Check out our top waiver wire targets for Week 12 of the 2022 fantasy football season. And here’s all of our NFL Week 12 waiver wire advice.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

Cam Akers (LAR): 27% rostered

• Next opponents: @KC, SEA, LV
• True value: $11
• Desperate need: $23
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: This one really flew under the radar. Akers was the predominant running back for the Rams on Sunday, handling 14 carries to Kyren Williams‘ seven and Darrell Henderson‘s two. I won’t lie: Akers didn’t look half bad either. Henderson has been ineffective and has yet to carry the ball more than 13 times in a game this season. Williams is more of a third-down presence, as he is a great receiver and is much better in pass protection than Akers. Don’t get too fired up about a guy who was recently in the dog house and was a poison pill in trade negotiations. Akers still has to trudge behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. The silver lining is that the Rams have one of the easiest remaining schedules for RBs in the league.

James Cook (BUF): 17% rostered

• Next opponents: @DET, @NE, NYJ
• True value: $7
• Desperate need: $14
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: The Bills have made one thing clear since they acquired Nyheim Hines a couple of weeks ago: Cook is still their RB2. The rookie from Georgia tied a season-high with 11 rushing attempts on Sunday and established a new season high with 86 rushing yards – the same number Devin Singletary hit on seven more carries. The passing volume will follow Cook in neutral and negative game scripts, but it was encouraging to see his number called to ice the game away with Buffalo ahead on the scoreboard. Cook is so talented that he can do great things for fantasy just by achieving a 50% split with Singletary. He is on his way.

Latavius Murray (DEN): 23% rostered

• Next opponents: @CAR, @BAL, KC
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $13
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Murray is agonizing to watch at this stage of his career, but volume truly does pay the bills. The 32-year old fielded a whopping 21 touches in Week 11 and fell into the end zone to salvage a fantasy performance that was otherwise lackluster. Melvin Gordon also handled a good share of touches, including five receptions to Murray’s four. Chase Edmonds was a non-factor with only two rushing attempts, and his fall from grace dating back to his time in Arizona has been tragic. The Denver backfield is very uninspiring as a whole, but there are some positive matchups on the horizon.

Jerick McKinnon (KC): 26% rostered

• Next opponents: LAR, @CIN, @DEN
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $11
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: I still believe that McKinnon will end up being the best of the three Chiefs RBs down the stretch in fantasy, especially in PPR formats. The veteran was schemed out of his normal workload in Sunday night’s win over the Chargers, who struggle to defend the power run. McKinnon only carried the ball six times and caught one pass. He also lost a fumble in the fourth quarter that nearly cost Kansas City the game. McKinnon is still going to be a weekly RB3 with RB2 upside – plenty flex-worthy at this stage of the season.

Chuba Hubbard (CAR): 24% rostered

• Next opponents: DEN, BYE, @SEA
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $7
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: This Panthers team is an absolute mess, but they don’t have a terrible backfield. Trading Christian McCaffrey upgraded everyone under him, including Foreman and Chuba Hubbard. Foreman is currently toting a bell cow workload, but Hubbard can provide a home run speed threat for this offense as a change of pace. Carolina’s offense might be abysmal, but there are still fantasy points to be had. Rostering Hubbard is a cheap alternative for the FAAB-challenged.

For some of us, this point in the season is where we lean forward and make a final push to solidify playoff position. For those who are already locked in and ready to chase a ‘ship, the worst thing that can happen is to be left holding the bag with an injured starting RB. That’s right, it’s officially Handcuff SZN. The stashes below are the most valuable RBs to pivot to should disaster strike.

Stash Candidates: Alexander Mattison, Dontrell Hilliard, Isaiah Spiller, Trestan Ebner, Samaje Perine, Deon Jackson, Kenneth Gainwell, Matt Breida

Alexander Mattison and Isaiah Spiller are a bit different than the rest of the stashes in that they could slot into a heavy workload if the starter in front of them were to miss time. We have seen Mattison become an option with weekly RB1 upside in Dalvin Cook‘s absence. The rookie Spiller has earned more opportunities by the week and has usurped Sony Michel as the Chargers’ RB2 with Joshua Kelley out.

Dontrell Hilliard and Samaje Perine are touchdown-vulturing thorns in the side of fantasy managers. They also might not see any change in role should the starters go down. Rookie Hassan Haskins would probably see a bump in usage if Derrick Henry had to leave the field. Joe Mixon left Sunday’s game with a concussion, but it was Perine’s work on third down that put him in the end zone three times. I suspect Cincinnati would make a practice squad move if Mixon was unable to go.

The rest of these guys can be rostered as cuffs in deeper leagues. One great game has people wondering whether Deon Jackson could do it again should Jonathan Taylor get dinged. I’m not so sure. Kenneth Gainwell is the third-down back for the Eagles right now, but an injury to Miles Sanders would probably only upgrade Boston Scott for some reason. Matt Breida will be a very important piece for the Giants down the stretch. Their playoff hopes rest squarely on Saquon Barkley and his availability. Breida might be my favorite deep-league stash of the lot.