Even though Week 11 isn’t fully in the books, it’s time to cast an eye over your Week 12 waiver wire pickups for the 2021 season. A couple of upsets on Sunday opened up some divisions, while there were plenty of great fantasy performances. I hope you were on the right side of Jonathan Taylor!! This week we have a thanksgiving slate to look forward to, so if you are taking time for the holidays, enjoy!
We continue having to deal with bye weeks, but only two teams on bye this week:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Kansas City Chiefs
All of these pickups are written in percentage, not priority. For a player to be eligible they have to be owned in less than 50% of leagues. The rostered percentage is taken from ESPN. Now, let’s get into them!
Matt Ryan (ATL) @JAX 43.9% rostered
Ryan will have been dropped in alot of leagues after disappointing against the Patriots, but he is facing the Jaguars this week. That defense just made Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo look great. This should be a bounce back, but I get it if you don’t want to pick him up.
Cam Newton (CAR) @MIA 37.9% rostered
Newton has really kick-started this Panthers offense. In the past two weeks, he has shown his rushing ability and moved the ball through the air. There’s not alot of reason to doubt him for fantasy. Pick him up if you can- with byes taking out Kyler Murray and Patrick Mahomes Newton is your ready-made dual-threat replacement
Taylor Heinicke (WAS) v SEA 13.1% rostered
Heinicke stood tall in the pocket for Washington last week, which is something that not all QBs have managed this season. He threw for 206 yards and 3 TDs and looked comfortable. This week, he faces a Seattle defense that has given up plenty of big plays on the road.
Others to Consider
- Teddy Bridgewater (DEN) v LAC 23.4% rostered
- Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) v MIN 11.7% rostered
- Tyrod Taylor (HOU) v NYJ 4.9% rostered
Alex Collins (SEA) @WAS 48.6% rostered
There’s not alot more I can add to the previous weeks where I’ve said pick him up. He is the lead RB on a run-first offense. Some pickups are simple. Yes, he wasn’t very efficient, but it’s only a matter of time with the volume that he gets.
Devonta Freeman (BAL) v CLE 34.7% rostered
Freeman led the Ravens in rushing attempts last week. Yep, Lamar Jackson didn’t play, but still. Freeman has been an important part of the offense and was used in the redzone again. Pick him up if you can, he should be involved enough to be viable.
Jordan Howard (PHI) @NYG 24.4% rostered
Howard was dropped in a lot of leagues last week, with the return of Miles Sanders from IR. But it seems that the offense still has room for Howard. He rushed the ball 10 times and converted some key plays for the team. I’d always look to pick up an RB who is getting the ball. **UPDATE** Howard is set to miss some time due to an injury he picked up. So I would leave him on the wire
David Johnson/ Rex Burkhead (HOU) v NYJ 26.9/ 0.6% rostered
Ok. Hold your nose. I’m about to suggest that you pick up a Houston running back. This is all about the matchup, the Jets can’t stop anything on the ground. The two almost split the carries evenly last week, but Johnson was more involved in the passing game. If you are in real need, pick one up and you’ve got a flex consideration at least.
Ty Johnson (NYJ) @HOU 18.8% rostered
Michael Carter is set to miss some time with injury, making Johnson a starting RB? Sure, there is Tevin Coleman still, but Johnson is the guy that has been used in the passing game, so he is the pick up.
Others to Consider
- Latavius Murray (BAL) v CLE 27.4% rostered
- Sony Michel (LAR) @GB 24.3% rostered
- Trey Sermon (SF) v MIN 14.7% rostered
- Rashaad Penny (SEA) @WAS 2.8% rostered
Laviska Shenault (JAX) v ATL 46.5% rostered
Shenault has been a frustrating fantasy asset this season. Just when you think you can trust him, he lets you down. But regardless, the 2021 season has been full of injuries so you might need him. Shenault led the Jags in targets and receptions last time out against the 49ers. The Falcons secondary isn’t a great unit, the only thing will be can the offense as a whole perform?
Rashod Bateman (BAL) v CLE 45.7% rostered
Didn’t happen did it? Well, let’s be honest it was going to be tough to have a big performance without Lamar Jackson. The ball just wasn’t going to get pushed downfield in the same way. So what to do? Double down against the Browns secondary this week. Bateman could well be dropped in alot of leagues after failing to live up to the hype for last week.
Elijah Moore (NYJ) @HOU 40.7%
I get it, he isn’t available in your league. But he is available in a slight majority of leagues! It’s a crazy world where Joe Flacco can step into a starting role, and make a player have a fantastic fantasy performance. Moore seems like he is having a purple patch of form at the moment, and there is no reason to think that can’t continue this week and beyond.
Tre’Quan Smith (NO) v BUF 2.7% rostered
Smith has been establishing himself as the lead receiver for the Saints. This past week he again was equal in targets with Mark Ingram to lead the team with 8. Smith has managed to put himself into contention each week and yet you can pick him up in the vast majority of leagues!?
Others to Consider
- Van Jefferson (LAR) @GB 45.4% rostered
- Rondale Moore (ARI) BYE 23.1% rostered
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB) v LAR 3.2% rostered
- Mack Hollins (MIA) v CAR 0.3% rostered
Austin Hooper (CLE) v BAL 21.2% rostered
It feels like every season Hooper does the same thing. Enters the season with a bit of hype, then struggles in the first few weeks, then finds his feet and sees more of the ball. We are in the stage where he sees more of the ball. Baltimore aren’t great against TEs, apart from last week but that was really more about Chicago not being able to move the ball than anything else.
Adam Trautman (NO) v BUF 5.7% rostered
Trautman has stepped up in recent weeks. There were alot of hopes for him to step up at TE with Jared Cook leaving, but after suffering with injury it didn’t happen. Trautman had 8 targets last week, which was the joint-highest on the team. Given the landscape of the position, you could do worse.
Others to Consider
- Dan Arnold (JAX) v ATL 40.0% rostered
- Evan Engram (NYG) v PHI 26.4% rostered
- Gerald Everett (SEA) @WAS 3.5% rostered
Philadelphia Eagles @NYG 12.5% rostered
The Eagles seem to be pulling it together now, with their offense and defense finding a way to get it done. The thing is, in each of the last two weeks though is that they have managed to convert a turnover for a TD, which isn’t sustainable. Facing Daniel Jones who can get pressured into turnovers, the Eagles are an interesting pick-up for this week.
Chicago Bears @DET 10.8% rostered
Chicago’s defense is a constant threat, because of their ability to put pressure on the pocket. In their last two games, they have totaled 10 sacks, while also forcing turnovers. Against the Detroit offense, they should be able to continue that trend- regardless of who ends up leading the team on offense.
Others to consider
- Cincinnati Bengals v PIT 14.4% rostered
- New York Jets @HOU 2.9% rostered
Younghoe Koo (ATL) @JAX 49.7% rostered
Koo missed his only kick last week, continuing a run of games where he is yet to hit double figures. I have to believe that changes against the Jacksonville defense, who give up points for fun.
Greg Zuerlein (DAL) v LV 33.9% rostered
Zuerlein returned to action against Kansas City, and straight away showed why he has been a fantasy option for years. Accuracy and a long boot are exactly what you want, and the Cowboys will be looking to make a statement this week.
Others to consider
- Mason Crosby (GB) v LAR 34.2% rostered
- Chase McLaughlin (CLE) v BAL 18.7% rostered
- Robbie Gould (SF) v MIN 4.6% rostered
There you have it! Any questions, or want some more specific help for your league on who to drop, just reach out. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. And checkout out rankings for each Week.
Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports
