Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

In most leagues, there are only three regular season games left. The Fantasy Football Playoffs are inching closer, and you need to make sure your team is up for a deep playoff push. There are still plenty of talented players that are worth submitting waiver claims for. Consider these five players below when doing so. But first, let’s take a look at the players that didn’t make the list but are worth mentioning. The “other notables” deserve to be looked at as well. 

Other Notables: 

• (WR) Breshad Perriman – New York Jets (11 percent owned)

• (WR) Nelson Agholor – Las Vegas Raiders (19 percent owned)

• (RB) Gus Edwards – Baltimore Ravens (28 percent owned)

• (QB) Derek Carr – Las Vegas Raiders (36 percent owned)

• (WR) Sterling Shepard – New York Giants (44 percent owned)

The five players below MUST be rostered if they are available. This is the first list of the year that features at least one QB, RB, TE, and WR. 

(TE) – Jordan Reed – San Francisco 49ers (15 percent owned)

Reed seems to finally be “healthy.” I know…I know, it’s Jordan Reed, and he may be the Julio Jones of tight ends (except he lacks star power, but you know what I’m saying). The guy can never stay on the field, but he’s persevered this season by battling injuries and COVID-19. George Kittle is obviously out for the year, and Reed was solid in his last performance. The veteran tight end caught five of his six targets for 62 yards and produced 11.2 PPR points. He is going to be a huge part of that San Francisco offense moving forward. Brandon Aiyuk has been placed on the IR, Deebo Samuel is still battling a hamstring injury and Kendrick Bourne was just removed from the COVID-19 list. Expect about four-six targets a week for Reed as long as Kittle is sidelined. 

(QB) – Taysom Hill – New Orleans Saints (43 percent owned)

After a surprising decision to start Hill against the Falcons last week, Sean Payton looks like a genius. Will Hill produce more than 20 PPR points per week? He just may! Talk about versatility, Hill can throw, run and catch. Now that he is the signal-caller for Paytson’s offense, things could get dangerous. He throws like a starting quarterback, runs like a bruising running back and he goes through his progressions like a veteran signal-caller. The former BYU standout finished the day passing 18 for 23 for 233 yards, rushing for 51 yards, two touchdowns and producing 24.42 PPR points. He was the QB4 for week 11. If you lack consistent quarterback play, or just need a solid backup, Hill is your guy. 

(WR) Michael Pittman Jr. – Indianapolis Colts (44 percent owned)

Finally, we get to see the breakout of Pittman Jr. In his last two matchups, the rookie receiver has produced 34.8 PPR points. In that span, he has caught 10 of his 11 targets for 167 yards and a touchdown. He recorded his first 100-yard performance in week 10 and scored his first receiving touchdown last week. Pittman Jr. has seen just as many targets as T.Y. Hilton in the past two weeks (11). If you need a good wide receiver for your bench, the rookie would be a great fit. He might even become a sure starting flex option. For now, it wouldn’t hurt to submit a waiver claim on him if you struggle at the wide receiver position. 

(RB) James White – New England Patriots (40 percent owned) 

Unfortunately, Rex Burkhead will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Sony Michel will be returning to game action soon, but it looks like White is primed to receive his old role back. He will strictly be used out of the backfield to catch passes and carry the ball a couple of times a game. With Burkhead out, White could flourish like he had in years past. In New England’s last matchup against the Houston Texans, the versatile back carried the ball five times for 19 yards, and he caught six of his nine targets for 64 yards to finish the day with 14.3 PPR points. From here on out, White should consistently finish with double-digit PPR points. He could serve as a solid plug-in/flex option. 

(WR) Curtis Samuel – Carolina Panthers (50 percent owned) 

Samuel was on this list a couple of weeks ago, and he appears back on it because of his tremendous play as of late. After only producing 4.2 PPR points in week 10, Samuel turned it around and produced 21.4 points this past week, which is the third time in the last four weeks he has topped 20 fantasy points. The fourth-year-pro finished week 11 with eight catches for 70 yards, one carry for four yards and two total touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing). He’s tied among all wide receivers in rushing touchdowns with two. Samuel is the WR25 on the season and the WR5 in the last four weeks. Yet, he is only rostered in half of Yahoo Leagues. It’s time to submit a waiver claim for the Carolina stand-out.