Week 12 Waiver Wire Top Targets For This Week's Injured Fantasy Football Stars

In most season-long fantasy leagues, the postseason is right around the corner. Managers looking to make a strong push in Week 12 may find themselves short on options, however.

The Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans played on Thursday. The Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders are all on bye. Several notable stars remain injured, and Week 12 waiver claims have already been processed.

Fortunately, a few viable replacements and fill-ins may still be available in your league.

Here, you'll find the top remaining plays of the week, the latest from the Week 12 injury report, and the best waiver targets to consider for point-per-reception (PPR) play.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins

Top 10

1. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

3. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

5. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

6. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

8. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

9. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

10. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The big news this week is that Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. However, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport has reported that Burrow won't be activated from injured reserve "just yet."

Joe Flacco will get another start for Cincinnati, but managers should prep for Burrow's return in Week 13.

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart remains out with a concussion, meaning Jameis Winston will get another start.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders will get his first start, as Dillon Gabriel remains in the concussion protocol. Of course, Sanders did nothing in last week's debut to suggest that he's a viable fantasy play.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is dealing with a wrist fracture in his non-throwing hand, and his status will bear watching. If Rodgers doesn't start, Mason Rudolph becomes a viable streaming option.

The Steelers will face the Chicago Bears, who have surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Rudolph is currently available in over 95 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is another strong sleeper option to consider. He'll face a San Francisco 49ers defense that has surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, and he's coming off a 31.8-point performance.

Young is rostered in 19 percent of Yahoo leagues and 13 percent of ESPN leagues.

Kirk Cousins, who is available in over 90 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues, is a low-level play this week but has long-term value. With Michael Penix Jr. (knee) on injured reserve, the Atlanta Falcons are Cousins' team for the rest of the year.

Running Back

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Jaguars RB Bhayshul Tuten

Top 10

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

3. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

4. Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

5. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

6. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

7. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

8. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

9. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

10. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The Kansas City Chiefs have ruled out Isiah Pacheco, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ruled out Bucky Irving. Rhamondre Stevenson, Josh Jacobs and Kenneth Walker III are among the noteworthy backs who are listed as questionable.

The list of running-back options on the wire is extremely limited at this point in the week. Managers who need a fill-in are going to have to take some risks unless a back like Emanuel Wilson or Kenneth Walker happens to still be available.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Bhayshul Tuten, for example, is dealing with an ankle injury and has been limited in practices. However, he flashed big-play potential last week with 74 rushing yards and a touchdown. He's still available in over half of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

49ers back Brian Robinson Jr. had had a couple of outings with double-digit fantasy points when he's been used heavily alongside Christian McCaffrey. However, his value this week may hinge on San Francisco taking a run-heavy approach against Carolina.

Robinson is available in over 70 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues. Blake Corum and Devin Singletary are backs to consider in deeper leagues.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Bengals WR Andrei Iosivas

Top 10

1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

4. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

5. Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaners

6. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

7. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

8. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

9. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

10. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The list of wide receivers who have already been ruled out includes Tory Horton, Jayden Reed, Rashod Bateman, Elic Ayomanor, Brian Thomas Jr., Drake London and Marvin Harrison Jr.

Chris Godwin, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Isaac TeSlaa and Xavier Worthy are questionable.

The good news is that managers may find multiple receiver options on the wire this week.

Bengals receiver Andrei Iosivas may see a significant workload with Ja'Marr Chase suspended. Cincinnati's No. 3 receiver isn't a consistent fantasy performer, but he's topped 13 fantasy points twice this season.

Iosivas is available in over 80 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Darnell Mooney is another receiver to target, as the Atlanta Falcons will be without Drake London for the second straight week. Mooney had just 6.4 fantasy points last week, but there's a chance he reignites the chemistry he had with Kirk Cousins last season. Mooney is rostered in 63 percent of Yahoo leagues and 53 percent of ESPN leagues.

Parker Washington, Mack Hollins and Tyler Lockett are receivers to consider in deeper leagues.

Tight End

AP Photo/Wade Payne

Top 10

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

3. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

4. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

5. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

6. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

7. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

8. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

9. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

10. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The Jaguars have ruled out tight end Brenton Strange and have listed Hunter Long as questionable. The Detroit Lions have placed Sam LaPorta on injured reserve.

Chase's absence should give Bengals tight end Noah Fant some sleeper value this week as well. Fant has averaged just 7.7 fantasy points this season, but he's available in over 95 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo is dealing with a foot injury but is coming off an 8.6-point performance. He should be one of Tennessee's top targets this week against a Seattle Seahawks defense that has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Okonkwo is rostered in only 17 percent of Yahoo leagues and six percent of ESPN leagues.

Colston Loveland, Brock Wright and Darnell Washington are other tight ends to consider on the wire this week.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.