Fantasy Football Week 12: Waiver-Wire Pickups, Rankings and Stat Projections

Sunday was the day of the backup quarterback in Week 11. We saw Matt Hasselbeck, Brock Osweiler and T.J. Yates lead their respective teams to victories, while Case Keenum and Mark Sanchez fought admirably, but to no avail. With that many uninspiring names on the quarterback front, it's no wonder Week 11 was a bit underwhelming from both a fantasy and an entertainment standpoint. At least if Week 12 is as unappetizing, we'll be able to stuff ourselves with enough turkey to fall asleep.

Mediocre football produced a lot of lackluster fantasy scores in standard leagues and DFS contests. This wasn't surprising due to all the backup quarterbacks, not to mention the big-name injuries and high-scoring teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and New Orleans Saints all on bye.

As always, we'll take a detailed look at the rankings and projections at each position as well as some Week 12 waiver-wire pickups. Here is next week's slate of NFL games that hopefully feature a lot more gravy and stuffing than we got this week.

Thursday, November 26
Sunday, November 29
Monday, November 30
Philadelphia at Detroit	12:30 p.m.
Carolina at Dallas	4:30 p.m.
Chicago at Green Bay	8:30 p.m.
Oakland at Tennessee	1 p.m.
Buffalo at Kansas City	1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Indianapolis	1 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at Washington	1 p.m.
New Orleans at Houston	1 p.m.
Minnesota at Atlanta	1 p.m.
St. Louis at Cincinnati	1 p.m.
San Diego at Jacksonville	1 p.m.
Miami at N.Y. Jets	1 p.m.
Arizona at San Francisco	4:05 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Seattle	4:25 p.m.
New England at Denver	8:30 p.m.
Baltimore at Cleveland	8:30 p.m.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Brian Hoyer HOU	21.5
2	Blake Bortles JAX	20.8
3	Drew Brees NO	20.3
4	Aaron Rodgers GB	20.2
5	Tom Brady NE	20.2
6	Carson Palmer ARI	20
7	Tony Romo DAL	19.6
8	Cam Newton CAR	19.5
9	Philip Rivers SD	19.4
10	Derek Carr OAK	18.8
11	Johnny Manziel CLE	18.6
12	Matt Hasselbeck IND	18.5
13	Matthew Stafford DET	18.5
14	Matt Ryan ATL	18
15	Andy Dalton CIN	17.8

Boom: Brock Osweiler, Denver Broncos

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

In his first career start in place of an injured Peyton Manning, Osweiler orchestrated a beautiful offensive game against the Chicago Bears, throwing for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Most importantly, this was Denver's first week without a turnover. The post-Manning era is off to a wonderful start!

Week 12 provides the real test with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on the horizon. As fans, we can only hope we aren't subjected to watching a decaying Peyton Manning in that game. Osweiler finally allowed Gary Kubiak to do some of the things he wanted offense, and it would be exciting to watch him against the league's best.

If Osweiler starts—and he likely will after Sunday's performance—he will have no choice but to air it out to keep up with New England. Don't be shocked to see another two or three touchdowns next weekend.

Bust: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Dalton had a nice rebound performance on a short week versus the Arizona Cardinals Sunday night, oddly becoming the first quarterback of the week to total over 300 yards through the air.

A battle with the vaunted St. Louis Rams defense awaits, and moving past a two-game losing streak suddenly doesn't look so easy. Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard did some big damage Sunday. Cincy may look to ride that momentum right into next week.

Also, a Case Keenum-led passing attack scares nobody. Dalton could throw one touchdown and the game may be over, so there's little upside in this affair. If you have other options, don't hesitate to exercise them.

For DFS junkies, the high-priced guys likely let you down in Week 11 unless you had Cam Newton. 

Side note: I can't get through this article without mentioning that Brian Hoyer of the Houston Texans is the top-projected quarterback for Week 12. Yes, that Brian Hoyer.

No wonder the New Orleans Saints fired Rob Ryan.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Devonta Freeman ATL	18.6
2	DeMarco Murray PHI	16.4
3	Darren McFadden DAL	16.2
4	Adrian Peterson MIN	16
5	Charcandrick West KC	15.4
6	Matt Forte CHI	14.8
7	Mark Ingram NO	14.3
8	Chris Ivory NYJ	14.1
9	T.J. Yeldon JAX	13.7
10	LeSean McCoy BUF	12.8
11	Chris Johnson ARI	12.6
12	Jonathan Stewart CAR	12.6
13	Todd Gurley STL	12.5
14	DeAngelo Williams PIT	12
15	Marshawn Lynch SEA	11.9

Boom: T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars

Gail Burton/Associated Press

Coach Gus Bradley could line himself up in the backfield this weekend and I would consider giving him a look against the San Diego Chargers. The Bolts defense is so bad that anyone on the other side of the line is an immediate RB1.

San Diego actually did slow down Charcandrick West on Sunday aside from one 47-yard catch, but then he strained a hammy and Spencer Ware came in and cleaned house like Kane at the 2001 Royal Rumble. So take that early showing with a grain of salt.

The Jags might even be turning a corner, so if they can jump out early, it'll play right into Yeldon's hands. This matchup has all the makings of a true breakout performance for the rookie back.

Bust: Darren McFadden, Dallas Cowboys

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

As happy as I am to see Run DMC having a career year of sorts, he will not be eating much on Thanksgiving. A meeting with the 10-0 Carolina Panthers awaits, and McFadden won't be in line for another 25-30 touches. Even if he does, do you really see him ripping this defense wide-open?

One issue from DMC in the midst of his rejuvenation has been consistency. He has gone back and forth in recent weeks with his production, a trajectory that would line him up for a dud on Thursday.

Also, keep in mind the Cowboys are on a very short week, and McFadden will be coming off a 32-touch outing while nursing a hamstring injury. There is also the possible variable in place where he fills up with tryptophan by the 4:30 p.m. kickoff.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Projection
1	DeAndre Hopkins HOU	15.6
2	Antonio Brown PIT	14.1
3	Dez Bryant DAL	14
4	Julio Jones ATL	13.6
5	Demaryius Thomas DEN	12.9
6	Larry Fitzgerald ARI	12.4
7	Calvin Johnson DET	12.2
8	Odell Beckham Jr. NYG	12
9	Allen Robinson JAX	11.5
10	Alshon Jeffery CHI	11.5
11	Emmanuel Sanders DEN	11.2
12	A.J. Green CIN	10.9
13	Brandon Marshall NYJ	10.8
14	Michael Crabtree OAK	10.6
15	Randall Cobb GB	10.4

Boom: Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

The G-Men have been rolling on offense for most of the year, only once scoring under 20 points. Eli Manning has 10 touchdowns passes over the past three weeks as well. Coming off a bye and facing a struggling Washington Redskins defense, Odell Beckham is sure to be doing some roasting.

You know what's more fun? OBJ has 24 catches for 222 yards and four touchdowns in two career games against the Redskins.

Washington has held just one of its past six opponents under 25 points, which bodes even worse when you pit that number against New York's recent aerial assault. Pencil Beckham in for at least 100 yards and a score right now.

Bust: A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

Norm Hall/Getty Images

Is it just me, or do Green's stats through Week 11 look a little hollow?

It just feels like something is missing. He had a massive 10/227/2 line in Week 3, but since then has cracked 100 yards just once, and also found the end zone one time.

Over his past three contests, Green has just 13 catches and hasn't surpassed 80 yards in any of them. The red-zone acumen of Tyler Eifert and his league-leading 11 touchdowns have dented Green's fantasy status. Toss in Gio Bernard's eight catches for 128 yards Sunday, and things begin to look bleak for the No. 1 wideout.

This could be a slight blip on the radar, as Green is still on pace for a great season. In most of his poor outings, he has gone against a very good secondary. St. Louis has just that. Don't expect a huge game from him this week, and avoid him in DFS at all costs.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Rob Gronkowski NE	9.9
2	Greg Olsen CAR	9.4
3	Antonio Gates SD	8.5
4	Jason Witten DAL	8.4
5	Jordan Reed WAS	8.3
6	Jimmy Graham SEA	8.3
7	Gary Barnidge CLE	7.8
8	Tyler Eifert CIN	7.8
9	Martellus Bennett CHI	7.7
10	Travis Kelce KC	7.6
11	Zach Ertz PHI	7.6
12	Delanie Walker TEN	7.6
13	Coby Fleener IND	6.9
14	Benjamin Watson NO	6.7
15	Eric Ebron DET	6.6

Boom: Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

We're going off the grid here. He is nowhere near the top 15 in terms of projections, but Celek has been a beast over the past two games. Given how unreliable Philly's wide receivers have been, DeMarco Murray's shakiness and Zach Ertz's concussion, all signs point toward another surprising output for Celek.

There's a very real possibility Ertz won't be ready for Thanksgiving Day's contest, which puts Celek in a prime role. He has 213 yards over the past two weeks and a tasty matchup with the Detroit Lions up next. Lock him in.

Bust: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Kelce has just one touchdown since Week 1. He hasn't gone over 100 yards since then either.

The fact is Kelce just isn't getting the targets to make one think this will turn around. Kansas City pounds the rock once they get in the red zone and has no problem settling for field goals if need be. Kelce has had one 10-target game all year since head coach Andy Reid likes to run bubble screens two out of every three plays.

Even a battered Baltimore Ravens team should be able to do enough to spoil Kelce owners' fun this week.

Waiver-Wire Advice 

Pounce On the Running Backs

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We saw a few more running backs go down in Week 11. Justin Forsett is done for the season, according to the Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec. Charcandrick West and Devonta Freeman both went down as well, and are no locks to play in Week 12. Thomas Rawls also nuked the San Francisco 49ers out of the stadium in place of Marshawn Lynch, who may be dealing with a legitimate abdominal issue. Frank Gore was also banged up Sunday, which propelled Ahmad Bradshaw to a two-touchdown day.

A late-season running back pickup is sometimes all it takes to propel you to a fantasy championship. How many belts did Jeremy Hill and C.J. Anderson help win last season? This time around, Javorius Allen, Spencer Ware, Tevin Coleman, Bradshaw and Rawls are all must-adds.

If you've saved up your waiver priority waiting for a diamond to surface down the stretch, Buck Allen and Thomas Rawls are those diamonds. Coleman and Ware are worth adds as well, but maybe for only one week. Keep an eye on the status of those starters.

It Might Be Time to Take Devin Funchess Seriously

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Panthers pass-catcher Devin Funchess corralled four of his season-high eight targets Sunday for 64 yards and a score, his second in three games.

The rookie has been on the same page with Newton much more often lately, and is beginning to separate himself from Carolina's mediocre pack of wideouts—much like Kelvin Benjamin did last season. After catching just seven passes through seven games, Funchess is worth a look on waivers for receiver-desperate teams.

Greg Olsen can't catch everything, and Carolina is clearly not gun-shy about airing it out without Benjamin in the picture. The Cowboys' banged-up secondary should offer little resistance on Thanksgiving Day, and the Panthers get to meet up with the Saints in Week 13. If Hoyer is the top-projected QB against that defense, Funchess should be the beneficiary of Cam Newton's inevitable 12-touchdown performance.

Carolina's easy schedule down the stretch makes Funchess a very sneaky pickup for the fantasy playoff push.

All stats and projections courtesy of ESPN and Yahoo Sports.