As the injury bug continues to infect widespread portions of the fantasy football player pool, streaming players and finding potentially valuable stashes becomes increasingly important. The moves we make today could pay off next week and beyond as we make the push for the playoffs and seek championship glory. Our Week 12 waiver wire watchlist will help you spot players like Trestan Ebner, Ben Skowronek, and James Cook who could very well end up the most heavily added next Wednesday.
Don't wait until under-the-radar players explode this weekend — you could very well end up finding yourself getting outbid next week by an owner with more FAAB or a higher waiver priority. Instead, anticipate the breakouts, recognize your Week 12 needs, and grab the best available streaming options for free right now. This time last week, we specifically featured Bucs RB Rachaad White (38-percent owned at the time), who might now be taking over the Tampa backfield entirely, and Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (three percent), who stepped up and scored 13 PPR points in Darren Waller's absence.
That's a couple of great hits, adding to an already lengthy list of successes this column has enjoyed all season. Going back a few weeks ago, we mentioned Justin Fields when he was just 36-percent owned, and all he's done since is score 30, 48.7, and 43.4 points, respectively, in Weeks 8, 9, and 10. We also put you on Kenyan Drake, Darnell Mooney, and Greg Dulcich, all of whom have been solid and seen their ownership percentages skyrocket.
If you have a "dead spot" in your roster -- be it because one of your players just landed on the IR or you have some dead weight you're about to drop -- then use that open space to invest in a player who you expect to see a usage spike, breakout opportunity, or return from injury. It's also important to monitor upcoming bye weeks and grab a guy you can stream in place of your bye-week studs. We have no byes to worry about in Week 12, but pay close attention to Weeks 13 and 14 as your competition fails to prepare. It's best to grab your fill-ins now when most owners aren't thinking about byes.
WEEK 11 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Unfortunately, some shallower leagues don't have enough roster spots for "planning ahead," but for those in relatively deep leagues, our week-ahead watchlist will continue to be a helpful resource. Even though you won't pick up most of these players, it's worth watching their snap counts, target shares, and weekly production trends to file away for later.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist
Reminder: This list was put together in the lead-in to Week 11, looking forward to the players who could be popular waiver-wire targets ahead of Week 12. If you have a roster spot to play with, these are free-agent options you could grab early to beat next week's waiver buzz.
All these players are below 50-percent ownership on Yahoo, unless otherwise specified.
Week 12 Waiver Wire Watchlist: QB
WEEK 12 BYES: None
Deshaun Watson, Browns (44 percent rostered)
Considering how many quarterbacks are banged up and/or producing mediocre fantasy lines, it's hard to believe Watson can be found on 56 percent of waiver wires. If you're hurting or constantly streaming at QB, Watson could be your answer come Week 13. The Browns have a very favorable schedule in fantasy playoffs (Ravens, Saints, Commanders), and both Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones have looked great for the much more limited Jacoby Brissett. Stash him before it's too late.
Matt Ryan, Colts vs. Steelers (14%)
Matty Ice is loving life now that Frank Reich has been replaced with Jeff Saturday. The veteran posted 24.7 fantasy points in a road win at Vegas last week and has a date with an unusually bad Steelers defense in Week 12. He's probably available on your free agent pool now considering the Colts face a tough Philly D this week. If your QB has a tough matchup in Week 12 (Daniel Jones @ Cowboys, for instance), you want to grab some Ice ahead of the holidays so you don't get burned.
MORE POTENTIAL WEEK 12 STREAMERS WITH FAVORABLE MATCHUPS: Marcus Mariota, Falcons at Commanders (38 percent rostered); Taylor Heinicke, Commanders vs. Falcons (12%); Davis Mills, Texans at Dolphins (9%)
WEEK 11 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 12 Waiver Wire Watchlist: RB
WEEK 12 BYES: None
James Cook, Bills (17 percent rostered)
Cook has touched the ball 17 times for 131 yards over the past three weeks, and he might see even more work this weekend. The forecast for Buffalo's home tilt with Cleveland calls for snow and 15-20 mph wind gusts, so don't expect Josh Allen to be heaving the ball 60 yards downfield with his dinged-up elbow. Devin Singletary earned his first two rushing TDs of the season last week, and Cook might very well find paydirt — or at least pay-snow — himself this weekend. If you wait until after the blizzard to act, by waiver time he might be as long gone as most Buffalo natives' mailboxes.
Trestan Ebner, Bears (2%)
Just like he was when lead Chicago back David Montgomery got injured earlier in the season, Ebner will operate as the Bears' RB2 behind Monty now that Khalil Herbert is on IR (hip). Given how valuable running backs are in an RPO system with a QB like Justin Fields — not to mention how injury-prone Montgomery has been throughout his career — Ebner is a must-own in deep leagues. In shallow leagues, he's only really a must-own (at least for now) as a handcuff if you have Montgomery on your roster. Ebner has 18 carries for 46 yards on the season, but he has much more talent than that line suggests.
MORE WORTHWHILE RB ADDS: Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (45%); Kyren Williams, Rams (33%); Jaylen Warren, Steelers (26%); Latavius Murray, Broncos (24%); Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs (20%); Cam Akers, Rams (29%)
WEEK 11 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 12 Waiver Wire Watchlist: WR
WEEK 12 BYES: None
Odell Beckham Jr., Free agent (44 percent rostered)
We haven't seen OBJ in a while, but he'll be a must-roster in all average-size leagues the moment he takes the field for whomever he joins. He's coming off a torn ACL and won't return until Thanksgiving, at the earliest, but he could be a matchup-winning WR3 or flex come fantasy playoff time. Lock him up.
Ben Skowronek (5%) and Van Jefferson (23%), Rams at Chiefs
The Rams have been struggling all season, enduring a Super Bowl hangover for the ages, but they reached new lows this week when they had to put reigning Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp on the IR because of a high-ankle sprain. That's just brutal for Kupp, Rams fans, and fantasy owners alike. Entering last weekend, Kupp had caught 72-of-93 targets for 813 yards and six TDs. Fret not, Kupp owners! You and other savvy fantasy minds should recognize the opportunity here with Skowronek and Jefferson. Kupp leaves behind 11.6 targets per game in an offense with nothing left to lose, and we've seen both of these young wideouts succeed before. Skowronek has stepped up admirably when Rams WR2 Allen Robinson II has struggled throughout the season, and Jefferson made some highlight-reel catch-and-runs during L.A.'s postseason takeover last winter. These guys are both great stashes who will hopefully blossom into must-start plays sooner than later. If one or both do well this weekend against New Orleans, don't hesitate to start either of them against a beatable Chiefs secondary in Week 12.
Parris Campbell, Colts vs. Steelers (29%)
Campbell has posted at least seven catches, 57 yards, and a TD in three of his past five games. Perhaps not coincidentally, Matt Ryan started all three of those games. In Week 12, he's facing a Steelers pass defense that has been less than stellar this season. He's probably on your wire, as few owners will risk rolling the dice with him against the big, bad Eagles this weekend, but you might want to scoop him up if you have the space. If he posts a fourth game of 18-plus PPR points, he won't be an easy waiver acquisition next week.
MORE SOLID WEEK 12 WR STREAMS: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs vs. Rams (43%); Isaiah McKenzie, Bills at Lions (35%); Zay Jones (20%) & Marvin Jones (6%), Jaguars vs. Ravens; Alec Pierce, Colts vs. Steelers (19%); Demarcus Robinson, Ravens at Jaguars (4%); Jahan Dotson, Commanders vs. Falcons (19%); Damiere Byrd (1%) & Olamide Zaccheaus (1%), Falcons at Commanders (WAS); Tyquan Thornton, Patriots at Vikings (2%)
MORE SAVVY WR STASHES: Michael Gallup, Cowboys (42%); Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns (40%); DeAndre Carter, Chargers (33%); Romeo Doubs, Packers (28%); Darius Slayton, Giants (27%)
WEEK 11 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Week 12 Waiver Wire Watchlist: TE
WEEK 12 BYES: None
Foster Moreau, Raiders at Seahawks (32%)
We hit gold with the Island of Foster Moreau last week, as he posted a 13.3 PPR score in the Raiders' loss to Indy. His ownership percentage jumped like Dominique Wilkins, going from three percent this time last week to 32 percent today. If the interim Raiders tight end has another strong game at Denver this weekend, good luck grabbing him on waivers on Tuesday. His Week 12 matchup with Seattle is about as good as it gets for TEs, as the Seahawks have allowed the most standard and half-PPR points per game to the position. We're not usually romantics, but this guy had us at Moreau.
Juwan Johnson, Saints at 49ers (23%)
Not much fantasy goodness has come out of the Bayou this season, but Johnson has been a breath of fresh air at tight end over the past month. He posted 20-plus PPR points in Arizona in Week 7, has 27.6 points over the past two weeks, and has scored four TDs in New Orleans' past four games. San Francisco has been pretty stout against tight ends this season, but you still probably can't afford to leave this guy on the wire. He's too prioritized in the Saints offense with Andy Dalton under center. Even if you have a top-five TE, grab him and flip him to a TE-needy manager who isn't on top of their game.
POTENTIAL WEEK 12 STREAMERS WITH FAVORABLE MATCHUPS: Hunter Henry, Patriots at Vikings (29%); Evan Engram, Jaguars vs. Ravens (42%); Will Dissly (8%) and Noah Fant (11%), Seahawks vs. Ravens
WEEK 11 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
Week 12 Defense Streamers and Sleepers
WEEK 12 BYES: None
Miami Dolphins vs. Texans (31 percent rostered)
Miami has been a disappointment overall this season, but they still have playmakers at all three levels. A Week 12 matchup against a low-powered Texans' team that entered Week 11 allowing the 10th-most FPPG to D/STs should help the Dolphins get back on track.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Steelers (33%)
It sucks that Shaq Leonard (back) is lost for the season, but Indy still looks good in plus-matchups. The Colts have allowed 20 or fewer points and posted multiple sacks in four straight games, and they have takeaways in three of their past four. Steelers QB Kenny Pickett has thrown eight interceptions (tied for fourth-most in the NFL) and has been sacked 12 times over Pittsburgh's past two games, so the Colts make for a solid Week 12 stream.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Rams (50%)
The Chiefs' secondary has been pretty rough this season, but that shouldn't matter much without Cooper Kupp (ankle) lining up across them next week. The Rams allow the most fantasy points to D/STs this season, mostly because they can't protect Matthew Stafford in any way, shape, or form. This could be a bludgeoning for the ages.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Patriots (32%)
The Vikings don't have the greatest overall defensive statistics, but they certainly do force a bunch of turnovers. Entering Week 11, they ranked fifth in interceptions and third in fumble recoveries, and they were also in the top 10 in third-down defense. The Patriots' focus on taking care of the ball could be put to the test next week, as Kirk Cousins and his high-flying arsenal of offensive weapons will force Mac Jones to throw the ball to keep up. With Minnesota's underrated pass-rush infiltrating New England's offensive line, mistakes will be made.
New York Jets vs. Bears (36%)
The Jets just keep getting the job done, yet nobody ever seems to pick them up off the wire. Sauce Gardner has been a revelation in the secondary, and the pass-rush has improved mightily, as well. A Week 12 matchup against the Bears might scare you a little given Justin Fields' recent breakout games, but he's also prone to bad mistakes. New York has also beaten Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers this year. Somebody's gotta give this D their flowers.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Colts (18%)
The Steelers are an underwhelming stream, but they put up double-digit fantasy points against the Saints in Week 10 and they should be able to apply enough pressure to force Matty Ice into some hurried throws in Week 12. With T.J. Watt back, more sacks should also be coming Pittsburgh's way, especially against an immobile QB.
Carolina Panthers vs. Broncos (3%)
The Panthers are for deep leagues only, but if you're in desperate need, Carolina has been a decent play in plus-matchups. This certainly qualifies as a plus matchup, as the Broncos have a terrible offensive line and Russell Wilson is a shell of his former self.
Atlanta Falcons at Commanders (11%)
The Falcons? Talk about going deep! But the Commanders have been messy, even in their wins, while Atlanta looks like it has hope. The ATL D/ST put up eight points against Carolina a couple of weeks ago, and has two double-digit performances against Cali squads (Rams and 49ers). You could do worse than the Falcons against Taylor Heinicke.
