Waiver Wire Watch: Week 12 Targets

Nov 18, 2019

james washington

Week 11 was a bit of a disappointment schedule-wise, as many of the big games didn’t live up to the hype, and it was also a bit of a disappointment in fantasy as many of the touchdowns were scored by seemingly unknown or forgotten players, at least in redraft leagues (Qadree Ollison and Bo Scarbrough, anyone?). Nevertheless, the week also brings us some great targets on the waiver wire as a result of injuries, offense shifts, and surging playmakers. Hopefully, some of the recommendations below can help push your squad into the fantasy playoffs, which start in just a few weeks.

Before we get into the meat of the article, there are a few house-keeping items to clear up. Recommendations are based on a PPR-scoring, four-point passing touchdown, 12-team league, with ownership percentages coming from Yahoo. I try to mention when a player is a better streaming play (short-term/one-week starter) versus a long-term addition. Free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) suggestions are based on a $100 season-long budget. Lastly, the great John Paulsen will edit this article every week and adjust rankings and prices if necessary. Essentially, you’re getting two minds collaborating on this piece instead of one, so lucky you.

Now, with that out of the way, here are some players to target heading into Week 12.

BYE WEEKS: Cardinals, Chiefs, Chargers, Vikings

Quarterbacks

1. Jacoby Brissett

2. Sam Darnold

4. Nick Foles

3. Jeff Driskel

5. Ryan Tannehill

Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts, 38% owned ($10)

Brissett is back under center for the Colts, and just in time for a prime matchup against the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. The Texans came out of their bye in Week 11 and were torched by Lamar Jackson, who completed 17-of-24 passes for 222 yards and four touchdowns. Five of the last six quarterbacks to face the Texans have thrown three-plus touchdowns, with the lone exception being Gardner Minshew in his London implosion. Brissett’s outlook will be a touch worse if T.Y. Hilton misses this game (he’s still nursing a calf injury), but the matchup is there for Brissett to post a really solid total in his second game back. Marlon Mack also fractured his hand in Week 11 and will miss Week 12, potentially forcing the Colts into a more pass-heavy script.

Sam Darnold, New York Jets, 22% owned ($7)

Darnold had a cake matchup in Week 11 against the Redskins and he took full advantage, tossing four touchdown passes while completing 19-of-30 passes for 293 yards. Darnold gets another great matchup next week when he and the Jets return home to face the Raiders. The Raiders “shut down” Ryan Finley and the Bengals this week, but in the four weeks prior this injury-ravaged secondary had conceded 13 passing touchdowns over four games. Darnold and the Jets offense are clicking well enough to exploit soft opponents, and that’s what the Raiders present in fantasy. Darnold is an excellent streamer.

Nick Foles, Jacksonville Jaguars, 32% owned ($7)

Foles came back from his stint on injured reserve with a strong performance, completing 33-of-47 passes for 292 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Foles will have a tougher matchup on the horizon with a rested Titans defense returning from its bye. However, over the four games prior to Tennessee’s bye they allowed an average of 327 yards per game, so Foles could find some opportunities to stuff the stat sheet. Foles is a solid streamer this week with a great rest of season schedule making him appealing as a longer-term add. He’ll face Tampa Bay in Week 13 and Oakland and Atlanta in the fantasy playoffs.

Jeff Driskel, Detroit Lions, 3% owned ($3)

With Matthew Stafford on the shelf for several weeks, Driskel now owns the Detroit offense. And that might be OK for fantasy purposes. Driskel is averaging just under 235 yards per game with three touchdowns and one interception in his two starts. The real benefit is his Konami Code appeal (i.e., rushing ability). Driskel trusts his legs and is averaging over 40 yards on the ground per game, while also finding the end zone on Sunday against the Vikings. Driskel looked competent piloting the Lions offense against tough defenses in Chicago and Minnesota, but now the schedule gods smile upon him with a matchup against the Washington Redskins. The same team that just let Sam Darnold shred them through the air.

Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans, 21% owned ($1)

Tannehill is coming off his bye and into a divisional matchup against the Jaguars. Prior to his break, he posted a four-game stretch with 18.9 or more fantasy points, with multiple touchdown passes in three of four games and two 300-plus yard games. The Jaguars have been tough on opposing quarterbacks, even without Jalen Ramsey, as the defense hasn’t allowed a 300-yard passer since Joe Flacco in Week 4. Tannehill could have some upside the rest of the season with games against Oakland and Houston still on the schedule, but he’s a lower-tier streamer this week.