Last week started with some key injury attrition at quarterback and tight end with Joe Burrow (right wrist) and Mark Andrews (fibula, ankle) going down for the season on Thursday night. Likewise in the Seahawks-Rams game, Kenneth Walker and Cooper Kupp (ankle) excited early, though their injuries don't appear season-ending. Ultimately, the laundry list of injuries last week will create more needs -- and more FAAB bidding for waiver wire pickups -- across all positions for fantasy football owners heading into Week 12, a critical slate before the stretch run.
Although there are no byes around Thanksgiving, fill-ins, streamers, upgrades, and bench stashes are still worth targeting on the waiver wire this week, and there are plenty of viable options.
Whether you're thinking short- or long-term, how should you prioritize the pickups, either through the running of waivers or allocation of your free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB)? Here's your advice and buying guide for the latest week of the fantasy open market:
WEEK 12 FANTASY: Full waiver list
Week 12 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
1. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (Yahoo league availability: 52%). Mayfield has proved to have a pretty steady floor in plus matchups, especially at home. He gets a nice spot after a tough San Francisco trip against the 49ers' defense to keep producing well in what could turn into another sneaky shootout vs. an AFC South foe in Indianapolis. He can get to 250 yards and two yards to be viable again Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
2. Matthew Stafford, Rams (Yahoo league availability: 53%). Stafford returned from his right thumb injury vs. the Seahawks in Week 11, just ahead of a sweet spot vs. the Cardinals' secondary on the road in Week 12. Even if Cooper Kupp (ankle) is out, he has enough weapons at wideout to come through with nice help from the run setting it all up. Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
3. Derek Carr, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 58%). The Saints are not budging on a QB change despite Carr being underwhelming and coming off a concussion while he also has a shoulder injury. He still has access to fine weapons all over the field, and even though the Falcons on the road isn't a cakewalk, digits can be had. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
4. Gardner Minshew, Colts (Yahoo league availability: 87%). Minshew will be eager to play well after the bye with his supersub status fading while filling in for Anthony Richardson. He can play well off the run to put up multiple scores vs. Baker and the Bucs. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
5. Jake Browning, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 99%). Browning has little experience but flashed a little in Cincinnati's promising offense after Joe Burrow (wrist) went down for the season vs. the Ravens. You're more investing in the system and strong supporting personnel here, but there's a chance Browning can finish well because of all that. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 12 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
1. Zach Charbonnet, (Yahoo league availability: 56%). Kenneth Walker runs hard and fast, but unfortunately, he suffered an oblique injury that quickly him to exit vs. the Rams. Charbonnet has been waiting for his shot for lead duties and it's set to come in a tough matchup vs. the 49ers at home on Thanksgiving. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
2. Ty Chandler, Vikings (Yahoo league availability: 56%). Chandler won't be the guy leading things with Alexander Mattison healthy, but Minnesota wants a 1-2 power-quickness punch. As we saw on Sunday night, they can each get key yardage and scoring opportunities in a potent offense that can run better with spots ahead. The fact that Mattison keeps fumbling only helps Chander's outlook. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
3. Royce Freeman, Rams (Yahoo league availability: 83%). Freeman came out of the bye as the featured option over Darrell Henderson vs. Seattle. Although there's a fair chance Kyren Williams (ankle) can return in Week 12, if he can't Freeman, has a nice chance for a flex-worthy performance against the Cardinals. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
4. Roschon Johnson, Bears (Yahoo league availability: 80%). As Khalil Herbert returned to action, the team lost D'Onta Foreman (ankle) vs. the Lions. So, it circles back to the young, two-man committee from earlier in the season. Johnson did look good in Detroit, but it's likely to be an uneven, random split. Fortunately, Chicago has a better overall rushing offense now with Justin Fields complementing it with arm and legs. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
5. Miles Sanders, Panthers (Yahoo league availability: 47%). Sanders was less productive than Chuba Hubbard, but he still turned 11 touches into 52 yards in a tough home matchup vs. the Cowboys. He's not playable as a flex yet, but he's trending back upward. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 12 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
1. Jayden Reed, Packers (Yahoo league availability: 65%). Reed is becoming not only Green Bay's best receiver, but he's also its best offensive playmaker with his sudden dual-threat usage. He should now be rostered in 10-team leagues. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
2. Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens (Yahoo league availability: 71%). Beckham had seen some ramped-up usage and TD love the weeks before Mark Andrews (fibula, ankle) went down in Week 11. He became the clear key downfield veteran target for Lamar Jackson playing off Zay Flowers after Andrews' injury vs. the Bengals. He had some of that ol' OBJ juice in prime time and can keep it up under the lights vs. the Chargers as long as his shoulder is OK. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
3. Demario Douglas, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 68%). Douglas is the Pats' No. 1 receiver by default, as "Pop" is getting key snaps and getting more targets to be trusted by either QB. With the Patriots' bye done in Week 11, he is looking like a WR3 the rest of the way in deeper PPR-leaning leagues. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
4. Josh Downs, Colts (Yahoo league availability: 50%). Downs is available in half of leagues because of his recent injury and downtick in production. He's still the Colts' unquestioned No. 2 wideout after Michael Pittman Jr. and he can reheat his rapport with Minshew after the bye. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
5. Khalil Shakir, Bills (Yahoo league availability: 89%). The Bills have been frustrated with Gabe Davis, and there's a comfort zone about working the middle of the field more of late for Josh Allen with Dalton Kincaid and Shakir in the slot. Shakir showed he has big-play juice, too, with a 3-115-1 line on just four targets in a tough matchup vs. the Jets. He should earn more run now. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
6. Elijah Moore, Browns (Yahoo league availability: 58%). Moore clicked well with Dorian Thompson-Brown, leading Cleveland's wide receivers with six catches and 60 yards on seven targets in the win over the Steelers. Moore's ability to get open in a short area helps the rookie QB well, and the last two weeks indicate he has rising usage. Projected FAAB bid: 7-8% of total budget
7. Rondale Moore, Cardinals (Yahoo league availability: 85%). Moore took advantage of rookie Michael Wilson not playing vs. the Texans, attacking the zone-based defense for a 48-yard deep shot TD. That was his only target, but it counted big-time and he is definitely back in play as an offensive weapon with Kyler Murray back spreading the ball around to his most trusted playmakers. Projected FAAB bid: 7-8% of total budget
8. Jameson Williams, Lions (Yahoo league availability: 80%). Williams did what he was supposed to do vs. Chicago, catching two-of-three targets for 44 yards and a TD. Detroit may need to tap into his upside more with the attention on Amon-Ra St. Brown. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
9. Rashod Bateman, Ravens (Yahoo league availability: 83%). "Shoddy Bates" finally got into the end zone for the first time this season with Andrews not out there, joining Nelson Agholor. The young first-rounder should be the biggest beneficiary of that absence, seeing more balanced looks along with OBJ. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
10. Quentin Johnston, Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 67%). The concept of this big-framed speedy rookie is definitely better than the execution. He should do more with their WR and TE injuries, but he's better suited getting more warmed up as an intermediate and red-zone guy while he gets his routes and hands down. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
11. Rashid Shaheed, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 55%). He's always a dart throw because he's big-play dependent in the slot, but he should get more outside looks post-bye and be more involved away from Chris Olave with Michael Thomas banged up again. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
12. Greg Dortch, Cardinals (Yahoo league availability: 100%). Dortch was much more involved than any other Cards' pass-catcher in Houston. turning eight targets into six catches for 76 yards. He has pretty good chemistry with Kyler Murray but like Rondale Moore, Michael Wilson, and even Marquise Brown, the wideout value is rather volatile in this offense. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
Week 12 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
1. Pat Freiermuth, Browns (Yahoo league availability: 46%). The Steelers didn't play him much in his activation off IR against the Browns. They should change that to spark their offense with a terrific TE matchup against the Bengals. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
2. Luke Musgrave, Packers (Yahoo league availability: 54%). Musgrave is sharing key time with fellow rookie Tucker Kraft, leading to the modest 4-48 line against the Chargers. He should be much more involved downfield in a favorable matchup against the Lions on Thanksgiving. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget (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.)
3. Jonnu Smith, Falcons (Yahoo league availability: 72%). Here's a reminder that Smith is their traditional tight end regardless of QB, and even though the Saints' spot isn't easy, there's some promise of key targets. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
4. Cade Otton, Buccaneers (Yahoo league availability: 80%). Otton keeps staying involved with Baker Mayfield, giving him a rather steady role in the offense to complement Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. His 4-49 line on five targets against San Francisco may not seem like much, but that was good for deep PPR leans given how tough the 49ers are on tight ends. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
5. Tanner Hudson, Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 96%). Hudson has been much more involved the past three weeks standing out a little in a committee with Irv Smith Jr and Drew Sample, with the latter being a blocker.. Hudson has some veteran juice, and Jake Browning might rely on him more than Joe Burrow would have. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
6. Tyler Conklin, Jets (Yahoo league availability: 80%). Conklin is hurt by his limited offense, but on paper, he's in a good spot to deserve more key targets vs. the Dolphins on Friday. They need something else badly in this offense after Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
7. Juwan Johnson, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 91%). Johnson should be fully healthy after the bye as a red-zone weapon. The Falcons matchup is manageable. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
Week 12 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire D/ST pickups, streamers
(Note: Do not spend any of FAAB budget on D/ST! Get them for $0 after waivers run!)
1. New England Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 75%). The Patriots will draw the sweet spot on the road vs. Tommy DeVito, who was a human pinata racking up sacks while putting up points on the Commanders. Bill Belichick's defense after a bye also sounds good.
2. New Orleans Saints (Yahoo league availability: 54%). The Saints were dropped quite a bit during the bye, but they still are a loaded group that can stop the run OK and make plays vs. the pass. That can happen against Desmond Ridder.
3. Denver Broncos (Yahoo league availability: 68%). The Broncos' defense is much improved, and it draws a promising matchup vs. Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Browns at home.
4. Tennessee Titans (Yahoo league availability: 96%). The Titans melted against the Jaguars' defensively, but they play better at home against lesser offenses. They'll draw Bryce Young opposite Will Levis in Nashville next.
5. Minnesota Vikings (Yahoo league availability: 71%). The Vikings are a solid reality defense with pass-rush upside under Brian Flores, and here they get the emotional prime-time bump vs. Chicago at home next Monday night.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (Yahoo league availability: 71%). The Bengals' defense needs to improve and take on more of the winning burden. It will get a shot vs. Kenny Pickett's Steelers at home
7. New York Giants (Yahoo league availability: 97%). The Giants had fun ripping on Sam Howell and the Commanders on the road, so there's some appeal vs. Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe and the Patriots at home.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Yahoo league availability: 71%). The Buccaneers will rebound from facing the 49ers on the road with a mistake-prone Gardner Minshew and the Colts in Indianapolis.
