Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Priority Pickups to Target (Week 12)

Our analysts combine to provide rankings for weekly fantasy football waiver wire targets. We’ll help you prioritize your bids for the week ahead. Check out our full expert consensus fantasy football waiver wire rankings and all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for the week. Here are our latest fantasy football waiver wire rankings and top fantasy football waiver wire pickups to target for the week.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings & Top Targets: Week 12

Note: Players chosen based upon having early-week consensus roster percent below 50%.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Emanuel Wilson (RB – GB): 7% Rostered

Next Opponents: MIN, @DET, CHI
True Value: $17
Desperate Need: $25
Budget-Minded: $9

Analysis: Josh Jacobs, who has been one of the NFL’s most consistent running backs over the last two seasons, left the Packers’ Week 11 game against the Giants in the second quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return. Replacing Jacobs was Emanuel Wilson, who played 70.9% of the snaps in this game. Wilson carried 11 times for 40 yards and a touchdown, adding a nine-yard reception. The Packers’ other running back, Chris Brooks, played only 9.1% of the snaps. Wilson has flashed in the past, with big preseason performances and some explosive plays in relief duties. Early reports suggest Jacobs’ knee injury is not season-ending. However, it sounds as if he will miss some time. As a result, Wilson is our top waiver wire recommendation this week. If you are making a playoff push, go big for Wilson as the lead back on a team that has had its running backs score at least one touchdown in all but one of its games this season.

Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAX): 30% Rostered

Next Opponents: @ARI, @TEN, IND
True Value: $5
Desperate Need: $8
Budget-Minded: $3

Analysis: One of the most anticipated late-round picks in fantasy drafts, Bhayshul Tuten continues to flash his playmaking skills despite limited touches. Going into Week 11, Travis Etienne was dramatically out-snapping Tuten, earning a 72.4% snap share to Tuten’s 26.4%. Through three quarters of the Jaguars’ Week 11 win over the Chargers, Tuten had played 41.9% of the snaps to Etienne’s 55.8%. This may finally be the usage shift Tuten managers have been hoping for. Unfortunately, Tuten suffered an ankle injury and left the game. It’s worth monitoring Tuten’s status because if Tuten continues to eat into Etienne’s work, he could be a valuable piece down the stretch.

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.