Week 12 Waiver Wire: Fantasy Football's Top Pickups and Breakout Candidates

Week 12 is a big one, fantasy owners, so it's time to start planning your mode of attack now. 

Given the three games on Thanksgiving this week, expect your opponents to jump on the waiver wire early in Week 12 and to be extra vigilant about setting their lineups, as they'll likely be off work and have plenty of time to tinker with their lineups. 

If you have any holes in your lineup, put together a plan now to address them before waivers open this week. We'll break down some of the less commonly owned players you can use to strengthen your squad here. 

The following players are owned in fewer than 60 percent of Yahoo leagues and are worth considering for your lineup in Week 12. 

Player	Team	Week 12 Opponent	Percent Owned (as of Sunday)
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Alex Smith	KC	@ DEN	27%
Joe Flacco	BAL	CIN	26%
Tim Hightower	NO	LA	51%
James White	NE	@ NYJ	52%
Cole Beasley	DAL	WAS	58%
Tedd Ginn Jr.	CAR	@ OAK	20%
Zach Ertz	PHI	GB	57%
Vance McDonald	SF	@ MIA	8%

Tim Hightower, RB, New Orleans Saints

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Running back Tim Hightower has one of the best stories in football, and this season he's finally enjoying success after a sustained absence from the field. 

Hightower, who tore his ACL in 2012, went four seasons without playing in a regular-season NFL game, yet here he is making plays for the Saints. 

As NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano points out, that's rare, especially for a running back—a position that tends to have a short tenure in the NFL.

On Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers, Hightower rushed for 69 yards on 12 carries and added another 57 yards on eight receptions. 

Given the fact Mark Ingram is in the concussion protocol after a head injury he suffered on Thursday, Hightower looks to get more touches if Ingram isn't ready to go in Week 12. 

He's a particularly attractive option in PPR leagues, and will have no shortage of opportunities to add yards through receptions in the Saints' high-octane offense. 

Cole Beasley, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley had himself a day on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens and, as Cowboys HQ writer Jordan Ross pointed out, continued a positive trend:

Beasley, who is in his fifth NFL season, ended his day with five receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Dak Prescott targeted him six times.  

Through 10 games this season, the wideout has already exceeded his highest season yardage to date, with 591 yards on the year. In 16 games in 2015, he amassed 536 yards. 

As Ross pointed out, Beasley has continued to top his production in each consecutive season, but this year he's taken a giant leap forward. He is now on pace to hit 945 yards this season if he plays a full year, which nearly doubles that of any other season in his career. 

Beasley is owned in just 58 percent of leagues and the Cowboys have one of the top offenses in the league, ranking No. 5 in yardage. Beasley is an excellent option to stash on your bench for a rainy day. 

Vance McDonald, TE, San Francisco 49ers

49ers tight end Vance McDonald and quarterback Colin Kaepernick were a winning combination on Sunday.

The two connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter on Sunday against the New England Patriots, and Kaepernick went to the tight end early and often throughout the game.

McDonald also contributed an explosive 24-yard reception off a perfectly thrown lead pass by Kaepernick.

McDonald's career with the 49ers hasn't always been a positive one. After being drafted in 2013, McDonald has for the most part failed to become the weapon San Francisco hoped he could be, and the tight end will become a free agent in 2017. 

However, performances like Sunday's will help McDonald's case immensely, both with the 49ers and with fantasy owners in need of tight end help. Especially if your league allows you to play a tight end in the flex position, McDonald is a player to keep an eye on for Week 12. 

Scoring stats and ownership stats via Yahoo Sports and current as of Nov. 20.