It makes me sad that no one has trusted me about Derrius Guice. A lot of people read the waiver wire watch list every week, yet Guice's fantasy ownership hasn't bloomed the way it should have with his return coming in Week 11. I never expected our lookahead to potential Week 12 waiver pickups to still include Guice, but here we are. He's not the only repeat offender. It's obvious you guys don't trust me.
Last week's list definitely had some hits. Derek Carr continues to play well and boost his ownership. Kalen Ballage got all the work in the world (and yes, we know he's inefficient). Hunter Renfrow and O.J. Howard both had solid games. Mike Gesicki and Ross Dwelley both saw increased roles continue. And we've been writing about Auden Tate and Tre'Quan Smith for much of the year, so if you read the watch list earlier in the season, maybe you're already aware of them.
WEEK 11 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Smith and Tate are back this week, though. Guice is still here. Ballage is still here. Maybe it's just that time of year when fantasy owners who are out of it stop trying, so players like them aren't picked up as quickly. But that just creates more opportunity for savvy owners who are going to make the playoffs to find the best players to not only make the postseason but to win their league.
If you don't like all the speculation that this article forces you to do, fine. But we've got some advanced planning for you, too: David Njoku is eligible to return in Week 12, and John Ross can come off IR in Week 13. We already know they're good.
WEEK 11 DFS LINEUPS:
Y! cash | Y! GPP | DK cash | DK GPP | FD cash | FD GPP
And please, please, please don't make me put Guice in this article next week. The dude is too good and has too much potential opportunity to be owned in less than half of leagues. Now I'll stop whining and let you read.
WEEK 11 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watch List
Reminder: This list was put together in the lead-in to Week 11, looking forward to the players that could be waiver-wire targets in Week 12. If you have a roster spot to play with, these are options you could pick up early to beat the waiver buzz.
All these players are below 50-percent ownership on Yahoo unless otherwise specified.
Week 12 Waiver Wire Watch List: Quarterback
Notable quarterbacks on a Week 12 bye: Patrick Mahomes, Philip Rivers, Kirk Cousins, Kyler Murray
Jacoby Brissett, Colts (37 percent ownership)
Brissett's a top-16 quarterback when healthy, so his ownership should rise once it's confirmed he's starting Week 11. If you need a Patrick Mahomes replacement in Week 12, Brissett in Houston is a solid option.
Nick Foles, Jaguars (24)
Gardner Minshew's ownership had risen to about 60 percent at its peak, and Foles should put up similar numbers for the Jaguars. He's another good floor candidate as a Week 12 replacement, although his Titans matchup isn't as good as Brissett's.
Sam Darnold, Jets (22)
From Weeks 12 to 14, the Jets play the Raiders, Bengals and Dolphins. Darnold hasn't taken advantage of every good matchup he's had, but it's hard to look the other way when he's got those three exploitable defenses on tap.
Mitchell Trubisky, Bears (20)
Trubisky might just be a huge tease who has a good game every five weeks or so, but if he's more than that, he can put up numbers against the Giants in Week 12. We saw Darnold do well against the other New Yorkers in Week 10.
Mason Rudolph, Steelers (10)
Rudolph and the Steelers play the probably still winless Bengals in Week 12. The streamers above are better choices, but there's nothing stopping Rudolph from having a solid game in Week 12 either.
Dwayne Haskins, Redskins (3)
Haskins hasn't yet shown the ability that made him a first-rounder, but the Lions present a friendly chance to do that in Week 12. And there's always a chance Haskins is the type of rookie who figures it out in time for a strong stretch run overall.
Jeff Driskel, Lions (2)
Driskel opposes Haskins in Week 12 and is only a desperation option if Matthew Stafford remains out. The floor is boosted for Driskel because of his running ability, and he should be able to throw on Washington some.
MORE WEEK 11:
Waiver wire | FAAB planner | Trade values | Snap counts | Fantasy playoff SOS
Week 12 Waiver Wire Watch List: RB
Notable running backs on a Week 12 bye: Damien Williams, Melvin Gordon/Austin Ekeler, Dalvin Cook, David Johnson/Kenyan Drake
Brian Hill, Falcons (40)
If Hill is still filling in for Devonta Freeman, he should start in a lot of leagues. The Buccaneers have a stout run defense, but the Falcons should put up points overall in that matchup.
Derrius Guice, Redskins (39)
I can't really explain how Guice's ownership hasn't shifted higher. If he has a big game in Week 11, he will be the top choice off the waiver wire. He's good enough that you shouldn't wait that long to add him.
Kalen Ballage, Dolphins (36)
If Ballage doesn't lose his job after picking up 45 yards on 24 touches, I'm not sure there's anything he can do to lose it. And if he keep getting even close to 20 touches, eventually he'll break a few big plays and/or find the end zone. That kind of volume at least deserves a spot on fantasy rosters.
J.D. McKissic, Lions (24)
McKissic could just be a one-week play, depending on how long Ty Johnson (concussion) is out. But regardless of Johnson, McKissic should probably be owned in more PPR leagues as a double-digit touch-per-game player with how the Lions have currently constructed their offense.
Raheem Mostert, 49ers (5)
If Matt Breida misses extended time, Mostert will essentially take over that full Breida role in the 49ers offense. Breida is on the majority of teams, and in that instance, Mostert would deserve to be, too.
Darrel Williams, Chiefs (4)
The LeSean McCoy Week 10 absence could've just been load management, and, sure, Williams still only saw 17 snaps in McCoy's absence. But if Shady is on the outs in Kansas City, the backup Williams would have a chance at a decent role some weeks.
MORE RUNNING BACKS: RB handcuff chart
Week 12 Waiver Wire Watch List: WR
Notable wide receivers on a Week 12 bye: Tyreek Hill/Sammy Watkins, Keenan Allen/Mike Williams, Stefon Diggs/Adam Thielen, Larry Fitzgerald/Christian Kirk
Deebo Samuel, 49ers (22)
Samuel had eight catches for 112 yards in Week 10, and Emmanuel Sanders might miss some time with a ribs injury. It's just the time of season where a rookie like Samuel can really start to break out, and injuries have him potentially in a huge role for a few weeks here, too.
Darius Slayton, Giants (18)
We don't like Slayton's matchup with the Bears in Week 12, but people will have forgotten him coming off his bye even after his two-TD Week 10. He's definitely worth an add with Sterling Shepard's outlook being in doubt for the rest of the season because of concussion issues.
Auden Tate, Bengals (17)
A.J. Green doesn't seem like he's getting better, and Tate just played every offensive snap for the Bengals in Week 10. The floor here week-to-week on Tate is pretty solid even if his ceiling isn't great, so with a lot of wideouts on bye in Week 12, you might be able to use Tate.
Hunter Renfrow, Raiders (11)
Renfrow is at least as useful as Cole Beasley, who's owned in more than double the leagues. The workload has grown consistent for Renfrow as a four-plus catch-per-game option who Derek Carr looks to in the red zone at times despite Renfrow's small stature.
Demaryius Thomas, Jets (9)
Thomas has gotten more consistent targets than Robby Anderson in recent weeks, and the Jets' schedule that's so appealing for Darnold is just as appealing for the veteran. Maybe he has one final strong fantasy contribution left in him.
John Ross, Bengals (7)
Ross is eligible to return in Week 13 from Injured Reserve, and there were some thoughts earlier in the season that he'd make it back by then. The explosive receiver could be huge in the fantasy playoffs, so start thinking about stashing him now.
James Washington, Steelers (7)
Washington is finally displaying the connection with Mason Rudolph that we might've expected from former collegiate teammates. Combine that with a matchup with Cincinnati in Week 12 and you have a hot hand to ride as a bye-week fill-in who might remain productive the rest of the way.
Tre'Quan Smith, Saints (4)
Smith's Week 10 snaps suggest he may have passed Ted Ginn Jr. in the Saints' WR pecking order. I was all over Smith as a preseason sleeper with the idea of that happening, so if that's truly the case, I'd suggest adding Smith now.
Week 12 Waiver Wire Watch List: TE
Notable tight ends on a Week 12 bye: Travis Kelce, Hunter Henry, Kyle Rudolph/Irv Smith Jr.
Darren Fells, Texans (47)
Fells faces a Colts team that's mediocre at best guarding tight ends in Week 12. Add that to the consistent ability Fells has shown to find the end zone and you have a solid fill-in for Travis Kelce or Hunter Henry.
O.J. Howard, Buccaneers (41)
Odds are, Howard's solid Week 10 was due more to the matchup with the Cardinals than it was to a total overhauling of the Tampa Bay offense. But this is still a young player who was a preseason top-five tight end. If his role is on the upswing, his ownership should be, too.
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins (29)
Miami's Week 12 opponent is Cleveland, a below average team at defending tight ends. Gesicki has six targets in two straight weeks. The season-ending injury to Preston Williams appears to have pushed Gesicki into a more consistent offensive role.
David Njoku, Browns (18)
Njoku is eligible to return from Injured Reserve in Week 12, and indications are that he'll be ready. He was a borderline top-10 TE to start the season, so you should add him now if you're still struggling at the tight end spot.
Jacob Hollister, Seahawks (15)
Hollister's ownership is such because of Seattle's Week 11 bye, but he's caught three touchdowns in two weeks and appears to be getting similar usage to what made Will Dissly such a popular preseason add. Take advantage of bye-week drops of Hollister and have him for a likely strong finish to the season.
Ross Dwelley, 49ers (5)
Dwelley only matters if George Kittle (knee) continues to be out, but let this is also a reminder that San Francisco plays Arizona in Week 11, which means if you need a TE this week, Dwelley can already be your guy if Kittle doesn't play.
Week 12 defense streamers and sleepers
Defenses with a Week 12 bye: Chiefs, Chargers, Vikings, Cardinals
Oakland Raiders (29) | Week 12 opponent: @ Jets
New York Giants (25) | Week 12 opponent: @ Bears
Denver Broncos (21) | Week 12 opponent: @ Bills
Detroit Lions (11) | Week 12 opponent: @ Redskins
Washington Redskins (5) | Week 12 opponent: vs. Lions
The Redskins only qualify if Jeff Driskel is starting at QB for the Lions. The others all have matchups that can lead to sacks and turnovers. The most talented D/ST here is probably Denver, but the Bills are also likely to put up more points than the other teams here.