Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Week 12 Byes: Atlanta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Jacksonville,
New Orleans, NY Jets
Nix has been scoring a lot of points with his legs, but this
week he destroyed the Falcons through the air, passing for 307-4-0
and only rushing twice. Up next he gets a reeling Raiders team
that has allowed the 8th-most points to QBs, as well as 3 total
TDs (2 passing, 1 rushing) to Nix when they met Week 5.
Richardson came back from a two-game benching to lead the Colts
to victory over the Jets, posting a 272-1-0 passing line and adding
10-32-2 on the ground. He faces a much tougher task against the
Lions this week, but he should be forced to pass in order to keep
up with the dominant Lions offense.
Winston let it all hang out against the Saints, passing for 395-2-0
on 46 attempts. He gets another tough defense in the Steelers,
but he’s tossed 6 TDs in three games since being the starter,
and should be forced to play from behind versus their division
rivals.
Justin Herbert, LAC vs CIN: Herbert has been solid as of late,
putting up 297-2-0 through the air and 5-65-0 on the ground Sunday
night against the Bengals. Up next he gets another probable shootout
against the Ravens, who have been getting torched through the
air this year.
Russell Wilson, PIT vs BAL: Wilson had a surprisingly quiet day
in a victory over the Ravens, throwing for 205-0-1 in a win where
the Steelers only scored via kicker Chris Boswell. Up next he’ll
get a chance to bounce back against on the road against a mediocre
Browns defense.
With both Zamir White (quad) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) leaving
Week 11 with injuries, Abdullah saw more work than normal and
caught all 3 targets for 16 yards and a touchdown. If both White
and Mattison are out for Week 12, Abdullah will get the bulk of
the work with rookie Dylan Laube filling in on early downs.
Hill was called on more in the passing game as the Ravens played
most of the game from behind, logging only 2 carries but going
7-4-28-0 through the air. Up next the Ravens get another tough
rush defense in the Chargers, where Hill may be used more extensively
if Derrick Henry doesn’t find much running room.
Akers saw double-digit touches for the second game in a row,
going 10-25-0 on the ground and 2-2-11-1 through the air as the
compliment to Aaron Jones. If they continue to give him more work,
he could be worth an add against a Bears team that just got torched
by Josh Jacobs.
Other RBs to consider: N/A
Last week’s waiver adds:
Jaylen Warren, PIT @ WAS: Warren had his best game of the season,
delivering a 9-41-0 rushing line and going 4-4-27-0 receiving
against the Ravens. Up next he gets a solid Browns rush defense.
Alexander
Mattison, LV @ MIA: Mattison left early with an ankle injury,
but still managed to catch all 3 targets for 50 yards and rush
5 times for 19 yards. He’ll get the Broncos next if he can get
healthy in time.
Audric Estime,
DEN vs ATL: Estime dominated rushing work in Week 9, but in Week
10 he split work with Javonte Williams, rushing for 6-16-0 and
seeing his first targets of the season for a 3-3-9-0 receiving
line. Up next is a softer Raiders defense, but Estime appears
to be in a timeshare with Williams for now.
Everyone has been seeing more targets with Jameis Winston throwing
40+ passes each of the three games he’s started. Jeudy went
11-6-142-1 and Moore went 8-6-66-1 against the Saints. That’s
29 targets for Moore and 30 for Jeudy in the last three games.
It should be more of the same against a tough Steelers defense
that will force the Browns to pass.
Carolina was on bye in Week 11, and Thielen has just been activated
from a long stint on IR with a hamstring injury. With Diontae
Johnson now a Raven, the WR1 role is up for grabs. It’s been Jalen
Coker so far, but it could be the trusty Thielen in his first
game since Week 3, where he went 5-3-40-1.
The Giants were on bye in Week 11, but in Week 10 Robinson went
8-5-51-0 in a loss to the Panthers. This week he’ll face
a Buccaneers defense that has given up the 7th-most points to
opposing WRs and will have a new Tommy Devito at quarterback.
Watson came off the GB bye week to blow up for 150 yards, catching
all 4 of his targets in his first game over 100 yards this season.
Up next he hopes to keep the yards going against a tough 49ers
defense.
Westbrook-Ikhine tied for the team lead in targets in a loss
to the Vikings, going 6-2-117-1. He’s a tough start with an erratic
Will Levis at the helm, but he gets another positive matchup this
week against a Texans team that has allowed the 2nd-most TDs to
WRs. NWI has scored in five of his last six games.
Smith had a monster game against the Raiders, going 8-6-101-2
in a dominant victory. Up next is a much tougher task against
the Patriots, but he caught 5 passes for 62 yards against them
in Week 5.
Dissly continued his strong run of play with a 6-4-80-1 line
against a porous Bengals secondary. This week he’ll look
to keep it going against a Ravens defense that has given up the
most receptions and 2nd-most yards to opposing TEs.
Ertz had another solid game in a tough loss to the Eagles, going
7-6-47-1 receiving. Up next he gets another divisional matchup
against the Cowboys who have given up the 6th-most TDs to TEs.
Schoonmaker came in for an injured Jake Ferguson and was 2nd
on the team in targets, catching 6 of 10 for 56 yards. Ferguson
very well may be out this week with a concussion. If so, Schoonmaker
could be an option as a safety blanket for Cooper Rush. The Commanders
have tied the Cowboys for 6th-most TDs allowed to TEs.
Calvin Austin
/ Mike Williams,
PIT vs BAL: Both WRs fell flat against a Ravens secondary that
has been getting absolutely torched; Austin fared the best by
catching 1 of 2 targets for -1 (!) yard; Williams was not targeted.
There will be better days ahead, but it seems any WRs not named
George Pickens are way down the target pecking order.
Cedric Tillman, CLE @ NO: Tillman saw a respectable 8 targets,
but only caught 3 for 47 yards on a day when Jameis Winston threw
for 395 yards. Up next is a much tougher assignment against the
division-leading Steelers.
Ricky Pearsall,
SF vs SEA: Pearsall came crashing back to earth in a loss to the
Seahawks, failing to catch either of his 2 targets. Jauan Jennings
and Deebo Samuel dominated targets with George Kittle sitting
out. Pearsall will be a distant 4th or 5th option against the
Packers in Week 12.
Demario Douglas, NE vs LAR: Douglas finished 2nd on the team
in targets, delivering a 7-5-59-0 in a loss to the Rams. He hasn’t
scored a lot of touchdowns but he keeps soaking up targets. Up
next is a tough Dolphins team but one he saw 9 targets against
in Week 5.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, NO vs CLE: MVS had another classic
stat line in a win over the Browns, going 4-2-87-1 receiving.
Up next the Saints are on bye before a home game versus the Rams.
Devaughn Vele, DEN vs ATL: Vele was 2nd on the team in targets
again, going 5-4-66-0 in a blowout win against the Falcons, unfortunately
he did not get one of Bo Nix’s 4 TD passes. Up next is a
tougher matchup against a Raiders team they beat handily in Week
5.
TE Hunter Henry, NE vs LAR: Henry had a nice rebound game against
the Rams, going 9-6-63-0 as the target leader for rookie Drake
Maye. He gets a much tougher assignment against the Dolphins this
week.
TE Dawson Knox,
BUF vs KC: Knox had a nice day with Dalton Kincaid out due to
a knee injury, going 6-4-40-0 in a win against the previously
undefeated Chiefs. The Bills are on bye this week, and it remains
to be seen if Kincaid can return in Week 13.
Defense/ Special Teams
Commanders vs DAL
UPDATE:
The Cowboys have given up the 2nd most turnovers in the league
and just gave up their first defensive touchdown of the year to
the Texans. The Commanders recently lost a tough divisional game
against the Eagles and will be hungry to take advantage of the
Dak-less Cowboys.
Cardinals @ SEA
The Cardinals were on bye in Week 11, but the two previous games
they created a total of 9 sacks while giving up a combined 15
points. This week they get a Seahawks team that has given up the
3rd-most points to opposing defenses.
Buccaneers @ NYG
The Bucs were also on bye, but now they get the struggling Giants,
who lost to the Panthers by giving up 3 turnovers in their last
game. That’s 6 turnovers in their last three games as the
Giants have lost five straight, and they’ve given up 3 D/ST
TDs (2nd-most in the league).
Other DST to consider: Broncos @ LV
Last week’s waiver adds:
Dolphins vs LV: Miami generated 3 sacks and
a turnover in a rout of the Raiders. A solid showing, but not
quite up to expectations against the most turnover prone offense
in the league. The Dolphins get another plus matchup against the
Patriots this week.
UPDATE:Texans
@ DAL: The Texans got 5 sacks, 2 turnovers, and a defensive touchdown
against the Cooper Rush-led Cowboys. If you picked them up you
can run it back this week against the turnover-prone Titans.
Packers @ CHI: The Packers lead the league in
turnovers created, but unfortunately couldn’t get any in
a tight win over the Bears. They did get 3 sacks and blocked a
kick, however. Up next they get a tough assignment against the
49ers.
