Week 12 is here, and the bye weeks are making managing fantasy rosters even trickier than the usual glut of injuries and under-performers does. Week 13 is just around the corner. These are the players you should be picking up now to get ahead of your league mates.

• Waiver Wire Pickups: Quarterbacks to Stash Ahead of Week 13
• Waiver Wire Pickups: Wide Receivers to Stash Ahead of Week 13
• Waiver Wire Pickups: Tight Ends to Stash Ahead of Week 13
• Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenses to Stash Ahead of Week 13

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Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Backs to Stash Ahead of Week 13

Cam Akers (RB – LAR) – 51% Rostered

This week, the Rams released Darrell Henderson in the latest episode of “What’s going on in the Rams backfield.” After it looked like Akers would be traded a few weeks ago, he’s now the RB1 on a team that could need to rely on the ground game going forward.

Since Akers’ return to the starting lineup, he’s had 25 rush attempts over three games and the Rams seem keen to let him show what he can do. Against the Saints last week, Akers rushed 14 times for 61 yards, equaling his season high. The floor is low, but the Rams play several weak run defenses in the coming weeks, including the Raiders and Packers.

Jerick McKinnon (RB – KC) – 31% Rostered

Clyde Edwards-Helaire was placed on IR this week. McKinnon looks likely to be the next man up behind Isaiah Pacheco unless Ronald Jones – who has been inactive for every game this season – surprises us all. The Chiefs don’t lean heavily on their running game, but McKinnon has shown he can be useful in both rushing and receiving. He’s averaging 1.0 PPR points per touch, placing him 13th among running backs with 25 or more touches.

Deon Jackson (RB – IND) – 10% Rostered

Jonathan Taylor is the clear RB1 in this offense and looks to be healthy again. Still, Jackson has shown he’ll stay involved and has been counted on in the passing game in recent weeks, absorbing some of the role that Nyheim Hines left behind. Should anything happen to Taylor, Jackson would become a very valuable commodity for the rest of the season.

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.