Joe Serpico shares his top fantasy football waiver-wire pickups heading into Week 12.
It’s officially handcuff season as we inch closer to the end of the fantasy regular season. Rather than rostering a second tight end or a fifth and sixth receiver, add backup running backs in the event of an injury to the player ahead of them on the depth chart. Players who should be on your radar are Zack Moss, Rico Dowdle, Tank Bigsby, Joshua Kelley, Ty Chandler, Kenneth Gainwell, Tyjae Spears and Antonio Gibson.
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks: Charbonnet is inexcusably available in more than 55 percent of leagues despite seeing his playing time increase each week. With Kenneth Walker III suffering an oblique injury on Sunday, the rookie would take on the lead-back role should Walker miss time and be an RB2 for fantasy purposes. The severity of Walker’s injury will play a factor in how much to bid for Charbonnet, but he needs to be rostered more.
Elijah Moore, WR, Cleveland Browns: Moore was one of my favorite sleepers heading into the season but has underperformed until recent weeks. However, the Browns traded Donovan Peoples-Jones at the deadline and Moore has seen more targets as a result. He has 14 targets in the last two games and at least seven targets in all but three games this season. The potential addition of former Ravens QB Joe Flacco should provide a boost in the passing game.
Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens: Mark Andrews is out for the season, thrusting Likely into the starting tight end position in Baltimore. Likely has underperformed this season with just nine receptions for 89 yards but shined last year with Andrews out of the lineup. He’s not a top-five tight end like Andrews, but the Ravens will involve Likely in the game plan.
Los Angeles Rams D/ST: Yes, we are so desperate to find waiver additions this week that we are throwing a defense into the mix, but for good reason. The schedule for the Rams sets up nicely, including favorable matchups during the fantasy playoffs. The Cardinals, Browns, Ravens, Commanders, Saints and Giants are coming up next. I really like Aaron Donald and the Rams to feast against the Commanders’ and Giants’ weak offensive lines when it matters most.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox