Most fantasy leagues start their playoffs either this week or next, and if you find yourself in a must win game and scouring the waiver wire for actual starters, you may be in trouble. That being said, there are a few options in this week’s Waiver Wire Report which may be able to contribute to your team’s playoff push.
With Turkey Day being this Thursday – meaning three games – don’t forget to check under your waiver wire tree first thing in the morning on Thursday to swap in some of your new players.
NOTE: All ‘Percent Rostered’ stats are based off ESPN.com fantasy leagues
QUARTERBACKS
If you find yourself in need of a quarterback this week, the waiver wire continues to offer some solid options in most leagues.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Min:
Percent Rostered: 55.0%
Stats thru Week 12: 2,756 yds, 21 TD, 3 INT; 1 rushing TD
I said last week, “What the hell is going on in nearly half of the leagues where Kirk Cousin is not owned?” Kirk Cousins is (or at least should be) a legit MVP candidate. Only two quarterbacks have more touchdowns than Cousins (Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston) and only two starters have thrown less interceptions (Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes)…all without his top receiver, Adam Thielen. Despite the MVP numbers, 17 quarterbacks – including Jared Goff, Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett – are owned at a higher percentage than Cousins. If you happen to be in one of the leagues where he is available, pick him up and start him.
Sam Darnold, QB, NYJ:
Percent Rostered: 18.9%
Stats thru Week 12: 1,915 yds, 13 TD, 10 INT; 2 rushing TDs
Over the last three games, Darnold has 838 yards passing, nine total touchdowns (7 passing, 2 rushing) and one interception and will be facing two of the worst defenses in the league over the next two weeks in the Bengals and Dolphins.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Ten:
Percent Rostered: 15.3%
Stats thru Week 12: 1,420 yds, 10 TD, 4 INT; 26 rushes, 123 yards, 3 TD
Tannehill has turned himself into a legit starting quarterback in Tennessee. Last week against the Jags, he scored four touchdowns (2 rushing, 2 passing) and compiled 259 yards on an efficient 14/18 passing. It has only taken Tannehill five games to compile 13 touchdowns.
Nick Foles, QB, Jax:
Percent Rostered: 23.4%
Stats thru Week 12: 643 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Foles only has two touchdowns in his two games back, but he is averaging more than 280 yards and 47.5 attempts in those two games, completing nearly 70% of those passes. With numbers like that, he is bound to start putting up some touchdowns and this week against the Buccaneers league worst passing defense would be a good bet.
Daniel Jones, QB, NYG:
Percent Rostered: 33.1%
Stats thru Week 12: 2,134 yds, 17 TD, 8 INT; 15 rushes, 235 yards, 2 TD
Over his last four games, Jones has 11 touchdowns and just one interception. The concern with Jones though, continues to be fumbles – 10 on the season, seven over his last five games! However, despite the fumbles, he still puts up good fantasy numbers and could help you out if you find yourself looking for a quarterback late in the season.
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RUNNING BACKS
Believe it or not, there are some decent running backs available in a lot of leagues which is very rare this late in the season, so hop on them quick.
Jonathan Williams:
Percent Rostered: 29.1%
Stats thru Week 12: 41 carries, 221 yds, 1 TD; 4 rec, 48 yds, 0 TD
For the second straight week, Williams has produced big with Marlon Mack out. Williams seems to have established himself as the lead back in Mack’s absence with his second straight 100+ yard game. In two games, he has 268 all-purpose yards and ranked sixth this week in terms of fantasy scoring for running backs.
Rashaad Penny, RB, Sea:
Percent Rostered: 28.6%
Stats thru Week 12: 50 carries, 296 yds, 2 TD, 3 rec, 34 yds, 0 TD
It seems like Chris Carson is still the number one option in Seattle, but it is impossible to ignore what Penny did last week – 14 carries, 129 yards and a touchdown. While I don’t expect Penny to continue out touch Carson, after a performance like this, he is likely to have some roll going forward.
Bo Scarbrough, RB, Det:
Percent Rostered: 48.4%
Stats thru Week 12: 32 carries, 153 yds, 1 TD
Scarbrough’s ownership jumped from last week 48.3%, and he rewarded those owners. After just two weeks in Detroit, he is the lead back and has put up 153 yards, one touchdown and is averaging 4.8 yards per carry. While he has tough matchups the next few weeks, he is worthy of a roster spot at this point and a Flex play in a pinch.
Nyheim Hines, RB, Ind:
Percent Rostered: 34.7%
Stats thru Week 12: 34 carries, 128 yds, 1 TD; 32 rec, 252 yds, 0 TD
With Marlon Mack out, Williams appears to be the lead back, but Hines proved to still have a role. This past week, despite Williams having the lead role, Hines still had 61 all-purpose yards and two receptions, for 8.1 points in one-point PPR leagues. Worthy of a backup.
Derrius Guice, RB, Was:
Percent Rostered: 54.6%
Stats thru Week 12: 27 carries, 74 yds, 0 TD; 5 rec, 71 yds, 1 TD
Guice has been miserable thus far, but he still is the leading candidate to get the bulk of the backfield work in Washington. Given his potential to take the lead role down the stretch, he is worth a roster spot, but not worth a starting spot until he shows something.
WIDE RECEIVERS
This week’s wide receiver list is filled with boom or bust players. Good players for bench depth, but no one really starting caliber unless you are desperate.
A.J. Brown, WR, Ten:
Percent Rostered: 15.4%
Stats thru Week 12: 31 rec, 581 yds, 4 TD (50 targets)
Brown is a tough play because of his wild inconsistency, but he has been more consistent with Tannehill at the helm and on two occasions, has surpassed 26 points in one point PPR leagues. His potential keeps him worth a roster spot and potentially a Flex play.
Darius Slatyon, WR, NYG:
Percent Rostered: 23.3%
Stats thru Week 12: 31 rec, 461 yds, 5 TD (52 targets)
Even with Sterling Shepard returning to the lineup, Slayton saw seven targets, which tells me he will have a role in the Giants offense down the stretch. Over his last two games, Slayton has 21 targets, pulling in 14 of those for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
Cole Beasley, WR, Buf:
Percent Rostered: 23.1%
Stats thru Week 12: 49 rec, 525 yds, 4 TD (73 targets)
Beasley’s value is, and always will be, in PPR leagues only. Over the last three weeks, he has 19 targets and has pulled in 14 of those for 188 yards and a touchdown.
Robby Anderson, WR, NYJ:
Percent Rostered: 45.1%
Stats thru Week 12: 29 rec, 445 yds, 3 TD (58 targets)
Anderson is worthy of a spot on your bench, but is extremely tough to trust in a starting role due to his boom or bust weekly routine. In PPR leagues, Anderson has put up 18+ on two occasions – including last week – but he has also put up less than six points on six occasion and less than three points on three occasions. However, Darnold is playing well and the next two weeks are against the Bengals and Dolphins, two of the worst defenses in the league.
Josh Gordon, WR, Sea:
Percent Rostered: 51.8%
Stats thru Week 12: 23 rec, 324 yds, 1 TD (40 targets)
Despite little production since joining the Seahawks (three catches, 37 yards), I am keeping him here for shear potential. Over the last two weeks, Russell Wilson hasn’t done much, I am hoping – for Gordon owners at least – that Wilson’s production will return, and as a result, Gordon should see more opportunities to contribute. Keep him on your bench if you can, but don’t start him yet.
TIGHT ENDS
Week 12 was an unbelievably terrible week for tight ends all around the league. Only three tight ends scored more than 13 points in 1 PPR leagues! I don’t expect that to continue this week, so snatch up the tight ends below while you have a chance.
Jacob Hollister, TE, Sea:
Percent Rostered: 43.0%
Stats thru Week 12: 19 rec, 159 yds, 3 TD (28 targets)
Over the last three weeks, Hollister has seen 20 targets and pulled in 14 of those for 121 yards and three touchdowns…that makes him a starting tight end for any owner lacking a top-tier tight end.
Ryan Griffin, TE, NYJ:
Percent Rostered: 25.5%
Stats thru Week 12: 28 rec, 282 yds, 5 TD (32 targets)
With Chris Herndon on IR, Griffin seems to have grabbed the top tight end role for the Jets. Over the last four weeks, he has 17 targets, 14 receptions, 170 yards, and for the second week in a row, he found the endzone. This weekend, he will go against a Bengals defense which is terrible and particularly struggles in covering tight ends. Unless you have one of the top tier tight ends, Griffin is worth a start this week.
Noah Fant, TE, Den:
Percent Rostered: 41.9%
Stats thru Week 12: 30 rec, 374 yds, 2 TD (52 targets)
Fant saw five more targets this past week, and while he didn’t do much with them (3 catches, 14 yards), he continues to get opportunities in the Broncos offense. Over the last five weeks, he has 33 targets and you would be hard pressed to find many tight ends with that many targets.
Mike Gesicki, TE, Mia:
Percent Rostered: 9.1%
Stats thru Week 12: 31 rec, 322 yds, 1 TD (50 targets)
Gesicki hasn’t put up big numbers all year, but he finally found the endzone. The reason I am buying Gesicki for teams in a bind at tight end is his increase in opportunities. Over the last four games, he has seen at least six targets per game and 25 targets total. With six targets per game, the numbers will eventually come.
Nick O’Leary, TE, Jax:
Percent Rostered: 0.0%
Stats thru Week 12: 8 rec, 73 yds, 0 TD (8 targets)
O’Leary has been with the Jags for about five minutes but is apparently their top tight end already. He caught all four of his targets for 36 yards, and while he will have to fight for targets, his value should rise as Foles gets back into form.
