There was a slew of lineup-killing injuries this week, but somehow, very few backups are "must-have" Week 12 fantasy waiver wire pickups and free agent adds. Zach Charbonnet is clearly the head of the class, but this appears to be a worst-of-all-worlds week for fantasy football owners.
Perhaps we're being too negative. Our full list has some interesting contributors, including a bunch of emerging WRs (Odell Beckham Jr., Jayden Reed, Khalil Shakir, Demario Douglas, Jameson Williams) and some of the aforementioned injury replacements (Isaiah Likely), including a few interesting RB stashes (Jeff Wilson Jr., Roschon Johnson). More important, we have our usual assortment of streamer suggestions at QB, TE, and D/ST. You might not need a Week 12 fill-in with no teams on bye, but there are plenty of viable options if you want someone with a favorable matchup.
Other than Charbonnet, no one is worth a high waiver claim -- or possibly any waiver claim. It wouldn't be a shock if Mark Andrews' owners used a claim on Likely -- and you can make a case for a low claim on someone like OBJ (assuming his should is fine), Reed, or Douglas in deeper leagues -- but there just aren't a lot of appealing pickups, especially with no byes on deck.
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That said, you should still be active in free agency. Weeks like this are perfect for planning ahead for your next few matchups. There are still eight byes (Bills, Raiders, Ravens, Bears, Vikings, Giants, Cardinals, Commanders) on the horizon, plus the usual allotment of unfavorable matchups. Getting your first pick of future streamers is going to put you ahead of the game in these pivotal weeks.
MORE WEEK 12 WAIVERS: FAAB budget planner
Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 12
Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues are considered.
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seahawks. It feels like fantasy owners have been waiting all year for Charbonnet to get a chance, and that finally happened in Week 11. Kenneth Walker III exited in the first quarter because of an oblique injury, opening the door for Charbonnet to take over in Seattle's backfield. He held up well with 69 total yards on 21 touches, proving he can be an every-down back. With Seattle playing on Thanksgiving this year, it seems unlikely that Walker will be ready, so Charbonnet will have at least a little staying power. A matchup against the 49ers isn't ideal, but Charbonnet still profiles as a high-ceiling flex.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Ravens. OBJ has come alive over the past three weeks, scoring three TDs in that span. He's coming off his best game of the season (four catches, seven targets, 116 yards), and with Mark Andrews (ankle) out for the year, he should be even more involved going forward. As long as the shoulder injury he suffered toward the end of Thursday night's game doesn't keep him out, OBJ is a virtual must-start against the Chargers' last-ranked pass defense in Week 12.
WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Jayden Reed, WR, Packers. Reed caught four-of-six targets for 46 yards against the Chargers, but he also added three carries for 42 rushing yards and a TD. He's now scored in three of his past five games, and he's posted at least 80 receiving yards twice in that span. With Aaron Jones (knee) hurt and Christian Watson fading, Reed looks like Green Bay's 1A or 1B receiver, making him a worthwhile flex next week in Detroit.
Ty Chandler, RB, Vikings. Chandler played second fiddle to Alexander Mattison in terms of carries (18 to 10), but he had more total yards (110 to 80). A chunk of that came on a fake punt, but Chandler still looked like the more effective back most of the night. Perhaps most important, Mattison lost another key fumble, and it's fair to wonder if his seat is getting warm. At the very least, Chandler showed he can be a legit flex in favorable matchups, and he was on deck next Monday against the Bears.
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Isaiah Likely, TE, Ravens. Likely took over after Mark Andrews suffered a significant ankle injury on Thursday. He didn't catch either of his targets, but we've seen him have success in the past when Andrews has been out. He should be a borderline TE1 the rest of the way, and at the very least, he's a prime streaming option next week against a Chargers' defense that entered Week 11 allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to TEs.
Demario Douglas, WR, Patriots. Don't forget about Douglas just because he had a bye. In New England's previous four games, he averaged five catches and a little over seven targets. He looks every bit like the Pats' No. 1 receiver, and that should give him a high PPR floor most games, especially next week against the Giants.
Josh Downs, WR, Colts. Downs hasn't done much the past two games, and after Indy's Week 11 bye, his ownership level fell to around 50 percent. That's too low for such a talented receiver, especially with a highly favorable matchup against Tampa's 31st-ranked pass defense on deck.
Rashid Shaheed, WR, Saints. With Michael Thomas (knee) on the IR, Shaheed should see an uptick in targets down the stretch. You can make a case for A.T. Perry as a potential pickup, but Shaheed has a higher ceiling. He's a solid WR3/flex this week against Atlanta's middling secondary, and he could be a league-winner down the stretch thanks to his big-play ability.
Tutu Atwell, WR, Rams. Atwell was the No. 21 fantasy WR in half-point PPR leagues through four weeks when Cooper Kupp was out, and with Kupp (ankle) hurting again, Atwell should see an uptick in targets. Get back on the Tutu train and use him as a WR3 against Arizona if Kupp is on the sidelines.
Khalil Shakir, WR, Bills. Shakir came through with 115 yards and a TD on three catches (four targets) against the Jets. Most of that came on an 81-yard TD reception, but the explosive slot man has been trending up since Week 8, posting at least 9.7 PPR points three times. He's no higher than the No. 3 target in Buffalo's offense, but that's enough to give him flex value most weeks, including next week in a highly favorable matchup against Philadelphia.
Royce Freeman, RB, Rams. Kyren Williams (ankle) is expected back next week, and if he returns, Freeman won't have much value. However, if the Rams hold Williams back, Freeman will likely continue to operate as L.A.'s lead back. Despite ceding a one-yard TD to Darrell Henderson Jr., Freeman dominated carries (17 to six) and rushing yards (73 to two) against Seattle, so he'll be a solid flex against Arizona's porous run defense if he remains in that role. With Henderson now back on the street, Freeman is a must-have handcuff.
Rondale Moore, WR, Cardinals. Moore had just one target against the Texans, but he made the most of it with a 48-yard TD. That's coming on the heels of his busiest game of the year, an eight-target Week 10. Moore is a classic boom-or-bust option now that Kyler Murray's back, and his ability to chip in as a runner (at least two carries in all but three games this year) adds to his appeal. He'll be a deep-league flex next week against the Rams.
Jameson Williams, WR, Lions. Williams might be nothing more than an occasional big-play bench stash, so we're not getting too excited over his two-catch, 44-yard, one-TD performance against the Bears. Nonetheless, it's always good to see him involved since we know he has the talent to be a big-time producer with regular targets. He remains worth stashing in deep leagues, but you don't need to risk it with him next week against Green Bay.
Elijah Moore, WR, Browns. It's tough to buy into a secondary option on the Browns' offense with Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center, but Moore led the team with 60 yards on six catches (seven targets). He's now seen seven targets in back-to-back games, and with that kind of workload, he has a decent PPR floor most weeks. Consider him a low-ceiling flex next week against Denver's middling pass defense.
Justin Watson, WR, Chiefs. Watson came out of nowhere to score and lead the Chiefs in targets (11) and receiving yards (53) on Monday night. This might be nothing more than a one-game aberration based on the matchup, but after Marquez Valdes-Scantling had a crucial drop and Skyy Moore (two targets) and Kadarius Toney (two targets) again failed to get involved, someone has to step up other than Travis Kelce (nine targets) and Rashee Rice (five targets). Watson is worth a deep-league add given his quarterback and offense.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Bears. We know -- Johnson already had a chance this year when Khalil Herbert was out and he barely got on the field, so why would it be any different with D'Onta Foreman (ankle) hurt and Herbert back? It might not be, as Herbert dominated carries (16) after Foreman exited against the Lions, but Johnson was also involved (six carries, 30 yards) and effective. With Chicago's season going nowhere fast, they might want to see what they have in the rookie bruiser. At the very least, he's worth stashing for the stretch run.
Miles Sanders, RB, Panthers. Sanders looked like he had fallen out of the rotation in Carolina, but Chuba Hubbard failed to take the job and run with it. Sanders wound up with one more carry (11) than Hubbard against Dallas, and even though the latter gained seven more yards, Sanders is clearly back in the mix. All told, he had 52 total yards on 11 touches, and that kind of workload would give him potential flex value in favorable matchups. You probably don't want to start him next week against Tennessee, but he's worth monitoring.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, Dolphins. We originally had Salvon Ahmed here, but he was placed on IR because of a foot injury. With De'Von Achane once again nursing a sore knee, JWJ could get another chance to step up and play a key role in the Dolphins' offense. Will it yield fantasy-relevant production? Maybe not, but if Achane remains out, Wilson Jr. will be worth stashing in all formats and potentially starting down the stretch in deep leagues.
Top fantasy QB streamers for Week 12
Derek Carr, Saints (@ Falcons). Carr's sore shoulder should've had time to heal during the bye, and as long as he's starting, he's a prime streaming option against a Falcons' defense that entered last week allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to QBs.
Matthew Stafford, Rams (@ Cardinals). Stafford struggled last week, but we expect him to be better against an Arizona defense that entered last week allowing eighth-most FPPG to QBs. Even if Cooper Kupp (ankle) remains hobbled, Stafford and the rest of L.A.'s offense should be bolstered by the return of Kyren Williams (ankle).
Gardner Minshew, Colts (vs. Buccaneers). Minshew hasn't put up big fantasy numbers outside of a monster Week 7 against Cleveland of all teams, but Tampa's allowing the fifth-most FPPG to QBs, so he has a chance to shine in deep leagues if you need him.
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (@ Colts). The Colts haven't been particularly giving to QBs, but Mayfield has shown he can have big games against anyone thanks to the talented weapons around him. In Weeks 8-10, he turned in at least 237 yards and two TDs. He's a solid option in deep leagues if you're in a bind at QB.
Top fantasy TE streamers for Week 12
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (@ Bengals). Only two teams entered Week 11 allowing more FPPG to TEs than the Bengals, so even Freiermuth should be able to take advantage of this favorable matchup.
Luke Musgrave, Packers (@ Lions). Musgrave has alternated between high-target games (like last week) and big-play performances (like two weeks ago), but either way, he has upside against a Lions' defense that entered last week allowing the 10th-most FPPG to TEs. (UPDATE: Musgrave reportedly went to the hospital on Tuesday because of an abdominal injury. At this point, fantasy owners shouldn't expect him to suit up against the Lions on Thursday. Tucker Kraft will likely start and has some DFS appeal, but he shouldn't be trusted in season-long leagues.)
Cade Otton, Buccaneers (@ Colts). Otton has produced in a few favorable matchups this year, and now he gets a Colts' defense that entered last week allowing the eighth-most FPPG to TEs. Don't overlook him, especially after a decent game in San Francisco.
Jonnu Smith, Falcons (vs. Saints). Smith is coming off a one-catch, one-yard game, but the week before, he had five catches for 100 yards and a TD. Clearly, it's boom-or-bust with Smith, but with New Orleans allowing the 11th-most FPPG to TEs, a "boom" week looks a little more likely.
Tyler Conklin, Jets (vs. Dolphins). It's tough to trust anyone other than Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson in the Jets' offense, but Conklin has some upside against Miami's bottom-12 TE defense. He caught all 13 of his targets in Weeks 10 and 11, so his PPR floor appears strong.
Juwan Johnson, Saints (@ Falcons). Johnson is the biggest "TD-or-bust" pick on this list, but the Falcons entered last week allowing the ninth-most FPPG to TEs, so he has some deep-league upside.
Top fantasy defense streamers for Week 12
New England Patriots (@ Giants). The Patriots are no longer "the Patriots," but everyone has been like a vintage Bill Belichick defense against Tommy DeVito and the Giants lately. Even during last week's "offensive explosion," the Giants allowed nine sacks. Take advantage.
New York Giants (vs. Patriots). Mac Jones? Bailey Zappe? Does it matter? New England's offense is a mess, and the Giants' D/ST can take advantage for a second-consecutive "boom" week.
Minnesota Vikings (vs. Bears). The Bears were allowing a lot of FPPG To D/STs even when Justin Fields was under center, and with the Vikings playing better, this is an easy call in a home prime-time matchup.
Denver Broncos (vs. Browns). A rookie on the road at Mile High? Sign us up. The Broncos aren't the most consistent D/ST, but it's been playing better lately and can put up points even if it allows a decent number of yards.
Tennessee Titans (vs. Panthers). The Panthers entered last week allowing the sixth-most FPPG to D/STs. Tennessee has been a relatively low-ceiling D/ST all year, but this is a nice smash spot.
Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Steelers). Cincinnati has faced a run of solid offenses, but the last time it had an even semi-favorable matchup (Arizona in Week 5), it posted three sacks, three takeaways, and a TD. This should be a classic, low-scoring NFC North game, so don't be afraid of the Bengals despite their offense potentially putting the defense in bad positions.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ Colts). The Colts can score points, but they'll also make mistakes. Tampa has taken advantage of favorable matchups most of the season thanks to its ability to make an offense one-dimensional, so if you're hurting for a streamer in deep leagues, look no further.
