Every week, Nate Hamilton will cover fantasy football waiver wire pickups. Read his Week 12 Waiver Wire picks and FAAB tips (Free-Agent Acquisition Budget) for fantasy football.
DomiNate the Waiver Wire for Week 12
Week 11 was difficult for fantasy football. Difficult in the sense that there weren’t many low-rostered players that shined. I guess it’s good and bad. Good, because it means fantasy players are getting smarter as the season progresses. Bad, because it doesn’t leave you with many options to add to your rosters.
Regardless, we must push forward. We must continue finding the diamonds in the rough. Here are some players you should consider adding from the Week 12 fantasy football waiver wire.
I will include a dollar range of your free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) that you should consider bidding for each player.
(Note: Roster % is as listed for Sleeper leagues. FAAB bid range is based on a $100 budget.)
Week 12 Waiver Wire Fantasy Football Pickups
Carlos Hyde, RB, Seattle Seahawks (rostered 46%)
Carlos Hyde returned in Week 11 after missing the previous three games due to a hamstring injury. He was the most efficient running back for the Seahawks. Hyde totaled 79 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. He now has a total of 29 carries for 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his last two games. Sprinkle in another 24 receiving yards on five receptions.
Chris Carson is expected to return in Week 12. He hasn’t played since Week 7 because of a foot injury, so it’s possible he won’t handle the full workload this week. This should allow additional opportunities for Carlos Hyde. Even if there is a decrease in Hyde’s touches when Carson returns, he should be considered a valuable handcuff and depth piece at the running back position for your roster.
- Carlos Hyde FAAB bid range: $9-$14
Taysom Hill, QB, New Orleans Saints (43%)
Drew Brees is expected to miss at least two more weeks (probably more) with broken ribs and a punctured lung. Many assumed Jameis Winston would get the start in place of Brees, but the Saints named Taysom Hill the starter in Week 11.
Hill completed 78% of his passes (18 for 23) for 233 passing yards. He added 51 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. If Hill continues to sub for Drew Brees, he offers a safe floor with his rushing ability. If you’re hurting at quarterback, Taysom Hill could be your temporary solution.
- Taysom Hill FAAB bid range: $5-$8
Curtis Samuel, WR, Carolina Panthers (52%)
How is this man still only rostered in half of fantasy football leagues? Not only has he been a reliable option at receiver since Week 7, but he also has 26 rushing attempts and two rushing touchdowns on the season.
Even without quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, Curtis Samuel drew a season-high 10 targets and hauled in eight catches for 70 yards and the only receiving touchdown for the Panthers in Week 11.
P.J. Walker‘s time at quarterback was good for Samuel, who typically works in the midrange receiving game reliant on yards after the catch; Samuel is basically a safety valve for someone with little NFL experience like Walker.
Samuel now has 3 receiving touchdowns in three of his last four games and 5 total scores in his last five games.
Curtis Samuel should be on your rosters as we head into the fantasy playoffs.
- Curtis Samuel FAAB bid range: $3-$6
Gus Edwards, RB, Baltimore Ravens (28%)
Gus Edwards is coming off his worst game of the season. It’s a perfect time to buy low! It also helps that both Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins were placed on the COVID list and will miss this Thursday’s game against the Steelers.
Prior to his poor Week 11 game, Edwards had double-digit carries in three of four games. He also recorded a touchdown in three of those four games. Now, he will see a heavy workload again in Week 12 and it could pay off for your fantasy squads even if he has to steal between-the-tackles work (especially near the goal line) with Dobbins and/or Ingram healthy.
- Gus Edwards FAAB bid range: $3-$6
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Week 12 Waiver Wire: Pickups for Deep Leagues ($1-$6 FAAB)
Frank Gore, RB, New York Jets (12%)
Frank Gore isn’t going to win you any leagues, but he is going to give you a safe floor if you need it at running back. He has double-digit carries in all but two games this season. Gore is just coming off his best game of the year and his first touchdown of 2020. He will face the Miami Dolphins defense who have given up the 8th-most fantasy points per game to running backs this season.
Nate Hamilton is a regular contributor to the fantasy football industry and brings his nearly two decades of experience as a fantasy football player to The Game Day. He also writes The Game Day’s weekly DFS tips article.
He provides advice & analysis on a daily basis via Twitter (@DomiNateFF). He has previously written content for FantasyPros, The Fantasy Footballers, and Fantrax. He is a co-author of Amazon’s #1 Best Selling “The Fantasy Football Black Book” with Joe Pisapia. Nate hosts his solo podcast “The DomiNate Fantasy Football Show" and performs weekly AMA live streams on Twitter/Periscope. He is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA).
