We got hit with several major injuries in Week 11, along with Ja'Marr Chase being suspended for one game, and the waiver wire for Week 12 should be busy. Get ready to spend your FAB because some quality replacement options might be available to boost your roster.
At quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. (knee) was placed on injured reserve and could be out for the season, while Aaron Rodgers (wrist) might miss Week 12 at Chicago. Kirk Cousins and Mason Rudolph aren't going to be options in one-quarterback leagues, but both could be useful in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, which we'll discuss below.
At running back, Josh Jacobs (knee), Jaylen Warren (ankle), Emari Demercado (ankle) and Bhayshul Tuten (ankle) were all injured in Week 11, although Tuten appears like he will play in Week 12 at Arizona. Jacobs and Warren could be out in Week 12, which would make Emanuel Wilson and Kenneth Gainwell huge priorities off the waiver wire. And if Demercado is out, along with Trey Benson (knee) still on injured reserve, then Zonovan Knight is worth adding in all leagues.
Drake London (knee) was the biggest injury at wide receiver, and it appears like he will miss Week 12 at New Orleans. Does that mean you should add Darnell Mooney? We'll address the Falcons below, among other wide receiver options, especially Michael Wilson with Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix) still sidelined.
And with Chase suspended for one game after the NFL determined he spit on Pittsburgh's Jalen Ramsey in Week 11, the Bengals now need help at wide receiver for Week 12 against New England. That makes Andrei Iosivas worth adding in the majority of leagues.
Aside from the injuries, there are also plenty of other players to add for Week 12 based on performance. And we have four teams on a bye with the Broncos, Chargers, Commanders and Dolphins, meaning a lot of star power is missing.
The Week 12 waiver wire is going to be fun. So let's get started.Â
Editor's note: For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 65 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
Week 12 Waivers
On a bye: Bo Nix, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota
Injuries: Aaron Rodgers (wrist), Michael Penix Jr. (knee), Dillon Gabriel (concussion) Joe Burrow (toe), Jaxson Dart (concussion), Jayden Daniels (elbow), C.J. Stroud (concussion), Kyler Murray (foot) and Anthony Richardson (eye).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Sam Darnold (84 percent rostered), Joe Burrow (83 percent), Brock Purdy (83 percent) and Joe Flacco (79 percent). Darnold struggled at the Rams in Week 11 with 4.3 Fantasy points, but that was a tough matchup. His upcoming schedule is easier against Tennessee, Minnesota, Atlanta and Indianapolis, and he can still be considered a low-end starter in those games. … Burrow is aiming to return in Week 13, and hopefully that's still the plan. When healthy, Burrow offers top-five upside, and he should be stashed in all leagues. … Purdy is the prize here, and he returned from his six-game absence with a toe injury in Week 11 at Arizona and scored 25.3 Fantasy points. He offers must-start upside to close the season, and he should be added in all leagues where available. … Flacco might only start one more game with Burrow hoping to return in Week 13, and it's not an easy matchup in Week 12 against New England, especially without Ja'Marr Chase (suspended). But Flacco has scored at least 28.3 Fantasy points in three home games in Cincinnati, and I would still trust him as a low-end starting quarterback against the Patriots.
Drop candidates: Aaron Rodgers (75 percent rostered), Marcus Mariota (56 percent), J.J. McCarthy (55 percent), Michael Penix Jr. (45 percent) and Justin Fields (39 percent). Even though it's his non-throwing wrist, Rodgers is either going to play at less than 100 percent or miss time, and he doesn't offer enough upside to take that risk. I love his matchup at Chicago in Week 12, but Rodgers can be dropped in all one-quarterback leagues now that he's dealing with this injury. … Mariota can be dropped with Washington on a bye in Week 12, and we'll see if Jayden Daniels (elbow) is able to play when the Commanders return to action in Week 13. Washington also plays Denver in that game, and you won't trust Mariota against the Broncos in any one-quarterback leagues. … McCarthy has combined for 24.7 Fantasy points in his past two games against Baltimore and Chicago, and you can't trust him in one-quarterback leagues in Week 12 at Green Bay or Week 13 at Seattle. … Penix (knee) is headed to injured reserve, and his season could be over. The earliest he could return to action is Week 16, and Fantasy managers in one-quarterback leagues won't be starting him in the playoffs. … Fields is expected to be benched in Week 12 in favor of Tyrod Taylor. There's little reason to roster Fields in one-quarterback leagues for the rest of the season, and he scored 8.9 Fantasy points or less in three of his past four games.
Add in this order:Â
Week 12 Waiver Priority List
WAIVER WIRE
Running Backs
On a bye: De'Von Achane, Ollie Gordon II, RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin, Kimani Vidal, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Injuries: Josh Jacobs (knee), Jaylen Warren (ankle), Emari Demercado (ankle), Bhayshul Tuten (ankle), Justice Hill (toe), Bucky Irving (shoulder), Rhamondre Stevenson (toe), Isiah Pacheco (knee), Samaje Perine (ankle), J.K. Dobbins (foot), Omarion Hampton (ankle), Trey Benson (knee), Joe Mixon (foot), Braelon Allen (knee) and MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Trey Benson (84 percent rostered) and Tyler Allgeier (77 percent). Benson will hopefully return to action soon after missing the past six games, and he could finish the season as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. He's worth stashing in all formats where he's still available. … Allgeier scored another touchdown in Week 11 against Carolina, and he has now scored a touchdown in five of his past seven games. The Falcons might lean more on their ground game in Week 12 at New Orleans with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Drake London (knee) banged up, and Allgeier should be considered a flex option in that matchup.
Drop candidates: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (89 percent rostered), J.K Dobbins (70 percent) and Nick Chubb (66 percent). Croskey-Merritt is not worth holding on your roster in redraft leagues with the Commanders on a bye in Week 12. It appears like Chris Rodridguez Jr. is the best running back for Washington moving forward, and Croskey-Merritt has scored 5.8 PPR points or less in six games in a row. … Dobbins (foot) was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the regular season, which is unfortunate. He is not worth keeping on your roster in redraft leagues. … Chubb had a season-low three carries in Week 11 at Tennessee, and he finished with 17 yards, along with no catches on two targets. Woody Marks has taken over the Texans' backfield, and hopefully that continues as long as Marks is healthy. Chubb can be dropped in all leagues heading into Week 12 against Buffalo.
Add in this order:
Week 12 Waiver Priority List
WAIVER WIRE
Wide Receivers
On a bye: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Keenan Allen, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin.
Injuries: Drake London (knee), Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix), Calvin Ridley (leg), Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle), Terry McLaurin (quadriceps), Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), Chris Godwin (leg), Darius Slayton (hamstring), Rashod Bateman (ankle), Chimere Dike (chest), Elic Ayomanor (hamstring), Xavier Legette (hip), Tory Horton (groin), Garrett Wilson (knee), Mike Evans (collarbone), Jayden Reed (collarbone), Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jalen McMillan (neck).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Jakobi Meyers (83 percent rostered), Ricky Pearsall (82 percent), Alec Pierce (76 percent) and Chris Godwin (66 percent). Meyers was more involved in his second game with the Jaguars in Week 11 against the Chargers with five catches for 64 yards on six targets, and hopefully he'll continue to be more productive moving forward, especially if Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle) remains out. … Pearsall returned from his six-game absence with a knee injury in Week 11 at Arizona but had one catch for no yards on three targets. That said, I still have high hopes for him when healthy, and hopefully he can get back on track soon, starting in Week 12 against Carolina. He's worth stashing where available. … Pierce is the prize here, and hopefully he stays hot after the Colts' bye in Week 11. Prior to the bye, Pierce scored at least 14.8 PPR points in three of his past four games, and he has 20 targets in his past two outings against the Steelers and Falcons for 10 catches, 199 yards and a touchdown. … Godwin (leg) returned to practice prior to Week 11, and hopefully he's ready to play soon after being out since Week 5. When healthy, he still has the potential to be a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues.
Drop candidates: Keenan Allen (94 percent rostered), D.J. Moore (94 percent), Garrett Wilson (90 percent rostered) and Keon Coleman (56 percent). Allen has scored 9.3 PPR points or less in four games in a row, and he's not worth holding on most rosters in 10-team leagues with the Chargers on a bye in Week 12. … Moore has combined for one catch for 18 yards on seven targets in his past two games against the Giants and Vikings. He hasn't caught a touchdown since Week 3 and has just three games over 50 receiving yards on the season. You can drop Moore in all 10-team leagues. … Wilson (knee) was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 11, and the earliest he can return is Week 15, if he will return at all. If you have an IR spot then stash Wilson, but if not then you can drop him in 10-team leagues given the uncertainty with his health. … Coleman was a healthy scratch in Week 11 against Tampa Bay after he missed a team meeting Friday. We'll see what happens heading into Week 12, but Coleman is not worth keeping on your roster in most leagues. For the season, Coleman has just three games with at least 10 PPR points.
Add in this order:
Week 12 Waiver Priority List
On a bye: Oronde Gadsden II, Evan Engram, Zach Ertz and Greg Dulcich.
Injuries: Sam LaPorta (back), Tyler Higbee (ankle), Dalton Kincaid (hamstring), Darren Waller (pectoral), Mike Gesicki (pectoral) and Brenton Strange (quadriceps).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Kyle Pitts (82 percent rostered) and Theo Johnson (74 percent). The last time we had Kirk Cousins starting for Michael Penix Jr. (knee), along with Drake London (knee) out, was in Week 8 against Miami. Pitts had nine catches for 59 yards on nine targets in that game, and he could have similar production in Week 12 at the Saints. He should be added in all leagues. … Johnson had a down game in Week 11 against Green Bay with three catches for 36 yards on four targets, but he scored at least 10.7 PPR points in five of his previous seven games prior to facing the Packers. I'm still confident in Johnson as a low-end starter in all leagues heading into Week 12 at Detroit, especially if Darius Slayton (hamstring) is out.Â
Drop candidates: Sam LaPorta (91 percent rostered), Zach Ertz (85 percent), T.J. Hockenson (64 percent), David Njoku (64 percent) and Evan Engram (44 percent). LaPorta (back) was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 11, which means he's out until at least Week 15. You can stash him if you have an IR spot, but if not, LaPorta can be dropped in all 10-team leagues given the uncertainty of his health. … Ertz can be dropped in all 10-team leagues with Washington on a bye in Week 11. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 7, and he scored 9.4 PPR points or less in each of his past four games. … Hockenson has played five games with J.J. McCarthy and has four targets or less in four of those outings, with 39 receiving yards his best performance. There's little reason to trust Hockenson in most leagues heading into Week 12 at Green Bay. … Njoku heads into Week 12 with three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown on four targets in his past two outings against the Jets and Ravens. It will be tough to trust Njoku in the majority of leagues in Week 12 against the Raiders with Shedeur Sanders starting for the Browns, and Harold Fannin Jr. continues to outplay Njoku. I still like Fannin (70 percent rostered) as a low-end starter in most leagues, but Njoku can be dropped. … Engram heads into his bye in Week 12 having scored 7.6 PPR points or less in four games in a row, and he hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 5. There appears to be little upside for Engram in the majority of leagues for the rest of the season.
Add in this order:
Week 12 Waiver Priority List
DST streamers
- Browns (65 percent rostered) at LV
- Chiefs (62 percent rostered) vs. IND
- Raiders (8 percent) vs. CLE
- Jaguars (32 percent rostered) at ARI
- Saints (11 percent rostered) vs. ATL
Kicker streamers
- Harrison Butker (54 percent rostered) vs. IND
- Jake Elliott (36 percent rostered) at DAL
- Mike Badgley (34 percent rostered) at KC
- Cam Little (34 percent) at ARI
