Whether you're new to fantasy football this year or a seasoned veteran, you probably realize by now that preparation is key to victory. The best fantasy owners have handcuffs for stud running backs, backup plans for QBs, and a consistent blueprint for upcoming bye weeks. Our Week 12 waiver wire watchlist channels all those avenues of preparedness and packages them into a concise lookahead for each position, greatly increasing your odds of winning a league title.
Yours truly has pinpointed studs before their breakouts all season, a big reason why most of my fantasy teams have enjoyed strong campaigns despite myriad injuries. Our watchlist has pointed readers in the direction of C.J. Stroud, Devin Singletary, and Puka Nacua when they were all under 50-percent rostered. Now, those guys look like league-winners — not bad for speculative adds that cost $0 in FAAB and didn't use up a waiver priority.
We've been telling you all year to make the most of your open roster spots or one of your opponents will. Try to anticipate who will be Week 11's top pickups after strong performances this weekend. Be proactive about your bye weeks and bad matchups by choosing your upcoming streamers now. By adding potential boom players as free agents before their breakouts, you find solid production without burning a valuable waiver claim or FAAB money.
WEEK 11 FANTASY ADVICE: Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start-sit
At this part of the season, we're all playing matchups each week, with many just limping from matchup to matchup due to injuries. If you're in that camp, it's smart to plan ahead and get your first choice before other owners jump into the frenzy once new information emerges. Our waiver-wire watchlist helps you think about the future while the rest of your league is thinking about the present.
Some shallower leagues don't feature enough roster spots to really take advantage of "planning ahead" — but for those in leagues that do, our week-ahead watchlist will be helpful all year long. Even though you won't pick up most (or in some cases, all) of these players, it's at least worth watching their snap counts and target shares to file away for later.
WEEK 11 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
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 the waiver buzz.
All these players are below 50 percent ownership on Yahoo unless otherwise specified.
Week 12 Fantasy Waiver Wire Watchlist: QB
WEEK 12 BYES: None
Derek Carr, Saints at Falcons in Week 12 (47 percent rostered)
We don't love streaming Carr, but the opportunity seems too good to pass up if we need a quality stream next week. Look at the QB fantasy performances Atlanta has allowed over the past month: 34.6 points to Will Levis in his NFL debut, 28.9 points to Josh Dobbs in his Vikings debut just days after landing in Minnesota, and 23.4 points to Kyler Murray and Clayton Tune in Murray's first game back from an 11-month absence. Carr, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed should eat in the ATL.
Gardner Minshew, Colts vs. Buccaneers (15%)
Minshew hasn't been stellar since rookie Anthony Richardson got hurt, but he has certainly demonstrated moments of brilliance. He put up 31 points against the Browns in Week 7 and dropped 18.8 one week later against the Saints, both strong defenses. The common denominator: those were both home games. Indy's first home game since that back-to-back comes next week against the Bucs, who have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to signal-callers. Let's not forget what C.J. Stroud did to Tampa Bay a couple of weeks ago.
MORE POTENTIAL WEEK 12 QB STREAMS: Matthew Stafford, Rams at Cardinals (43%); Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers at Colts (48%); Jordan Love, Packers at Lions (44%)
WEEK 11 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 12 Fantasy Waiver Wire Watchlist: RB
WEEK 12 BYES: None
Ty Chandler, Vikings (42 percent rostered)
With Alexander Mattison in the NFL's concussion protocol and Cam Akers on IR with a torn Achilles, Chandler is the next man up in the Vikings' backfield. He immediately stepped into a workhorse role in Week 10, turning 15 carries into 45 yards and a TD against a tough Saints defense. The next few games on Minnesota's schedule aren't nearly as challenging: at Denver, vs. Chicago, @ Las Vegas. All three of those teams have been among the 10-most generous to RBs in fantasy land. The Vikings are legit playoff contenders, and the entire team believes with Josh Dobbs under center. You have to at least stash Chandler and see what happens with Mattison.
Rico Dowdle, Cowboys (12%)
I recently raised some eyebrows on the app formerly known as Twitter when I said that Dowdle has looked better than Cowboys starting RB Tony Pollard, but the only thing TP has going for him that Dowdle doesn't is volume. Dowdle has averaged 5.3 yards per carry over the Cowboys' past four games while Pollard has averaged 3.5 YPC in that same span. Dowdle also scored a TD last week, something Pollard hasn't managed to do since Week 1. Now we're hearing grumblings about Dallas becoming a backfield by committee? Yeah, get as much Dowdle stock as you can.
MORE POTENTIAL RB PICKUPS: Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (44%); Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots (40%); Royce Freeman (43%) and Darrell Henderson Jr. (40%), Rams; Tyjae Spears, Titans (39%); Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs (27%); Elijah Mitchell, 49ers (17%); Latavius Murray, Bills (15%)
WEEK 11 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 12 Fantasy Waiver Wire Watchlist: WR
WEEK 12 BYES: None
Jayden Reed, Packers (30 percent rostered)
Reed has quietly been very good as of late, catching 15 of his past 18 targets for 207 yards and two TDs. The rookie has now seen five-plus targets in six games, and his 19.4-point PPR performance last week against the Steelers alone should have him rostered in closer to 60 percent of leagues. Five of Green Bay's seven remaining opponents this season — the Chargers, Lions, Giants, Bucs, and Vikings — have been among the 10-most generous defenses to fantasy wide receivers. Buy in now while this guy is still available!
Quentin Johnston (31%) and Jalen Guyton (6%), Chargers
The Chargers seem to get decimated by injuries year in and year out, and this season has been no different. Both Mike Williams (knee) and Joshua Palmer (knee) — two of the Bolts' top three pass-catchers — sit on the IR. Starting tight end Gerald Everett has been dealing with a lingering back issue, and fellow tight end Donald Parham Jr. just popped up on L.A.'s injury report with a hip injury. This squad will always pass first, even with Austin Ekeler back to full health. The rookie Johnston and veteran Guyton make for strong speculative adds, at the very least, considering both these guys just hauled in four catches and found the end zone last week. The Chargers have some juicy matchups remaining, including the Broncos twice, the Raiders, and the Patriots. Gobble these guys up if you have the room!
Brandin Cooks, Cowboys (50%)
Dak Prescott has turned the Cowboys into the most pass-heavy offense in the NFL, and the veteran Cooks has been one of the biggest benefactors. He caught nine-of-10 targets for 173 yards and a TD last weekend against the Giants, and Dallas has one of the softest second-half schedules for wide receivers (hello, Washington, Philly, and Detroit). Plus, as long as CeeDee Lamb is playing like a dark-horse Offensive Player of the Year — which I wrote about this week — Cooks will be seeing single coverage on the opposite side of the field. Scoop this dude up and root him on while he Cooks!
MORE POTENTIAL WR PICKUPS: Elijah Moore, Browns (43%); Rashid Shaheed, Saints (47%); Demario Douglas, Patriots (35%); Curtis Samuel, Commanders (31%); Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens (27%); Michael Wilson, Cardinals (13%)
Week 12 Fantasy Waiver Wire Watchlist: TE
WEEK 12 BYES: None
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers at Bengals in Week 12 (42 percent rostered)
Freiermuth (hamstring) became eligible to come off IR this week, so it's only a matter of time before his ownership levels skyrocket. Cincinnati has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to tight ends this season, and Pittsburgh meets with the Bengals twice in the second half of the season. Stash the 'Muth on your IR now, and enjoy the results later.
Luke Musgrave, Packers at Lions (36%)
The only certainties in this NFL season have been high-profile injuries, prime-time upsets, and the Lions struggling to contain tight ends. Musgrave has also quietly hauled in five of his past eight targets for 115 yards and a TD over the past two weeks. If you have a low-floor TE, you might want to grab the Packers rookie now before the Thanksgiving week waivers.
MORE POTENTIAL WEEK 12 TE STREAMS: Jonnu Smith, Falcons vs. Saints (33%); Tyler Conklin, Jets vs. Dolphins (16%); Juwan Johnson, Saints at Falcons (10%)
Week 12 fantasy defense streamers and sleepers
WEEK 12 BYES: None
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Colts in Week 12 (35 percent rostered)
The Bucs have struggled mightily against the pass — mostly due to injuries in their secondary — but their run defense has been pretty damn good. In case you haven't heard, Indy relies heavily on the run game so they don't put too much on Gardner Minshew's shoulders. If your usual D/ST has a tough matchup, this could be a sneaky-good stream to turn to and stash on your lineup ahead of time.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Steelers (31%)
Lou Anarumo has transformed the Bengals from a pushover defense to one of the more elite units in the AFC, and we love the upside we're getting in a home divisional matchup with Kenny Pickett and the Steelers. Bring on the sacks and turnovers!
New England Patriots at Giants (29%)
The Patriots have endured a very rough road this season, but they still present plenty of upside in positive matchups. With the Giants passing game in peril and Saquon Barkley constantly living on New York's injury report, New England should be able to put up at least 10 D/ST points this week against Bill Belichick's former team.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Bears (24%)
Don't sleep on the Vikings! This team actually has a puncher's chance at making the playoffs, and teams like the Bears won't likely stand in the way of that objective. Only two teams have been intercepted more than Chicago, and only five teams have more total turnovers.
Denver Broncos vs. Browns (22%)
The Broncos woke up at some point this season and decided that they were, in fact, an NFL team. A massive factor in their bounce-back has been their defense, which just picked off Josh Allen multiple times in a Monday night stunner. The Browns will still be picking up the pieces from Deshaun Watson's season-ending shoulder injury as of next week, so you might want to pick Denver up now before people realize Dorian Thompson-Robinson is going into Mile High to face a team that just won three games in a row.
Houston Texans vs. Jaguars (10%)
DeMeco Ryans has turned Houston into a playoff contender, while the Jaguars look like the biggest offensive disappointment of 2023. The sack and takeaway upside here isn't huge, but we do like the Texans' chances of containing Trevor Lawrence and this underwhelming Jags passing attack at home.
Tennessee Titans vs. Panthers (5%)
The Titans' D hasn't been great, but the Panthers' offense has been atrocious. You could do worse.
New York Giants vs. Patriots (3%)
The Giants have had their moments on defense this season, especially in plus matchups. It really doesn't matter if it's Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe under center at this point — neither will be a starting quarterback in the NFL come Week 1 of the 2024 season.
