by Nate Polvogt
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If you like winning, come back every week for under-the-radar fantasy waiver wire pickups to keep you in contention until the final contest. We leave no stone unturned to ensure we give you the BEST chance to win week in and week out. Let’s get to it with our Week 12 waiver wire pickups.
It’s been a long haul, but here we are, friends. The fantasy football playoffs are only a few weeks away, and whether your team’s spot is clinched or you are still fighting, we’re here to help you on the way.
This season has been chock-full of injuries and flat-out busts – I’m looking at you, Aaron Rodgers. However, we’ve also had some pleasant surprises – think Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels surprising everyone, plus the emergence of Tyrone Tracy in New York.
While there are likely still more disappointments to come, there are also a handful of quality additions for your fantasy football rosters on the Week 12 waiver wire. I’ve loaded my favorite widely available Week 12 waiver wire pickups at QB, RB and WR into one glorious article. Look for my Streaming TEs and D/STs article coming later in the week after the waiver wire clears.
For now, here are the players I believe are worth a look for fantasy squads on the Week 12 waiver wire.
~ Check Out Our Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings ~
Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
*Rostership percentages courtesy of ESPN
Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups | QB
Jameis Winston (QB – CLE) | 8%
Even a lousy week of NFL football from Jameis Winston is good for fantasy football. Despite Cleveland getting throttled by New Orleans, Winston still turned in 26.6 fantasy points, making him the overall QB6 in Week 11.
Cleveland has two dates with the vaunted Steelers defense over the next three weeks, with a matchup against Denver sandwiched in between. However, we know from experience Winston doesn’t care about defenses. He will sling the ball regardless, and even if he’s not perfect, the points will come.
Unless you’re worried about a bye-week fill-in, he’s not someone I’d roster in a 1QB league. However, Winston is a reliable QB2 for the rest of the 2024 season. Don’t break your remaining FAAB budget trying to roster him, but throw a few dollars down if needed.
Derek Carr (QB – NO) | 13.5%
I loudly preached the ills of Dennis Allen all offseason, and now that the demon has been exercised, QB Derek Carr is dealing. Since his return in Week 9, Carr is the overall QB11 in fantasy football.
He isn’t a high-end QB option for the rest of the season, but in 2QB and Superflex leagues, he is a solid start. In 1QB leagues, Carr provides an adequate fill-in with a reliable floor for bye weeks or an injury. Don’t break the bank to acquire the veteran signal-caller. Still, if you’re QB-needy approaching the fantasy football playoffs, Carr is likely your best option on the Week 12 waiver wire.
Gardner Minshew (QB – LV) | 2.5%
This Las Vegas isn’t good, especially in a surprisingly stacked AFC West. However, QB Gardner Minshew has weapons in the passing attack and lacks competent backfield help. Week 12 saw Minshew finish as QB14 with two TD passes, but the next few weeks get tough for the veteran journeyman.
Week 12 has Las Vegas up against Denver, then facing off against Kansas City and Tampa Bay in Weeks 13 & 14. Much like Winston, Minshew will be throwing enough to be relevant in 2QB & Superflex leagues and isn’t more than a depth addition in 1QB formats.
He won’t light the world on fire, but Minshew provides depth as we roll through the remaining bye weeks. In addition, there could be a few spot-start opportunities for him in deeper leagues. More likely than not, he clears the waiver wire in your league this week and can be rostered for free on Wednesday morning.
Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups | RB
Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI) | 12%
As it turns out, Shane Waldron was a big part – still not all – of the problem. With the former Bears offensive coordinator sitting at home this Sunday, Chicago came within a blocked field goal of beating the division-rival Packers. While new OC Thomas Brown didn’t lean as run-heavy as some had assumed, RB Roschon Johnson saw a season-high 10 carries compared to D’Andre Swift‘s 14. In addition to the uptick in work as the Bears RB2, Johnson logged his fifth TD of the season.
Should he continue to see additional work alongside Swift, Johnson moves from a solely TD-dependent fantasy option to a situational Flex play for the rest of the season. Depth is critical this time of year, and Johnson provides that with weekly startable upside on your roster. If you’re a Swift manager, this is a no-brainer. If you’re a contender, adding Johnson could benefit you during the stretch run at a reasonable price of little to no FAAB.
Blake Corum (RB – LAR) | 15.5%
Like many players fantasy managers are considering rostering on the waiver wire, Rams rookie RB Blake Corum is primarily a high-end playoff handcuff for RB Kyren Williams.
Considering Williams’ performance in 2024, Corum has been relegated to 28 carries and four targets this season. Unless Williams misses, it’s unlikely Corum will have stand-alone fantasy relevance. However, should that happen, the rookie will – in theory – take over a 15-20 carry workload in Los Angeles. If you’re a playoff contender with Williams on your roster, Corum is a must-add as we approach the promised land.
Williams is currently the overall PPR RB8, and that kind of production could be impossible to replace without Corum as a safety net. While he won’t replicate what Williams does, he’s the best option to ensure you’re not left in the cold later on.
Trey Benson (RB – ARI) | 17.5%
Coming off a Week 11 bye, many fantasy managers are interested to see how RB Trey Benson enters the Arizona offensive fold. During season’son’s first eight weeks, the rookie ball carrier saw limited work behind veteran RB James Conner. In that span, Benson logged 31 carries for 117 yards and two catches for 12 yards.
However, Benson has seen an increased workload in the last two games. In games against the Bears and the Jets, he has 18 carries for 99 yards, a touchdown, and three catches for 33 yards. While Conner isn’t going to disappear, the increase in opportunity is encouraging Benson’s fantasy value.
At a minimum, Benson is a high-end handcuff for Conner managers for the rest of the season. Should Conner miss time, Benson has already shown he can step into a more significant role if needed. At best, Benson establishes a role in the Cardinals offense and is a viable flex option in the fantasy playoffs. You can drop five to ten percent of your remaining FAAB budget to roster Benson for the rest of the season.
Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups | WR
Devaughn Vele (RB – DEN) | 1%
The Denver Broncos offense has been a pleasant surprise this season, and the emergence of rookie WR Devaughn Vele has been a bonus. The 26-year-old seventh-round pick out of Utah has become one of Nix’s preferred targets, with eight catches on nine targets and a TD in his last two games.
It was an impressive start to the season for Vele, who caught all eight of his targets against the Seahawks in Week 1. However, he also suffered a rib injury in that game, landing him on IR through Week 5. Since his return in Week 6, Vele is second on the team in targets (12), catches (10) and receiving yards (116). He is averaging 9.2 PPR fantasy points in that span.
Vele isn’t going to get you a surprise WR1 week, but his volume is trending up, and Denver seems to be for real. He looks like a reliable Flex option that won’t cost you much for the rest of the season. Throw in a minimal FAAB bid of a dollar or two, or wait until waivers clear, and you might be able to roster him for free.
Kendrick Bourne (WR – NE) | 1.5%
Veteran WR Kendrick Bourne has had a slow start to the 2024 season. Still recovering from a torn ACL in 2023, Bourne missed the season’s first four weeks. Once activated in Week 5, he got off to a slow start before being benched in Week 10 against the Bears.
Bourne got the message, returning in Week 11 to catch all five targets for 70 yards and a TD. That was good enough for 18 PPR points, making him WR17 for the week.
Over his last two games, Bourne has seen 11 targets, catching nine passes for 111 yards and one TD. Rookie QB Drake Maye has few receiving options outside of TE Hunter Henry and fellow WR Demario Douglas. If he stays on the field, Bourne will have a reliable floor for the rest of the season in fantasy football and is worth adding as a depth piece once waivers are clear.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (WR – TEN) | 4%
The WR waiver wire theme this week is becoming clear: late-blooming WRs. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine might be the most drastic example of this trend, however. Westbrook-Ikhine didn’t see a single target in the Titans’ first four games despite being active and having an 88.5 percent route participation.
After the Titans bye week, things changed for Westbrook-Ikhine. Since Week 5, the fifth-year pass catcher has 15 catches on 24 targets for 256 yards and 5 TDs. He is the overall PPR WR20 in that span. Over the last three weeks, Westbrook-Ikine has averaged more than 30 passing snaps per game, with an average route participation of 95.2 percent.
You don’t have to like Will Levis or the Titans’ offense to see the fantasy value in Westbrook-Ikhine. He has a top-12 PPR WR ceiling every week, with a reliable back-end WR2/high-end WR3 floor with DeAndre Hopkins out of the way. It shouldn’t cost you more than a few dollars of your remaining FAAB, and it can serve as a reliable bye-week fill-in or Flex start in all formats.
Nate Polvogt is a Co-Founder and the Lead Senior Analyst for Optimus Fantasy Football. Find more from Nate on Bluesky @NatePolvogt.optimusfantasy.com and on Optimus Fantasy.
by Nate Polvogt
Share
If you like winning, come back every week for under-the-radar fantasy waiver wire pickups to keep you in contention until the final contest. We leave no stone unturned to ensure we give you the BEST chance to win week in and week out. Let’s get to it with our Week 12 waiver wire pickups.
It’s been a long haul, but here we are, friends. The fantasy football playoffs are only a few weeks away, and whether your team’s spot is clinched or you are still fighting, we’re here to help you on the way.
This season has been chock-full of injuries and flat-out busts – I’m looking at you, Aaron Rodgers. However, we’ve also had some pleasant surprises – think Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels surprising everyone, plus the emergence of Tyrone Tracy in New York.
While there are likely still more disappointments to come, there are also a handful of quality additions for your fantasy football rosters on the Week 12 waiver wire. I’ve loaded my favorite widely available Week 12 waiver wire pickups at QB, RB and WR into one glorious article. Look for my Streaming TEs and D/STs article coming later in the week after the waiver wire clears.
For now, here are the players I believe are worth a look for fantasy squads on the Week 12 waiver wire.
~ Check Out Our Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings ~
Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
*Rostership percentages courtesy of ESPN
Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups | QB
Jameis Winston (QB – CLE) | 8%
Even a lousy week of NFL football from Jameis Winston is good for fantasy football. Despite Cleveland getting throttled by New Orleans, Winston still turned in 26.6 fantasy points, making him the overall QB6 in Week 11.
Cleveland has two dates with the vaunted Steelers defense over the next three weeks, with a matchup against Denver sandwiched in between. However, we know from experience Winston doesn’t care about defenses. He will sling the ball regardless, and even if he’s not perfect, the points will come.
Unless you’re worried about a bye-week fill-in, he’s not someone I’d roster in a 1QB league. However, Winston is a reliable QB2 for the rest of the 2024 season. Don’t break your remaining FAAB budget trying to roster him, but throw a few dollars down if needed.
Derek Carr (QB – NO) | 13.5%
I loudly preached the ills of Dennis Allen all offseason, and now that the demon has been exercised, QB Derek Carr is dealing. Since his return in Week 9, Carr is the overall QB11 in fantasy football.
He isn’t a high-end QB option for the rest of the season, but in 2QB and Superflex leagues, he is a solid start. In 1QB leagues, Carr provides an adequate fill-in with a reliable floor for bye weeks or an injury. Don’t break the bank to acquire the veteran signal-caller. Still, if you’re QB-needy approaching the fantasy football playoffs, Carr is likely your best option on the Week 12 waiver wire.
Gardner Minshew (QB – LV) | 2.5%
This Las Vegas isn’t good, especially in a surprisingly stacked AFC West. However, QB Gardner Minshew has weapons in the passing attack and lacks competent backfield help. Week 12 saw Minshew finish as QB14 with two TD passes, but the next few weeks get tough for the veteran journeyman.
Week 12 has Las Vegas up against Denver, then facing off against Kansas City and Tampa Bay in Weeks 13 & 14. Much like Winston, Minshew will be throwing enough to be relevant in 2QB & Superflex leagues and isn’t more than a depth addition in 1QB formats.
He won’t light the world on fire, but Minshew provides depth as we roll through the remaining bye weeks. In addition, there could be a few spot-start opportunities for him in deeper leagues. More likely than not, he clears the waiver wire in your league this week and can be rostered for free on Wednesday morning.
Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups | RB
Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI) | 12%
As it turns out, Shane Waldron was a big part – still not all – of the problem. With the former Bears offensive coordinator sitting at home this Sunday, Chicago came within a blocked field goal of beating the division-rival Packers. While new OC Thomas Brown didn’t lean as run-heavy as some had assumed, RB Roschon Johnson saw a season-high 10 carries compared to D’Andre Swift‘s 14. In addition to the uptick in work as the Bears RB2, Johnson logged his fifth TD of the season.
Should he continue to see additional work alongside Swift, Johnson moves from a solely TD-dependent fantasy option to a situational Flex play for the rest of the season. Depth is critical this time of year, and Johnson provides that with weekly startable upside on your roster. If you’re a Swift manager, this is a no-brainer. If you’re a contender, adding Johnson could benefit you during the stretch run at a reasonable price of little to no FAAB.
Blake Corum (RB – LAR) | 15.5%
Like many players fantasy managers are considering rostering on the waiver wire, Rams rookie RB Blake Corum is primarily a high-end playoff handcuff for RB Kyren Williams.
Considering Williams’ performance in 2024, Corum has been relegated to 28 carries and four targets this season. Unless Williams misses, it’s unlikely Corum will have stand-alone fantasy relevance. However, should that happen, the rookie will – in theory – take over a 15-20 carry workload in Los Angeles. If you’re a playoff contender with Williams on your roster, Corum is a must-add as we approach the promised land.
Williams is currently the overall PPR RB8, and that kind of production could be impossible to replace without Corum as a safety net. While he won’t replicate what Williams does, he’s the best option to ensure you’re not left in the cold later on.
Trey Benson (RB – ARI) | 17.5%
Coming off a Week 11 bye, many fantasy managers are interested to see how RB Trey Benson enters the Arizona offensive fold. During season’son’s first eight weeks, the rookie ball carrier saw limited work behind veteran RB James Conner. In that span, Benson logged 31 carries for 117 yards and two catches for 12 yards.
However, Benson has seen an increased workload in the last two games. In games against the Bears and the Jets, he has 18 carries for 99 yards, a touchdown, and three catches for 33 yards. While Conner isn’t going to disappear, the increase in opportunity is encouraging Benson’s fantasy value.
At a minimum, Benson is a high-end handcuff for Conner managers for the rest of the season. Should Conner miss time, Benson has already shown he can step into a more significant role if needed. At best, Benson establishes a role in the Cardinals offense and is a viable flex option in the fantasy playoffs. You can drop five to ten percent of your remaining FAAB budget to roster Benson for the rest of the season.
Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups | WR
Devaughn Vele (RB – DEN) | 1%
The Denver Broncos offense has been a pleasant surprise this season, and the emergence of rookie WR Devaughn Vele has been a bonus. The 26-year-old seventh-round pick out of Utah has become one of Nix’s preferred targets, with eight catches on nine targets and a TD in his last two games.
It was an impressive start to the season for Vele, who caught all eight of his targets against the Seahawks in Week 1. However, he also suffered a rib injury in that game, landing him on IR through Week 5. Since his return in Week 6, Vele is second on the team in targets (12), catches (10) and receiving yards (116). He is averaging 9.2 PPR fantasy points in that span.
Vele isn’t going to get you a surprise WR1 week, but his volume is trending up, and Denver seems to be for real. He looks like a reliable Flex option that won’t cost you much for the rest of the season. Throw in a minimal FAAB bid of a dollar or two, or wait until waivers clear, and you might be able to roster him for free.
Kendrick Bourne (WR – NE) | 1.5%
Veteran WR Kendrick Bourne has had a slow start to the 2024 season. Still recovering from a torn ACL in 2023, Bourne missed the season’s first four weeks. Once activated in Week 5, he got off to a slow start before being benched in Week 10 against the Bears.
Bourne got the message, returning in Week 11 to catch all five targets for 70 yards and a TD. That was good enough for 18 PPR points, making him WR17 for the week.
Over his last two games, Bourne has seen 11 targets, catching nine passes for 111 yards and one TD. Rookie QB Drake Maye has few receiving options outside of TE Hunter Henry and fellow WR Demario Douglas. If he stays on the field, Bourne will have a reliable floor for the rest of the season in fantasy football and is worth adding as a depth piece once waivers are clear.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (WR – TEN) | 4%
The WR waiver wire theme this week is becoming clear: late-blooming WRs. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine might be the most drastic example of this trend, however. Westbrook-Ikhine didn’t see a single target in the Titans’ first four games despite being active and having an 88.5 percent route participation.
After the Titans bye week, things changed for Westbrook-Ikhine. Since Week 5, the fifth-year pass catcher has 15 catches on 24 targets for 256 yards and 5 TDs. He is the overall PPR WR20 in that span. Over the last three weeks, Westbrook-Ikine has averaged more than 30 passing snaps per game, with an average route participation of 95.2 percent.
You don’t have to like Will Levis or the Titans’ offense to see the fantasy value in Westbrook-Ikhine. He has a top-12 PPR WR ceiling every week, with a reliable back-end WR2/high-end WR3 floor with DeAndre Hopkins out of the way. It shouldn’t cost you more than a few dollars of your remaining FAAB, and it can serve as a reliable bye-week fill-in or Flex start in all formats.
Nate Polvogt is a Co-Founder and the Lead Senior Analyst for Optimus Fantasy Football. Find more from Nate on Bluesky @NatePolvogt.optimusfantasy.com and on Optimus Fantasy.
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