1 of 5 | Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson (L) is among my top waiver wire targets for Week 12. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo
Jacoby Brissett, Emanuel Wilson and Sean Tucker are among my fantasy football waiver wire priorities for Week 12.
Bryce Young, Tyler Allgeier, Michael Wilson and the Las Vegas Raiders defense/special teams are among my other targets.
Four teams are on bye this week, which could result in several valuable players ending up on the waiver wire or as available free agents. Be sure to monitor your league’s transactions to help improve your roster, while also ensuring you make adjustments based on potential lineup absences.
Josh Jacobs, Aaron Rodgers, Michael Penix Jr., Drake London and Calvin Ridley were among the players injured in Week 12. Their status and that of other injured players should be monitored.
Check out my full list of waiver wire targets below if you need replacement options for injured starters. Injuries, breakout performances and other factors have cleared the way for several players to warrant a spot on fantasy football team benches or maybe even in starting lineups.
Players from the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders, who are on bye, should be benched, or dropped in some cases. My waiver wire priorities each carry an ownership percentage of 60% or less.
Here are my top players to add and top players to drop for Week 12:
ALL-ADD TEAM
QB | Jacoby Brissett, Bryce Young; RB | Emanuel Wilson, Sean Tucker, Tyler Allgeier; WR | Michael Wilson, Christian Watson, Kayshon Boutte, Alec Pierce; TE | Juwan Johnson; D/ST | Las Vegas Raiders; K | Jake Elliott
HONORABLE MENTIONS
QB | Kirk Cousins, Shedeur Sanders; RB | Kenneth Gainwell, Kaleb Johnson, Keaton Mitchell; WR | Andrei Iosivas, Darnell Mooney, Xavier Leggette; TE | Chig Okonkwo; D/ST | Buffalo Bills; K | Cairo Santos
TOP DROPS
QB | Michael Penix Jr.; RB | Rachaad White; WR | D.J. Moore; TE | Evan Engram; D/ST | Washington Commanders; K | Matt Gay
QUARTERBACK
Jacoby Brissett, who also made my list last week, continues to provide serviceable fantasy football production for those using him as a streaming option. The Arizona Cardinals veteran posted the fourth-most fantasy points among quarterbacks in Week 11, when he threw for a career-high 452 yards and two scores in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers, despite the absence of top target Marvin Harrison Jr.
Brissett also provided QB1 value in Week 10, when he totaled 258 yards and two scores in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He averaged the fourth-most points per game among quarterbacks over the last four weeks. Brissett should continue that run Sunday when the Cardinals battle the Jacksonville Jaguars, who allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks through 11 weeks.
Look for at least 225 yards and two passing scores from Brissett, who is a Top 14 play.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is a bit more of a risky play in Week 12, but deserves a look if you need a streaming option. Young totaled the second-most fantasy points among quarterbacks in Week 11, when he threw for a career-best 448 yards and three scores in a win over the Atlanta Falcons.
This week, Young and the Panthers will take on the same 49ers defense that just allowed Brissett’s stellar performance. The 49ers, who allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, surrendered multiple touchdown passes to the position in six of their last seven games, including each of their last four.
Young is a fringe QB1 in deeper leagues.
RUNNING BACK
This week’s group of running backs once again features high upside second-string options as well as players who could earn starts in Week 12. My top target here is Emanuel Wilson of the Green Bay Packers.
Wilson could earn his first career start in Week 12 if starter Josh Jacobs misses time due to the knee injury he sustained Sunday in the Packers’ 27-20 win over the New York Giants.
If that is the case, he would immediately provide RB2 potential.
This week, the Packers are set to face the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings allowed at least 90 yards from scrimmage and/or a touchdown to running backs in seven of their last nine games, including each of their last four.
Wilson also deserves an addition to rosters regardless of Jacobs’ Week 12 status because of his lottery ticket potential, especially if you own stock in the Packers’ starter.
Sean Tucker is another running back to prioritize on your waiver wire. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ball carrier led all running backs in fantasy points in Week 11, when he totaled 140 yards from scrimmage and three scores in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
If Buccaneers starter Bucky Irving sits out again this week, look for Tucker to fill up the stat sheet as a high-end RB2, despite a difficult matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.
Kenneth Gainwell, who could start if Pittsburgh Steelers starter Jaylen Warren misses time, and Tyler Allgeier are my other top running back targets for Week 12.
WIDE RECEIVER
Michael Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals and Christian Watson of the Green Bay Packers are my top wide receiver targets for Week 12.
Wilson is coming off a career-best 185-yard performance agains the San Francisco 49ers. While I don’t expect the Cardinals playmaker to provide similar statistics in Week 12, he should continue to see looks from quarterback Jacoby Brissett, especially if the Cardinals continue to play from behind.
Top target Marvin Harrison Jr. sat out in Week 11 and could return in Week 12, which could slightly limit Wilson’s upside, but I believe their is enough volume available in the Cardinals’ passing attack to support both players’ fantasy football stock.
Wilson should provide WR3 value in his Week 12 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, if Harrison plays. He could move up to WR2 territory if Harrison misses more time.
Green Bay Packers playmaker Christian Watson isn’t seeing a ton of targets, but continues to be an explosive weapon for quarterback Jordan Love. The Packers wide receiver caught four passes for 46 yards, but also found the end zone twice in Week 11. This week, the Packers will face the Minnesota Vikings, who have somewhat limited fantasy production for wide receivers.
I still expect Watson to see at least six targets in this meeting, He is a touchdown or bust play, but I like his odds based on recent production and injuries to other Packers pass catchers.
TIGHT END
New Orleans Saints pass catcher Juwan Johnson leads my tight end targets for Week 12. Johnson totaled the third-most points among tight ends in Week 10, before his Week 11 bye.
He also averaged the seventh-most fantasy points per game among tight ends over the last four weeks. Johnson scored in each of his last two appearances and should continue to see high usage from the Saints, who traded away wide receiver Rashid Shaheed earlier this month.
He is locked in as a low-end TE1 for the remainder of the season.
NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers defeat Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. rallies the fans late in the fourth quarter of the Steelers 34-12 win against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on November 16, 2025. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo
