Fantasy Football Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickup Suggestions

The avalanche of recent injuries to NFL position-players has created, in effect, a ninth consecutive bye week for fantasy football owners. Various injuries include Rob Gronkowski’s broken forearm and LeSean McCoy’s concussion.

That leaves an awful lot of holes in fantasy lineups.

Despite the re-introduction of a 16-game schedule in an NFL weekend, enough guys may be on the sidelines in Week 12 to produce statistics worthy of fantasy starts by players who weren’t getting much recognition before this week.

Quarterbacks

Chad Henne, Jacksonville Jaguars

Henne didn’t complete half of his passes against the Houston Texans (16-of-33), but he compiled 354 passing yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers against a pretty good defense. The Associated Press reported that Henne will get the start against the Tennessee Titans, per ESPN.com.

Tennessee has allowed multiple passing touchdowns in seven games this year.

Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Kaepernick gave the 49ers reason to have patience with Alex Smith’s concussion symptoms; the speedy backup QB dissected the Chicago Bears defense on Monday Night Football. Kaepernick threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns, rushing four times for 12 yards and keeping the ball away from the Bears' defense.

Running Backs

Marcel Reece, Oakland Raiders

Reece carried the ball 19 times for 103 yards against the New Orleans Saints. Whether he can be a trustworthy every-week starter in Darren McFadden’s absence will be determined by Reece’s ability to do damage on defenses outside of New Orleans, but Reece should be owned in all leagues.

Twenty-three touches (four receptions for 90 yards) are too many to be ignored.

Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen reported that Broncos running back Willis McGahee tore his MCL in Denver’s win over the San Diego Chargers. He should miss the remainder of the regular season, giving Hillman the opportunity to share a backfield with Peyton Manning for the foreseeable future.

That includes the fantasy playoffs.

Jalen Parmele, Jacksonville Jaguars

Parmele got 27 touches for the Jaguars against the Houston Texans defense. He rushed 24 times for 80 yards and caught three passes for three yards. He could have a big game in Week 12 against the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed at least one rushing touchdown to opposing running backs in seven of 10 games this season.

Also consider: Bryce Brown (Philadelphia Eagles), James Starks (Green Bay Packers), Vick Ballard (Indianapolis Colts) and Kendall Hunter (San Francisco 49ers).

Wide Receivers

Danario Alexander, San Diego Chargers

Alexander has gotten better by the week. In his first three games with the Chargers, he has tallied 15 catches for 291 yards and three touchdowns—including a seven-catch, 96-yard and two-TD effort against the Denver Broncos in Week 11.

In Week 12, the 6’5” deep threat will be up against the Baltimore Ravens.

Cecil Shorts, Jacksonville Jaguars

In Week 11, Shorts made it four of five games with 100 receiving yards, a touchdown or both since the Jaguars’ Week 6 bye. He continues to make big plays for the Jacksonville offense and should command attention in fantasy football circles.

He has gone from relatively unknown to the most consistent fantasy receiver in Jacksonville.

Also consider: T.Y. Hilton (Indianapolis Colts), Justin Blackmon (Jacksonville Jaguars), Julian Edelman (New England Patriots) and Donald Jones (Buffalo Bills).

Tight Ends

Visanthe Shiancoe, New England Patriots

Rob Gronkowski’s broken arm will keep him out of the Patriots’ Thanksgiving Day game against the New York Jets. Aaron Hernandez has been in and out of the lineup as well. If he’s unable to go against the Jets, Shiancoe may find himself catching passes from Tom Brady for the first time this season.

He played almost half of the offensive snaps for New England on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Shiancoe’s resume does include a prolific touchdown-making season: He caught 78 passes for 566 yards and 11 scores in 2009.

Also consider: Brandon Myers (Oakland Raiders) and Garrett Graham (Houston Texans).

Defenses

St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis defense had its best fantasy day of the season against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5, sacking quarterback Kevin Kolb nine times en route to a 17-3 win. John Skelton was benched for a rookie in Week 11 and Arizona has allowed multiple sacks in every game since Week 3.

St. Louis’ pass-rush tandem of Chris Long and Robert Quinn should be able to get after whomever the Cardinals start at QB in Week 12. The Rams have totaled at least three sacks in five of their last six games.

Also consider: Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans.

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