Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 12

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

Mayfield has been a solid fantasy streamer more weeks than not this season, finishing as a top-12 weekly performer in 60% of his games with the Buccaneers.

Before last week's difficult matchup with the 49ers, Mayfield had a streak of four straight QB1 fantasy results.

As long as Chris Godwin's ankle injury isn't serious, Mayfield will likely flirt with that type of production again when he takes on the middle-of-the-pack Colts defense in Week 12.

Streaming options: Gardner Minshew vs. TB (13% rostered), Jordan Love at DET (46% rostered)

Streaming options (if healthy): Matthew Stafford at ARI (47% rostered), Derek Carr at ATL (41% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Bryce Young at TEN (15% rostered), Kenny Pickett at CIN (16% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Jameis Winston at ATL (1% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Will Levis vs. CAR (29% rostered), Desmond Ridder vs. NO (5% rostered), Jake Browning vs. PIT (1% rostered), Aidan O'Connell vs. KC (5% rostered), Dorian Thompson-Robinson at DEN (6% rostered), Tommy DeVito vs. NE (3% rostered), Tim Boyle vs. MIA (0% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starting): Mac Jones at NYG (8% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): Drew Lock vs. SF (0% rostered)

2QB or superflex stashes: Bailey Zappe (1% rostered), Will Grier (0% rostered), Joe Flacco (0% rostered), Trevor Siemian (0% rostered)

Running backs

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

Kenneth Walker III is dealing with an oblique injury that's likely to keep him sidelined for at least a week or two - and possibly longer.

That elevates Charbonnet into the starting role, which he appears more than capable of handling after performing well on increased snaps over the last month.

The only thing dimming the rookie's outlook is a brutal schedule featuring four extremely difficult matchups over the next four weeks: the 49ers, Cowboys, 49ers again, and Eagles.

Charbonnet will be in the low-end RB2 fantasy mix in the games that Walker misses, but he would have been in the RB1 conversation against weaker opponents.

Ty Chandler, Vikings

Chandler was relegated to No. 2 running back duties when Alexander Mattison surprisingly cleared concussion protocol in less than a week and started against the Broncos.

Even with Mattison dominating snaps, Chandler was heavily involved en route to 14 touches, which he turned into 110 scrimmage yards and four receptions.

Mattison's fumbling issues were a problem yet again in that game and could continue to push the coaching staff to favor Chandler. However, even with Mattison starting, Chandler is proving he can be an RB3/flex for fantasy.

AJ Dillon and Tyler Allgeier are above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

High-upside backups like Tyjae Spears (40% rostered), Elijah Mitchell (16% rostered), and Ezekiel Elliott (38% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Jeff Wilson Jr. at NYJ (11% rostered), Rico Dowdle vs. WAS (16% rostered), Roschon Johnson at MIN (20% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out): Royce Freeman at ARI (17% rostered)

Risky flex options: Kenneth Gainwell vs. BUF (27% rostered), Jerick McKinnon at LV (29% rostered), Samaje Perine vs. CLE (18% rostered), D'Ernest Johnson at HOU (0% rostered), Jamaal Williams at ATL (19% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Joshua Kelley vs. BAL (16% rostered), Jaleel McLaughlin vs. CLE (19% rostered), DeeJay Dallas vs. SF (0% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Leonard Fournette (16% rostered)

Deep stashes: Chris Rodriguez Jr. at DAL (1% rostered), Chase Edmonds at IND (1% rostered), Zamir White (2% rostered), Matt Breida vs. NE (2% rostered), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (5% rostered), Kendre Miller (5% rostered), Michael Carter (3% rostered), Patrick Taylor (0% rostered), Jordan Mason (3% rostered), Israel Abanikanda (0% rostered), Trayveon Williams (0% rostered), Ty Johnson (0% rostered), Ronnie Rivers (0% rostered), James Robinson (0% rostered)

Wide receivers

Jayden Reed, Packers

Reed has arguably been the Packers' best receiver this season, and fantasy managers should be taking advantage of his production.

The rookie posted double-digit fantasy points in six of his 10 outings and topped 80 scrimmage yards three times in the last month.

Green Bay's coaches are also going out of their way to get the ball in his hands, including three carries on Sunday that led to 46 rushing yards and a score on the ground.

He can be viewed as a WR3/flex option moving forward.

Demario Douglas, Patriots

We highlighted Douglas in this space last week after he put up over 50 yards in three of his four games before the Patriots' Week 11 bye.

Don't let his week off make you forget about his season-high six-catch, 84-yard effort in Week 10 on a team-leading nine targets.

The fact Bill Belichick has yet to name a starting quarterback this week adds some uncertainty to Douglas' outlook, but there isn't much stopping him from leading New England's pass-catchers the rest of the way.

So scoop him up now and see if he can continue to offer WR3/flex numbers down the stretch.

Josh Downs, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, Romeo Doubs, and Noah Brown are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Khalil Shakir at PHI (11% rostered), Rondale Moore vs. LAR (15% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out): Tutu Atwell at ARI (26% rostered), Odell Beckham Jr. at LAC (29% rostered)

Risky flex options: Jameson Williams vs. GB (20% rostered), A.T. Perry at ATL (0% rostered), Elijah Moore at DEN (42% rostered), Curtis Samuel at DAL (31% rostered), Zay Jones at HOU (18% rostered), Robert Woods vs. JAX (7% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Michael Wilson vs. LAR (12% rostered), Darius Slayton vs. NE (2% rostered), Jalen Guyton vs. BAL (5% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Greg Dortch vs. LAR (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Quentin Johnston vs. BAL (33% rostered), Michael Gallup vs. WAS (15% rostered), K.J. Osborn vs. CHI (32% rostered), Rashod Bateman at LAC (17% rostered), Darnell Mooney at MIN (13% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Nelson Agholor at LAC (1% rostered), Trenton Irwin vs. PIT (6% rostered)

Deep stashes: Trey Palmer at IND (1% rostered), Dontayvion Wicks (0% rostered), DeVante Parker (1% rostered)

Tight ends

Isaiah Likely, Ravens

Mark Andrews' injury might not be season-ending, but if he does return, it won't be until deep into the NFL playoffs. That means the Ravens will need Likely to fill a valuable role in their offense over the next couple months.

In two starts last year, Likely showcased his fantasy ceiling by posting elite stat lines of 6-77-1 and 8-103-0.

While he probably won't deliver that level of production now that Baltimore has upgraded its receiver depth chart, Likely is positioned to be a low-end TE1 with upside for the remainder of 2023.

Risky streamer options: Michael Mayer vs. KC (11% rostered), Cade Otton at IND (20% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. MIA (20% rostered), Tyler Higbee at ARI (41% rostered)

Risky streamer options (if healthy): Gerald Everett vs. BAL (21% rostered)

Risky streamer options (if starter is out): Donald Parham Jr. vs. BAL (5% rostered), Tucker Kraft at DET (0% rostered)

Desperation streamer options: Hunter Henry at NYG (29% rostered), Jonnu Smith vs. NO (28% rostered), Juwan Johnson at ATL (9% rostered), Kylen Granson vs. TB (1% rostered), Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. CAR (27% rostered), Daniel Bellinger vs. NE (1% rostered)

Deep stashes: Noah Gray (1% rostered), Tanner Hudson (4% rostered), Greg Dulcich (8% rostered)

Defenses

Week 12 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Buccaneers DEF (29% rostered), Falcons DEF (10% rostered), Rams DEF (6% rostered)