NFL
By Bill Carroll
Waiver Wire Week 12 comes as many leagues approach the trade deadline. In other leagues last week was the trade deadline, so for them Waiver Wire Week 12 meant that The Tasty and Tactical Trade Winds Winds Have Blown. Which means that there were opportunities to reinforce weaknesses on your own roster, while exploiting the weaknesses of your league mate’s rosters to extract maximum value.
For example perhaps you stashed Jordan Love or Baker Mayfield as your waiver week QB, or backup QB, now what if a contender in league just found out that Derrick Deshaun Watson is being placed on season ending injured reserve with a shoulder fracture? From the Browns:
Deshaun Watson underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Monday on two injuries sustained on different plays in the first half of Sunday’s 33-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Imaging on his left ankle revealed a high-ankle sprain. In addition, post-game, Deshaun notified our medical staff of a new discomfort in his right shoulder that he felt after a hit in the first half. An MRI of his right shoulder revealed a displaced fracture to the glenoid.
Perhaps Dorian Thompson-Robinson is not to this team manager’s liking, perhaps you had stashed Will Levis, Jordan Love, Baker Reagan Mayfield or Jameis Lanaed Winston. In an ideal situation you had stashed Kyler Murray, so either Murray or the QB that you had been starting is now trade bait.
So look at your roster, what do you need? Many teams are needy at tight end. In the right deal, you could pry loose: George Krieger Kittle, he is back to being top five at 11.6 in .5 point PPR, TJ Hockenson, Dalton Mosser Kincaid or Sam Laporta all of whom are tremendous options who not only get targets, but are dynamic after the catch.
Did you enter Waiver Wire Week 12 needy and thin at the running back position? I can tell you that I did, in a few of my deeper and more competitive leagues I am staring AJ Dillon, Royce Freeman, Chuba Hubbard, Joshua Kelley, Jaleel McLaughlin, even, [gulp] Latavius Rashard Murray in a very deep league.
Admittedly, 19 of Murray’s 61 carries came in his two most recent games. That isn’t very saying much, he had 10 carries in week 11. In week ten he played 52% of the snaps with 11 touches and 69 total yards. Murray has averaged 6.4 touches and 29.5 total yards. But at 35th in yards after contact per attempt, that is not what you want in a straight-ahead power back.
Waiver Wire Week 12: Running Backs
Tykevius ‘Ty’ Chandler of the Vikings is the player that many are targeting in waiver wire Week 12. The Vikings are becoming more run-centered on offense. While Minnesota is only 29th in attempts per game at 23.1, in the past three games, they have ticked upwards to 32.3, in the last three games. That mark is just behind, Cleveland. Denver and the Giants in that period.
Week 10 Vikings RB Alexander Mattison, had a concussion and was in the league’s protocol concussion and only Kene Nwangwu was competing for touches. Chandler finished with career highs in carries, 15 and rushing yards, 45, while scoring his first NFL touchdown in the win over the New Orleans Saints. Week 1l was even better, 10 carries, 73 yards, with four catches for 37 yards.
Even when Mattison is back, I feel confident that Chandler will see a role as the speed back. He ran a 4.38 40 when he was at the NFL Combine.
The Seahawks main backfield duties may be in the hands of Charbonnet. The Michigan/UCLA product totaled 22 touches and totaled 15.9 PPR Fantasy points in Week 11 despite not scoring. If Walker misses any time, this player could have a significant fantasy future.
The Browns ran the football more than any other team, that was before Watson was on season-ending IR. Now not only are Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt [averaging11.3 and 9.7 each in .5 PPR leagues [worth playing in 14 or more team leagues], even Pierre Strong Jr. is a possibly desperation deep league dart throw.
Denver’s backs are all viable in fantasy with Javonte Williams with the narrowest of snap-count leads with 40.36% of offensive snaps, Semaje Perine clocks in at 36.96% and even Jaleel McLaughlin with just 19.29% is worthy of flex consideration in 16 or more team leagues. The other two backfield that offer multiple RB opportunities are Atlanta and the Ravens.
Though the Giants rush the ball 29 times a game and 33 1/3 per game in the last three games, they lean on Saquon Barkley so hard that unless you are in a 24 or more team league, Matthew John Breida is not worth playing. Breida is averaging 4.5 carries and has 120 yards with a TD.
The Falcons and Ravens top running backs: Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier in Atlanta and the Baltimore backfield combination of Gus Edwards has 10 rushing scores, rookie speedster, Keaton Mitchell is a threat to score from anywhere and in deeper leagues, even third down back Justice Hill can be added for flex or handcuff purposes. Hill is averaging 5.7 points per game in 1/2 point PPR.
Waiver Wire Week 12: Wide Receivers
Brandin Tawan Cooks is available in most leagues of under 16 teams and is trending upwards. Cooks had nine of his catches in 2023, last week and 173 of his 338 yards came in that game. While the Giants are the definition of a soft target, I foresee Cooks settling into a complementary role to, the clear alpha, Cee Dee Lamb. The 10 targets is not sustainable, however he is Waiver Wire Week 12 worthy since I expect him to be around have that many from now on.
The Washington Commanders have averaged 44.7 pass attempts in their last three games and 40.2 for the season. Terry McLaurin has attracted eight or more targets in five straight games and caught five or more balls in four straight games, until last week. so both he and Jahan Waltè Dotson, who averages 7.1 fantasy points per game in .5 point PPR, in deep leagues, should be added in Waiver Wire Week 12.
Rashee Rice caught four of his five targets for 42 yards in Week 11. He has been targeted 46 times and has produced, on average, 8.6 fantasy points per game in .5 point PPR, 378 yards, four scores and 11.7 yards per catch on 36 catches. Rice has been targeted 11 times, in the red zone, this season, 20.4% of his team’s 54 red zone pass attempts.
I still think his breakout is coming soon. I have similar feelings about Rashod Bateman, who averages, 7.7 fantasy points per game in .5 point PPR, in very deep leagues. I am adding Josh Downs and the Packer’s WRs, Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed, any place that I can.
Finally, I may consider, in deeper leagues, Christian Justus Watson. Watson is physically similar to Julio Jones, but unlike the future hall-of-fame member, he is just not dominant. In his most productive game, week 91 week five versus the Raiders, he had 91 yards, he only has three TDs thus-far. The most recent was in Week 11.
Waiver Wire Week 12: Quarterbacks
If you grabbed Kyler Murray Will Levis or Baker Reagan Mayfield already, Mazel Tov! However, if you are in need of a QB either due injuries as with Joseph Lee Burrow or Watson, if you are in a two QB or super-flex league or just need a fear that the Thomas N. DeVito, bubble is about to burst, there are a few options. I know some had thought Jordan Alexander Love would slide into an elite offense and it would keep on chugging.
Jordan Love, has a career completion he rate of 59%, an average of 16.7 points in .5 point PPR. So why am I still sold on him? Love just faced a Chargers defense that is struggling. Love flourished, hitting on 27 of 40 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns, adding three carries for 27 yards. His first 300-yard-plus game, I see him have similar success versus all, but the Chief’s defense, in the next four games.
Los Angeles allows the second-most fantasy points per game to the quarterbacks. and has given up the most passing yards in the league. Love has finished with multiple touchdowns in seven of ten games this year. I think the arrow is pointed up in Waiver Wire Week 12.
Justin Fields is also poised to close the season strong and is available in Waiver Wire Week 12 for most players 12 or 14 team leagues. I may also stash him in case of injury. Finally, Tommy Devito, is riding high, after a pro, college, perhaps even high school best performance. He passed for 246 yards, with three scores and rushed for seven yards on a single carry. Depending upon scoring system that’s anywhere from 19.7 to 27 fantasy points!
He was QB #5 in Week 11 and now he now faces the Patriots, while they are not a very good defense, they have usually fared well versus greenhorns at QB. The just allowed 264 total yards and 10 points last week against the Colts
My other favorite deep league desperation dart throw at QB is Aidan O’Connell. He had 24 completed passes on 41 attempts for 271 yards, and a TD, but three interceptions. In his defense, Jalen Ramsey played at a hall of fame level in that game. He made two amazing interceptions and has 0.0 passer rating when targeted.
Waiver Wire Week 12: Tight Ends
Due to Mark Andrews’ cracked fibula and ankle ligament injury, is likely done for 2013. Isaiah Likely is now the top TE in a Ravens offense that likes to feature that position. In Week 11 Likely ran 29 routes and played 49 snaps. Cole Kmet, Luke Musgrave and Logan Thomas should all be added in Waiver Wire Week 12 in any leagues in which the are still available.
Waiver Wire Week 12: Defense/Special Teams
The Titans defense allows 21.4 points per game, only allows 1.9 touchdowns per game, but are last in average interceptions taken per game, at just .3 per game and tied for second lowest in recovered fumbles at .4. They are15th ranked in sack percentage at 7.29%, with 4.21% in the last three games. They average 2.5 sacks per game. They are facing the 1-9 Panthers in Week 12. They are a must add!
The Jaguars have a defense to consider in deeper leagues. They are facing an impressive rookie QB, in CJ Stroud, but they average 8.1 points in in .5 point PPR. Another Waiver Wire Week 12 target is the Cowboys facing the Commanders’ productive, but mistake-prone offense. Also, both defenses in the Colts versus Tampa Bay game are worth rostering in Waiver Wire Week 12.
Waiver Wire Week 12: Place Kickers
In Waiver Wire Week 12 I have looked to add Matt Ammendola of of the Texans, Brandon Aubrey, Cameron Dicker, Jason Meyers, Brandon McManus and Gregory Zuerlein, who has been 22 of 23 on field goals, with a season long of 53, are all kickers that I have been adding.
