We are in the thick of the regular NFL and fantasy football season. While a few teams may have separated themselves, there are still many teams in the hunt. Some of these teams had players get waived or suffer an injury. While it’s always unfortunate to see, that player has an opportunity to make a comeback, later. Meanwhile, opportunity knocks for another worthy player. These players are worth adding on the fantasy football waiver wire due to their performance, new team, or new opportunity with an injury to another player.
Whether your fantasy football team is one that’s separated themselves, one that’s in the hunt, or one that’s simply trying to stay competitive, the fantasy football waiver wire is the best way to revive your team that could use some more life. Here are the players I’d like to highlight after Week 11, heading into Week 12.
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 12: Running backs
Latavius Murray, Broncos
The Denver Broncos have been struggling to find their identity this season. Injury woes have attributed to this problem. Since losing running back Javonte Williams, they have tried multiple combinations of running backs including Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone, Melvin Gordon and Latavius Murray, and Gordon, Murray, and Chase Edmonds. After Week 11’s loss, the Broncos have released Gordon and announced that Edmonds will miss multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain.
Only rostered in 11.2% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Murray finished as RB2 in Week 11. He totaled 21 touches and is on pace for 20+ on a weekly basis with the only other back being Marlon Mack, who’s on the practice squad. Murray is a priority waiver wire pickup in all formats.
Samaje Perine, Bengals
After Joe Mixon scored 5 touchdowns in Week 9, Samaje Perine said “it’s my turn” in Week 11, following their bye. He scored 3 receiving touchdowns en route to scoring 30.2 PPR FPTS. Good for an RB1 finish, he’s had one RB2 and two RB3 finishes this season, as well.
Still available in nearly 99% of NFL.com fantasy football leagues, Perine is the clear second-string running back behind Mixon and change-of-pace for the Bengals. Mixon left Sunday’s contest against the Steelers with a head injury. Perine is a priority add in all formats if Mixon misses Week 12, and a stash in deep PPR leagues.
Eno Benjamin, Texans
After surprisingly being waived by the Cardinals, Eno Benjamin was claimed by the Texans. When filling in for the injured James Conner, he had one game with 92 rushing yards. Otherwise, he does most of his damage receiving, which is probably why the Texans, who already have Dameon Pierce, brought him in.
Only rostered in 20.2% of NFL.com fantasy football leagues, Eno Benjamin was likely brought in to replace Rex Burkhead. The 32-year-old back is currently 14th in targets to a running back. He was averaging 5 targets a game in Weeks 1-7. Benjamin is worth stashing in deep PPR leagues with the likelihood of seeing high targets on a struggling team.
If he’s still available, Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs
If he’s recently become available, Melvin Gordon, Waivers
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 12: Wide Receivers
Joshua Palmer, Chargers
With both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams out, Joshua Palmer and Deandre Carter had to step up as the two starting wide receivers. As a result, he saw 6 targets or more in Weeks 6-11. With Allen and Williams back, there may have been some concern that he wouldn’t see targets, but the Chargers use 11 personnel (3 wide receivers) often enough, and Williams has to exit the game early (reaggravated high ankle sprain).
Only rostered in 30.1% of NFL.com fantasy football leagues, Palmer has proved to be a talented receiver. He had 106 yards and 2 touchdowns with 8 receptions on 10 targets in Week 11 alone. Having three games with 99 yards or in 2022, he is worth rostering and streaming as a boom-or-bust wide receiver in all formats.
Treylon Burks, Titans
Treylon Burks got activated from IR on November 12th. Since then, he’s seen 14 targets over two games. In Week 11, he eclipsed 100 yards for the first time this season, and in his career. Essentially drafted to replace A.J. Brown after being traded to the Eagles, I analyzed the impact Burks has on the Titans’ offense and tweeted the results.
Only rostered one 20.6% of NFL.com fantasy football leagues, Burks is clearly the Titans’ number 1 receiving option. He is on pace for 5+ targets a game, closer to 10 if it’s a high-scoring AFC matchup. He is worth adding and streaming in PPR formats.
Demarcus Robinson, Ravens
With Rashod Bateman out for the rest of the season, other wide receivers have to step up for the Ravens. You may remember me writing about Devin Duvernay after Week 8. After Week 11, I’m now writing about Demarcus Robinson. He exploded for 128 yards on 9 targets and receptions.
Still available in nearly 99% of NFL.com fantasy football leagues, some weeks it may be Duvernay, and some weeks it may be Robinson. Both have to try to get targets over elite tight end Mark Andrews. Nonetheless, Robinson is worth a stash in deep leagues and streaming with injuries and bye weeks looming.
If he’s still available, Christian Watson, Packers
If he’s recently become available Allen Robinson, Rams
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 12: Quarterbacks
Andy Dalton, Saints
You may remember me writing about Andy Dalton after Week 8. Despite receiving some criticism over the past few weeks, he’s still the starting quarterback. He responded to the feedback and opportunity by passing for 260 yards, 3 touchdowns, and completing 84% of passes in a win. Being that he finished as QB7, he may have helped some fantasy football managers win, as well.
Only rostered one 93.3% of NFL.com fantasy football leagues, Dalton now has two top-10 QB fantasy football finishes. As long as he is the starting QB of the team with Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Jarvis Landry, and Juwan Johnson, he will be fantasy relevant. He is worth streaming in one-QB leagues and is worth rostering and starting in two-QB leagues.
If he’s still available, Deshaun Watson, Browns
If he’s recently become available, Derek Carr
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 12: Tight Ends
Trey McBride, Cardinals
Cardinals starting tight end, Zach Ertz, suffered a knee injury in Week 10 and has been ruled out for the season. The next man up is Trey McBride. The 2022 2nd-round pick now has a chance to show what he can do in extended action. Expect the former Colorado State receiving threat to capitalize.
Still available in 98.2% of NFL.com fantasy football leagues, it may be hard to project McBride’s future target share because he has played with Colt McCoy the past two weeks, not Kyler Murray. However, Ertz never saw less than 4 targets in a game (when healthy). McBride saw at least that many in his first game starting, it’s not crazy for me to say he’s on pace for 4+ targets a week. He is worth rostering as a flier in PPR leagues and a priority pickup in TE-Premium leagues.
If he’s still available, Juwan Johnson, Saints