We are here with our Week 12 waiver wire adds. At this point of the season, you know if you are a playoff contender, or if you should cast an eye into the future. I truly hope you are in the mix for the playoffs. As we know, once you make the playoffs anything can happen!
This week, we don’t have any byes to consider – which is great, as the guys that are available won’t be thinned out too much!
Each week I am going to look at players to use that have lower ownership percentages (lower than 50%). I’m going to be using the rostered percentages from Yahoo leagues, as it’s easily publically available. These are players that I’m looking to pick up from the waiver wire for Week 12.
Each of my adds are ordered by their rostered percentages, rather than their priority.
Taysom Hill (NO, 42% rostered)
This time last week, it seemed obvious that Jameis Winston was going to be the starter. A few days later, Hill was announced as the starter and owners everywhere (especially on ESPN- TE eligibility) clambered to get him.
He is now a perfect pickup for players that are in need of a QB. The offense is clearly able to function with him in it (yes, it was the Falcons, but you can only beat what’s infront of you). Hill was also able to run the ball. Next up the team face Denver, which should give them plenty of opportunity for Hill to score points.
Tua Tagovailoa (MIA, 41% rostered)
Tagovailoa got benched for Fitzpatrick, but the team have said that he will be the starter next week. Miami next face the New York Jets, who we know are itching to get that first overall pick in the draft. He may well be owned, but double-check.
Philip Rivers (IND, 26% rostered)
Honestly, at this point I don’t know how I feel about the Colts offense. They want to run the ball, but have recently allowed Rivers to just launch the ball downfield. For Week 11 Rivers has another matchup against Tennessee, a team that he threw for over 300 yards and a TD. This week, he threw 3 TDs against Green Bay’s pass defense. You might not need a streaming QB, but Rivers could fit the mould if you need.
Honorable Mentions
- Baker Mayfield (CLE, 31% rostered)
- Kirk Cousins (MIN, 42% rostered)
- Derek Carr (LV, 36% rostered)
- Andy Dalton (DAL, 9% rostered)
LATE EDIT: Gus Edwards (BAL, 29% rostered)
Edwards becomes a must-add following the news of JK Dobbins and Mark Ingram being added to the COVID IR list. It’s not a great matchup against Pittsburgh, but Edwards should be the lead back for the team. James Robinson had a decent day (not amazing), but we can see that volume matters against the Steelers.
Carlos Hyde (SEA, 46% rostered)
At this point, I have worries about Chris Carson suiting up and having the workload that he did previously. This week will be interesting, as the team have a long turnaround before playing. However, from his performance on Thursday night, we know that Hyde can be effective in this offense.
Cam Akers (LAR, 30% rostered)
I should really point out, that I’m writing this Monday morning in the UK. So this could look really stupid come tomorrow. However, Akers has been getting more touches in recent weeks. He likely will remain a stash or insurance policy for Darrell Henderson, but he is worth picking up.
Tevin Coleman (SF, 18% rostered)
Coleman is nearing return to action, so if you are truly in desperate need, you could go for him. This backfield will be a tough one to navigate with Raheem Mostert nearing return too. But if you need an upside pick, Coleman could be the guy.
Frank Gore (NYJ, 10% rostered)
Gore is still here, and still (somewhat) relevant for deeper leagues. The veteran rushed for 63 yards and a TD last week, and while he faces a Miami defense that has been more effective recently, he should still have some level of a floor that you can be reasonably happy with.
Honorable Mentions
- Alexander Mattison (MIN, 33% rostered)
- Matt Breida (MIA, 21% rostered)
- Devontae Booker (LV, 10% rostered)
- Jordan Wilkins (IND, 10% rostered)
- Samaje Perine (CIN, 1% rostered)
Perine is a risky add this week. I think you’ll find he is a popular add, but I wouldn’t feel great about adding him. The Bengals used him at the goal-line, and with Joe Burrow now out for the season, they could make fewer trips from here on out.
Michael Pittman Jr (IND, 43% rostered)
I was really high on Pittman at the start of the season, but he missed time with injury which stalled his rookie season. However, after two back to back weeks where he has performed well, you need to pick him up. This offense has spread targets, but this week he faces Tennessee who he just beat soundly for 101 yards.
Allen Lazard (GB, 43% rostered)
Lazard returned this week, only catching two passes for 18 yards against a tough Colts defense. This week doesn’t get too much easier with a matchup against Chicago. However, his schedule then has some nice matchups, with Detroit and Tennessee coming up.
Jalen Reagor (PHI, 26% rostered)
Reagor has been great when given the opportunity. Despite seeing fewer targets than Travis Fulgham, he has managed to be productive. This week he faces up against Seattle, as well as two great matchups against New Orleans and Dallas. That makes him an effective pickup for WR-needy playoff-bound teams.
Tim Patrick (DEN, 21% rostered)
Patrick for some reason has continued to be productive, but not picked up. It could be that he doesn’t have name value on a Denver offense that has struggled. But he is still getting the job done. He has now had three 100-yard games, but it’s worth considering that 61 yards of his performance last week came in a play where Drew Lock tried (and failed) to throw the ball out deep downfield.
Breshad Perriman (NYJ, 11% rostered)
Perriman might be a one-trick pony, but it’s an effective trick. On the snap of the ball- run. Equally, Joe Flacco is able to throw the ball downfield effectively. Last week, he caught a 49-yard TD pass, so you are just hoping for an upside play it could be Perriman.
Willie Snead (BAL, 4% rostered)
Snead had another game where he got seven targets. This week, he didn’t do much with them, catching just three for 23 yards. However, we are looking deep here at a player that is getting looks on an offense that doesn’t seem to have a real alpha receiver.
Honorable Mentions
- Nelson Agholor (LV, 19% rostered)
- Rashard Higgins (CLE, 12% rostered)
- Dez Bryant (BAL, 9% rostered) don’t really do it- but nice to have Bryant back in the league.
- KJ Hamler (DEN, 6% rostered)
- Cordarrelle Patterson (CHI, 7% rostered) worth a speculative add, if David Montgomery misses more time.
Dalton Schultz (DAL, 21% rostered)
Schultz stepped up in the red zone for Dallas, which is exactly what you want from the TE position. Andy Dalton really looked alot better than the previous version that we had seen in this offense. The issue is the number of mouths to feed on the offense, but well worth a pickup for this week as the team face up against Washington, who have struggled against the position this season.
Jordan Reed (SF, 14% rostered)
Reed was involved in the offense last time we saw them on the field, with five receptions for 62 yards. This week, he has a tougher matchup against Los Angeles, but should still see plenty of work. The 49ers are going to be without George Kittle, but could also be without Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
Honorable Mentions
- Robert Tonyan (GB, 46% rostered)
- Jimmy Graham (CHI, 38% rostered)
- Trey Burton (IND, 17% rostered)
Green Bay Packers (33% rostered)
The Packers are set to face a Chicago offense that has struggled to score this season. We also don’t yet know for certain who the QB is going to be. Both Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky have suffered injuries that put their status in doubt. Meaning a third-string QB could be the one leading the team.
New York Giants (11% rostered)
The Giants have been a sneaky option this season. I don’t know if I’d feel as confident in this selection if the Bengals were going to be led by Joe Burrow, but against Ryan Finley I’m fine with it.
Honorable Mentions
- Washington Football Team (41% rostered)
Mason Crosby (GB, 38% rostered)
Crosby’s ownership is confusing to me. We have a great and accurate kicker on an offense that scores a lot of points, but isn’t hyper-efficient, meaning that the attempts are PATs and not FGs. Green Bay now faces a Chicago defense that has allowed plenty of kickers to have good games against them.
Rodrigo Blankenship (IND, 46% rostered)
Blankenship is still available in more leagues than he isn’t? Really? The rookie has been fantastic all season, and should be picked up if available in your league. The offense has been able to move the ball, but has stalled at times. That has led to them having plenty of chances to attempt FGs.
Honorable Mentions
- Dan Bailey (MIN, 32% rostered)
- Michael Badgley (LAC, 29% rostered)
- Tyler Bass (BUF, 7% rostered)
So those are our waiver wire adds for Week 12. I’d certainly expect a number of them to end up in my start/ sit article later this week, and in my weekly rankings, which will be as soon as I take in the action tonight.
Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports
