Week 12 Waiver Wire: Top 6 Players Who Can Still Make an Impact

With the fantasy season nearing the end, the Week 12 waiver wire is likely to be pretty thin this week. Most fantasy teams have their rosters set to make a playoff push.

However, there are still some players available that can make an impact on your team. Here are the top six players on Week 12's waiver wire that can still make an impact.

Matt Moore: Quarterback, Miami Dolphins

For the past few weeks I've kept Matt Moore off the waiver wire pickup list because of some inconsistent play. However, after an impressive game against the Buffalo Bills this week, it is time snatch Moore off the waiver wire.

The Miami Dolphins finally look like a football team, and Moore deserves a good portion of the credit for that. Miami won their third straight game as Moore threw for three touchdowns while having his best start of the season.

His 160 passing yards may throw up a red flag, but in a blowout victory like the Dolphins had, he didn't need to throw very often. Miami is a team on the rise, and Moore's fantasy potential is rising right along with them.

Jake Locker: Quarterback, Tennessee Titans

When Matt Hasselbeck went out of the game with an injured elbow in the third quarter, the Tennessee Titans' faithful turned to Jake Locker. Locker didn't disappoint either.

He threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington when he entered the game, and followed that with another touchdown throw to Washington late in the fourth quarter. He looked impressive against a stingy Atlanta Falcons' defense.

Of course, Locker's fantasy value is all dependent on the severity of Hasselbeck's injury, so right now, he is a player to keep your eye on. If Hasselbeck's injury turns out to be severe, it will be well worth picking up this rookie quarterback off the waiver wire.

Even if Hasselbeck is mostly healthy next week, one needs to wonder if the Titans will keep Locker in after a very impressive performance Sunday.

Kevin Smith: Running Back, Detroit Lions

On Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, Kevin Smith record 201 total yards (140 on the ground) and three touchdowns. Talk about fantasy production.

Sure, the Detroit Lions backfield situation is as confusing as Einstein's Theory of Relativity, but a performance like this has to make Smith deserving of continued touches in the weeks to come. He may not be the feature back for the rest of the season, but if he can perform like this, Detroit has to give him a chance.

What was great about Smith's performance on Sunday was that he did a good portion of his damage in the second half when the game was extremely close. That means that the Lions might finally be committed to running the football, which is a plus for fantasy owners that grab Smith.

After only receiving four carries entering into Sunday's game, I think it is safe to say that he will receive many more carries for the rest of the season.

Toby Gerhart: Running Back, Minnesota Vikings

When Adrian Peterson went down with an ankle injury against the Oakland Raiders, fantasy owners everywhere starting crying. I know that the trashcan next to my desk is covered with tear-soaked tissues.

While the length of Peterson's injury is in question after it was reported he hadn't broken any bones, Toby Gerhart is still an absolute must have off the waiver wire this week. This is especially true for fantasy owners of Adrian Peterson.

Gerhart is a quality backup, and even though he only had 18 rushing yards after Peterson left the game, those numbers will improve as the Minnesota Vikings figure out how to deal without Peterson for at least a game or two.

Don't expect Gerhart to put up Peterson like fantasy numbers, but he absolutely needs to be a pickup if AP is on your roster.

Chris Ogbonnaya: Running Back, Cleveland Browns

I talked about Chris Ogbonnaya last week as a waiver wire pickup for Week 11, and look at how he performed. On Sunday he recorded 115 rushing yards and a touchdown. Yet Ogbonnaya is owned in well under 50 percent of fantasy leagues.

Even if Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty return for next week's game, I can't see how the Cleveland Browns can bench Ogbonnaya after Sunday's performance. It was the best performance of the season by a running back for Cleveland, and a big reason why the Browns were able to stop their losing streak.

If you didn't trust me last week, trust me this week when I say that Ogbonnaya is worth picking up off the waiver wire.

Greg Little: Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns

It's not every day that two players from the Cleveland Browns are worth picking up off the waiver wire. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it has never happened before.

However, Greg Little has become Colt McCoy's top target as he had five receptions for 59 yards on Sunday. While those aren't staggering numbers, the fact that he is the McCoy's favorite receiver is a major plus.

Sure, McCoy isn't a fantasy stud, and he doesn't put up fantastic numbers, but the Browns run a balanced offense and Little should get plenty of looks his way in the weeks to come.

He isn't fantasy starter material yet, but watch for Little to get more and more confident as the season progresses.