Doing your weekly waivers in fantasy football can be more stressful than performing life-saving surgery on a loved one without any professional tools or medical knowledge. While that might be a slight exaggeration, deciding which players to add off the waiver wire each week can be stressful.
Finding and adding the right guys in shallow leagues is simple, as there are plenty of appealing options, and the waiver wire is full of talent. Unfortunately, making your waiver wire claims in deeper leagues can be a massive pain in the neck.
However, I’m here to help by giving fantasy players eight waiver wire targets they should add in deeper leagues in Week 12.
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Deep League Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets
All the players in this article are rostered in under 25% of ESPN leagues.
Jacoby Brissett (QB – ARI): 23.7% Rostered
This should be the final week that Brissett is eligible for this article. Last week, I suggested fantasy players add Brissett off the waiver wire. The career backup was outstanding on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, completing 82.5% of his pass attempts for 452 yards, two touchdowns, and 21.9 fantasy points despite missing Marvin Harrison Jr. Furthermore, Brissett set an NFL record with 47 pass completions. He has averaged two passing touchdowns and 21.3 fantasy points per game in his five starts, totaling at least 19.4 in every outing.
Bryce Young (QB – CAR): 7.5% Rostered
Fantasy players looking for a long-term quarterback should avoid adding Young. However, the former Alabama star is an excellent one-week streaming option. He completed 68.9% of his pass attempts for 448 yards, three touchdowns, and 31.8 fantasy points against a solid Atlanta Falcons defense last week. While Young likely won’t have 45 pass attempts again in Week 12, the former Alabama star is an appealing starting option against the San Francisco 49ers. They have surrendered 2.5 passing touchdowns and 24.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past month.
Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAC): 18.5% Rostered
Unfortunately, Tuten left Sunday’s win with an ankle injury. Hopefully, the injury is minor, as he was outstanding before getting hurt. Tuten had 15 rushing attempts for 74 yards, a touchdown, and 13.4 PPR fantasy points, setting career highs in nearly every category. Furthermore, he was productive despite Travis Etienne Jr. having a season-high two rushing touchdowns and 19.3 fantasy points. The Jaguars have been at their best when leaning on their running game. Don’t be surprised if they give both running backs double-digit touches in most games moving forward.
Emanuel Wilson (RB – GB): 5.9% Rostered
Reportedly, Josh Jacobs didn’t suffer a season-ending knee injury in the win over the New York Giants. However, the star running back will likely miss some time, making Wilson the top waiver wire target this week, regardless of league size. He has averaged 12.2 PPR fantasy points per game in the three contests with more than six rushing attempts this year. More importantly, Wilson played well after Jacobs left Sunday’s contest, totaling 13.9 fantasy points. He accounted for 91.7% of the non-Jacobs backfield rushing attempts and 92.3% of the touches.
Jayden Higgins (WR – HOU): 19.7% Rostered
Hopefully, fantasy players listened to me and already added Higgins off the waiver wire. While Nico Collins remains the focal point of Houston’s offense, the rookie has become the clear-cut No. 2 wide receiver. He has averaged 3.5 receptions on 5.8 targets for 33.8 receiving yards, 0.5 touchdowns, and 9.9 PPR fantasy points per game over the past month, seeing at least seven targets and scoring 9.5 or more fantasy points in every contest except the matchup against the Denver Broncos. Higgins had a career-high 55 receiving yards last week.
Michael Wilson (WR – ARI): 5.2% Rostered
Unfortunately, the Cardinals’ wide receiver corps had been crushed by injuries, as Zay Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles and Marvin Harrison Jr. underwent surgery for appendicitis in the past week. Unfortunately, the second-year star could miss another game or two. Therefore, Wilson will remain Arizona’s No. 1 wide receiver until Harrison returns. After totaling 38 targets and 51.1 PPR fantasy points over the first 10 weeks, Wilson had 15 receptions on 18 targets for 185 receiving yards and 33.5 fantasy points on Sunday, setting career highs in every category.
Darren Waller (TE – MIA): 18.9% Rostered
Last week, I suggested fantasy players in deeper leagues stash Waller despite his pectoral injury. The veteran can return from injured reserve following the Dolphins’ Week 12 bye. Before getting hurt, Waller was playing well, averaging 3.3 receptions for 39 receiving yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 15.2 PPR fantasy points per game in his three healthy contests, totaling at least one score and 9.2 fantasy points in every outing. More importantly, the veteran tight end has an excellent fantasy playoff schedule with matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
AJ Barner (TE – SEA): 9.5% Rostered
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the focal point of Seattle’s offense, averaging 9.7 targets per game this season. However, Barner has quietly become the second-most reliable weapon in the passing game. The tight end had 10 receptions on 11 targets for 70 receiving yards and 17.1 PPR fantasy points against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, joining Smith-Njigba as the only Seahawks with over seven targets or 44 receiving yards. More importantly, Barner has averaged 10.2 fantasy points per game since Week 1, totaling double-digits in 66.7% of the contests.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
