For the first time since Week 6, there are no teams on a bye for the upcoming scoring period. That’s the good news for Week 12. The bad news is we have some major injuries that we’re dealing with — again. And that’s not fun.
As we start the stretch run to the Fantasy playoffs, which begin in Week 15 for the majority of leagues, Fantasy managers could be scrambling to replace several players, including a few stars. For example, Justin Fields (shoulder), Joe Mixon (concussion), Mike Williams (ankle), Kadarius Toney (hamstring) and Rondale Moore (groin) could all be out in Week 12.
We also lost Wan’Dale Robinson (ACL) for the season in Week 11, and Kyle Pitts (knee) was placed on injured reserve with a torn MCL. He will miss at least four games but could be lost for the season as well.
There are other injuries that we’re dealing with heading into Week 12, which should make for a busy waiver wire. As you know, injuries create openings for other players to succeed, and you can take advantage of that for your Fantasy roster. Players like Samaje Perine (13 percent rostered on CBS Sports), Greg Dortch (3 percent) and Skyy Moore (9 percent) could end up being difference makers in Week 12 — and beyond.
We’ll break down all of the injuries and the potential replacements below, as well as highlight some players who could be ascending at the right time like Ryan Tannehill (29 percent), Latavius Murray (57 percent), James Cook (28 percent), Donovan Peoples-Jones (64 percent) and Treylon Burks (28 percent). And it’s fantastic that Jameson Williams (31 percent) might be making his NFL debut soon.
We’ll also have streaming options at DST and kicker as always. This is a good week to spend your FAB because there are plenty of players who could help your Fantasy team make it to the playoffs or solidify your roster for what will hopefully be a long postseason run.
Editor’s note: For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 65 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Keep an eye on your inbox.
Sorry!
There was an error processing your subscription.
Week 12 Waivers
- On a bye: None
- Injuries: Josh Allen (elbow), Justin Fields (shoulder), Kyler Murray (hamstring), Matthew Stafford (concussion), Carson Wentz (finger), P.J. Walker (ankle) and John Wolford (neck).
- Check to see if available: Derek Carr (77 percent rostered) and Deshaun Watson (77 percent). Carr comes into Week 12 having scored at least 21 Fantasy points in three games in a row, including a season-high 24 points in Week 11 at Denver. He faces the Seahawks this week, who have allowed three of their past four opposing quarterbacks to score at least 20 Fantasy points. Carr can be a serviceable low-end starter in this matchup. … Watson is eligible to play in Week 13 once his suspension is over. He should be rostered in all leagues since he could be a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback to close the season.
- Drop candidates: Russell Wilson (83 percent rostered) and Matthew Stafford (61 percent). Wilson had a dream matchup against the Raiders in Week 11 and finished with just nine Fantasy points. He’s now scored 15 Fantasy points or less in five games in a row and has topped 19 points just once this season. … Stafford is in the concussion protocol for the second time since Week 9 after getting hurt at New Orleans on Sunday. It would be a surprise if he played in Week 12 at Kansas City, and there’s also a chance Stafford could be shut down for the rest of the season after dealing with multiple concussions and the Rams (3-7) out of playoff contention. Even when healthy, it will be tough to trust Stafford since he is without Cooper Kupp (ankle).
Week 12 Waiver Priority List
WAIVER WIRE
Running Backs
- On a bye: None
- Injuries: Leonard Fournette (hip), Joe Mixon (concussion), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle), Gus Edwards (hamstring), Jaylen Warren (hamstring), Khalil Herbert (hip), J.K. Dobbins (knee), Chase Edmonds (ankle), Mark Ingram (knee), J.D. McKissic (neck), Darrel Williams (hip) and Damien Williams (ribs).
- Check to see if available: Elijah Mitchell (84 percent rostered), Michael Carter (83 percent) and Damien Harris (81 percent). Mitchell is worth rostering in all leagues for two reasons. He’s the handcuff for Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco, and we know all too well about McCaffrey’s injury history. But Mitchell is also getting enough work in tandem with McCaffrey to be a potential flex option in deeper formats. In his past two games, Mitchell has 27 carries for 148 yards, and he seems to be the preferred closer for the 49ers when they have a lead. … I thought Harris looked great in Week 11 against the Jets with eight carries for 65 yards, including a 22-yard run and a 30-yard gain, as well as two catches for 28 yards on two targets. Rhamondre Stevenson remains the lead back for New England, but Harris can be stashed on your bench, especially in non-PPR leagues, if he’s available.
- Drop candidates: Melvin Gordon (79 percent rostered), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (79 percent) and Darrell Henderson (70 percent). The Broncos released Gordon on Monday, and we’ll see if the 29-year-old can find a new home this year. Even if he does end up with a new team, it’s doubtful he’ll have a prominent role. He’s not worth rostering in any redraft leagues at this time. … Edwards-Helaire is dealing with a high-ankle sprain after getting hurt in Week 11 against the Chargers, and he will likely miss multiple weeks. He was already behind Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon in terms of touches, and now Fantasy managers can safely drop Edwards-Helaire in redraft leagues while he’s injured. … The Rams waived Henderson on Tuesday in a surprise move, so we’ll see if he ends up with a new team to have a contributing role. For now, he’s not worth rostering in the majority of leagues, and he might be injured. Rams coach Sean McVay said Henderson “felt a little something in his knee” prior to Week 11 at New Orleans.
Week 12 Waiver Priority List
WAIVER WIRE
Wide Receivers
- On a bye: None
- Injuries: Ja’Marr Chase (hip), Mike Williams (ankle), JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion), Kadarius Toney (hamstring), Cooper Kupp (ankle), Mecole Hardman (abdomen), Jerry Jeudy (ankle), Rondale Moore (groin), Wan’Dale Robinson (knee), Romeo Doubs (ankle), Marquise Brown (foot), Hunter Renfrow (oblique), DeVante Parker (knee), Josh Reynolds (back), Corey Davis (knee), Russell Gage (hamstring) and D.J. Chark (ankle).
- Check to see if available: Darnell Mooney (79 percent rostered), Drake London (75 percent), Parris Campbell (74 percent) and Josh Palmer (69 percent). Mooney could have a quarterback issue if Justin Fields (shoulder) can’t play in Week 12, but hopefully Trevor Siemian would still be good for Mooney if he starts. Mooney has scored at least 12 PPR points in three of his past four games, with two touchdowns over that span. … London might get a bump in targets with Kyle Pitts (knee) out, and he has scored a touchdown in consecutive games. He hasn’t eclipsed 40 yards since Week 3, but hopefully the absence of Pitts, who had 24 targets prior to Week 11, will help London moving forward. … Campbell had another quality outing with Matt Ryan in Week 11 against Philadelphia with five catches for 67 yards on six targets. He’s now scored at least 11 PPR points in his past four starts with Ryan, and he should be considered at least a No. 3 PPR receiver for the rest of the season, as long as Ryan is under center. … Palmer had his best game of the season in Week 11 against Kansas City with eight catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams returned for the game, but Williams re-injured his ankle, meaning he could miss more time. That’s good news for Palmer, who has scored at least 13 PPR points in five of six games this season when he has at least eight targets.
- Drop candidates: Cooper Kupp (93 percent rostered), Diontae Johnson (89 percent), Brandin Cooks (81 percent), Devin Duvernay (61 percent) and Chase Claypool (61 percent). Kupp is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks with his ankle injury, which means he might not return this season. You can stash him if you have an IR spot, but it’s hard to justify rostering him since he’s unlikely to play for the 3-7 Rams again this year. … Johnson had another down game in Week 11 against the Bengals with four catches for 21 yards on five targets. He’s now scored 10 PPR points or less in five games in a row and hasn’t scored a touchdown this season. George Pickens has moved ahead of Johnson as the No. 1 receiver for Kenny Pickett. … Cooks wasn’t awful in Week 11 against Washington with three catches for 70 yards on six targets, but he’s now scored 10 PPR points or less in four of his past five outings. He also has just one touchdown on the year. In shallow leagues, you can move on from Cooks, especially in non- and 0.5-PPR leagues. … Duvernay was supposed to be the No. 1 receiver for the Ravens with Rashod Bateman (foot) out. Instead, it’s been Demarcus Robinson who has taken over that role, and Duvernay has two catches for 8 yards on two targets in his past two games. … Claypool might benefit with Siemian taking over for Fields if that happens since Siemian might throw the ball more, but Claypool has been a disappointment since being traded from Pittsburgh to Chicago. In three games with the Bears, Claypool has five catches for 32 yards and no touchdowns on just 11 targets.
Week 12 Waiver Priority List
- On a bye: None
- Injuries: Kyle Pitts (knee), Dallas Goedert (shoulder), Gerald Everett (groin), Darren Waller (hamstring), Irv Smith (ankle) and Daniel Bellinger (eye).
- Check to see if available: Dawson Knox (76 percent rostered), David Njoku (73 percent) and Darren Waller (69 percent). Knox just had his best game of the season in Week 11 against Cleveland with seven catches for 70 yards on seven targets and has 13 targets in his past two games. Maybe Josh Allen dealing with an elbow injury is good for Knox, who should be the No. 3 option in the passing game behind Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Consider Knox a starter in all leagues moving forward. … Njoku returned from a two-game absence with an ankle injury in Week 11 at Buffalo and had minimal production with two catches for 17 yards on three targets. But he has shown the ability to be a must-start Fantasy tight end in all leagues, and he should benefit with Deshaun Watson starting for the Browns in Week 13. Make sure Njoku is added in all formats. … Waller will hopefully return to form when he’s healthy after being out with a hamstring injury. He’s eligible to play in Week 14, and hopefully he can help Fantasy managers in the playoffs. If you have an IR spot then definitely stash Waller, but he’s worth a roster spot in all leagues if your tight end situation is shaky.
- Drop candidates: Kyle Pitts (93 percent rostered), Taysom Hill (56 percent) and Robert Tonyan (55 percent). There’s a chance Pitts could be done for the season, and Fantasy managers should only be stashing him at this point in redraft leagues if you have an open IR spot. … Hill had a productive game in Week 11 against the Rams with nine carries for 52 yards and one catch for 8 yards, but now he has to face the 49ers, which should be problematic. He has been at eight PPR points or less for six games in a row. … Tonyan hasn’t been the factor in the passing game I hoped for this season, and he comes into Week 12 at the Eagles having scored eight PPR points or less in five games in a row. There’s little reason to roster him at this point in the majority of leagues.
Week 12 Waiver Priority List
- Chiefs (53 percent rostered) vs. LAR
- Steelers (41 percent rostered) at IND
- Broncos (64 percent rostered) at CAR
- Dolphins (42 percent rostered) vs. HOU
- Buccaneers (63 percent rostered) at CLE
- Cameron Dicker (9 percent rostered) at ARI
- Ryan Succop (43 percent rostered) at CLE
- Joey Slye (16 percent rostered) vs. ATL
- Jason Sanders (28 percent rostered) vs. HOU
- Matthew Wright (11 percent rostered) at IND
