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Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups: RB Help Headlines the Week
The waiver wire becomes a lifeline in Week 12 as injuries pile up and depth charts continue to shuffle. Whether you’re fighting for a playoff berth or shoring up your roster for a title run, several emerging players demand your attention.
Waiver wire targets are generally available in at least 70% of ESPN leagues and are ranked in order of priority by position.
Your bid should vary by format and situation. Need RB help? Prioritize that position. All set there? Then no need to chase the top guys.
Week 12 Byes:
- Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Commanders
TIP
For waiver-wire suggestions customized for YOUR fantasy team, check out the Free Agent Finder.
Contents
- Priority Target
- Immediate Help
- Deep-League Plays
- Upside Stashes
- Injuries to Watch
- Top RB Handcuffs
- Top Streaming Defense
- Top Streaming Kicker
- Drop Candidates
Priority Target of the Week
Emanuel Wilson, RB, Green Bay Packers
Emanuel Wilson
GB RB24
Blind Bid Recommendation: 15-20%
What Changed?
Josh Jacobs was forced out of Week 11 with a knee injury after playing just 12 snaps. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that Jacobs did not suffer structural damage to his knee but is considered week-to-week.
After Jacobs exited, Wilson played 94% of Green Bay’s snaps and took all 11 of the team’s backfield carries.
In all, Wilson played 71% of Green Bay’s snaps, ran 19 routes, and produced 49 yards and a TD on 12 touches.
What’s the Outlook?
We’ll monitor Jacobs’ health this week, but it sounds like he’s going to miss the game against the Vikings.
Wilson out-snapped Chris Brooks 39-5 and is the clear No. 2 behind Jacobs. The Vikings have given up the 10th-most rushing yards (1,004) to RBs and have allowed an RB to score in four consecutive games.
If Jacobs misses multiple games, Wilson’s schedule from Weeks 13-17 includes a pair of tough road games in Detroit and Denver, and three games against Chicago and Baltimore:
- Week 13 at Detroit
- Week 14 vs. Chicago
- Week 15 at Denver
- Week 16 at Chicago
- Week 17 vs. Baltimore
Wilson’s domination of the backfield after Jacobs left the game was encouraging. He should be viewed as an RB2 with plus volume potential.
Need Help Now?
Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett
ARI QB8
Blind Bid Recommendation: 4-6%
What Changed?
Brissett continues to thrive as Arizona’s starter. He has posted top-12 fantasy numbers in each of his five starts and set an NFL record in Week 11 by completing 47 passes.
Even more impressive, Brissett’s 452-yard performance against San Francisco came without top WR Marvin Harrison Jr., who missed the game after appendix surgery.
What’s the Outlook?
Kyler Murray will miss at least two more weeks on IR, and he might not even get his job back when healthy. Brissett has averaged 314 passing yards per game and thrown 2 TDs in each of his five starts.
Brissett remains on the QB1 radar for a Week 12 home date with Jacksonville, which has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to QBs. The Cardinals travel to Tampa in Week 13 to take on a Buccaneers’ defense that just got shredded by Josh Allen.
Brissett remains widely available and looks like a top-12 candidate for at least the next two weeks.
Sean Tucker, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sean Tucker
TB RB28
Blind Bid Recommendation: 10-15%
What Changed?
Rachaad White once again started in place of Bucky Irving, but Tucker delivered the numbers.
Despite being outsnapped 42-31 by White, Tucker turned 21 touches into 140 scrimmage yards and 3 TDs in Tampa’s 44-32 loss to Buffalo. White’s 12 touches resulted in 62 scoreless yards.
Tucker’s snap share and production have increased for three consecutive games. After taking 43% of Tampa’s carries in Week 10, Tucker out-carried White 19-10 in Week 11.
What’s the Outlook?
Tucker made a compelling case to supplant White as Tampa’s No. 2 RB, but we’ve seen this happen before. In Week 6 last season, Tucker turned 17 touches into 192 yards and 2 TDs. He then totaled just 205 yards and 1 TD for the rest of the season.
White missed the game last season that resulted in Tucker’s breakout. White out-snapped Tucker in each of Tampa’s other 17 games in 2024 and in all 10 games this season.
Irving hasn’t played since Week 5, but he returned to practice last week. When Irving does return, Tucker figures to see limited playing time.
We’ll keep an eye on Irving’s practice participation this week.
View Tucker as a strong waiver-wire target, but be careful not to overreact to his huge outing. Unless the coaching staff says otherwise, Tucker figures to revert to Tampa’s RB3 role as soon as Irving is activated.
Tampa also has the 11th-most difficult remaining schedule for RBs, including a Week 12 trip to face a Rams’ defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to RBs.
Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenneth Gainwell
PIT RB11
Blind Bid Recommendation: 7-9%
What Changed?
Jaylen Warren injured an ankle in the third quarter of Pittsburgh’s Week 11 win. After Warren left the game, Gainwell acted as the Steelers’ featured back, tying a season high with 41 snaps and leading the team in catches (7), receiving yards (81), and TDs (2).
Before the injury, Warren touched the ball on 12 of his 18 snaps, including 10 carries for 62 yards.
On Tuesday, HC Mike Tomlin indicated that Warren's injury will limit his early-week practice reps, but he's "optimistic" about Warren's chances of playing Sunday. Still, Gainwell should be viewed as a strong add where available.
What’s the Outlook?
Gainwell has looked like a difference maker when Warren has been absent. He started Pittsburgh’s Week 4 game in Dublin and posted RB3-overall numbers for the week, rushing 19 times for 99 yards and cashing in a pair of TDs.
If Warren misses another game, Gainwell would be a mid-to-high-end RB2 with top-12 upside in PPR leagues. The Steelers travel to Chicago on Sunday to face a defense that has yielded the 14th-most fantasy points to RBs.
Even if Warren returns, Gainwell presents mild standalone value.
Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Michael Wilson
ARI WR22
Blind Bid Recommendation: 8-10%
What Changed?
Wilson acted as Arizona’s No. 1 WR with Marvin Harrison Jr. out. Wilson took advantage of the opportunity, setting career-best marks in targets (18), catches (15), and yards (185). He drew a 32% target share and accounted for 41% of Arizona’s receiving yards.
We mentioned Wilson and his growing role in Arizona’s offense in last week’s waiver wire piece, and the third-year WR finished the week as the No. 1 WR overall. Wilson delivered eight more receptions and 55 more receiving yards than Harrison has tallied in any of his 26 career games.
What’s the Outlook?
Wilson had improved his production before last week’s explosive showing. After failing to top 16 yards in any of Kyler Murray’s 5 starts, Wilson recorded 3+ grabs and averaged 8.0 PPR points per game in Weeks 6-10, with Jacoby Brissett under center.
If Harrison misses more time, Wilson will be on the WR2/3 radar against a Jacksonville defense that allows the 10th-most fantasy points to WRs. Week 13 presents a Tampa Bay defense that allows the 13th-most.
Harrison’s return will obviously downgrade Wilson but won’t necessarily kill his fantasy upside. Arizona has ranked sixth in neutral pass rate since Brissett took over in Week 6. He’s averaging 42.4 pass attempts over that span, just 0.2 behind Joe Flacco’s league lead.
Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Darnell Mooney
ATL WR35
Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-7%
What Changed?
Week 11 hit the Falcons hard. In addition to losing QB Michael Penix for at least four games, they watched WR Drake London suffer a sprained PCL that will cost at least one game.
Mooney’s poised to be Atlanta’s No. 1 WR in Week 12. He ran a route on 97% of Falcons dropbacks in Week 11, which tied TE Kyle Pitts for the team lead.
Mooney has commanded 15 targets in Atlanta’s past two games but totaled only 4 catches and 51 yards.
What’s the Outlook?
None of Mooney’s catches came from Kirk Cousins. After Cousins entered the game midway through the third quarter, Mooney drew a target on just two of 14 attempts and failed to catch either pass.
Cousins averaged a paltry 3.42 yards per attempt against the Panthers. He looks like a downgrade under center for an offense that ranks 18th in passing.
Mooney should see at least a one-week boost in targets, though, and he performed well with Cousins last season. In 14 games with Cousins as Atlanta’s starter, Mooney caught 60 of 95 targets for 873 yards and 5 TDs.
Atlanta gets a pair of unappealing fantasy matchups in the next two weeks.
- Week 12: The Saints sit 11th-toughest on WR scoring by our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
- Week 13: Miami sits fourth-toughest in those ranks.
Deep-League Plays
Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins
ATL QB27
Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%
What Changed?
Michael Penix will miss a minimum of four games with a knee injury.
Cousins steps in and could finish the regular season. The Falcons have lost five straight and sit 3-7, leaving little motivation to rush the second QB back.
What’s the Outlook?
Not rosy for Atlanta’s offense.
Cousins got benched last season and has looked worse in limited action so far in 2025.
He sports 4.8 yards per pass attempt and 7.8 yards per completion, by far the lowest figures of his career.
Additionally, Atlanta could be without star WR Drake London, and Cousins will face the 10th-toughest remaining schedule for QBs:
- Week 12 at New Orleans
- Week 13 at New York Jets
- Week 14 vs. Seattle
- Week 15 at Tampa Bay
- Week 16 at Arizona
- Week 17 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Unless something changes dramatically, Cousins shouldn’t be targeted in 1-QB leagues. His fantasy value should be restricted to superflex and 2-QB leagues -- even then, only as a desperation play.
Devin Singletary, RB, New York Giants
Devin Singletary
NYG RB37
Blind Bid Recommendation: 4-6%
What Changed?
In their first game since firing Brian Daboll, the Giants employed a split backfield. Tyrone Tracy outsnapped Singletary 37-35 and proved far more effective, generating 139 on 23 touches.
Singletary got 17 touches but generated just 47 yards. He did punch in both of New York’s short-yardage TDs, though.
What’s the Outlook?
Kafka’s rotation was effective for the Giants against a Green Bay defense that entered the game allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game. Tracy and Singletary combined to run for 132 of New York’s 142 rushing yards and scored two of their three TDs.
It will be interesting to see what approach Kafka takes when Dart, who has rushed for 317 yards, returns to action.
At a minimum, Singletary should retain his short-yardage role. He has out-carried Tracy 14-4 inside the red zone this season. Inside the 5-yard line, Singletary has five attempts to none for Tracy.
The Giants play the third-toughest remaining schedule for RBs, which includes a pair of tough road games in Detroit and New England ahead of their Week 14 bye. Don’t expect either Giants RB to carry you to a championship.
Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans
Jayden Higgins
HOU WR52
Blind Bid Recommendation: 4-6%
What Changed?
Houston’s offense got sluggish in Week 11, but Higgins retained his role as the Texans’ No. 2 WR. He ranked third on the team with 7 targets and second with 55 receiving yards in the win over Tennessee.
Higgins has caught 4+ balls in three of his last four games and continues to see a healthy role:
- Week 7: 63% snap share (second)
- Week 8: 83% snap share (first)
- Week 9: 48% snap share (third)
- Week 10: 57% snap share (second)
- Week 11: 61% snap share (second)
What’s the Outlook?
Higgins has now earned 7 targets in back-to-back games. He has also out-snapped Christian Kirk and Jaylin Noel in both games.
The Texans face a challenging schedule down the stretch, 11th-toughest for WRs.
Week 12 holds a fairly neutral matchup with the Bills. The recent emergence of rookie CB Maxwell Hairston has enhanced Buffalo’s perimeter coverage. But if game flow follows the Bills’ projected 5.5-point edge, we could see elevated passing volume for Houston.
Week 13 holds a more positive spot against the Colts, who rank eighth-friendliest to WR scoring by our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
A.J. Barner, TE, Seattle Seahawks
AJ Barner
SEA TE20
Blind Bid Recommendation: 2-4%
What Changed?
Barner caught 10 of 11 targets for 70 yards in Sunday's loss to the Rams. His 25% target share and 85% route rate set season highs.
He also benefited from a positive game script for passing volume. Seattle ran 79 plays, while Sam Darnold tossed 44 passes.
Week 10 found Barner drawing no targets on a mere 38% route rate.
What’s the Outlook?
We'll see if Barner's route rate sticks, but Sunday wasn't the only time he popped on high volume. He posted a 7-53-2 line back in Week 5 on a 22% target share (59% route rate).
After that game, Barner topped a 60% route rate with a snap share over 78% in four of Seattle’s next five contests. The only game he didn’t hit those marks was Week 10, when the Seahawks got off to a big lead thanks to two early D/ST TDs that resulted in muted production from the passing attack.
Just keep in mind that the Seahawks are among the run-heaviest teams in the league. So the floor remains low -- especially with WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba dominating targets.
Sunday at least turns up a nice scoring matchup at Tennessee.
Upside Stashes
Chris Rodriguez, RB, Washington Commanders
Chris Rodriguez
WAS RB
Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-10%
What Changed?
Rodriguez set season highs in carries (15), carry share (47%), and yards (79) in Sunday’s loss to Miami.
What’s the Outlook?
Rodriguez isn’t a candidate to help you this week, as Washington enters a bye.
He’s more of a long-term stash, especially with negative matchups in Week 13 (Denver) and Week 14 (Minnesota). Beyond that, though, he closes with plus matchups against the Giants (Week 15) and Cowboys (Week 17).
Overall, Washington’s offense projects as below average going forward. But there’s at least a shot at a late-season jolt if Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin return.
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Denver Broncos
Jaleel McLaughlin
DEN RB
Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%
What Changed?
J.K. Dobbins is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a foot injury that will require surgery.
We pointed out ahead of Sunday’s game that McLaughlin’s experience positioned him well to reclaim a role in the suddenly shaky Denver backfield.
Despite playing 30 fewer snaps than starter RJ Harvey, McLaughlin trailed Harvey just 11-6 in carries. He also punched in a 4-yard TD.
What’s the Outlook?
McLaughlin touched the ball on 7 of his 8 snaps. That was six more touches than Tyler Badie earned in the same number of snaps. Badie has only received 2 carries all season.
Harvey played a season-high 68% of Denver’s snaps but averaged just 2.7 yards per carry.
Sean Payton has always favored using multiple backs, and McLaughlin looks like the favorite to spell the rookie.
A Week 12 bye keeps McLaughlin from being immediately useful. And we’ll watch for any changes or signals of upcoming change. Week 13 holds an upside matchup with the Commanders.
Luther Burden, WR, Chicago Bears
Luther Burden III
CHI WR41
Blind Bid Recommendation: 1-3%
What Changed?
Burden finally played ahead of Olamide Zacchaeus. The rookie handled a 61% route rate, well ahead of the veteran's 19%.
Burden caught only three passes for 27 yards, but he saw a season-high 18% target share.
What’s the Outlook?
It’s at least trending up.
Burden has run 20 routes in back-to-back games and just had a season-high 5 targets in Week 11. The volume isn’t impressive on the surface, but is moving in the right direction.
That leaves Burden as a stash, albeit a potentially impactful one if Rome Odunze or D.J. Moore misses time.
Tyrell Shavers, WR, Buffalo Bills
Tyrell Shavers
BUF WR80
Blind Bid Recommendation: 1-3%
What Changed?
Shavers entered last Sunday with 8 career catches. He posted half of that number Sunday against Tampa Bay, racking up 90 yards and a score.
Shavers stepped up in place of an inactive Keon Coleman (coach's decision).
What’s the Outlook?
We’ll see if Coleman’s back in the lineup for Thursday’s road game at Houston. Either way, you shouldn’t target Shavers as a Week 12 starter.
You’re stashing the former undrafted free agent in case he can remain ahead of Coleman and deliver the Bills a more consistent downfield presence.
If Shavers’ role remains good the next two weeks, you might have a sneaky-strong starter for a Week 14 home date with the Bengals.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brenton Strange
JAC TE19
Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%
What’s Changed?
The Jags designed Strange to return from IR on Nov. 10. He didn’t play in Week 11 but returned to limited practices Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out Friday’s session.
What’s the Outlook?
Recent injuries to Tucker Kraft, Sam LaPorta, and Dalton Kincaid have weakened the position. Strange provides some spot-start appeal, partly due to the status of Jacksonville’s WR corps.
Travis Hunter is out for the season. Meanwhile, Brian Thomas is battling an ankle injury and hasn’t proven effective when healthy.
Strange recorded a decent 68% route rate and 15% target share over the season’s first five weeks. The Thomas and Hunter injuries leave room for his target share to rise beyond that.
We’ll track Strange’s practice participation, but the next two weeks supply nice matchups (at Cardinals, at Titans).
Injuries to Watch
- Drake London (knee)
- Josh Jacobs (knee)
- Jaylen Warren (ankle)
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendicitis)
- Jaxson Dart (concussion)
- Aaron Rodgers (wrist)
- Emari Demercado (ankle)
- Dillon Gabriel (concussion)
RB Handcuff Top 10
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM | LAST WEEK |
| 1 | Zach Charbonnet | Seahawks | 2 |
| 2 | Blake Corum | Rams | 3 |
| 3 | Kenneth Gainwell | Steelers | 9 |
| 4 | Kyle Monangai | Bears | 4 |
| 5 | Rachaad White | Buccaneers | 5 |
| 6 | Tyler Allgeier | Falcons | 6 |
| 7 | Tyjae Spears | Titans | 7 |
| 8 | Bhayshul Tuten | Jaguars | 10 |
| 9 | Jordan Mason | Vikings | - |
| 10 | Brian Robinson Jr. | 49ers | 8 |
Top Streaming Defense
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cleveland Browns
The Raiders have quietly fielded a respectable defense. They rank 17th overall, allowing 326.8 yards per game. After forcing the fourth-fewest turnovers in 2024, they sit at a solid 15th this year with 11 takeaways through 10 games.
Despite the improvement, Las Vegas hasn’t been a reliable fantasy defense. That changes in Week 12. The Raiders host a Browns offense that ranks 31st in total yards (257.3 per game) and has struggled badly through the air. Cleveland averages just 159.4 passing yards and has thrown only 9 TD passes. Only 26.3% of their drives have resulted in points, the lowest rate in the league.
Those issues are likely to worsen. Dillon Gabriel is in concussion protocol, and rookie Shedeur Sanders is expected to make his first NFL start. Sanders relieved Gabriel last week and struggled badly. He completed just 4 of 16 passes for 2.9 yards per attempt, threw an INT, lost a fumble, took two sacks, and drew an intentional grounding penalty. He finished with 6 net yards on 16 dropbacks and a 13.5 passer rating.
Las Vegas matches up well. The Raiders sit tied for second in yards allowed per carry (3.8). If they can bottle up Quinshon Judkins, Sanders will be forced to throw behind an offensive line PFF grades as the league’s worst in pass protection. Based on last week, that’s a recipe for trouble.
Cleveland’s implied total of 16.5 points is the lowest on the slate. The Raiders offer real top-12 upside in this matchup. That makes them our top streaming defense for Week 12.
TIP
Check our Week 12 DST streamers for more insight.
Top Streaming Kickers
- Tyler Loop, Ravens
- Cairo Santos, Bears
- Cam Little, Jaguars
*TIP* Our Week 12 PK rankings have more streaming options and are continuously updated throughout the week.
Drop Candidates
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Falcons
Penix might be done for the season with a knee injury. Even if he returns late, the second-year passer can be safely dropped outside of deep superflex leagues.
Justin Fields, QB, Jets
The Jets are expected to start Tyrod Taylor in Week 12. We’re not expecting Fields to get his job back, making him an easy drop.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Commanders
Last week, Chris Rodriguez out-carried JCM 15-9. Rodriguez started the game and proved much more effective with 5.3 YPC (compared to 3.1 for the rookie). JCM is OK to hold in deep formats, but he should remain out of lineups until further notice. Washington also enters a bye in Week 12.
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