As we inch closer to the fantasy football playoffs, it’s as important as ever to utilize the waiver wire in preparation for injuries, bye weeks and unexpected postponements. Need a hand in making your waiver wire selections? No problem. We’ve got you covered!

Here are Dan Harris, Mike Tagliere, and Kyle Yates with their waiver wire rankings and FAAB recommendations for Week 12:

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Q1. Who is your top waiver wire option of the week, and why?

Gus Edwards jumps out as the No. 1 option for those who need an option for this week only, though you must understand how difficult the matchup against the Steelers is. They’ve allowed just 17.4 PPR points per game on the year, so even if Edwards has a good game, he might fall into RB2 territory. Still, you can’t pass up a running back who’s locked into 15-plus touches.

It’s also worth considering James White here. It’s odd because “you can’t trust a Patriots running back,” but between him and Rex Burkhead, they’ve had a significant role in this offense. Over the last five weeks, Burkhead had amassed 48 opportunities while White has had 30 of them. That’s 78 opportunities (15.6/game) between the two while Damien Harris has played unbelievably well. It’s not a surprise to see White gather 14 opportunities last week with Burkhead injured. He’s going to be a flex-play most weeks.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

Gus Edwards and it’s not close for me. I know it’s a tough matchup against the Steelers, but it’s irrelevant. A locked-in starting running back for any team, especially one as run-heavy as the Ravens, is absolute gold on the waiver wire at this point in the season. That’s especially true given that Edwards already hung a 16-carry, 87-yard, 1-touchdown performance on Pittsburgh earlier in the year. There’s also no guarantee that Mark Ingram or J.K. Dobbins returns by Week 13 when the Ravens play Dallas. Do whatever you can to pick up Edwards, even if it’s just to keep him away from your opponents.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

With the news that JK Dobbins and Mark Ingram have tested positive for COVID, Edwards immediately skyrockets up to the top of my waiver wire rankings. It’s a tough matchup against Pittsburgh, but Edwards will be the only show in town for a run-heavy offense. If you’re desperately in need of a RB this week, he’s worth throwing significant FAAB at.
– Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL)

Q2. Which notable waiver wire option for Week 12 was the most difficult to rank?

It’s Tevin Coleman because while I don’t like him, you just know that Kyle Shanahan is going to give him 8-12 touches per game, which can help desperate fantasy managers.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

James White. With Rex Burkhead’s season-ending injury, White should regain the pass-catching running back role that had made him so successful in the past. But the Patriots offense is . . . inconsistent at best, and relying on any option outside of perhaps Damien Harris is a risky proposition. The Patriots also surprisingly trailed against Houston, leading to more involvement for White after Burkhead went down, and it’s unlikely he’ll regularly see the 9 targets he saw on Sunday going forward. He’s one of the top running back adds and adds generally because, well, it’s an awful landscape, but it’s equally to see fantasy managers comfortably relying on him going forward.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

Cam Akers handled the majority of the touches last week in this backfield, but we have no idea what Sean McVay is going to do on Monday Night Football. Akers is a RB in a solid offense, so he immediately jumps up into the top-tier conversation, but it’s going to be hard to trust him any given week with the way the Rams split up the workload here.
– Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL)

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Q3. For managers streaming a D/ST in Week 12, what readily available option (under 40%) should they target?

You could stream defenses against the Bengals with Joe Burrow under center. Now without him, you’re definitely going to want to attack them. The Giants have generated multiple sacks in every single game this year, including three-plus sacks in four of them. They’ve also forced 15 turnovers, which presents a bit of upside. Meanwhile, Bengals quarterbacks have been sacked at least three times in 7-of-10 games.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

There are actually several decent widely-available options this week. But I’ll rely on the Giants taking on the Bengals. In three games last year, Finley was sacked 11 times and threw two interceptions, not to mention that he fumbled four times (though lost none). A rested Giants team should be able to get to Finley and cause at least a turnover or two. The Seahawks taking on the Eagles also makes a fine option.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

The Packers get to take on the woeful Bears offense in week 12 and they’re widely available. They’re a clear add heading into this week’s action.
– Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL)

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Notable Week 12 FAAB Recommendations (in %)

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Q4. Which Week 12 waiver wire option carries the biggest risk of being a waste of FAAB dollars?

It’s Carlos Hyde, as there will be a lot of fantasy managers who go and grab him thinking he’s got another start in him, though I’m expecting Chris Carson back for their next game, making Hyde just a high-end handcuff.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

You shouldn’t be wasting major FAAB dollars on anyone other than Pittman this week, but I’ll go with Deebo Samuel as a potential waste. I like Samuel and he has performed well when he plays. But they get the Rams next week, Nick Mullens is the quarterback, and Brandon Aiyuk has emerged. Samuel is worth rostering, but to the extent fantasy managers are thinking they’ll have found a a locked-in fantasy starter, there’s certainly a risk that they’ll come up short.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

The answer here is obviously Akers. While we have yet to see what he’ll do on Monday night against the Bucs, there’s a risk that you acquire him and never exactly feel truly comfortable playing him due to the volatility in this backfield.
– Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL)

2020 Rest of Season Rankings (through Week 11)

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