEN
- Kenneth Gainwell, PHI
- Emanuel Wilson, GB
- Kendre Miller, NO
- Dameon Pierce, HOU
- Antonio Gibson, NE
WAIVER WIRE WIDE RECEIVER RANKS
- Christian Watson, GB — As mentioned in previous weeks, now is the time to chase upside. Watson jumped to second on the Packers in routes, ahead of Jayden Reed, who fell to the preseason “worry” role of slot/three-wide option. If Watson is a top-two receiver for the Packers, he’s a slightly better version of the No. 2 option below.
- Quentin Johnston, LAC — Watson on the Chargers, but with a guaranteed top-two role.
- Jalen McMillan, TB — I know he’s been here without production, but with Mike Evans on the field (and McMillan healthy), the opportunity for Chris Godwin’s role without the top coverage is appealing for McMillan’s chances to be a WR3.
- Jerry Jeudy, CLE — 😏
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling, NO — Watson/Johnston-lite, and on the Saints.
- Elijah Moore, CLE — A bit higher ceiling than Jeudy, but third in routes/opportunities.
- Xavier Legette, CAR — 😏
- Adam Thielen, CAR — Returns this week, and if he has any gas left, we saw the connection with Bryce Young last year that had Thielen among WR1 company through Week 8.
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, TEN — Diet, lite, knockoff version of Watson and Johnston.
- Alec Pierce, IND — NWI in Indy.
- DeMario Douglas, NE — Floor. Meh. Sure if you want some points and not a zero.
- Ray-Ray McCloud, ATL — If Darnell Mooney misses time, McCloud would be the Falcons’ Wan’Dale Robinson, which isn’t a ton, and the Falcons are on bye.
- John Metchie, HOU — Nico Collins’ return puts Metchie in the “Next Man Up” territory of wideouts, but he’s worthy of holding where you can in case Collins or Tank Dell got hurt.
Hail Mary, sometimes worth the chase
(WR4/5 with Top 30 upside, needing a TD to get there)
- Ricky Pearsall, SF
- Noah Brown, WSH
- Mike Williams, PIT
- Demarcus Robinson, LAR
DUMPSVILLE
(order I’d drop)
- Tyler Lockett, SEA — Jaxon Smith-Njigba officially has a top-two role for Seattle, and he might even be pushing DK Metcalf at the top.
- Diontae Johnson, BAL — I mentioned it several times on my pod and in comments, but Johnson isn’t even Rashod Bateman yet, and even then, it’s impossible to know when Johnson’s (or Bateman’s… or Nelson Agholor’s… or Mark Andrews’… or Isaiah Likely’s) good game is coming — you get the point.
- Michael Pittman Jr., IND — With Anthony Richardson back, we have “Unbreak My Heart” here in a minute, and Pittman is impossible to start with any level of trust.
MEH, I’LL PASS
- Kendrick Bourne, NE — Still don’t want any Patriots wideouts.
- Curtis Samuel, BUF — Same as Mack Hollins last week.
- Broncos WRs — No more trustworthy than the backfield — Courtland Sutton is the only one.
UNBREAK MY HEART
(SAY I’LL LOVE YOU AGAIN)
- Josh Downs, IND — I’m sorry to you few who dropped Downs. I’m sorry I doubted that Richardson would show improvement as a passer. After all my “Josh Downs is the best fit” and “I like the benching to get Richardson’s head straight” talk, even I finally doubted that Downs could be okay with Richardson in 2024. Well, Week 11 was great. And no, I don’t think Richardson is magically fixed or that Downs is Top 20. Fortunately, not many needed to drop Downs, but if you did — or someone in your league did — he needs to be rostered everywhere. Downs will be an Elijah Moore type going forward due to the Colts’ limited passing volume.
STREAMING TIGHT ENDS
- Jonnu Smith, MIA
- Hunter Henry, NE
- Will Dissly, LAC
- Cole Kmet, CHI
- Ja’Tavion Sanders, CAR
- Zach Ertz, WSH
STREAMING DST
Week 12
- WSH vs DAL
- CHI vs MIN
- TB at NYG
- CLE vs PIT
Week 13
- LAC at ATL
- WSH vs TEN
- DAL vs NYG
- CLE at DEN
- TB at CAR
- NE vs IND
BUY AND SELLS
BUYS
- Rachaad White; Bucky Irving, RB, TB — One of the better playoff schedules, and both can be Top 20 options
- James Conner, RB, ARI — Here last week, and I want to make sure people grab him before it’s too late
- Tyler Allgeier, RB, ATL — As a stash, merely because if Bijan Robinson were to get hurt, Allgeier would be a league-winner with upcoming matchups against LV, NYG, WSH
- Calvin Ridley, WR, TEN — Coming off an inconsistent game, but the Titans get CIN, IND, JAX to finish the fantasy season
- Garrett Wilson, WR, NYJ — The bye is a good time to… buy… and the Jets finish with JAX, LAR, BUF (only the Bills are concerning, but they struggle against speed, which Wilson has)
SELLS
- Jared Goff, QB, DET — Ridiculous efficiency, but the concern is CHI and SF in the final two games… outdoors
- D’Andre Swift, RB, CHI — Saved his day with that long touchdown run, and the Bears RB schedule is rough ROS
- Jameson Williams, WR, DET — You already know the inconsistency, and now, the schedule
(Top photo of Christian Watson: David Banks-Imagn Images)
