Week 12: Waiver Wire Pickups

gravicon      ajgreen

With so many injuries hitting the league in Week 11 and the Fantasy Playoffs around the corner it’s more important not then ever to keep your bench loaded with potential starters!

Wide Receivers

Rishard Matthews @ CHI (ESPN 60%, Yahoo 70%)
When ownership percentages approach the 70s, I assume players are owned in most, if not all, competitive leagues.  However, it feels like Matthews still isn’t getting the respect he deserves.

Tyler Boyd @ BAL (ESPN 5%, Yahoo 6%)

Brandon LaFell @ BAL (ESPN 11%, Yahoo 11%)

With the losses of Giovani Bernard and A.J. Green, the Bengals lost 45% of their target share.  Those passes must go somewhere.  Boyd and LaFell figure to be the primary beneficiaries.

Sammy Watkins vs JAX (ESPN 33%, Yahoo 42%)
Reports are that Rex Ryan hopes to have Watkins available for at least a few snaps in Week 12.  This is the earliest he is eligible to return.  Even if Week 13 or 14 is a more realistic projection, his return is close and he is worth a stash.

DeVante Parker vs SF (ESPN 48%, Yahoo 67%)
Talented player with a high ceiling, in a plus matchup at home against the susceptible 49ers.  If you can stomach the low floor, or if you’re desperate Parker could be worth the gamble.

Will Fuller vs SD (ESPN 52%, Yahoo 49%)
Will Fuller’s back to back 100-yard games feel like ancient history at this point.  He hasn’t gone over 30 receiving yards since Week 4.  He’s a long shot.

Mohamed Sanu vs AZ (ESPN 50%, Yahoo 53%)
This game could be a high-flying affair.  Personally, I’m looking to start any Falcon that I can get my hands on this week.

Corey Coleman vs NYG (ESPN 52%, Yahoo 56%)
Josh McCown figures to get the start (again) in Cleveland.  The veteran’s gunslinger play style is a positive for all pass catchers.

Running Backs

Thomas Rawls @ TB (ESPN 73%, Yahoo 73%)
C.J. Prosise: Out. Christine Michael: Cut. Alex Collins: Fat. Troymaine Pope: Out. The writing is on the wall in Seattle.

James Starks @ PHI (ESPN 55%, Yahoo 71%)
Added value in PPR leagues, Starks is heavily used in the screen game.  The recent arrival, Christine Michael is unlikely to be a factor.

Wendell Smallwood vs GB (ESPN 2%, Yahoo 6%)
It is not often that a team loses their #1 and #2 options at a position in the same week, but that is what happened to the Eagles in Week 11.  With Mathews and Sproles out for the foreseeable future, Smallwood looks to be the guy to whom Pederson will turn.

Tim Hightower vs LA (ESPN 54%, Yahoo 51%)
Mark Ingram has a mini-bye to clear the concussion protocol after taking a big hit on Thursday Night Football.  If he is forced to miss time, Hightower has RB1 potential.

Chris Ivory @ BUF (ESPN 55%, Yahoo 48%)
As gross as this may sound, Yeldon’s injury has left Ivory with an opportunity to produce.

Mike Gillislee vs JAX (ESPN 26%, Yahoo 25%)
There are whispers in the bushes that McCoy will be able to return in Week 12.  Shady owners should have Gillislee on standby, just in case.

Dion Lewis @ NYJ (ESPN 45%, Yahoo 60%)
Lewis has looked electric in limited work since his return from his ACL injury.  He gets the Jets in Week 12 who boast a strong front seven.  The Patriots may do a considerable amount of running through the air.

Alfred Morris vs WAS (ESPN 14%, Yahoo 12%)
Elliott owners… get it together!

Kenneth Dixon vs CIN (ESPN 23%, Yahoo 28%)
The hyped rookie has not been getting enough touches, but he has been more efficient than Terrance West with what he’s been getting.

Tight Ends

Cameron Brate vs SEA (ESPN 45%, Yahoo 61%)
Tough matchup but this is a concentrated passing attack and Brate is always a threat to score.

Zach Ertz vs GB (ESPN 56%, Yahoo 58%)
Ertz could’ve had a monster game in Week 11, were it not for a long TD nullified by a penalty.

Eric Ebron vs MIN (ESPN 70%, Yahoo 69%)
Probably owned, but you may get lucky.

Gary Barnidge vs NYG (ESPN 56%, Yahoo 57%)
Once again, McCown under center represents an uptick for all Cleveland pass-catchers.

C.J. Fiedorowicz vs SD (ESPN 34.9%, Yahoo 22%)
Osweiler only has eyes for C.J. in recent weeks.

Defense/Special Teams

Bills vs JAX (ESPN 44%, Yahoo 57%)
B-O-R-T-L-E-S.

Chargers @ HOU (ESPN 29%, Yahoo 18%)
No green laser pointers needed in this one.

Titans @ CHI (ESPN 14%, Yahoo 16%)
Matt Barkley is not well suited for the NFL and he will be trying to get it done without Alshon Jeffery or Zach Miller.

Steelers @ IND (ESPN 37%, Yahoo 47%)
Possibly owned on the heels of their matchup with Cleveland, but the Steelers no face an un-LUCK-y Colts team on a short week.

Kickers

Matt Bryant vs AZ (ESPN 70%, Yahoo 50%)
#1 kicker in fantasy, if his owner was forced to drop him on his bye, scoop him up.

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