Fantasy Football Week 12: First Look at Best Waiver Wire Pickups This Week
Fantasy Football Week 12 is just two days away, and it's time for some last-ditch efforts to improve your roster.
The playoffs are just a couple of weeks away in most leagues, so you'll need all the help you can get if you're trying to claw your way into a spot in the fantasy football postseason.
Chances are that your starting lineup is pretty much set by now, but you never really know what's going to happen in the NFL.
If one of your star players goes down with an injury, you'll want to have some nice options on your bench.
So let's take a look at some of the hot commodities on this week's waiver wire market.
Here they are: the top 15 waiver wire pickups for the stretch run.
Note: Point predictions are in standard leagues: one point per 20 yards for quarterbacks and one point per 10 yards for running backs and wide receivers as well as six points per touchdown.
15. Anthony Armstrong, WR, Washington Redskins
1 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 16 percent
Week 12 Matchup: vs. Minnesota
Donovan McNabb threw 50 passes last week against the Titans, and the Redskins will continue to throw the football all season.
Anthony Armstrong had just three catches in that game, but he was targeted seven times by McNabb because of his big-play potential.
Armstrong entered Week 11 leading in the league in yards per reception and should remain a solid down-field target a la Mike Wallace in Pittsburgh.
Plus, the Redskins play the Vikings this week, and we saw how they got shredded by Aaron Rodgers in Week 11.
Prediction: 7 points.
14. Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints
2 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 1 percent
Week 12 Matchup: at Dallas
With Jeremy Shockey out because of an injury, Jimmy Graham took on a much bigger role in the Saints offense last week.
The rookie out of Miami caught five passes for 72 yards and was targeted eight times by quarterback Drew Brees.
Graham might be a frustrating pickup with the way Brees spreads the ball around, but he also could explode in the Saints' pass-heavy offense.
There's no need to rush to get him—he's available in 99 percent of CBS leagues—but he might be worth stashing on your bench if you're shaky at tight end.
Prediction: 8 points.
13. Cadillac Williams, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 52 percent
Week 12 Matchup: at Baltimore
Hey, Cadillac Williams, we didn't forget about you!
The Bucs running back has now gotten into the end zone in two straight games, and is coming off a 51-yard performance on just seven carries against the 49ers.
Williams busted off a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter and figures to see an increased load at the running back position given his recent performance.
He's got a tough matchup against Baltimore this week, but we saw in Week 11 that the Ravens can give up a ton of yards on the ground.
Prediction: 9 points.
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12. Jordan Shipley, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
4 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 14 percent
Week 12 Matchup: at New York Jets
It's hard to like anyone on the Bengals not named Chad Ochocinco or Terrell Owens, but Jordan Shipley has produced solid numbers this season.
He's coming off a five-catch, 71-yard performance against the Bills last week in which he was targeted a team-high nine teams.
With the likelihood that the Bengals will be playing catch-up for the rest of the season, Shipley should get his fair share of catches.
He's worth a look as a third WR or flex option.
Prediction: 9 points.
11. Joel Dreesen, TE, Houston Texans
5 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 12 percent
Week 12 Matchup: vs. Tennessee
Texans tight end Joel Dreessen is coming off the game of his life against the Jets.
Dreesseen caught four passes for 106 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown.
With Arian Foster in the backfield and Andre Johnson on the outside, the middle of the field should continue to be open for Dreessen.
He should be a nice pickup if you have an injured tight end like Antonio Gates, Jeremy Shockey or Vernon Davis.
Prediction: 10 points.
10. Beno Obomanu, WR, Seattle Seahawks
6 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 0 Percent
Week 12 Matchup: vs. Kansas City
You might be wondering who the hell I'm talking about, but Beno Obomanu is more than just an awesome name.
With the injury to Mike Williams, Obomanu stepped up for the Seahawks in Week 11 by catching five passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
He actually has three touchdowns on the season and looks like he'll see an increase in targets as long as Williams is on the shelf.
Obomanu also has a favorable matchup again Kansas City's weak pass defense.
Prediction: 11 points.
9. Nate Burleson, WR, Detroit Lions
7 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 44 percent
Week 12 Matchup: vs. New England
Nate Burleson had his best game of the season against the Cowboys last week, catching seven passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Burleson also had one carry for 15 yards to cross the 100-yard all-purpose mark, and has four touchdowns on 35 receptions over the past six games.
With Calvin Johnson constantly drawing double teams and Detroit's lack of a running game, Burleson will continue to be a nice option as a second or third wideout.
Prediction: 12 points.
8. Chris Ivory, RB, New Orleans Saints
8 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 40 percent
Week 12 Matchup: at Dallas
Chris Ivory looks like a solid pickup on the waiver wire this week, and rightfully so after rushing for 99 yards and a touchdown in Week 11.
But Ivory is questionable for Thursday's game against Dallas and could see his production diminish if Reggie Bush returns.
If Ivory goes he'll be a nice option for a third running back, but there are a lot of question marks surrounding him as of this writing.
Prediction: 12 points (if he plays).
7. Nate Washington, WR, Tennessee Titans
9 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 62 percent
Week 12 Matchup: at Houston
Nate Washington might not have the best quarterback situation to work with in Tennessee, but that didn't prevent him from being targeted a team-high nine times against the Redskins last week.
Washington certainly benefited from the presence of Randy Moss on the other side, catching five passes for 117 yards, including a 52-yard reception.
With Rusty Smith likely starting at quarterback this week, Washington's value diminishes a bit.
But he should still be a definite start against Houston's horrific secondary in Week 12.
Prediction: 14 points.
6. Brandon Gibson, WR, St. Louis Rams
10 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: Six percent
Week 12 Matchup: at Denver
As Rams quarterback Sam Bradford has matured, so has wide receiver Brandon Gibson.
Gibson has seen a huge increase in his number of targets in recent weeks, catching 19 passes over the team's past three games.
He had five catches for 42 yards and a touchdown in Week 11, and it looks like he may be emerging as Bradford's most trusted option in the receiving game.
Gibson should continue to put up solid numbers, especially this week against Denver's below-average pass defense.
Prediction: 14 points.
5. Derek Hagan, WR, New York Giants
11 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: One percent
Week 12 Matchup: vs. Jacksonville.
Considering Derek Hagan has only played one game with the Giants, his stats aren't going to blow you away.
He has three catches for 10 yards and a touchdown.
But with Hakeem Nicks out for another few weeks and Hagan incorporating himself into the Giants offense, he should be a good under-the-radar fantasy pickup.
He''ll benefit from playing in a wide-open offense in New York.
Prediction: 15 points.
4. Jon Kitna, QB, Dallas Cowboys
12 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 61 percent
Week 12 Matchup: vs. New Orleans
How Jon Kitna is available in that many leagues is beyond me.
Kitna has 10 touchdown passes in five games since taking over for the injured Tony Romo, but he's been the most impressive over the last two games.
He's thrown for 474 yards and six touchdowns during Dallas' two-game winning streak.
Kitna doesn't have a good matchup against the Saints' No. 2 pass defense this week, but he should still be your starter if you're struggling at quarterback.
Prediction: 22 points.
3. Mike Goodson, RB, Carolina Panthers
13 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 55 percent
Week 12 Matchup: at Cleveland
Mike Goodson hasn't gotten into the end zone this season, but he's cranked out a bunch of yards on the ground the last two weeks.
Goodson has 220 yards the past two games, including a 120-yard performance against Baltimore's stout defense.
He could take a hit to his production with the impending return of Jonathan Stewart, but it's worth sticking with him until we're given a reason otherwise.
Prediction: 16 points.
2. Blair White, WR, Indianapolis Colts
14 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: Four percent
Week 12 Matchup: vs. San Diego
Peyton Manning continues to turn no-names into fantasy football stars.
In Week 11, it was wide receiver Blair White.
White caught five passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots after Austin Collie was knocked out of the game with a concussion.
If Collie can't go against the Chargers this week, White would be one heck of a pickup to fill the No. 3 wide receiver spot on your team.
But if Collie does play, White will likely be relegated to spot duty.
Prediction: 18 points.
1. Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams
15 of 15
Owned in CBS Leagues: 60 percent
Week 12 Matchup: at Denver
Sam Bradford has been awfully impressive for a rookie as of late.
In his last five games, Bradford has thrown eight touchdowns, and he just snapped a streak of 169 consecutive passes without throwing an interception.
Bradford has thrown for nearly 500 yards the past two games, and has 14 touchdown passes on the season.
Chances are you're pretty set at quarterback if you're still alive in the playoff race, but Bradford wouldn't be a bad option to stash away as a backup.
Prediction: 24 points.
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