Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 12

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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 set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Taylor Heinicke, Washington

This week's crop of quarterback streamers is deep, but there isn't a true standout.

Heinicke has been up and down this season in terms of weekly fantasy production. However, he'll face a Seahawks defense that just let Cardinals backup Colt McCoy throw for 328 yards and two touchdowns against them.

There's no reason Heinicke can't put up a similar stat line, especially if he gets reinforcements in the form of tight end Logan Thomas and receiver Curtis Samuel, who are both tentatively expected to return to the lineup.

Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, and Carson Wentz are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Streaming options: Trevor Lawrence vs. ATL (32% rostered), Daniel Jones vs. PHI (33% rostered), Tyrod Taylor vs. NYJ (6% rostered), Andy Dalton at DET (1% rostered), Mac Jones vs. TEN (40% rostered), Ben Roethlisberger at CIN (23% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo vs. MIN (33% rostered), Teddy Bridgewater vs. LAC (20% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Trey Lance (15% rostered)

Running backs

Ty Johnson/Tevin Coleman, Jets

With promising rookie Michael Carter expected to miss two-to-three weeks with a high ankle sprain, Johnson and Coleman will handle the bulk of the workload.

The matchups will get tougher with the Eagles and Saints coming up, but this Sunday's meeting with the Texans sets up nicely for the backfield in what should be a competitive affair. Houston is one of the 10 best matchups for opposing fantasy backs.

Though Coleman saw more touches in Sunday's game, Johnson outsnapped him after Carter left. Johnson is also the more explosive option and the one more likely to earn passing-down work.

A committee is almost guaranteed, so expectations need to be kept in check - which is why we're not suggesting a bigger bid here. Still, Johnson will earn the more high-valued touches and has the edge as the more intriguing RB3/flex option.

Rex Burkhead, Texans

Investing in the Texans' backfield has been a nightmare this season and has rarely resulted in a favorable outcome for fantasy managers.

Hopefully you're set at running back and don't need to take a chance here, but if you're in need of an RB3/flex play, Burkhead has a surprising amount of upside for a player who's 0% rostered.

The 31-year-old earned 18 carries in last week's upset over the Titans and though the result was a paltry 40 scoreless yards, that kind of volume can't be overlooked.

The Jets are giving up the most fantasy points to running backs this season and with Houston entering the game as three-point favorites, another positive game script could be on the way.

Rhamondre Stevenson, J.D. McKissic, and Alexander Mattison are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

High-upside backups like Sony Michel (28% rostered) and Khalil Herbert (26% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky flex options: Qadree Ollison at JAX (0% rostered), Boston Scott at NYG (21% rostered), Latavius Murray vs. CLE (36% rostered), Adrian Peterson at NE (39% rostered), Matt Breida at NO (2% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Jordan Howard at NYG (30% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: David Johnson vs. NYJ (25% rostered), Samaje Perine vs. PIT (6% rostered), Jamaal Williams vs. CHI (39% rostered), Giovani Bernard at IND (12% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Jeremy McNichols at NE (25% rostered), DeeJay Dallas at WAS (1% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Devontae Booker vs. PHI (47% rostered), Ronald Jones at IND (19% rostered), Carlos Hyde vs. ATL (13% rostered), Ameer Abdullah at MIA (0% rostered), Duke Johnson vs. CAR (0% rostered), Tony Jones vs. BUF (4% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Eno Benjamin (7% rostered)

Wide receivers

Laviska Shenault Jr., Jaguars

The Jaguars have seemed uninterested in giving Shenault more volume this season, but the trend might be changing after Jamal Agnew suffered a hip injury on Sunday, which landed him on injured reserve.

With Travis Etienne and D.J. Chark out for the season and Agnew potentially joining them, head coach Urban Meyer almost has no choice but to feed Shenault targets.

The sophomore wideout posted 50 yards this week, the first time he's done that in over a month after accomplishing the feat in four of the opening six weeks.

He also lined up in the slot more, with Marvin Jones and Laquon Treadwell occupying the perimeter. If Shenault stays there, he'll face softer coverage and could finish the year strong as a fantasy WR3/flex. He starts with a friendly encounter against the Falcons in Week 12.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers

Since returning to the lineup, Valdes-Scantling has seen his snap share and yardage totals rise for three straight weeks, culminating in a four-catch, 123-yard, one-touchdown performance on 10 targets against the Vikings in Week 11.

Teammate Allen Lazard was ruled out prior to the game and the timeline for his return is unknown, but this is still a great sign for MVS, who many beat writers said was on the verge of a breakout prior to the season.

While missing five weeks with a hamstring injury derailed that potential, he's clearly rediscovered his form as a boom-or-bust flex option.

Elijah Moore, Darnell Mooney, Kadarius Toney, and Van Jefferson are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Long-term upside stashes: Curtis Samuel (10% rostered), Will Fuller (25% rostered), DeVante Parker (31% rostered), Sterling Shepard (31% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones (19% rostered)

Risky flex options: Cedrick Wilson vs. LV (2% rostered), Tim Patrick vs. LAC (27% rostered), Robby Anderson at MIA (49% rostered), Russell Gage at JAX (17% rostered), Tre'Quan Smith vs. BUF (4% rostered), Marquez Callaway vs. BUF (32% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Marquise Goodwin at DET (0% rostered), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at NE (0% rostered), T.Y. Hilton vs. TB (33% rostered), Jamison Crowder at HOU (20% rostered), Nelson Agholor vs. TEN (21% rostered), Kendrick Bourne vs. TEN (20% rostered), DeAndre Carter vs. SEA (3% rostered), Deonte Harris vs. BUF (21% rostered), Sammy Watkins vs. CLE (10% rostered), Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. CHI (6% rostered), Chester Rogers at NE (1% rostered), Mack Hollins vs. CAR (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: A.J. Green (46% rostered), Rondale Moore (23% rostered), Byron Pringle (1% rostered)

Other receivers to stash: Nico Collins vs. NYJ (1% rostered), Tyler Johnson at IND (2% rostered), Dez Fitzpatrick at NE (0% rostered), Josh Reynolds vs. CHI (1% rostered), Devin Duvernay vs. CLE (2% rostered), Equanimeous St. Brown vs. LAR (0% rostered), Cam Sims vs. SEA (0% rostered)

Tight ends

Cole Kmet, Bears

If you've noticed a theme this week, it's that the waiver wire is getting picked dry over this time of year. Most of the quality options have been rostered.

Though Kmet is coming off a down week where he saw just two targets, remember he earned at least five targets in each of his previous four outings and put up 40 yards or more three times during that span.

Even with Andy Dalton at the helm, the Bears should be able to move the ball against the Lions, which could lead to more scoring opportunities and hopefully more of what we saw from Kmet during that October stretch.

Logan Thomas, Dan Arnold, and Pat Freiermuth are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Streaming options: Tyler Conklin at SF (37% rostered), Evan Engram at PHI (32% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Austin Hooper at BAL (22% rostered), David Njoku at BAL (8% rostered), Gerald Everett at WAS (21% rostered), C.J. Uzomah vs. PIT (22% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Anthony Firkser at NE (5% rostered), Nick Vannett vs. BUF (0% rostered), Ryan Griffin at HOU (1% rostered), Albert Okwuegbunam vs. LAX (1% rostered), Josiah Deguara vs. LAR (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 12 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Eagles DEF (18% rostered), Vikings DEF (13% rostered)