🎯 Aim For These Week 12 Waiver Targets

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Whether you’re riding high from that Lions comeback or licking your wounds after the Seahawks fell short, we’re here to help you get ready for Week 12.

Today in 5 minutes or less, you’ll learn:

• Studs and Duds from Sunday’s Slate 📈 

• Week 12 Waiver Targets for the stretch run 🎯 

• Pre-deadline trade options 🔁 

• Post-Week 11 Player News and Notes 🏈 

If you aren’t already, you need to start reading my Prop Drop newsletter. We hit the SWEEP on Sunday Night Football and his 75% on my Way Too Early Wednesday picks.

STUD WR: Calvin Ridley (JAX)

Season-long managers are likely still frustrated with Ridley, because there’s really no telling when he’s going to produce. He’s now got 3 games as a fantasy WR1, including as the best guy on Sunday’s slate, but he’s also got 5 games as the WR58 or WORSE.

Sunday’s explosion either represents an outlier or a turning point, depending on who you ask. His 103 yards was his 2nd-highest output of the season, and his 2 TDs doubled his total with the Jaguars.

Either way, he did enough to show up as a stud in Week 11.

DUD WR: Marquise Brown (ARI)

The Kyler Murray connection still hasn’t quite returned for Hollywood. He was only able to secure 2 of his 5 targets for 18 yards. Instead, it was Greg Dortch who paced all Arizona receivers.

I still think Brown can find the magic as Murray continues to work his way back to his usual self. This week just wasn’t it.

STUD QB: Trevor Lawrence (JAX)

Lawrence knew his team needed a strong offensive performance after some recent stumbles, and the Titans provided him an open door to do so.

Lawrence achieved his highest passer rating of the season and accounted for 4 Jacksonville TDs (2 passing, 2 rushing) to lead the Jags to a big win one week after taking a trouncing to the 49ers.

If you predicted a big bounce back game from TLaw, congrats.

DUD QB: Kenny Pickett (PIT)

Pickett had a tough draw with the Cleveland defense this week, and had already proven himself unworthy of rostering in fantasy. Still, this was a huge dud.

Pickett threw for his season-low completion percentage (53.6%), and just 106 passing yards. It’s at the point where if you drafted any shares at all of this Pittsburgh passing game, you’re kicking yourself.

According to Fantasy Life’s Player Stats Tool, Pickett is averaging under 10 fantasy points per game, which puts him at QB37 on the season. Ouch.

STUD RB: Saquon Barkley (NYG)

Tommy DeVito walked away looking like the big hero for the Giants, but it’s Saquon who carried the team with his 18 touches for 140 scrimmage yards. He kept the Commanders’ defense off-kilter all day and helped his offense to look competent for the first time in a long time.

Fire up Barkely for the stretch run regardless of the Giants’ overall struggles.

DUD RB: Najee Harris (PIT)

Most players on the Steelers’ offense were dud candidates this week, except for Jaylen Warren, who busted off a huge TD run on his way to 145 scrimmage yards. Najee is the loser in the equation, and he continues to fade in fantasy football relevance.

Despite out-carrying Warren 12-9, Harris had his lowest PPR output of the season with just 4.5 points. He also vented to reporters after the game about his frustrations with the offense.

Overall, he’s heading in the wrong direction.

STUD TE: George Kittle (SF)

For a guy who’s played much of the season as a boom-or-bust guy, Kittle now has 3 games of spike weeks in a row, scoring over 20 PPR points in each game. He finds himself sitting as the TE3 on the year after the latest explosion.

As the 49ers continue their march toward the playoffs and NFC contention, Kittle has emerged as a productive piece of the passing game.

DUD TE: Tyler Conklin (NYJ)

I really thought Conklin had a chance to produce this week. Buffalo had other plans, as they eviscerated the Jets in a statement to their fans and the rest of the league that maybe they aren’t as broken as some of us thought.

Conklin checked in with just 2 receptions for 18 yards in a disappointing follow-up to 2 straight productive games.

#5: QB Gardner Minshew (IND)

At this point you’re only looking at QB if you stream the position or if you’re playing in 2-QB leagues. Either way, Minshew has some upcoming matchups that bode well for his fantasy upside.

Week 12 brings a matchup with the Buccaneers, who have been just awful against the pass and allow a crazy catch rate to opposing WRs. Then the Colts play the Titans, one of the bigger pass funnel teams the NFL has to offer in 2023. In the short term, that should help Minshew’s prospects.

#4: WR Demario Douglas (NE)

Now that the Patriots’ bye week is over, we can go back to taking wild shots at what little production might be sitting on that roster. Douglas represents the best bet.

Over New England’s last 4 games, Douglas has no fewer than 6 targets, and saw a season-high 9 in the loss to the Colts in Germany. He caught 6 of those for 84 yards (also a season-high), and finished as WR23.

If Douglas can use his notable athleticism and explosiveness to start to find the end zone, he’ll be turning in WR2 numbers at a more consistent rate. The Utilization Report from Fantasy Life shows his route and target percentages have risen as the season has gone on. That culminated in Week 10 with a 85% route run percentage and being targeted on 31% of his routes. He’s well worth a shot.

#3: WR Jayden Reed (GB)

Reed hasn’t been the steadiest of plays, owing to the volatility of the Packers’ offense under Jordan Love. In fact, from Weeks 1-9 he had just 1 week of being a WR2 fantasy option. The tides may be turning for him though.

Reed now has 2 straight weeks with over 19 PPR points, and this Sunday it was his 3 rushes for 46 yards and a TD that show his coaches may be looking to get him involved in more creative ways, especially if Aaron Jones isn’t on the field.

If your team needs WR help, he’s someone you can look to.

#2: RB Zach Charbonnet (SEA)

Kenneth Walker injured his oblique during Sunday’s matchup with the Rams, and Pete Carroll indicated that he’s in danger of missing time. Enter Charbonnet, who’s only about half-owned on most major fantasy platforms.

Walker’s injury already led to a season-high 15 carries for Charbonnet, and perhaps even more encouraging for PPR leagues, he caught all 6 of his targets. The Seahawks have a tough Thanksgiving night draw with the 49ers, but the volume he’s in line for makes it a worthwhile pursuit.

#5: RB Khalil Herbert (CHI)

It was clear the Bears missed Herbert while he was out. He immediately took over his role as lead back on Sunday, getting 16 carries and 2 receptions. In fact, he had a season-high 27% targets per route run. While he wasn’t efficient, the numbers point to the team continuing to give him those opportunities.

It helps that Chicago will face Arizona during the fantasy playoffs on Christmas Eve. They’ve been dreadful vs. RBs all year.

#4: QB Russell Wilson

It’s time to start to take Russ’s revival seriously. He’s playing much better on the actual field, and his fantasy numbers have remained fairly steady compared to 2022. Currently Russ sits as the QB15. So why make the move?

Looking ahead, the Broncos have a difficult matchup with the Browns, but then run into a series of teams who will push a good pace and have suspect pass defenses, including the Texans, Chargers, and Lions.

In fact, the schedule looks to be favorable for Russ all the way through the playoffs, and it’s likely you wouldn’t have to give up very much to swing a deal with whoever owns him. At the very least he’ll be a nice option to have as the season starts to wind down.

#3: WR Stefon Diggs (BUF)

Diggs has struggled over the last 2 games, finishing outside the top-50 in WR scoring in both. Despite these struggles, he remains a top-tier fantasy wideout, and can absolutely help your team to a championship.

The numbers on Diggs are still encouraging. His route percentage has remained over 90% n every game all season, and Sunday’s struggles may have more to do with the Jets’ strong defensive coverage than anything going on with Diggs himself.

It may cost you some assets, but you win fantasy championships with premiere players. He still checks the boxes.

#2: RB Breece Hall (NYJ)

Robert Saleh was finally forced to make a QB change while his team was being beat up by the Bills on Sunday. With Zach Wilson going to the bench, there’s reason to think the entire offense is ready for a lift. Breece would be a huge beneficiary if that were the case.

The Jets should be able to hold their opponents mostly in check going forward, save for maybe the Dolphins, which would help the case of the RB’s upside. Hall can boost a team with a need at the position.

CLICK HERE for my #1 Buy-Low trade target of Week 12

💿 Lamb Pops up on Injury Report for Dallas

💪 Pittsburgh Shores Up Defense with Safety Signing

✈️ QB Grounded for Jets, Will Serve as Third String

🐬 Mike McDaniel Cryptic on Achane’s Return

👍 Browns QB Gets Thumbs Up From Coach, Will Start Again

🐏 Fantasy Star WR Injures Ankle: High or Low?

❤️‍🩹 So you’re sayin’ there’s a chance for TE Andrews…

⚜ Patience Necessary for Saints’ Thomas

🤕 Carr Still Idling in Concussion Protocol

🤷‍♂️ Kyle Pitts Missing from Practice for Unknown Reasons

Now go battle your league mates with the intensity of a Kelce trying to beat up on his brother.

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