If you didn't use a waiver claim or spend a lot of your FAAB budget last week, chances are you'll be in a saving mood again this scoring period. The top Week 12 fantasy waiver pickups are mostly guys you'd want around for depth (Tre'Quan Smith, Marquez Valdes-Scantling) or maybe use as flex (Ty Johnson, Tevin Coleman, Boston Scott). Cam Newton is at least a mildly interesting starting option at QB, but most fantasy football teams are set at quarterback at this point in the season. No matter how you look at it, this is more of a free agent week than a "waivers" or "high-bid" week, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
As we'll do every week this season with the help of our friends at Fantasy Alarm, let's break down the top pickups and project how much of your FAAB budget you should bid on them.
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Week 12 Fantasy Football FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
Cam Newton (CAR). For those Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray owners out there, Newton makes for a good streaming option this week. For those of you seeking a more long-term solution at the position, he can be considered in that regard, as well. The passing volume last week wasn’t very high with just 27 pass attempts, but he did complete 21 and accounted for three total touchdowns. We know the value of running quarterbacks at this point, and he’s recorded a rushing touchdown in back-to-back games. The Dolphins defense has been a little better of late, but they should have trouble trying to contain both Cam and Christian McCaffrey. Projected FAAB Bid: 6-8% of total FAAB budget
Teddy Bridgewater (DEN). I shudder to think about what could possibly go wrong streaming Bridgewater this week. Alas, everything is there for him to have a decent game. Denver’s coming off their bye, it’s a home game, and the Chargers just allowed Ben Roethlisberger to throw for 273 yards and three touchdowns. Given the rest and the extra time to prepare for this game, Teddy B could provide a decent floor in this matchup. Truthfully, his schedule is pretty friendly the rest of the season, but how confident are you in him returning consistent production week in and week out? Let’s see what happens this week against the Bolts. Proj. FAAB Bid: 5%
Mac Jones (NE). The results will always vary, and with a running game like New England’s, the Patriots won’t always need to put the game in the rookie’s hands. Last Thursday’s game script didn’t require for a ton of passing against Atlanta. That could change this week against Tennessee, whose defense has been slowly getting better as the season has gone on. The Titans still present a friendly matchup on paper for quarterbacks, and Jones is widely available. Keep expectations in check because we haven’t seen Jones attempt more than 30 passes in any of his past three games. Proj. FAAB Bid: 4-5%
WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Week 12 Fantasy Football FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
Ty Johnson and Tevin Coleman (NYJ). It's tough to be overly optimistic about Johnson or Coleman, but with Michael Carter (ankle) set to miss multiple weeks, it makes sense that both will be picked up. Opportunity breeds fantasy production at the running back position, and both will see an increased workload. The Jets visit the Texans this coming week, and Houston has allowed plenty of RB production, including nine rushing touchdowns in their past nine games with plenty of 100-yard rushing efforts, as well. Consider Coleman slightly more valuable in standard leagues and Johnson more valuable in PPR formats. Projected FAAB Bid: 10-15% of your total FAAB Budget
Boston Scott (PHI). Jordan Howard is dealing with a knee sprain that is going to sideline him for a few weeks so that bodes well for Scott. Philadelphia’s rushing attack just torched the Saints’ top-ranked run defense. So getting a slice of this pie seems like a good idea. He’ll still be running behind Miles Sanders and even Jalen Hurts who ran in three scores on Sunday. But if Sanders gets hurt, or falls out of favor with the coaching staff, then Scott is in a great spot. He’s not a must-add by any means, but certainly one with some appeal in PPR formats. Proj. FAAB Bid: 7-10%
DeeJay Dallas (SEA). Dallas profiles as a solid speculative add this week. He trailed Alex Collins in terms of touches last Sunday, but both received the same number of snaps, and it was Dallas who found the end zone on a two-yard run. With Collins struggling, Chris Carson (neck) done for the year, and Rashaad Penny battling a hamstring injury, we could certainly do a whole lot worse than Dallas heading into Week 12. Proj. FAAB Bid: 5-8%
Dontrell Hilliard (TEN). It’s hard to feel great about any Titans running back at this point. The offense has had its share of struggles since Derrick Henry foot) got hurt. D’Onta Foreman was a dud, Adrian Peterson has definitely looked his age, and Jeremy McNichols (concussion) was out last week. Hilliard filled in for McNichols and led the team with 10 targets, catching seven for 47 yards. If McNichols is out again, Hilliard has some PPR value against the Patriots in Week 12. Proj. FAAB Bid: 3%
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Week 12 Fantasy Football FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
Tre’Quan Smith (NO). He didn’t find the end zone, but Smith was still heavily involved with five catches for 64 yards on eight targets. He’s been working out of the slot a lot more, and the production has definitely been there for him. He has 15 targets in his past two games, and the involvement is trending in the right direction. Proj. FAAB Bid: 10-12% of total FAAB budget
Cedrick Wilson (DAL). Wilson will be a popular streamer this week, and he’ll be popular in DFS, as well. Amari Cooper (COVID) definitely won’t play in Thursday’s game against the Raiders and CeeDee Lamb is unlikely to play, as he’s in the concussion protocol. Wilson saw extended run last week, receiving seven targets. The Raiders tout one of the worst secondaries in the league, paving the way for Wilson to be in for a productive Thanksgiving. Proj. FAAB Bid: 7-9%
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB). The boom-or-bust potential of MVS is certainly well documented, and it’s part of the reason he won't command a ton of FAAB money. However, he’s coming off a game where he saw 10 targets, and next week the Packers face the Rams. We hope that game will be a shootout, but Aaron Rodgers' toe injury and the colder elements could certainly put a damper on those expectations. Proj. FAAB Bid: 6-8%
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (TEN). Westbrook-Ikhine made the waiver wire column earlier this season when A.J. Brown and Julio Jones were both hurt. Well, Jones is still on IR and Brown is a little beat up. Add in the fact that Derrick Henry is still going to miss significant time and Marcus Johnson suffered a hamstring injury early last week, and we’re looking at an opportunity for NWI. He’s far from a must add, but if you’re in a pinch this week he could see a healthy workload against the Patriots tough defense. He did see eight targets on Sunday, and he could see about six or seven this week. Proj. FAAB Bid: 4%
MORE WEEK 12: Top waiver pickups | Buy-low, sell-high
Week 12 Fantasy Football FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
Dan Arnold (JAC). A lot of people may scoff at this recommendation after a goose egg from Arnold against the 49ers, but he was still on the field plenty and ran the second-most routes on the team behind only Marvin Jones. It was just one of those days. Jamal Agnew (hip) is done for the season so that’s one less offensive weapon for a team that’s dealt with plenty of injuries this year. If you consider the injury to Adam Trautman (knee), there are fewer tight ends available on waivers now. Arnold will still be involved and could bounce back this week against Atlanta. Projected FAAB Bid: 10% of total FAAB Budget
Cole Kmet (CHI). So, "Cole Kmet Week" was a complete bust. Everything was there for a big day last week, and it just didn’t happen. The routes run and targets were all trending up, but he just just two targets. It's not a great matchup on paper, but hopefully we see positive regression for Kmet and he gets back to five or six targets. Proj. FAAB Bid: 5-6%
Austin Hooper (CLE). If you’re scouring the waiver wire looking for someone that perhaps can get you a couple catches, then Hooper could be your guy. The ceiling is somewhat limited, but he has at least six targets in four of his past five games. The problem with Hooper is that he hasn’t found the end zone at all this year, and this is a touchdown-dependent position. Baker Mayfield is clearly playing hurt, and that’s hurting the aerial attack in this offense. Proj. FAAB Bid: 5%
Week 12 Fantasy Football FAAB Advice: Waiver wire Defense pickups, streamers
As we always caution, you shouldn't spend more than one percent of your FAAB budget on a D/ST. Here are this week's potential streaming pickups:
- Chicago Bears (@ Lions)
- Philadelphia Eagles (@ Giants)
- Seattle Seahawks (@ Washington)
- Miami Dolphins (vs. Panthers)