Week 12 Waiver Wire: Looking at the Best Available Injury Replacements

Injuries to quarterbacks and running backs are causing panic for fantasy football GMs as the playoffs loom ever larger.

However, the waiver wire has yet to run out of viable replacement players worthy of starting in Week 12 and beyond. Here are the best quarterback and running back injury replacements you can hope to snag this week.

QB: Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders (vs. Chicago Bears)

Easily the most widely-available high caliber starting quarterback on the waiver wire, the Oakland Raiders' Carson Palmer should be your number one priority this week if you've lost Jay Cutler, Matt Schaub or Michael Vick to injury. 

Cutler won't likely be back until the postseason, which means he's no longer of use to your fantasy team unless you're in a keeper league. Same goes for the Texans' Schaub, who has been placed on injured reserve. Vick will return to play in the regular season but doesn't seem likely to take the field against the New England Patriots this Sunday.

Though Palmer has played just four games this season, he's improved with every outing. He's completed 58 of his 99 passes, for 911 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions, and has a rushing touchdown to his name.

Last week against the Minnesota Vikings, Palmer went 17-of-23 for 164 yards, threw one a touchdown and no interceptions and had that aforementioned running score. Though the Bears defense has been playing well as of late, it's best to think of Palmer as a true starting fantasy quarterback rather than a sport-start based on matchups. That means don't hesitate to add him and start him from here on out.

QB: Vince Young, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. New England Patriots)

If you are looking for a starting quarterback for just one week, however, then the Philadelphia Eagles' Vince Young is an excellent option. With Michael Vick likely out for this Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, Young will get his second consecutive start.

He performed well enough in his first foray into regular season action this season in last week's win over the New York Giants, going 23-of-36 for 258 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. This week, he will be facing the Patriots defense, a squad far less intimidating than last week's Giants, and one that is frankly easy to throw against.

For this week at least, there are far worse choices you can make if you need a new quarterback for Week 12.

RB: Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions (vs. Green Bay Packers)

Last week, the focus was on the Detroit Lions' Maurice Morris, who was slated to have a big day against the terrible Carolina Panthers run defense.

Well, a Lions running back certainly did show up in a big way against the Panthers, but it wasn't Morris. It was Kevin Smith, recently re-signed by his old team after it became clear that Jahvid Best still has more recovery time ahead of him.

Smith ran 16 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 61 more yards and an additional score. While the Lions are more likely to focus on the passing game this week with the high scoring Green Bay Packers coming to town on Thursday, that doesn't mean that Smith's production last week was a one-time thing.

Smith has proven that he's an every-week starting fantasy running back. And with the Vikings' Adrian Peterson out at least one week with a high ankle sprain and the Bills' Fred Jackson out for perhaps the rest of the regular season with a severely bruised calf, if you own either of those studly running backs you need a starter.

RB: Toby Gerhart, Minnesota Vikings (at Atlanta Falcons)

However, Kevin Smith is the most highly-coveted waiver wire player of the week, and if he didn't fall to you, then you'll need other options. One of these options, the Vikings' Toby Gerhart, has significant upside even if he's not the most electrifying player you could start.

Gerhart will see the majority of the carries for the Vikings while Adrian Peterson recovers from his sprained ankle, and though the Atlanta Falcons boast a strong run defense, those in need could do worse than to add Gerhart this week.

After Peterson left last week's game against the Oakland Raiders, Gerhart managed just seven rushes for 18 yards as the team tried to focus on passing the ball more. While he should split time with hybrid receiver/running back Percy Harvin during Peterson's absence, he's still good for at least 15 touches per game, which means that he's likely to produce for your fantasy team while he's the starter.

RB: C.J. Spiller/Johnny White, Buffalo Bills (at New York Jets)

With Fred Jackson potentially out for the remainder of the regular season, the Bills' rushing duties will fall to the duo of C.J. Spiller and Johnny White. Though Spiller should see more touches than White, White is a more traditional running back, giving him a not-insignificant amount of upside moving forward.

Spiller has been most productive in the passing game this season, and his numbers reflect that, rushing just 21 times for 115 yards and a score while catching 15 passes for 82 yards. Spiller is a safer bet, to be sure, but if you want to take a risk and add and start White, it could prove to be a very savvy move.

RB: Joe McKnight, New York Jets (vs. Buffalo Bills)

Finally, there's the New York Jets' Joe McKnight, if you aren't sold on or able to acquire any of the above running back suggestions.

McKnight was bumped up to starter in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos first because Shonn Green suffered a rib injury and then because he had the hot hand and the team felt they didn't need to put Green back in the game.  

McKnight rushed 16 times for 59 yards and caught six passes for another 62 in the loss. While Green is expected to play this week against the Bills, McKnight's great performance in Week 11 has likely earned him increased playing time.

If he does as well as he did last week, the Jets may again switch to the hot hand approach and keep McKnight in the game over Green. For those particularly desperate, McKnight is worth a speculative start this week.