Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 12

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.

Bye weeks

• Atlanta Falcons
• Buffalo Bills
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• New Orleans Saints
• New York Jets

Quarterbacks

Drake Maye, Patriots

After being featured in this space for three straight weeks, Bo Nix is finally rostered in too many leagues to qualify for another write-up. However, if he's available, Nix would be the top quarterback add this week.

Thankfully, yet another rookie is making a case to be a fantasy starter.

Maye has been extremely poised under center for the Patriots, showcasing his skills as a passer and a runner. He's also finished as a top-15 fantasy QB in three of his six starts.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins - New England's upcoming opponent - have allowed top-15 fantasy results to three of the last four quarterbacks they've faced. Maye also has a favorable matchup the following week against the Colts.

Maye will need more skill-position talent to reach his ceiling in 2025 and beyond. Still, for now, he's a fantasy QB2 with QB1 upside against friendlier defenses.

Bo Nix and Anthony Richardson are around the 50% rostered mark but would be the top QB pickups this week if available.

Streaming options: Russell Wilson at CLE (49% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Jameis Winston vs. PIT (12% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Tommy DeVito vs. TB (0% rostered), Will Levis at HOU (9% rostered), Bryce Young vs. KC (4% rostered), Gardner Minshew vs. DEN (3% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starting): Cooper Rush at WAS (4% rostered), Trey Lance at WAS (1% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Aaron Rodgers (45% rostered), Derek Carr (15% rostered), Mac Jones (2% rostered)

Running backs

Ameer Abdullah/Dylan Laube, Raiders

The Raiders could be without their top running backs in Week 12 if Alexander Mattison's and Zamir White's injuries keep them sidelined.

Mattison exited last Sunday's game early after suffering an ankle injury, while White appeared to aggravate the quad issue he was dealing with a couple of weeks ago.

It's possible one or both players might suit up Sunday, but fantasy managers desperate for RB help could target this backfield in hopes of getting a sneaky starting option.

Abdullah has been more of a pass-catching specialist, which would likely provide more fantasy value in a matchup with the heavily favored Broncos. However, a second back would almost certainly be involved, and the sixth-round rookie Laube is capable as a runner and receiver.

These aren't week-winning options, but you'll see Abdullah and Laube in the RB3/flex range of my Week 12 rankings if the Raiders rule out Mattison and White.

High-upside backups

We'll use this space as a reminder about all the high-upside backups who should be rostered in most leagues, including:

• Zach Charbonnet (42% rostered)
• Braelon Allen (33% rostered)
• Ray Davis (23% rostered)
• Trey Benson (21% rostered)
• Blake Corum (15% rostered)
• Tyler Allgeier (40% rostered)
• Cam Akers (17% rostered)
• Jaylen Wright (6% rostered)
• Roschon Johnson (7% rostered)
• Khalil Herbert (16% rostered)

Each of those backs is one injury away from a significant role in their respective offense, which could turn them into top-20 fantasy RBs.

Jaylen Warren, Jonathon Brooks, and Jordan Mason are around the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.

Flex options: Gus Edwards vs. BAL (28% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): Tyjae Spears at HOU (48% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy and starter is out): Zamir White vs. DEN (26% rostered)

Risky flex options: Jerome Ford vs. PIT (39% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Devin Singletary vs. TB (49% rostered), Justice Hill at LAC (18% rostered), Antonio Gibson at MIA (16% rostered), Samaje Perine at CAR (4% rostered), Jaleel McLaughlin at LV (13% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Dameon Pierce (3% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell (1% rostered), Chris Brooks (0% rostered), Sean Tucker (2% rostered), Isaac Guerendo (5% rostered), Tyler Goodson (2% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (5% rostered), MarShawn Lloyd (6% rostered), Hassan Haskins (0% rostered), Julius Chestnut (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Kendre Miller (2% rostered)

Wide receivers

Quentin Johnston, Chargers

Keep an eye on Ladd McConkey after he hurt his shoulder over the weekend. While he managed to return to the game, the type of injury could linger and limit him in the coming weeks.

Whether McConkey suits up or not, Johnston can be started with confidence as a WR4/flex against a Ravens defense allowing the most fantasy points to his position.

Johnston has found the end zone in three consecutive outings (six touchdowns on the season) and continues to distance himself from the struggling player he was during his rookie campaign a year ago.

With Justin Herbert and the Chargers throwing the ball more since their bye, this is a passing attack fantasy managers should be investing in.

Jerry Jeudy, Keon Coleman, and Romeo Doubs are around the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

WR4/flex options: Christian Watson vs. SF (44% rostered), Xavier Legette vs. KC (28% rostered)

Flex options: Elijah Moore vs. PIT (8% rostered)

Risky flex options: DeMario Douglas at MIA (28% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson vs. TB (48% rostered), Rashod Bateman at LAC (32% rostered), Ricky Pearsall at GB (46% rostered), Kayshon Boutte at MIA (4% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Michael Wilson at SEA (11% rostered), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at HOU (4% rostered), Noah Brown vs. DAL (10% rostered), Demarcus Robinson vs. PHI (29% rostered), Adam Thielen vs. KC (20% rostered), Alec Pierce vs. DET (18% rostered), Jalen Coker vs. KC (5% rostered), Joshua Palmer vs. BAL (14% rostered), Darius Slayton vs. TB (10% rostered), Mike Williams at CLE (20% rostered), Lil'Jordan Humphrey at LV (0% rostered), Devaughn Vele at LV (2% rostered), Marvin Mims Jr. at LV (1% rostered), Troy Franklin at LV (1% rostered), Kendrick Bourne Bourne at MIA (1% rostered), Tre Tucker vs. DEN (5% rostered), Jalen Tolbert at WAS (16% rostered), Sterling Shepard at NYG (7% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Marquez Valdes-Scantling (25% rostered), Ray-Ray McCloud (17% rostered), Curtis Samuel (9% rostered), Andrei Iosivas (3% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Dontayvion Wicks (19% rostered), Adonai Mitchell (7% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Brandin Cooks (10% rostered)

Tight ends

Will Dissly, Chargers

Dissly is another Charger taking advantage of the team opening it up through the air recently.

The veteran tight end has at least six targets in four of his last five games and is coming off a 4-80-1 performance in a win over the Bengals. It was his second top-10 fantasy finish in the past five weeks.

The good times should continue for Dissly and Co. as the Chargers boast one of the easiest schedules the rest of the way.

Dissly will be in the low-end TE1 conversation until further notice.

Taysom Hill, Jonnu Smith, and Hunter Henry are around the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky streaming options: Isaiah Likely at LAC (26% rostered), Zach Ertz vs. DAL (33% rostered), Ja'Tavion Sanders vs. KC (2% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Theo Johnson vs. TB (1% rostered), Noah Gray at CAR (1% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if healthy): Noah Fant vs. ARI (19% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out): Brock Wright at IND (1% rostered), AJ Barner vs. ARI (1% rostered)

Defenses

Week 12 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Commanders DEF (20% rostered), Buccaneers DEF (12% rostered), Cowboys DEF (30% rostered)

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