We’re back with our fantasy football waiver wire advice in Week 12! Only the Kansas City Chiefs and the Arizona Cardinals have byes this week, which is nice, but that means some big-name receivers and serviceable running backs are off, as well as a couple of great quarterbacks. Let’s see what I can do to help you out. As always, I will try to give you at least one player at each position.
Week 10 Byes:
Arizona Cardinals
Kansas City Chiefs
In general, these players will be injury replacements or those who I think have a chance to breakout. Remember, it’s unlikely that someone here will be this year’s James Robinson, but you should find some low-end RB2s, WR3s, and bye week starters with upside potential. Any players listed will be less than 50 percent owned according to fantasypros.com consensus roster percentage.
Once again, take a look at some of my past suggestions:
- Tim Patrick is still just 24.8% owned with 11.3 PPR points per game, so he could be a great fill-in for Tyreek Hill this week.
Check out my previous suggestions below, who knows, those players may still be available:
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Free Agent Fill Ups
Week 4 (Changed the naming system to reflect the upcoming week)
Without further ado, here are players to consider claiming this week.
Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton went home! Sam Darnold is on IR with a shoulder injury for the next four to six weeks, P.J. Walker isn’t cutting it, and this week, the Panthers play the Miami Dolphins. They are the third-worst team against quarterbacks, giving up 21.3 points per game! To top it off, he’s’ coming off a 26 point performance, so he’s still got it.
Get him now, he’s available in 53.5% of leagues.
And here is Cam Newton coming out of the tunnel for his official introduction. “I’m coming home” blasting on the loudspeakers.
He soaked it all in.
(via @NFLonFOX)pic.twitter.com/DCuG6HQaDv
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 21, 2021
Devonta Freeman, RB, Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens finally have a running back, and it’s Devonta Freeman of all people. At 49.4% rostered, he barely qualifies for this spot, but he’s worth it. Since their bye, Freeman has been averaging 13 carries and 15 PPR points per game. He is definitely worth a flier, especially if you need to replace James Connor or Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets
Elijah Moore is finally living up to the preseason hype! In his last five games, he hasn’t scored fewer than 10 PPR points and has gotten over 25 points twice. He’s owned in 49.4% of leagues, so if you want a chance at him, you better jump on it. Last week’s fiasco by Tennessee, the Texans are one of the worst teams against receivers, so now is a good time to plug him in.
It may be that Zach Wilson was holding him back, check out these splits:
Elijah Moore, with and without Zach Wilson… pic.twitter.com/ujwMYWvbie
— Ryan McDowell (@RyanMc23) November 23, 2021
Marquez Callaway & Tre’Quan Smith, WRs, New Orleans Saints
Since Elijah Moore is so highly owned, and DeAndre Hopkins, Tyreek Hill, and Christian Kirk all have a break this week, I decided to discuss a couple of extra receivers: Marquez Callaway and Tre’Quan Smith. Thanks to my man @CoachCraig, (follow him for “all your Fantasy Football, NFL Draft and DFS (NBA/NFL) needs!”) I learned that Smith and Callaway are getting almost double the snaps of every other receiver in New Orleans.
Callaway (35.4% owned) and Smith (a mere 3.5% owned) have turned that into 9.8 and 9.7 PPR points per game, respectively. Personally, I lean towards Smith, since he’s been getting a few more targets lately, but either one can help your team as a WR3.
Dan Arnold, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
I wanted to say this: Since their bye week, Dan Arnold has emerged as a legit weekly starter at tight end. He has been averaging 8 targets and 13 PPR points per game in that time. He has yet to score on the season, but as long as the targets stay high, he’ll get that opportunity.
Then last week, Arnold put up a goose egg.
0 targets.
Since Arnold is 40.8% rostered and facing a woeful Atlanta Falcons defense this week, I’d be willing to take the chance that last week was a fluke. Both Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz have byes, so you may need to.
May your waiver spot be high enough to get whomever you want to fill up your roster!
