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Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

These players are generally available in at least 70% of Sleeper leagues and ranked in order of priority, by position.

Your bid should vary by format and situation. Need help at RB? Prioritize that position. All set there? Then, you probably don’t need to chase the top guys.

Quarterbacks

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Blind-bid recommendation: 15-20%

You might have noticed that we mention Maye a lot as a streamer…

For one, there simply aren’t a lot of legitimate streaming options – particularly in deep formats. But more critically, Maye has delivered as a spot starter.

He finished as a top-12 QB in four of the past six weeks and has averaged 41.3 rushing yards across his six starts (including 46 yards in the one he left early).

Week 12 turns up a road matchup with Miami, followed by a meeting with Indianapolis. Those both profile as neutral matchups based on recent samples.

Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-20%

There were a lot of positives from Richardson’s return to the lineup on Sunday.

He had one of his most efficient passing performances, completing 20 of 30 throws (67%) for 272 yards (9.1 YPA), 1 TD, and 0 INTs. And he ran 10 times – his second most of the season – for 32 yards and two scores. 

There’s still an exciting weekly fantasy ceiling here, making Richardson worth grabbing on any fantasy teams without an every-week QB1.

Richardson travels to Detroit and then New England before a Week 14 bye. The Lions should at least force additional dropbacks for the second-year QB.

Running Backs

Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears 

Blind-bid recommendation: 12-18%

Johnson became more involved with OC Thomas Brown taking over as play caller. He only trailed D’Andre Swift by four carries, 14 to 10.

Johnson mustered just 33 yards, but he received three carries inside the 10-yard line. One of those turned into a TD.

With two six-team byes among the next three weeks, Johnson can be a TD-dependent flex player with upside if he continues being used in this way.

Just note: the upcoming matchups are difficult, including the Vikings and Lions over the next two weeks.

Cam Akers, Minnesota Vikings

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-15%

Aaron Jones played through a rib injury in Week 11, while the Vikings nursed a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead. Those factors helped Akers tally 10 carries for 25 yards plus an 8-yard TD catch.

That’s nothing exciting, but keep in mind that the Titans have performed well against the run. Jones managed only 2.6 yards per carry on his 16 attempts.

Ultimately, Akers’ value comes as a handcuff behind an RB1 with an extensive injury history. The Vikings also have an appealing rest-of-season schedule.

Wide Receiver

Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns

Blind-bid recommendation: 8-15%

Jameis Winston and the Browns' passing game had another stellar week. Moore posted a 6-66-1 stat line on 8 targets against the Saints. 

He is averaging 9.7 targets and 5.7 catches per game with Winston under center.

It may be tough to start Moore with the Steelers, Broncos, and Steelers again coming up. But the volume is there.

Moore makes for a fine flex play – even in these difficult matchups – especially for the upcoming six-team bye weeks.

Tight Ends

Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins

Blind-bid recommendation: 18-25%

Smith went off for 101 yards and 2 TDs in Sunday’s win over the Raiders. He scored a 57-yarder on a coverage bust in the fourth quarter to boost the final stat line. But Smith’s 8 targets tied for the team lead. 

He now has 6+ targets in five of his last six games. Smith is pushing for weekly TE1 status and remains available in 49% of Sleeper leagues and 68% of ESPN leagues. 

Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers

Blind-bid recommendation: 12-18%

Since Week 6, Dissly's posted the following target shares:

• 18%
• 30%
• 25%
• 12%
• 35%
• 17%

Over that stretch, he’s 14th in total PPR points. That includes lines of 8-81 and 4-80-1.

Justin Herbert is playing some of the best ball of his career. And we continue to see the Chargers willing to lean pass after a run-heavy start to the year.

Dissly could remain a spot-start TE1 going forward. And Week 12 vs. Baltimore looks like a prime spot for friendly pass volume. The Ravens rank among the league's best run defenses and worst against the pass.

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-18%

Henry caught six of nine targets for 63 yards against the Rams this week.

He has become one of Drake Maye’s favorite targets, averaging 7 a game in Maye’s five full games.

Though TE Austin Hooper is getting some work, Henry should be a reliable low-end TE1 for the rest of the season.

He has a tough matchup against the Dolphins next week but faces one of the weakest defenses against the TE in Week 13 (Colts). 

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens

Blind-bid recommendation: 8-15%

After catching nine passes for 111 yards and a TD in Week 1, Likely only had one game over 27 receiving yards. Until this week.

He had missed Week 10 with a hamstring injury but looked healthy against the Steelers this week.

Likely was targeted five times against the Steelers, catching four passes for 75 yards. 

He appeared healthy and was finally involved in the Ravens’ game plan.

The next few matchups are negative against the Chargers and Eagles, but he does draw the Steelers again during the fantasy playoffs.

Deep-League Options

Tommy DeVito, QB, New York Giants 

Blind-bid recommendation: 10-15% (superflex only)

DeVito replaces Daniel Jones at QB and offers rushing upside for fantasy managers in superflex leagues.

As a starter last season, DeVito averaged 27 rushing yards per game. That included a 10-71 rushing day against Green Bay.

DeVito ranked QB18 in fantasy across his six-week starting stretch. That included a high finish of QB7 and four other top-20 weeks.

This year's remaining schedule looks favorable, including the Buccaneers and Cowboys over the next two weeks.

His fantasy playoff schedule holds positive matchups against the Ravens, Falcons, and Colts.

Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-8%

Dave Canales said Thielen will be a full-go this week, returning to a weak Panthers WR group.

The 34 year-old is unlikely to replicate last year's success (103 catches). But Thielen could be the WR2 behind rookie Xavier Legette.

Bryce Young has thrown a TD in each of his past three starts.

Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots

Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

The Patriots have a clear top-three at WR right now:

• Boutte
• DeMario Douglas
• and Kendrick Bourne

That’s allowed Boutte to post route rates north of 75% in each game with Drake Maye. He has popped with games of 21% and 29% target shares over that sample.

Boutte has hit 10 PPR points only once alongside Maye. But he has seen 6 targets in four straight games.

Boutte also ranks as the top downfield threat, with a team-leading 15.1-yard aDOT, according to Pro Football Reference. That's 6+ yards deeper than Bourne and Douglas.

That yardage upside boosts Boutte's chances of delivering a useful week or two the rest of the way.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, Tennessee Titans

Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

Westbrook-Ikhine caught a 98-yard TD pass last week to inflate his box score:

• 2 catches
• 117 yards
• 1 TD

But, his targets are more interesting.

Westbrook-Ikhine had 6 targets in two of the last three games and is averaging 4.75 targets per game since the DeAndre Hopkins trade.

He will mostly still be a TD-dependent deep threat. But Westbrook-Ikhine can be a  bye-week spot starter in deeper leagues, especially against one of the league's most favorable WR schedules.

Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots

Blind-bid recommendation: 1-3%

Bourne's last two games have produced receiving lines of 4-41 and 5-70-1. 

He earned target shares of 14% and 15% – certainly nothing flashy. It’s the improved play from Drake Maye that fuels some deep-league appeal.

Interestingly, the rookie has targeted Bourne in the end zone in three straight weeks. 

Next up are neutral scoring matchups vs. Miami and Indianapolis.

Top Streaming Defense for Week 10

Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys’ offense is a shell of its former self without Dak Prescott. The Cooper Rush-led Cowboys have only scored 16 points in two games, and their only TD came on a Kavontae Turpin broken play against the Texans.

Rush threw just 1 INT last week against the Texans, but the defense also had multiple drops. He also had a fumble returned for a TD and took 5 sacks.

Ultimately, it has become a “play anyone” against the Cowboys for the rest of the season play.

The Commanders sit a decent 14th in the league in sacks per game (2.5) and did hold the explosive Eagles offense in check for a half. They've also held five of 11 opponents under 20 points.

Getting CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) on the field for the first time since the trade would help.

If you want other defenses to stream, check out our Streaming Defense Guide for Week 12.

Drop Candidates

Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars

Bigsby missed Week 11 with an ankle and now enters a Week 12 bye. The Jags have shown no signs of life under Mac Jones.

MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers

Lloyd’s tough-luck season continued last week as he developed appendicitis. He’ll be tough to bank on for the next few weeks.

Diontae Johnson, Baltimore Ravens

Johnson's tallied four targets in two games as a Raven. Last week, he saw just a 17% route rate. There's room to grow there, but barring an injury to Zay Flowers, it's tough to forecast meaningful fantasy value.

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

In four Russell Wilson starts, Freiermuth has yet to break three targets. In fact, he’s been out-targeted by Darnell Washington. 

Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills

Knox was fine in a usable spot vs. Kansas City (4 catches, 40 yards). But Week 12 turns up a bye, while Dalton Kincaid will have a shot to return in Week 13.

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format including redraft, dynasty, devy, IDP, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance.