Let’s take a look at players our analysts consider on the fringe as you weigh your waiver wire additions for the week.
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice: Players to Drop & Hold (Week 12)
Droppable
It’s a Rams drop-athon. Cooper Kupp is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after undergoing ankle surgery. It’s highly unlikely he’ll be able to help fantasy teams or the Rams again until September 2023. Without Kupp around, Matthew Stafford simply isn’t fantasy-viable – especially when the Rams’ offensive line is so leaky. Cam Akers moved into a leading role in Week 11, leaving Darrell Henderson splitting backup duties with rookie Kyren Williams. Purge yourself of these horned-helmeted fellows.
Nyheim Hines played 10 of the Bills’ 65 offensive snaps Sunday against the Browns, had one carry and one target, and ran two pass routes. Meanwhile, rookie RB James Cook looked terrific, rushing 11 times for 86 yards, and Devin Singletary continued to be Buffalo’s lead back. Hines is now rosterable only in leagues that count kick-return yardage.
With Christian Watson breaking out, Randall Cobb back from injury and Allen Lazard continuing to play a big role, Robert Tonyan has a shrinking role in the Packers’ offense. Tonyan hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 4, hasn’t topped 35 receiving yards in a game since Week 6, and has just three catches for 27 yards over his last two games.
Droppable with a chance of regret
In three games with the Bears, Chase Claypool hasn’t played a 50% snap share in any of them. He saw six targets in his Bears debut but has drawn two targets in each of his last two games. To make a go of it in a low-volume passing attack, Claypool needs to be on the field for a majority of the offensive snaps. It’s a bad sign that Equanimeous St. Brown out-snapped Claypool 50-29 on Sunday.
A.J. Dillon entered Week 10 as the RB48 in fantasy points per game among running backs who’ve played at least four games. He then totaled 23 yards from scrimmage in a Thursday-night loss to the Titans and extended his touchdown drought to 10 games. Sure, you’d probably regret having dropped Dillon if A.J. Jones were to get hurt and miss time. Then again, maybe not. The Green Bay offense has been lackluster. Dillon hasn’t shown the same sort of burst he displayed in 2021, and his usage in the passing game has been sporadic. There are better ways to spend a roster spot.
OK, if you want to drop Drake London and Kyle Pitts, you have our blessing. Just realize that we’re probably going to be urging you to draft London and Pitts again next year. Pitts is now dealing with a knee injury, and while early reports suggested that Pitts escaped ligament damage, it’s not worth keeping him around at less than 100% when he hasn’t been able to provide a satisfying return on investment at full health. London has caught a TD pass in each of his last two games, but he hasn’t cleared 40 receiving yards in a game since Week 3. It’s OK to bid adieu to London and Pitts for now. Here’s hoping their talent won’t continue to be muted by head coach Arthur Smith and QB Marcus Mariota next season.
As Parris Campbell has emerged as an important component of the Colts’ passing game, rookie Alec Pierce has faded into the background. Through the first five weeks of the season, Pierce out-targeted Campbell 22-15, even though Pierce played in one fewer game. Over the Colts’ last five contests, Campbell has out-targeted Pierce 39-20, and Pierce has averaged 2.0 catches and 34.8 yards per game over that stretch.
Don’t drop yet
Dallas Goedert (shoulder) is eligible to come off injured reserve in Week 15, just in time for the fantasy playoffs. Reports are optimistic that he’ll be good to go as soon as he’s eligible. Goedert might be the third-best TE option in fantasy behind only Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews, so don’t cut him unless benches in your league are absurdly small and you have no choice.
Some fantasy managers might panic-drop James Robinson this week after an ugly game against the Patriots in which he played only 14 snaps and had 7-10-0 rushing. The Jets’ defense is so good that they’re going to be in run-friendly game scripts often. And besides, with Zach Wilson at quarterback, they can’t really afford to be pass-happy. Robinson will have better days than he had in Week 11, and he could be a bigger part of the gameplan this week against the Bears.
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
