Josh Jacobs Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

With the injury to Josh Jacobs, fantasy football managers are left with a potential void on their roster. Let’s check out the extent of the injury and players you can target on your 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 Injury Replacements

Injury Outlook

Josh Jacobs (knee) injury not serious, in doubt for Week 12
Josh Jacobs (knee) is not feared to have suffered a serious knee injury and will not require surgery. However, he is considered week-to-week and is in doubt for Week 12.

Fantasy Impact

Should Jacobs miss, we will likely see a healthy dose of Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks. That’s a downgrade for the offense as a whole, but it can provide short-term RB help for those in need. The bad news is that the Packers face Minnesota this week.

Garrett Ball

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Running Backs

Written by Ellis Bryn Johnson

Emanuel Wilson (RB – GB): 7% Rostered

• Next Opponents: MIN, @DET, CHI
• True Value: $6
• Desperate Need: $10
• Budget-Minded: $4

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 and that he might be more day to day than week to week. Don’t go overboard on Wilson, who might be worth almost nothing if Jacobs is able to play this week. But a speculative claim on Wilson is certainly warranted.

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.

Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PIT): 32% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @CHI, BUF, @BAL
• True Value: $5
• Desperate Need: $8
• Budget-Minded: $3

Analysis: We now have more than just a one-game sample size of Kenneth Gainwell getting the Steelers’ backfield to himself. In both games, Gainwell has finished with RB1 numbers and was used as the lead rusher and pass-catcher. Jaylen Warren left the Steelers’ Week 11 win over the Bengals with an ankle injury, allowing Gainwell to take advantage of an abysmal Cincinnati defense. He finished with nine rushes for 24 yards and seven receptions for 81 yards and two scores. It appears Warren’s ankle injury may be minor. However, if he misses time, Gainwell should be locked into fantasy lineups. With matchups against the Bears and Bills coming up, it’s a dream schedule for fantasy running backs. Monitor Warren’s injury and adjust your bids accordingly.

Sean Tucker (RB – TB): 26% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @LAR, ARI, NO
• True Value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: If you’ve kept a close eye on the Buccaneers’ backfield, you’ve noticed that Sean Tucker‘s involvement has slowly increased over the last few weeks. Or at least it was a slow increase until Tucker went off for 140 yards from scrimmage and three scores in Week 11. Despite the big day for Tucker, Rachaad White played all third downs and two-minute drill snaps for the Buccaneers. If Bucky Irving remains out, Tucker will operate as the Buccaneers’ lead back on early downs and in goal-line situations. Irving’s injury timeline has been ambiguous, but he returned to practice last week on a limited basis. The Buccaneers’ running backs have a tough Week 12 matchup against the Rams.

Bam Knight (RB – ARI): 17% Rostered

• Next Opponents: JAX, @TB, LAR
• True Value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: Jacoby Brissett has turned the Cardinals into one of the league’s most fun offenses to watch. With all the pass-catchers taking huge steps forward for fantasy, we have started to see the Arizona running game follow suit. With Trey Benson expected to return sometime in the next couple of weeks, we have seen multiple Arizona backs share the workload in Benson’s absence. Most recently, it has been Bam Knight and Emari Demercado operating as the early-down and pass-catching backs, respectively. However, in Week 11, Demercado left in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Knight carried the ball five times for 24 yards and a score and also caught four passes for 21 yards. The Cardinals’ schedule is unfriendly to running backs over the next three weeks, but as long as Benson remains out, Knight will be an RB2/RB3 play.

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.