Welcome back to another edition of Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups. We’re heading into Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season. For your fantasy football teams, adding the right players off the waiver wire is crucial to your fantasy football success. Follow along with us all season long and we’ll help you make your way into the fantasy football playoffs.

With the above in mind, no matter our record, there are always areas to improve. Regardless of your situation, here are players you should look to add for Week 12 based on CBS Fantasy Sports roster percentages. These players are listed in order of priority. Let’s get right into it with the top waiver wire pickups for your fantasy football teams as we head into Week 12!

For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 60% of leagues according to CBS as of 11/20/23. 

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups Week 12

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups

Gardner Minshew, QB, Indianapolis Colts (29% Rostered)

It’s been a rough few weeks for Minshew as he’s scored 20 or fewer points in his last three games. For those of you who are looking to replace Joe Burrow, Minshew is my favorite add. As fantasy managers, you may be looking for a quarterback since most don’t roster a second. Here, with Minshew, you get some great matchups in the coming weeks. His next three matchups are the Buccaneers, Titans, and Bengals. Two out of the three here (Bucs and Bengals) have given up the third and fourth most points to the quarterback position, and Minshew is worth adding for up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Tommy DeVito, QB, New York Giants (7% Rostered)

Recommending DeVito here is not something I say you must do, but he at least needs to be rostered in your 2QB or Superflex leagues. While DeVito hasn’t been good, he has now managed to throw for multiple passing touchdowns in consecutive games. Furthermore, he has shown that he can take advantage of a good matchup. I’m not sure if the hot streak can continue in Week 12 against the Patriots, but with as thin as the waiver wire is getting right now, DeVito may be your best option. He’s worth adding for 1-3% of your remaining FAAB.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets (16% Rostered)

If I’ve seen it once, I’ve seen it just as much as you. Rodgers is pushing to return in mid-December from his Achilles injury, so he’s worth an add if you have an IR spot. Especially in 2QB and Superflex leagues.  While it’s hard to imagine him coming back this late and playing at a high level at age 39 just gets me. The Jets are struggling as is with who to start at quarterback. For now, Rodgers is worth 1% of your remaining FAAB.

See if available: Jordan Love (76%) Love has played better over the last two games throwing near or over 300 yards in both games along with multiple touchdowns. This week he gets the Lions in a game that should be high-scoring. He’s my top add for Week 12 if you’re desperate at quarterback.

Derek Carr (63%) Now, this is all dependent on Carr’s return from concussion protocol. Before the injury, Carr produced 20-plus points with either 300 passing yards or multiple passing touchdowns. Furthermore, his upcoming matchups are favorable and could make a nice push for fantasy managers in the playoffs.

Matthew Stafford (72%) It wasn’t a pretty picture as Stafford returned and had a mediocre performance in a win against the Seahawks. However, he should be able to bounce back this week as he gets Arizona, before a tough road against the Browns and the Ravens.

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups

Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears (45% Rostered)

For what it’s worth, this is dependent on how long D’Onta Foreman will be out, if at all. Even if Foreman is active in Week 12, I am willing to stash and hold Johnson. He’s a high-upside player to have at the end of your bench, and at this time of the season, running backs are in to position to add and hold. Remember, Khalil Herbert just returned and the Bears aren’t afraid to use these running backs. He’s worth adding for up to 10% of your remaining FAAB.

Royce Freeman, RB, Los Angeles Rams (27% Rostered)

Now, this is all dependent on Kyren Williams returning, but Freeman handled the early bulk of the worth rushing the ball 17 times for 73 yards, compared to Darrell Henderson‘s 10 for 19 yards. We’ll see if he still has an impact on this offense with Williams returning as this backfield could turn into a headache early on. Freeman is worth adding for 1% of your remaining FAAB.

See if available: Zach Charbonnet (68%), Recently news came out that Kenneth Walker‘s injury is not viewed to be season-ending, however, he should miss time. Charbonnet has seen his role increase over the past weeks and for as long as Walker is out, he’s a must-start running back.

A.J. Dillon (76%) For what was said about Charbonnet, the same can be said for Dillon. Although Dillon isn’t as explosive as Aaron Jones, he should see the majority of the running back touches in Green Bay. Dillon should be viewed as a low-end RB2 for as long as Jones is out.

Ty Chandler (77%) Chandler played second fiddle to Alexander Mattison, but it was Chander who did the most with his opportunities. Not to mention, that once again Mattison lost a key fumble during the game. More overall yards (110 to 80) should lead Chandler to at least be in the Flex conversation.

Ezekiel Elliott (61%) Just missing the cut by a percent, Elliott is a bench piece you want to have. The Patriots don’t know what to do at quarterback, but Elliott should continue to spell Rhamondre Stevenson. This offense could turn into a heavy-run one and this should be a good 60/40 split going forward.

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups

Demario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots (49% Rostered)

We haven’t seen a true breakout from Douglas, but we are seeing consistency. Yet, he finished Week 10 with a career-high 9 targets, catching six of them for 84 yards. That makes it four straight games with at least six targets. Now coming off his bye, we don’t know who his quarterback will be and I’m fine with that. He’s worth up to 10% of your remaining FAAB and looks like the top wide receiver off waiver wire pickup this week.

Odell Beckham Jr, WR, Baltimore Ravens (36% Rostered)

While I wasn’t high on Beckham Jr, I am now with Mark Andrews being done for the season. He’s seen seven targets in two of his last three games and Lamar Jackson was hell-bent on getting a deep ball to Beckham on Thursday night to make it three weeks of a touchdown. However, that didn’t happen, but the upcoming week will be more telling as the Ravens take on the Chargers who give up the second most points to the wide receiver position. 

Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers (58% Rostered)

While looking at the wide receiver core in Green Bay, it’s been a total headache. However, it’s been Reed who has made the most of his opportunities. Not to mention he led the Packers with 46 rushing yards on Sunday. He could be a poor man’s Deebo Samuel if the Packers choose to keep going this route with him and I’m here for it. He’s worth adding for up to 5% of your remaining FAAB.

Khalil Shakir, WR, Buffalo Bills (15% Rostered)

Here is what I like to call a poor man’s Rashid Shaheed. A deep threat with wheels yet can be a playmaker of his own once the ball is in his hands. Surprisingly, Shakir has seen at least four targets in four of his last five games. Furthermore, he may have replaced Gabriel Davis as the WR2 in this offense. The hope here is that his production will lead to more targets where he has a chance to be a WR3 for fantasy managers. He’s worth adding for 1-3% of your remaining FAAB.

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups

Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens (3% Rostered)

With Mark Andrews out for the season, Likely appears poised to become a significant piece of Baltimore’s offense.  Last season, Likely caught nine passes (18 targets) for 127 yards and a touchdown in the games (Week 9 and Week 18) that Andrews was out of. Now, if you looked at Likely’s stats from Thursday Night, you would think he had a bad game. However, Lamar Jackson was trying hard to get him going. He should be viewed as a back-end TE1 for the remainder of the season. He’s worth at least 10% of your remaining FAAB.

Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (35% Rostered)

Otton is worth starting here this week as the Colts have given up the fifth most points to the tight end position. The upside isn’t too high as he’s seen at least six targets in four of his last five games, yet to never see any more than 70 yards. He’s worth adding for 1% of your remaining FAAB.

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 12

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