The fantasy football playoffs are right around the corner, and managers will need to utilize all aspects of the waiver wire entering Week 12 with most trade deadlines arriving this week.
After four teams were on a bye in Week 11, there will be no teams getting the week off. Keep in mind, though, that six teams will be on a bye in Week 13, so some moves may need to be made ahead of time.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Priority Free Agents
1. RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
We’ve been listing Charbonnet as an add for a few weeks now, and this is the major reason why. Kenneth Walker III suffered a hip injury, and it’s unclear how severe it is. Charbonnet wound up seeing 85% of the snaps while posting 15 carries and six receptions. The schedule coming up isn’t all that enticing, but Charbonnet could have the backfield to himself for a while, making him an RB2 option and the clear top target on the waiver wire. Managers should be aggressive on the waiver wire until we learn the timeline for Walker’s injury.
FAAB: 65%
Availability: 56%
2. RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens
Mitchell is still pretty high on the priority list because of what he can bring to the table in terms of explosiveness. The goal-line and short-yardage work will belong to Gus Edwards, but Mitchell appears to have taken the No. 2 role from Justice Hill. He’s a flex option in a limited role, but there’s upside if that role continues to grow.
FAAB: 35%
Availability: 42%
3. WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
Between the bye week and a lingering knee injury, Downs could be available on waivers. If he is, scoop him up. As the clear No. 2 option in the Colts’ passing game, Downs has been extremely involved and very productive despite working solely from the slot. He’s expected to play through the knee injury and has a very favorable schedule coming up through the playoffs.
FAAB: 30%
Availability: 50%
4. WR Demario Douglas, New England Patriots
Coming out of the bye week, we may not know exactly who the quarterback will be for the Patriots. It doesn’t matter all that much because Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe may as well be clones of one another, but Douglas should continue to dominate the target shares moving forward. Over his last four games, he’s averaged 7.3 targets, a 23% per-game target share and 11.1 PPR points per game. He’s a flex/WR3 option for the remainder of the season.
FAAB: 25%
Availability: 68%
5. WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
All Doubs seems to do is catch touchdowns. He’s found the end zone in four of his last five games and, while that production is likely unsustainable, it’s nice to know he can go on a run like that. There’s a clear disconnect between Jordan Love and Christian Watson, which has allowed Doubs to step into a 20% per-game target share. We shouldn’t go crazy spending up for Doubs, because volatility will be a natural part of his game, but he’s a nice flex option to have in a pinch.
FAAB: 20%
Availability: 46%
7. RB Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings
Even though Alexander Mattison was somewhat surprisingly active in Week 11 despite starting the week in the concussion protocol, Chandler was still a viable option in fantasy. Though Mattison led the way with a 64% running back rush share, Chandler still had 14 opportunities, including a 14% target share. He was far more efficient than Mattison, going over 100 total yards, and there’s a good chance this backfield is simply split moving forward with Chandler getting more of the receiving work.
FAAB: 15%
Availability: 56%
8. TE Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
A moment of silence is needed for Mark Andrews managers. The stud tight end will miss the remainder of the season due to a cracked fibula with damage to an ankle ligament. That means the next man up is Likely, who flashed a bit of promise as a rookie in 2022. Likely won’t be a one-for-one replacement, and Charlie Kolar also will get some work. But it seems Likely is the favorite right now to take over the receiving work after running 29 routes following Andrews’ injury.
FAAB: 15%
Availability: 97%
Grab-n-Stash
As the playoffs near, this is the time to grab the handcuffs of players both on your team and the handcuffs of players on other teams, so expect to see some of the same names moving forward.
RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
The backfield still belongs to Henry, and this offense is in major disarray. But Spears is still a decent flex option with immense upside if something happens to Henry.
FAAB: 5%
Availability: 60%
RB Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
This is a full-blown committee with Khalil Herbert back, but D’Onta Foreman suffered an ankle injury. This will be something to monitor for Johnson’s chances of taking over the No. 2 role.
FAAB: 3%
Availability: 80%
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles
Gainwell won’t be usable while D’Andre Swift is healthy, but he’s still one of the most valuable handcuffs in fantasy.
FAAB: 3%
Availability: 73%
RB Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
The backup to Christian McCaffrey probably needs to be rostered much more than he is.
FAAB: 1%
Availability: 84%
RB Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
Dowdle has been more involved lately. Even though Tony Pollard is still the leading back, the former is the clear handcuff with a smidge of standalone value in the right matchups.
FAAB: 1%
Availability: 84%
WR Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
Reed is more of a stash because his role as the slot receiver limits his upside, so he’s not a necessary addition. But he’s scored in back-to-back weeks and has at least four receptions in three of his last four games.
FAAB: 5%
Availability: 64%
Streamers of the Week
QB Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Coming out of the bye week, Minshew will be at home taking on a Bucs defense that’s allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game (19.0) to quarterbacks on the season and the most to the position over the last five weeks (23.1).
Availability: 87%
QB Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons: Keep an eye on Carr’s shoulder injury. If he’s healthy, he’s a solid streamer against a Falcons defense allowing 22.0 fantasy points per game to the position over the last five weeks.
Availability: 59%
TE Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Indianapolis Colts: With at least four receptions in four of his last five games, Otton is a solid play against the Colts, who have allowed 16.2 PPR points per game to tight ends over their last five.
Availability: 80%
TE Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints: It’s not pretty, but Smith is in play this week considering the Saints have allowed the most PPR points per game (20.1) to tight ends over the last five games.
Availability: 72%
New England Patriots D/ST at New York Giants: Tommy DeVito may have thrown three touchdown passes in Week 11, but he also took nine sacks. The Patriots are the top streaming D/ST this week.
Availability: 75%
Denver Broncos D/ST vs. Cleveland Browns: The early-season struggles shouldn’t blind us from the fact that the Broncos have allowed 17.4 points per game since Week 6 and have multiple turnovers in each of their last three games.
Availability: 67%
PK Greg Joseph, Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears: Getting to kick inside, Joseph has averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game over his last seven. This should be a good matchup for him to kick plenty.
Availability: 84%
PK Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins at New York Jets: The Jets defense is good enough to get some stops, forcing Miami to kick. New York has allowed the most field-goal attempts and the second-most field-goals made this season.
Availability: 49%
