The week is nearly wrapped up, and of course there were another round of injuries and surprising performances. As a result, fantasy football managers will be on the lookout for wavier wire additions and replacement options for those injured over the weekend or just to bolster their lineup moving forward. Here are a few players to consider adding via the fantasy football waiver wire this week. And here are all of our fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 12.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target
Alec Pierce (WR – IND): 48% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @KC, HOU, @JAX
- True Value: $8
- Desperate Need: $12
- Budget-Minded: $6
Analysis: Alec Pierce has been on a tear, with top-24 scoring finishes in three of his last four games (WR22, WR15, WR14). A big reason for the hot streak is his dominance against single-high coverage this season. Against single-high, Pierce has produced elite per-route numbers with a 28.1% target share, 3.44 yards per route run and a 32.7% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. The good news is that six of Pierce’s last seven games are against teams that have utilized single-high as their primary coverage, or they struggle to defend perimeter wide receivers. The only exception is the Seattle Seahawks. Pierce should continue dominating with weekly WR2 upside. He is a safe Flex floor play.
Christian Watson (WR – GB): 34% Rostered
- Next Opponents: MIN, @DET, CHI
- True Value: $5
- Desperate Need: $8
- Budget-Minded: $3
Analysis: In Weeks 8-10, Christian Watson operated as the Packers’ field-stretcher, with six of his 12 targets coming downfield, and logged a 25.8-yard average depth of target (aDOT). I was extremely bullish about his outlook for Week 11, and Watson delivered with a 20.8% target share, 46 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He’s primed to continue helping fantasy teams down the stretch with five matchups against pass defenses that struggle to defend downfield. In his final seven games, Watson faces the Bears twice, the Vikings twice and the Ravens. All of those defenses sit inside the top seven in deep passing completion rate allowed, per Fantasy Points Data. Watson should finish the 2025 season with a flurry of fantasy points.
Michael Wilson (WR – ARI): 47% Rostered
- Next Opponents: JAX, @TB, LAR
- True Value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-Minded:$1
Analysis: Michael Wilson had the best game of his career last week against the 49ers. He had a 31.5% target share with 15 receptions and a staggering 185 receiving yards. I don’t think Wilson will continue to do that weekly, even if Marvin Harrison Jr. remains out following an appendectomy, but Wilson should continue to operate as the team’s No. 2 pass-catcher with some nice matchups incoming. His value will crater when Harrison returns, but you can ride the lightning until then with Wilson against the Jaguars and Buccaneers. Since Week 6, the Jaguars have allowed the most fantasy points per game to perimeter wide receivers, while the Bucs have given up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to that position during that stretch.
Successful In-Season Fantasy Football Management
Once your fantasy football team is drafted, the work is not over. Successful in-season management is crucial to a winning fantasy football season. Here are some tips to help you manage your team effectively throughout the season:
Stay up to date on player news
Keep track of player injuries, suspensions, and other news that may impact their performance. This will help you make informed decisions about which players to start each week.
Monitor the waiver wire
Keep an eye on the waiver wire and be ready to pick up players who may be undervalued or overlooked by other teams. This can provide valuable depth to your roster. Use our waiver wire assistant to view optimal lineups, waiver and trade suggestions, and league analysis.
Analyze matchups
Analyze the upcoming matchups for your players and opponents to determine which players to start in your lineup each week. Look for favorable matchups and take into account the strength of the opposing team’s defense.
Stay active in trades
Be open to trading players with other teams if it will benefit your team. Analyze the potential impact of a trade before making a decision and negotiate with other teams to find a mutually beneficial agreement.
Be prepared for bye weeks
Plan ahead for bye weeks by having backup players ready to fill in for your starters. Avoid having too many players with the same bye week, which can leave your team short-handed.
Don’t overreact to one bad week
Avoid overreacting to one bad week of performance by a player. Take a long-term view of their performance and evaluate their potential moving forward.
Continuously evaluate your roster
Continuously evaluate your roster throughout the season and make adjustments as needed. Be willing to drop underperforming players or make changes to your lineup if necessary.
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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.
