This season has gone by so fast and we’ve officially seen enough football to determine which players have solidified roles in their respective offenses. Whether injuries have occurred or unexpected players have stepped up, we must react and make adjustments each and every week.
I’ll help you decide which fantasy football waiver wire pickups you should be making that could benefit your fantasy teams now, later in the season, or just for the upcoming Week 12.
Note: Free-Agent Acquisition Budget dollar bid prices for Week 12 are based on a season-long budget of $100. Adjust your percentage and scale accordingly for your league’s unique FAAB allotment and your remaining FAAB dollars.
Roster % is based on Yahoo! Fantasy leagues information as of 10 PM EST on Sunday, November 21.
2021 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 12: Top Pickups
Trevor Siemian, QB, New Orleans Saints (6% rostered)
Trevor Siemian has been a solid fantasy option since taking over as the Saints’ starting quarterback. He’s thrown eight touchdowns in his last four games and has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of his three starts. Unfortunately for the Saints, it hasn’t been enough to win them games the last three weeks.
The Saints have allowed 23 or more points in each of the last four games. Although that isn’t great for New Orleans’s playoff aspirations, it is good for Siemian’s fantasy outlook. As the Saints find themselves in more negative game scripts, it only opens up more opportunities for Siemian to throw the ball.
The Saints do have some difficult matchups ahead. This would typically scare me off a quarterback, but Siemian has been consistent enough to consider him in your lineups in the coming weeks.
- Trevor Siemian Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: $14
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Rondale Moore, WR, Arizona Cardinals (23% rostered)
Rondale Moore has already shown some flashes this season. In Week 11, the Cardinals were once again without DeAndre Hopkins and Kyler Murray, but Moore stepped up in a big win for Arizona.
Moore caught all 11 of his targets for 51 receiving yards. His 11 receptions topped the number of receptions (10) that he had in his last three games combined. I’m sure Murray watched on as backup quarterback Colt McCoy had an automatic completion every time he looked Moore’s way.
With Hopkins still banged up, Murray should give Moore additional looks as we draw closer to the fantasy playoffs. The Cardinals have their bye this week, so you should be able to get Moore for fairly cheap.
- Rondale Moore Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: $9
Arizona Cardinals rookie WR Rondale Moore is one of the top fantasy football waiver-wire pickups for NFL Week 12. (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
NEW – Ty Johnson, RB, New York Jets (21% rostered)
With rookie running back Michael Carter set to miss 2-to-3 weeks with an ankle injury, Ty Johnson could slide into the lead role in New York. Unfortunately, it does look like he’ll be in a timeshare with veteran Tevin Coleman, as the pair split 39 snaps 20-19 in Johnson’s favor in Week 11.
Coleman (3% rostered) is intriguing given his San Francisco ties to head coach Robert Saleh, but Johnson has more upside here. The 24-year-old proved last year he could be a three-down back when given the opportunity, turning a career-high 22 carries into 104 rushing yards and a touchdown in a Week 12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Jets have only handed Johnson double-digit carries on two other occasions, and he made the most of them, averaging over four yards per carry in both games. Johnson is always active in the receiving game as well, which gives him a solid floor of fantasy production.
- Ty Johnson Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: $8
See which Week 12 fantasy football players to start with our 2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers Predictions.
Robby Anderson, WR, Carolina Panthers (49% rostered)
Robby Anderson has been a disappointing fantasy producer this season, however, with Cam Newton now back in Carolina as the starting quarterback, Anderson could see a late-season resurgence.
Anderson has nine receptions on 12 targets in his last two games. He caught his first touchdown since Week 6 against the Cardinals in Week 10 on a short pass from Newton, who had limited snaps that week.
Newton started his first game this season for the Panthers in Week 11 and targeted Anderson six times, completing five for a total of 30 yards. Although the production still isn’t quite there yet, it’s a good sign to see Newton target him often.
There’s no doubt Anderson is a high-risk option as a boom-or-bust wide receiver, but if he continues to see a healthy target share, he can easily catch fire at the right time for your fantasy teams.
- Robby Anderson Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: $6
See which Week 12 fantasy football players to avoid with our 2021 Fantasy Football Busts Predictions.
2021 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 12: Best Players To Stash
Dontrell Hilliard, RB, Tennessee Titans (0% rostered)
You just never know when you are going to hit the waiver wire lottery. I’m not saying Dontrell Hilliard is that lottery hit, but we’ll have to wait and find out.
The Tennessee Titans are without Derrick Henry and are exploring all options at running back to reinvent themselves for the second half of the season. Hilliard was called up from the Titans’ practice squad and impressed in his first game of 2021. He ran the ball just seven times for 35 yards, however, he found himself very useful in the receiving game, catching eight of his 10 targets for 47 yards.
At this point of the season, it’s time to stop holding onto all of your FAAB. Risk a little more than you usually would for a guy like Hilliard. The Titans may just utilize him as another weapon for Ryan Tannehill.
- Dontrell Hillard Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: $7
2021 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 12: One-Week Streamer Plays
Chicago Bears, Defense D/ST (18% rostered)
The Chicago Bears’ defense has totaled 10 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown over its last two games. The unit also has a savory matchup in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.
- Read our full Thanksgiving NFL Predictions & Best Bets.
The Lions have given up the sixth most fantasy points to defenses this season. They have not done a great job protecting the quarterback, which plays right into the strength of the Bears’ defense. Detroit has given up a mind-blowing 27 sacks through 10 games this year.
The Bears will likely be the top defense to target in fantasy leagues for Week 12 as many of us stream the position.
- Chicago Bears Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: $5
NEW – Cedrick Wilson, WR, Dallas Cowboys (3% rostered)
Amari Cooper (COVID-19) will miss the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day contest against the Las Vegas Raiders and Ceedee Lamb’s status is in doubt as well after he suffered a concussion in Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
If Lamb can’t clear protocols in time to play Thursday, Cedrick Wilson will likely see an increased role alongside Michael Gallup in the receiving game. Wilson saw seven targets from quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 11 and could be in line for even more against a Raiders secondary that allowed 406 yards and five touchdowns to Patrick Mahomes two weeks ago.
Wilson, much like Gallup, is a talented deep threat with plenty of big-play potential. If Lamb sits and Prescott can bounce back from a poor showing on Sunday, Wilson could be in line for a big game.
- Cedrick Wilson Waiver Wire FAAB Bid: $4
