Waiver Wire Targets For Week 12 – 2024 Waiver Wire Targets

We’re late enough in the list now that speculative waiver wire pickups aren’t important.  For the most part, we know who will impact rosters moving forward (outside of injury impact, of course).  Your entire focus for the next few weeks is to make a deep playoff run, so that’s what this list will be focusing on as well. 

Quarterback:  

1. Bo Nix (31% available) – he’s actually been a top 10 QB the last month and he’s on the rise. 
2. Russell Wilson (41%) – he’s been playing well and making plays downfield.  I wouldn’t worry about the lower output game vs the Ravens.
3. Jared Goff (43%) – outside of a poor week 11 game, but he’s otherwise been on fire.
4. Tua Tagovailoa (58%) – he had a nice game vs the Raiders.  He can be a top-12 QB the rest of the way.
5. Anthony Richardson (46%) – He had a nice bounce back game after his benching.  His running ability will get you weekly points, but I’m still fearful of his passing ability.

Running Back:

1. Audric Estime (64% available) – it was a lackluster game for Estime after looking like he wrestled the #1 job away last week.  There aren’t many potential difference makers at the RB left, but Estime could grow into one.
2. Tank Bigsby (58%) – when healthy, he takes touches away from Etienne.  Jonathan Brooks (46%) – I know I said I wouldn’t focus on speculative picks, but RB is so lean on the waiver wire that I wanted to add Brooks.  He’s an unknown entity this season, but he should make his season premier this weekend.
3. Trey Benson (83%) – he looked excellent before the Cardinals bye week.  Can he keep it going?
4. Cam Akers (16%) – he’s proving himself to be a good handcuff for Aaron Jones.  He’s getting consistent, high quality rushing opportunities. 

Wide Receiver:

1. Cedric Tillman (35% available) – He’s still my top WR.  He didn’t score well last week, but his target totals were still high.
2. Jauan Jennings (31%) – if Tillman isn’t available, Jennings is another great pickup.
3. Elijah Moore (91%) – it’s likely that more competitive leagues won’t have a shot at Tillman or Jennings so Moore is someone that should be available everywhere.  His usage has also increased dramatically since Deshaun Watson was injured.
4. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (99%) and Quentin Johnston (50.6%)  – it may surprise you that I have him this high, but look at his production since Hopkins was traded.  Westbrook-Ikhine has found the end zone in 5 of his last 6 games. Quentin Johnson also scores a ton of touchdowns.  The problem for both is their overall target and reception totals lag behind other difference makers so it’s boom-or-bust.
5. Xavier Legette (60%) – the Panthers offense has found a bit more life and rookies usually do well coming out of a bye week. Legette is good enough to roster now and could improve dramatically down the stretch.
6. Marquez Valdes-Scantling (86%) – I’m a little dubious he can keep his hot play up when the Saints WR room gets healthy, but I want to acknowledge his strong play here.

Tight End:

1. Taysom Hill (54% available) – he’s really the goal line running back for the Saints, but the reason I moved him back up the list is because they are using him more in the passing game.
2. Hunter Henry (36%) – Drake Maye looks to him when he’s in trouble.  Henry will have start-value the rest of the season.
3. Will Dissly (86%) – Dissly has really emerged as the best Chargers TE and I think that trend will continue the rest of the season.

Defense:

1. LA Chargers (43% available) – I don’t love their week 12 matchup vs the Ravens, but after that, the matchups are good for the championship chase.
2. Philadelphia (40%) – this is a very good defensive group that is getting better.  The rest of their schedule also holds a lot of good matchups as you make your playoff run.
3. Kansas City (42%) – This is a good team coming off a tough game and matchup up against a weaker opponent (Carolina)
4. Seattle (90%) – they had a tough scoring stretch when their entire DL was injured, but have been a consistently group outside of that.  They also have a nice schedule against teams that will turn the ball over the rest of the way.
5. Washington (72%) – Washington’s D has improved throughout the season and they should get a boost when Lattimore joins the unit.  Plus they play the Cowboys this coming week which is a good matchup for the group.