First off, I apologize for being absent for Week 11. I was undergoing a major medical procedure and was in the operating room during the time I often write these articles. With that being said, I don’t have any results from Week 11 because simply, I didn’t have any suggestions. However, we’re back (kind of,) so let's see what that Week 12 waiver wire has to offer us!
Each week, I will develop a list of must add targets for fantasy football leagues. My goal is to keep each suggestion under 40-percent owned in Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues. At least one of my suggestions will be owned in less than 10-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues. I will also strive to have at least one player per position (QB, WR, RB and TE.)
Week 12 Byes
Atlanta Falcons
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville Jaguars
New Orleans Saints
New York Jets
Week 12 Suggestions
Quarterback
Drake Maye (New England Patriots) - Owned in 14% of Yahoo and 17.7% of ESPN Leagues
Maye has really impressed since he took over the starting job in New England back in Week 6. The fantasy points have not been great as of late, but he has topped 15.74 fantasy points in two-of-his-last-four starts and has topped 17.98 fantasy points in three-of-his-last-six. Two turnovers really derailed what would have been a big Week 11 against the Rams. He still threw for 282 yards and two scores while adding 27 yards on the ground. The matchup is not ideal this week with the Miami Dolphins (allowing the third fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks) but with six teams on bye and injuries piling up, beggars can’t be choosers.
Tommy DeVito (New York Giants) - Owned in 2% of Yahoo and 0.4% of ESPN Leagues
The news has come that Daniel Jones will be benched for the New York Giants as they come off their Week 11 bye. In his place will be Tommy DeVito (at least for now.) Obviously, DeVito isn’t a quarterback of the future or anything of that nature, but what he does get is a very friendly end-of-the-season schedule. The Giants will get the Buccaneers in Week 12 (allowing the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks,) then the Cowboys (fourth most,) Saints (24th most,) Ravens (second most,) Falcons (seventh most) and Colts (tenth most) to finish the season.
Running Backs
Trey Benson (Arizona Cardinals) - Owned in 22% of Yahoo and 17.3% of ESPN Leagues
I’ve been a massive Benson stand since he was drafted to the Cardinals. It’s been slow going, but he’s getting his chances to shine in Arizona. In his last outing, prior to the Cardinals' Week 11 bye, he totalled 87 scrimmage yards on 12 touches. He had 53 scrimmage yards on nine touches the week prior. His Week 10 work came earlier than normal which suggests that more plays in his favor are being called. James Conner is still the lead back there but Benson is slowly eating into his touches.
Roschon Johnson (Chicago Bears) - Owned in 8% of Yahoo and 14.2% of ESPN Leagues
If you’ve followed this series you know that I’ve suggested rostering Johnson often. In the first game with newly appointed offensive coordinator Thomas Brown calling plays, Johnson saw ten carries and one target. He managed 41 yards and a touchdown with his chances. With the way he was involved with the first game Brown called, Johnson is more worthy of a roster spot than ever before.
Cam Akers (Minnesota Vikings) - Owned in 17% of Yahoo and 16.5% of ESPN Leagues
Akers saw a large amount of work in the Vikings’ Week 11 victory over the Titans. This was all with Aaron Jones being healthy and on the field. Akers saw ten carries, although he managed just 25 yards with them. He did catch both of his targets for 11 yards and a score however. This now marks back-to-back games where Akers has seen double-digit opportunities. Again, volume is key in fantasy football.
Gus Edwards (Los Angeles Chargers) - Owned in 27% of Yahoo and 26% of Yahoo Leagues
For what it’s worth, Edwards grew the start for the Chargers in Week 11. However, ‘backup’ J.K. Dobbins out snapped, touched and earned Edwards on Sunday Night Football. Edwards ran the ball just six times for 27 yards in that game. He did see ten carries the week prior against the Titans. The upcoming schedule too isn’t ideal but if you’re desperate, there could be worse waiver ads.
Zamir White (Las Vegas Raiders) - Owned in 26% of Yahoo and 30.5% of ESPN Leagues
Remember draft darling Zamir White? Well, it’s Week 12 and we’re talking about him via the waiver wire. And we’re only doing so if Alexander Mattison is to miss any time with the ankle injury he suffered against the Dolphins. White too left the game early with a quad injury however. If Mattison is to miss time, someone has to shoulder the work in the Las Vegas backfield.
Wide Receivers
Elijah Moore (Cleveland Browns) - Owned in 8% of Yahoo and 9.4% of ESPN Leagues
Since Jameis Winston has taken over in Cleveland, Moore has seen at least eight targets in those three games. In his Week 11 outing against the Saints, he caught six-of-eight targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. One thing we do know is that Winston is going to throw the football and someone has to catch them. The most consistent option so far to the later part of that statement is Moore.
Alec Pierce (Indianapolis Colts) - Owned in 18% of Yahoo and 15% of ESPN Leagues
Despite being a receiver room that includes Michael Pittman, Josh Downs and Adonai Mitchell, Pierce is the name we’re suggesting to add. Pierce seems to have one big play each week that keeps him fantasy relevant. In Week 11 against the Jets, it was a 39-yard reception with just over two-minutes left in the game that helped the Colts come from behind to win. In Week 10 against the Bills, Pierce caught four-of-seven targets for 81 yards and a score. He also gets the Lions this week who have allowed the fourth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.
Xavier Legette (Carolina Panthers) - Owned in 28% of Yahoo and 40.4% of ESPN Leagues
With both Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo traded away from the team, Legette and Jalen Crocker will compete for lead target shares in Carolina. Legette has seen at least six targets in two-of-his-last-three starts and has scored three touchdowns in his last five outings. Bryce Young has also looked improved since returning to the starting role.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (New Orleans Saints) - Owned in 25% of Yahoo and 14% of ESPN Leagues
Valdes-Scantling is a big play waiting to happen and that’s exactly what he’s done in his last two weeks. Last week he caught two-of-four targets for 87 yards and a score. In Week 10 he caught all three of his targets for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Now, that type of volume is not sustainable but he has led the Saints in routes-run in those two outings as well. He just needs a few targets to put up a quality performance.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Tennessee Titans) - Owned in 4% of Yahoo and 1.6% of ESPN Leagues
A 98-yard touchdown helped Westbrook-Ikhine’s fantasy line in Week 11. However, on top of that, he has now scored a touchdown in five-of-his-last-six games. Although he recorded just two receptions on Sunday against the Vikings, he did see six targets. As the saying goes, someone has to catch the football in (incert city/area,) who not Westbrook-Ikhine?
Jalen Coker (Carolina Panthers) - Owned in 5% of Yahoo and 3.2% of ESPN Leagues
I already broke down everything there is to know about Coker when talking about Legette. Coker did lead all Panthers in targets in their Week 10 matchup with the Giants with ten. The Panthers also get a very favorable end-of-the-season schedule for receivers as well.
Tight Ends
Will Dissly (Los Angeles Chargers) - Owned in 24% of Yahoo and 13.9% of ESPN Leagues
Dissly has now seen 33 targets over his last five games. When it comes to tight ends, that’s like a million. We say it often when talking about the waiver wire and especially tight ends, volume is key. Dissly caught four-of-six-targets for 80 yards and a score as the Chargers took down the Bengals on Sunday Night Football in Week 11. On top of that, he has one of the best stretches of schedules I may have ever seen. He gets the Ravens in Week 12 (allowing the ninth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends,) Falcons (tenth most,) Chiefs (second most) and Buccaneers (third most.)
Theo Johnson (New York Giants) - Owned in 1% of Yahoo and 2% of ESPN Leagues
I already talked about the Giants’ quarterback change. We know how young quarterbacks love to use their tight ends as safety outlets. Even before this change, Johnson has seen six targets in back-to-back games for the Giants. He has seen 16 targets over his last three games, catching ten of them for 122 yards and a score.
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