Fantasy
11/18/24
7 min read
2024 Fantasy Football: NFL Week 12 Waiver Wire Targets
Well, folks, we’ve made it to one of the most challenging parts of the fantasy schedule.
A dozen NFL teams will have bye weeks between Week 12 and Week 14. This kind of blow to the available player pool so close to the playoffs is about as far from ideal circumstances as it gets. In case you were previously unaware, the following franchises will be out of commission this coming weekend:
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New Orleans Saints
- New York Jets
Between the dearth of active talent and the already dire nature of the waiver wire, right now is the worst time to seek outside help for lineups. Still, there are a handful of players worthy of highlighting this week. It’s not all bad!
Here are the five names you should keep an eye out for ahead of Week 12 action:
Week 12 Fantasy Waiver Wire Targets
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
- ESPN Rostership: 28.3 percent
- Yahoo Rostership: 57 percent
The gap between Matthew Stafford’s rostership across platforms is simply inexplicable.
This former Super Bowl winner balled out in Week 11 vs. the New England Patriots, ending the day with 18 completions on 27 attempts for 294 yards and four passing touchdowns. What makes this performance particularly notable is that it represents Stafford’s fourth-straight game with at least 275 passing yards.
In fact, during the last month, Stafford ranks first among quarterbacks in passing yards per game (291.2) and seventh in fantasy points per game (20.1) in four-point per passing touchdown scoring, according to FantasyData.
So unless you’re in a Yahoo league where Stafford is clearly unavailable on a broad scale, you should find a way to make him part of your playoff push.
Week 12’s draw against the Philadelphia Eagles secondary isn’t the greatest matchup to walk into, but at this stage of Stafford’s career, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears
- ESPN Rostership: 14.2 percent
- Yahoo Rostership: 7 percent
Realistically, those seeking a quality running back off the wire this week only have one option.
Roschon Johnson stands out as one of the most intriguing names from Week 11 after nearly splitting the backfield work with teammate D’Andre Swift in the Chicago Bears’ first game with new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown in charge.
The second-year runner logged 41 scrimmage yards on 11 touch opportunities (carries + targets) against the Green Bay Packers, including a late second-quarter rushing touchdown. While the overall production doesn’t stand out too much on paper, it’s essential to highlight that Johnson’s workload accounted for 40.7 percent of the Bears’ backfield opportunity share.
Another item worthy of mention is that Johnson received three of the Bears’ four red zone carries in the contest. Those who have kept tabs on the former Texas Longhorn this season are likely already familiar with Johnson’s penchant for receiving work close to the goal line. Still, the fact that a new coordinator has committed to continuing that role is significant.
Sure, this isn’t the best offense to invest in at this stage of the season, but Johnson’s potential increase from handcuff to standalone flex option makes his services worthy of acquisition.
Elijah Moore, WR, Cleveland Browns
- ESPN Rostership: 9.4 percent
- Yahoo Rostership: 8 percent
The Cleveland Browns’ passing attack has produced multiple impact fantasy receivers, including Cedric Tillman and Jerry Jeudy, with Jameis Winston under center.
Unfortunately, both of those wideouts are broadly rostered by now, but don’t feel like it’s too late to get in on the action — there’s still one more out there to grab.
Elijah Moore has quietly posted some impressive numbers per game in the past three full weeks with Winston. In that span, the former Ole Miss standout is averaging 9.7 targets, 59.7 receiving yards, and 13.6 points per game in point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
Moore doesn’t come without his concerns, however. The Browns’ next three games include a pair of matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a showdown with the Denver Broncos in between; that’s a trio of tough spots.
Still, the reality that this week and Week 14 will bring major bye week issues means that beggars can’t be choosers. Consider Moore as a potential lineup-filling solution as we approach the end of the fantasy season.
Taysom Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints
- ESPN Rostership: 46.2 percent
- Yahoo Rostership: 54 percent
Like Stafford before, Taysom Hill’s inclusion is based on a technicality.
While the multi-talented athlete is rostered in more than 50 percent of ESPN leagues as of this writing, Hill counts for the waiver article because the Saints will be on bye, and there’s a distinct possibility another manager might drop him for a bye week fill-in.
If you are the Hill manager in your league, don’t do that. If you aren’t, look for him the day after the waivers run.
One of the reasons I highlighted Hill in this past week’s start/sit article is that the Saints simply love to get the ball in his hands. Across seven healthy contests in 2024, Hill is averaging 8.3 touch opportunities per game, and that’s not even accounting for any passing attempts he gets on top of that.
Fantasy football is largely based on probability, and the players who touch the ball the most are usually the better bets to score significant point totals. The fact that Hill is sniffing double-digit touches every week at the tight end position makes him one of the most intriguing options available.
If you see his name hit the free-agent pool, make sure to capitalize on your opponent’s mistake.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Miami Dolphins
- ESPN Rostership: 31.7 percent
- Yahoo Rostership: 53 percent
We close by discussing a player that many, including myself, believed would evaporate once QB Tua Tagovailoa returned to the Miami Dolphins lineup in Week 8.
Believe it or not, Jonnu Smith is averaging 4.5 catches and 53.0 receiving yards per game over the past month, amounting to a total of 12.8 PPR points per game that ranks seventh among tight ends in the span.
Is it frustrating that Smith has usurped WR Jaylen Waddle in the pecking order for looks? Certainly so. However, considering how few impact tight ends there are for fantasy, we must recognize these types of results.
No more overthinking it; Smith is here to stay.
