At long last, we have reached Week 12 of the NFL season, the last week that we have to deal with teams being on a bye. It is also the last week prior to the trade deadline in many redraft leagues, which places even more importance on working the waiver wire. Let’s take a look at some of the top Week 12 players to target.

Keep in mind that the owned percentages are from CBS Sports leagues. Also keep in mind that Arizona, Kansas City, the L.A. Chargers, and Minnesota are on their bye weeks.

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Chad Thomas (DL – CLE): 0% owned (1% FAAB)
There are quite a few reasons to go after the second-year defensive end from the University of Miami. He has seen an uptick in snaps, playing roughly 77% in the past two weeks with Olivier Vernon missing time with a knee injury. In that span, he has put up a sack in back-to-back games, five solo tackles, and a pair of tackles for a loss. After the events of last Thursday night, Thomas will definitely maintain a big role along the Browns’ defensive line. Myles Garrett is suspended indefinitely and Larry Ogunjobi is suspended for a game, while Vernon is close to returning from his knee injury. If Vernon does return this week it would further boost the value Thomas brings.

Vic Beasley (DL – ATL): 5% owned (2% FAAB)
Don’t look now, but it appears that someone let the Falcons know the 2019 season is underway. Following their Week 10 bye, they have put together a pair of division wins on the road against the Saints and Panthers. The pass rush has come alive lately, with Beasley playing a big part. In their first eight games, the Falcons’ defense had a total of seven sacks. In the past two weeks, they have registered 11 sacks.

In that time, the veteran defensive end has put up six total tackles, two tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, and three quarterback hits. His sack streak is now at two games and will continue this week against a Buccaneers offense that has allowed 25.5 sacks to opposing defensive linemen this season.

Javon Hargrave (DL – PIT): 2% owned (1% FAAB)
It’s all about following a hot streak by riding a player on a team that relies on the defense to bail out a struggling offense. Hargrave has stepped up as a solid pass-rushing defensive tackle to complement the veteran defensive end, Cameron Heyward, with Stephon Tuitt (pectoral) out for the season. He has also proven to be an above-average interior tackle producer of late. In his past two games, he has posted 16 total tackles, three tackles for a loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. This week, he faces a banged-up Bengals’ offensive line that just allowed five sacks to Raiders defensive linemen and has given up 23.5 sacks to the position in 2019. This is a great plug-and-play cheap defensive line option with big upside.

Nate Gerry (LB – PHI): 4% owned (4% FAAB)
We suggested that IDP owners pick up Gerry off the waiver wire prior to Week 8 when he was just 1% owned. Apparently, there was not a rush to go out and get the converted safety since he remains just 4% owned. Let’s take a look at what he’s done, shall we? Last week, he put up 10 total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack. While playing 99% of the snaps in his past four games, he has posted 31 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and two sacks.

This week, he faces a Seahawks offense that averages 30.7 rush attempts per game and has allowed 21.5 big plays to opposing linebackers. Do not continue to sleep on this linebacker option that will help IDP teams lockdown that coveted trip to the playoffs.

Neville Hewitt (LB – NYJ): 9% owned (3% FAAB)
After a strong start to the season, filling in admirably for an injured C.J. Mosley, Hewitt has missed time due to neck and knee issues. In the first four weeks of the season, he was putting up more than solid production in al facets of the game. In that time, he put up 30 total tackles, four tackles for a loss, two sacks, and an interception.

After sitting out the last four games, he returned last week and played 100% of the defensive snaps. He finished Week 11 with five total tackles and caught his second interception of the season. He is a great pickup and start this week against a Raiders offense that is allowing an average of 30 total tackles per game to opposing linebackers over their past four games.

Juston Burris (DB – CLE): 0% owned (1% FAAB)
With Morgan Burnett done for the season with an Achilles injury, it appears that Burris will get the first crack at replacing the veteran. He had a very productive game last week while playing 57% of the snaps. He put up five total tackles, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble.

He is a more than capable replacement for Burnett and stepped up big back in Week 3 when asked to play a prominent role in the secondary. He played 100% of the snaps and finished with four solo tackles along with an interception. He is a great pickup this week and can be had at a very low price.

Bradley McDougald (DB – SEA): 19% owned (3% FAAB)
Recently acquired safety Quandre Diggs finally made his Seattle debut last week after dealing with a hamstring issue and it gave us a clearer picture of what the secondary will look like moving forward. Diggs assumed the free safety role, played 100% of the snaps, and had a timely interception to help seal the win. McDougald, who also played 100% of the defensive snaps, played his familiar strong safety role and put up six total tackles. Rookie safety Marquise Blair was relegated to the bench and didn’t play a single defensive snap. A healthy McDougald playing an every-down strong safety role down the stretch could immensely help IDP rosters and he needs to be picked up immediately.

Eddie Jackson (DB – CHI): 13% owned (1% FAAB)
While mainly a big-play dependent defensive back for IDP purposes, Jackson has actually been putting up solid tackle totals lately and has been getting back on track with regards to making big plays. Last week, he put up six total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and forced a fumble. Over his past three games, he has put up 16 solo tackles and 19 in total.

It’s all about the matchup this week. Over their past three games, the Giants’ offense has been fantasy gold for opposing defensive backs. In that time, they are allowing an average of 27.6 total tackles per game to defensive backs and have given up 10 big plays to the position.

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Walton Spurlin is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Walton, check out his archive and follow him @waltonspurlin.