The Wire - Week 12

By Levi Ellis

We are up against a short week with three games this week on Thanksgiving Day. That means you have to figure out lineups faster than usual and to do so you need to have a gameplan going into waivers. Make sure you not only set your bids but also set backup bids in case you don’t win the player or players you're targeting. Let’s take a look at some of the best players to target this week on waivers. 

All players are listed in priority order based on position. 

Bye Weeks - Arizona Cardinals & Kansas City Chiefs

(2 QB Leagues Only)

Taylor Heinicke - 16/22 206 yards, 3tds, 6 carries, 29 yards, 1 FL - I would assume in two QB leagues that he’s owned by now but if not he should be. 25% of your remaining faab budget.

Cam Newton - 21/27 189 yards, 2tds, 10 carries, 46 yards, 1td - Cam has some magic left and he’s a must own. The Panthers also have the Dolphins this week and Joe Flacco just almost put up 300 yards against them so things are looking up for Cam. 25% of your remaining faab budget.

Trevor Siemian - 22/40 214 yards, 3tds, 2ints, 2 carries, 16 yards, 1td - Buffalo is coming to town so that is worrisome but Siemian has some weapons and if Kamara returns (completely unknown) it will only help Siemian’s value. 20% of your remaining faab budget.

Joe Flacco - 24/39 291 yards, 2tds, 2 carries, 3 yards - Keep an eye this week to see if Zach Wilson is back but if not Flacco is a sneaky start against the Texans. 10% of your remaining faab budget.

Ty Johnson - 1 carry, 5 yards, 1 target, 1 catch, 8 yards - After reading that stat line I’m sure you’re wondering why Ty Johnson is the #1 listed RB this week. Well that is because Michael Carter is out for the next 2-3 weeks and I think Tevin Coleman is just not good anymore. It may take the Jets a few series to figure this out so if Coleman starts the next game don’t panic. 25% of your remaining faab budget.

Rhamondre Stevenson - 12 carries, 69 yards, 1 target, 1 catch, 6 yards - This may end up being a timeshare in New England and if so Stevenson will have some value down the stretch. 25% of your remaining faab budget.

Jeff Wilson - 19 carries, 50 yards, 1 FL, 2 targets, 1 catch, 8 yards - It’s never a bad idea to grab 49er RBs and depending on Mitchell’s health Wilson could have significant value. He would be higher on this list if Mitchell was expected to miss more time. 25% of your remaining faab budget.

Devonta Freeman - 16 carries, 49 yards, 1td, 6 targets, 6 catches, 31 yards - Freeman doesn’t have as much pop as he used to but he’s still getting it done and looks to be the Raven’s #1 RB. 25% of your remaining faab budget.

Alex Collins - 10 carries, 36 yards - Collins last few games have not been all that impressive but the fact remains he is the starting RB for Seattle so that has to count for something. I also think Collins has the talent to be respectable. 20% of your remaining faab budget.

Matt Breida - 5 carries, 51 yards, 2 targets, 1 catch, 16 yards - Two weeks in a row and Breida has been involved in the offense. This makes me wonder if this is the beginning of a trend. 15% of your remaining faab budget.

Dontrell Hilliard - 7 carries, 35 yards, 10 targets, 8 catches, 47 yards - Hillard plays for the Titans just in case you’re wondering. All jokes aside Hilliard came out of nowhere this week and caught 8 passes for the banged up Titans. The Titans RB group is a mess right now and your guess is as good as mine on who to roster but I love that he was involved in the passing game. 5% of your remaining faab budget.

Tevin Coleman - 5 carries, 16 yards, 1 target, 1 catch, 2 yards - As I mentioned earlier I don’t think Coleman is a good player any longer but fantasy football is all about covering your bets and if you have a roster spot to burn you might as well pick him up in case I’m wrong. Pretty sure I’m not though haha. 5% of your remaining faab budget.

Kendrick Bourne - 4 targets, 4 catches, 42 yards, 1 carry, 7 yards - Bourne has been pretty involved in recent weeks and this is a WR group that lacks a true #1 and Belichik loves guys that do their jobs and that is who Bourne is. He won’t win you a week but he’s not likely to lose you a week either. 15% of your remaining faab budget.

Deandre Carter - 3 targets, 2 catches, 22 yards, 1td - Carter didn’t have a big week but he did get into the endzone and he continues to produce. Don’t overlook guys like Carter in waivers because they are the low end guys that will help you win your week. 15% of your remaining faab budget.

Tre’Quan Smith - 8 targets, 5 catches, 64 yards - Smith has been very involved since returning from injury and there's no reason to not believe that trend will continue. 15% of your remaining faab budget.

Cedrick Wilson - 7 targets, 4 catches, 36 yards - With Cooper out this week and the looming possibility that Lamb will be out too, Wilson looks to be very involved this week. 10% of your remaining faab budget.

Russell Gage - 8 targets, 5 catches, 49 yards - Someone has to catch the ball in Atlanta. I don’t have a lot of conviction in the Falcons offense outside of Patterson but Gage will get opportunities and sometimes that’s all that matters in fantasy football. 10% of your remaining faab budget.

Nelson Agholor - 5 targets, 5 catches, 40 yards, 1td - Agholor is more of a dart throw but then again this is the point in the list where you reach those types of guys. 5% of your remaining faab budget.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine - 8 targets, 7 catches, 107 yards - Westbrook-Ikhine had a really nice game but AJ Brown missed a lot of snaps and Julio was out. The Titans also played from behind. With all of that being said the Titans play the Patriots this week and New England has been on fire recently. Also Julio is still out so Westbrook-Ikhine may continue to be involved for at least one more week. 1% of your remaining faab budget.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling - 10 targets, 4 catches, 123 yards, 1td - I’m not a big MVS believer but he does have those big games from time to time and if you need to swing for the fences he’s one of the best. 1% of your remaining faab budget.

Marquise Goodwin - 8 targets, 4 catches, 104 yards, 1td - With a Thanksgiving game on tap it’s quite possible that Robinson will miss another game and if that happens then Goodwin could see significant targets again. 1% of your remaining faab budget.

Mack Hollins - 3 targets, 2 catches, 72 yards, 1td - As long as Parker stays on IR, Hollins could see meaningful snaps and he has performed when given the opportunity. 1% of your remaining faab budget.

Chester Rogers - 6 targets, 4 catches, 41 yards - Rogers has been up and down this year but with Julio out he’s worth a look. 1% of your remaining faab budget.

Dez Fitzpatrick - 6 targets, 3 catches, 35 yards, 1td - Fitzpatrick came out of nowhere this week much like Hilliard. While I don’t expect to see this type of involvement continue, i’s worth watching to see what happens. 25% of your remaining faab budget.

Pat Friermuth - 7 targets, 4 catches, 11 yards, 1td - I’ve been pounding the table for weeks now to pick this guy up and until he’s 100% owned I will continue to do so. He’s a must own in every format at this point. 50% of your remaining faab budget.

Dalton Schultz - 8 targets, 6 catches, 53 yards - Some people may have dropped Schultz after week 10 due to how uninvolved he was for the week since Gallup was back from injury. Fast forward a few days and Cooper then was ruled out for week 11 and is out for the Thanksgiving Day game. Now Lamb may miss the Thanksgiving Day game after leaving last week early with an injury. 25% of your remaining faab budget.

Tyler Conklin - 3 targets, 3 catches, 32 yards - Conklin didn’t have a good week but he should still be owned as he has produced week in and week out. 15% of your remaining faab budget.

Josiah Deguara - 2 targets, 2 catches, 37 yards, 1td - Deguara is a dart throw but when you play with a future Hall of Famer at QB you have to take notice. 5% of your remaining faab budget.

Dead to Me (redraft leagues only)

Baker Mayfield - I just don’t trust him

Jared Goff - He’s been dead to me for years 

Daniel Jones - Giants offense is terrible

Carlos Hyde - With Robinson back he is the forgotten man

Mike Davis - This offense is a mess and he has been inconsistent 

Kenneth Gainwell - If you thought he was the #2 RB a few weeks ago join the club, but he’s not

Kenny Golladay - The season can’t end soon enough

Browns WRs & TEs - I just don’t trust this passing offense and it’s more about Baker 

Jonnu Smith - Big disappointment this season

Evan Engram - So much talent and so little production 

On Life Support

Trevor Lawrence - The passing offense just hasn’t clicked like we would all hope

Carson Wentz - The inconsistency kills his value

Matt Ryan - This team is lost without Patterson

Raiders run game - This run game has looked lost all season

Nyheim Hines - His role just isn’t consistent 

Colts WRs not named Pittman - This passing offense lacks consistency 

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