6 Last-Minute Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements (Week 12)

Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week. Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.

Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 12.

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Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.

Bryce Young (QB – CAR) vs. San Francisco 49ers (12.9% Rostered)

Young hasn’t been a reliable fantasy starting option, averaging only 12.9 fantasy points per game this season. However, he has been outstanding when totaling more than 35 pass attempts in a game. Young has averaged 388 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 26.6 fantasy points per game in the two contests with over 35 pass attempts, including last week. He had a franchise record 448 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 31.8 fantasy points in the win over the Atlanta Falcons. More importantly, Young has top-10 upside in Week 12.

The former Alabama star faces a 49ers defense that has been decimated by injuries. San Francisco has surrendered 303.9 passing yards, 2.3 touchdowns, and 22.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past seven weeks, allowing at least two touchdowns and 19.6 fantasy points in all but one contest. Last week, Jacoby Brissett completed an NFL record 47 pass completions for 452 yards, two touchdowns, and 21.9 fantasy points against the division rivals, despite having Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch as his only meaningful options at wide receiver.

Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL) vs. New Orleans Saints (32.9% Rostered)

While Bijan Robinson is one of the top running backs in the NFL, the Falcons have made Allgeier a critical part of their offense. Despite playing only 27.8% of the snaps, the former BYU star has been a viable flex option for fantasy players. He is the RB36 for the year, averaging eight PPR fantasy points per game, totaling a team-high seven rushing touchdowns. More importantly, Allgeier has found the end zone in six of the past nine games, averaging 12.3 fantasy points per game when reaching the end zone.

Unfortunately, Atlanta won’t have Michael Penix Jr. or Drake London against the divisional rivals because of injuries, leaving the offense with little upside in the passing game. Therefore, expect the Falcons to lean on their excellent pair of running backs. Meanwhile, the Saints’ run defense has struggled lately, surrendering 135.8 rushing yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 24.9 fantasy points per game to running backs over their past four contests, allowing 172 or more yards twice. Don’t be surprised if Robinson and Allgeier have over 20 touches against the division rivals.

Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAC) vs. Arizona Cardinals (27.4% Rostered)

Last week, Tuten suffered an ankle injury against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, he should play on Sunday after logging back-to-back limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday. Despite being the No. 2 running back, Tuten has flashed star potential this season, including last week. He had 15 rushing attempts for 74 yards, a touchdown, and 13.4 PPR fantasy points, setting career highs in nearly every category. The rookie had only four fewer touches than Travis Etienne Jr. despite playing 21 fewer snaps and leaving the game early with an injury.

Furthermore, Tuten was outproducing the veteran running back before getting hurt. More importantly, the rookie has been outstanding when earning more than six rushing attempts, averaging 12.8 fantasy points per game in those three contests, including last week. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have had no answer for opposing running backs lately. They have surrendered 28 rushing attempts for 143 yards, two touchdowns, and 36.8 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past two weeks, allowing at least 105 yards, two scores, and 31.4 fantasy points in both outings.

Andrei Iosivas (WR – CIN) vs. New England Patriots (9.9% Rostered)

Fantasy players should expect Joe Burrow to start on Sunday after missing the past eight games with a toe injury. Unfortunately, he won’t have Ja’Marr Chase after the superstar had his one-game suspension upheld. Furthermore, Christian Gonzalez will likely spend most of the game matched up with Tee Higgins, which could force Burrow to rely on the other pass catchers more than normal. Meanwhile, Iosivas has averaged only 5.2 PPR fantasy points per game this season. However, the former Princeton star has been productive when given enough target volume.

Iosivas has two games with more than five targets this year, averaging 15.6 fantasy points per contest, totaling 13.2 or more in both outings. Furthermore, he has averaged 4.8 receptions for 54.4 receiving yards, 0.8 touchdowns, and 15.1 fantasy points per game in the five career contests with seven or more targets. Meanwhile, the Patriots faced an awful New York Jets passing attack last week. However, they surrendered 11.5 receptions for 155 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 46.1 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the previous two contests.

Luther Burden III (WR – CHI) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (6.9% Rostered)

Chicago’s passing attack has been hot and cold this season. However, fantasy players have stashed Burden, hoping the rookie can be a league winner late in the year. He is the WR81 for the season, averaging 5.6 PPR fantasy points per game. Yet, Burden has flashed star potential, averaging 3.3 receptions on 3.8 targets for 57.5 receiving yards and 10.7 fantasy points per game in the four contests with more than two targets. More importantly, the rookie surpassed Olamide Zaccheaus as the Bears’ No. 3 wide receiver last week.

After playing fewer snaps than the veteran in every other game, Burden played 23 more snaps than Zaccheaus in the win over the Minnesota Vikings. Furthermore, the rookie had a career-high five targets, ranking second on the team behind Rome Odunze (six). Meanwhile, the Steelers have surrendered 39.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, the most in the NFL. They’ve given up 211.6 receiving yards, 1.2 touchdowns, and 45.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past five weeks, including at least 55.4 twice.

Noah Fant (TE – CIN) vs. New England Patriots (3.8% Rostered)

Hopefully, fantasy players don’t need a bye-week or injury replacement at tight end this week. However, Fant is an excellent and under-the-radar option for fantasy players. The veteran is the TE25 for the year, averaging 7.7 PPR fantasy points per game. Yet, he has been a borderline low-end TE1 over the past five weeks, averaging 3.5 receptions on four targets for 37.3 receiving yards and 9.7 fantasy points per game, totaling 6.6 or more in every contest. Furthermore, Fant likely gets Joe Burrow back under center on Sunday.

The veteran had four receptions on five targets for 26 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 12.6 fantasy points in the lone game he played with a healthy Burrow. More importantly, Fant should see an uptick in targets with Ja’Marr Chase suspended for Sunday’s matchup. Meanwhile, the Patriots have had no answers for opposing tight ends lately, surrendering 7.8 receptions for 68 receiving yards, 0.5 touchdowns, and 17.6 fantasy points per game over the past month, allowing 13.3 or more in all but one contest, including in Week 11.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.