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.
- More Waiver Wire Picks
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB – WSH): 12% Rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, DEN, @MIN
- True Value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: Metaphorically, Jacory-Croskey-Merritt had a good run. Literally, his lack of decent runs has led to Chris Rodriguez Jr. taking the lead role in the Washington backfield. In each of his last three games, Rodriguez has had either double-digit carries or a touchdown. Although Croskey-Merritt has played more snaps over that stretch, Rodriguez has been the more effective back. Rodriguez has 160 rushing yards over the last three weeks, compared to Croskey-Merritt’s 96. Despite the tough matchups coming up after the Commanders’ Week 12 bye, Rodriguez is still worth picking up.
Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL): 45% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @NO, SEA, @NYJ
- True Value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: At this point in the season, I might start naming this section after Tyler Allgeier, who makes an appearance here every week. In Week 11, Bijan Robinson bounced back with two touchdowns and 143 yards from scrimmage. Once again, Robinson saw a dominant share of the snaps, playing 56 to Allgeier’s 14. However, Allgeier scored from the 1-yard line for his fourth touchdown in the last four weeks. On the season, he has dominated the carries inside the 5-yard line for Atlanta, and Allgeier remains a weekly Flex option. We’ve seen Allgeier have his best games in favorable matchups. With the Saints and Jets coming up, he is a player who should be rostered in all leagues.
Jaleel McLaughlin (RB – DEN): 1% Rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, @WSH, @LV
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Last week, we received the unfortunate news that J.K. Dobbins will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. Dobbins has dealt with injuries his whole career, and each time he has returned spectacularly. We’re wishing him a speedy recovery, and I already look forward to seeing him in 2026. In his absence, RJ Harvey led the way in the Denver backfield with 14 touches and 50 yards from scrimmage. Operating as the Broncos’ No. 2 back, Jaleel McLaughlin had seven touches, including a four-yard touchdown run. We all know the history of Sean Payton and committee backfields, which makes McLaughlin an intriguing pickup. When the Broncos emerge from their Week 12 bye, we could see an increased role for McLaughlin down the 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.
