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Antonio D'Arcangelis | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


Through The Wire - Week 12
11/18/19; Update: 11/19/19

Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business, but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious selections to help your team from week to week while you strive to collect fantasy wins, reach your league playoffs and win the elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp. While I’m a big proponent of making trades to bolster your roster, the waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players who can help your squad and may still be available in your league.

Feedback is always welcome, appreciated and encouraged. I’ll get to as many e-mails as I can.


Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield, CLE – Mayfield is just 45 percent owned in ESPN leagues and is in a smash spot this week facing the Dolphins. On Thursday night, he completed 17 of 32 passes for 193 yards with two TDs and no interceptions and scored a one-yard touchdown on his only rush. He’s worth looking at for his streaming upside.

Nick Foles, JAC – Foles (15-20 percent owned) is back from his extended absence (shoulder) and completed 33 of 47 pass attempts for 296-2-1 in the Jags’ Week 11 loss to the Colts. He immediately looked the part in his first game action since Week 1, completing six of his first seven passes, a stretch that included a 34-yard TD strike to D.J. Chark. The Titans present a tough matchup in Week 12, but he’s back in the mix of relevant fantasy QBs and has “green” matchups in Weeks 13, 15 and 16.

Sam Darnold, NYJ – The Jets QB completed 19 of 30 passes for 293-4-1 on Sunday, picking apart the Washington secondary and looking darn efficient for a guy who’s struggled the past few weeks. Darnold (10-15 percent owned) will look to keep things going with another favorable matchup against Oakland in Week 12.

Other QBs to consider: Jeff Driskel, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mason Rudolph, Mitchell Trubisky (hip)

Updates:

Kyle Allen, CAR – Allen was a huge bust on Sunday in what many considered to be a good spot. He completed just 31 of his 50 passes for 325-0-4 in the blowout loss to the Falcons and gave us one of the worst quarterback performances of the season. He gets a big downgrade heading into New Orleans for Week 12. I’d be looking elsewhere.

Jimmy Garoppolo, SF – Jimmy G completed 34-of-45 passes for 424-4-2 in the 49ers’ Week 11 win over the Cardinals, struggling at times with inaccuracy and making a couple of awful red zone throws. He and the Niners will certainly be tested against a capable Packers defense in Week 12.

Daniel Jones, NYG – The Giants were on a Week 11 bye and face the Bears in Week 12. I’m steering clear.

Dwayne Haskins, WAS – Haskins completed a pitiful 19-of-35 passes for 214 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the loss to the Jets, and essentially blamed his offensive lineman on the sidelines. But it was Haskins missing passes and taking far too long to get the ball out in the pocket. He’s not much of an option going forward.

Drew Lock, DEN – Lock still hasn’t been activated and it was Brandon Allen who had the reins in Week 11 (17-of-39 for 240-1-1). Allen has filled in admirably, but Lock will likely be inserted under center after Allen gets another start in Week 12 against the Bills.

Running Backs

Jonathan Williams/Jordan Wilkins, IND – Marlon Mack broke his hand and will miss extended time, and it will be one of the JWs getting the start (and possibly splitting carries) against the Texans in Week 12. Wilkins (ankle) was inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Jaguars. Williams was excellent in Mack’s stead, rushing 13 times for 116 yards, adding one reception for 31 yards. Williams took over primary ball-carrying duties early in the third quarter after Mack left the game. Nyheim Hines remains a PPR option because of his role, but it will be Williams or Wilkins (both universally available in fantasy) seeing the majority of traditional carries this week.

Jaylen Samuels, PIT – UPDATE: Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said he’s not sure if James Conner (shoulder) will be available for Week 12 against the Bengals, so Samuels (60-75 percent owned) is once again in the fantasy conversation, especially considering the smash spot he’s in against Cincy. Conner re-aggravated the shoulder injury in Thursday’s loss to Cleveland, and both Samuels and Benny Snell (knee) could make up Pittsburgh's backfield rotation if Conner isn't cleared to participate. Stay tuned.

Bo Scarbrough, DET – Some weird names popping through the wire this week, including Scarborough, who had 14 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown during Sunday’s 35-27 loss to the Cowboys less than 24 hours after signing with the team. He’s universally available and promises to see a continued role in the Lions backfield – with a favorable matchup in Week 12 against Washington.

Gus Edwards, BAL – Gus finally got his chance in a blowout win over the Texans with 112 yards and a TD on just eight carries. He’s worth owning in 12-team leagues and is the necessary handcuff to Mark Ingram.

Other RBs to consider: Darrel Williams, Tony Pollard (handcuff), Bilal Powell, Boston Scott

Updates:

Brian Hill, ATL – After a huge Week 10, Hill (65-80 percent owned) busted in Week 11 with just 30 yards on 15 rushes, adding an eight-yard catch on three targets. Hill was essentially useless against what is considered one of the league's worst run defenses. With Devonta Freeman coming back soon, I’m off Hill.

Kareem Hunt, CLE – Hunt (77 percent owned in ESPN leagues) is likely gone from most waiver wires, but he caught 6-of-8 targets for 46 yards in the Browns’ Week 11 win over the Steelers, adding six rushes for 12 yards. He’s occupying the James White role behind workhorse Nick Chubb and now has 17 targets in two games. He’s on the RB3/flex radar facing the Dolphins in Week 12.

Tarik Cohen, CHI – David Montgomery was active on Sunday, but Cohen (65-75 percent owned) got the start and rushed nine times for 39 yards and caught 5-of-6 targets for 35 yards and a TD in the loss to the Rams. It was a nice call for us after Hill busted, and he remains a low-end flex play with marginal upside in PPR formats.

Raheem Mostert, SF – Mostert (10-15 percent owned) has six rushes for 13 yards and 2-14-0 in the 49ers’ Week 11 win over the Cardinals. Matt Breida’s status for Week 12 is up in the air, so Mostert could see another complementary role next week against the Packers.

Derrius Guice, WAS – Guice (45-50 percent owned) rushed seven times for 24 yards and caught a 45-yard touchdown in the Redskins’ Week 11 loss to the Jets – a performance saved by the one big play. We’ll take it, as Guice has earned more work moving forward and his worthy of a bench stash and low-end flex play for desperate owners in Week 12 facing the Lions.

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

Deebo Samuel, SF – Samuel (10-15 percent owned) caught eight of his 10 targets for 134 yards in Sunday’s 36-26 win over the Cardinals. I had enormous shares in DFS as news broke later in the week that he’d be a highlight of the offense without George Kittle (knee) and Emmanuel Sanders, who was active but a rib injury. He should continue to get targets even after the rest of the Niners’ are healthy.

DeVante Parker, MIA – The Dolphins primary receiving threat is owned in just 40-50 percent of leagues and has been turning in solid performances each week. He caught 7-135-0 on 10 targets during Sunday’s 37-20 loss to the Bills and gets the Browns in Week 12.

Randall Cobb, DAL – About 30 percent owned in ESPN leagues, Cobb caught 4-115-1 on seven targets from Dak Prescott on Sunday. He’s likely to be a boom-or-bust TD-dependent play with so many effective weapons in the Cowboys’ offensive arsenal but could get a bunch of opportunities next Sunday against the Patriots.

UPDATE: Amari Cooper should be fine for Week 12, but it’s obvious that Cobb is a huge part of the Cowboys’ offensive game plan at this point. His stock would increase if for some reason Cooper wasn’t able to play or was limited in any fashion.

TE Ryan Griffin, NYJ – I’ve been singing the praises of Griffin for a while now, and I used him a lot in DFS on Sunday when he hauled in five catches for 109 yards and a TD in the win over Washington. If you need a reliable TE, just add the guy and use him – because he’s been solid at a tough position to find consistency.

N’Keal Harry, NE – UPDATE: In his NFL regular-season debut, Harry played on 32 of a possible 74 snaps on offense in the win over the Eagles, hauling in 3-18-0 on four targets. But more targets will be on their way for the promising rookie wideout, and it could happen as soon as this week if Phillip Dorsett (head injury) isn’t cleared to suit up against the Cowboys.

Other WRs/TEs to consider: TE Cameron Brate, Hunter Renfrow, Tim Patrick, Chris Conley, Allen Hurns, TE Jacob Hollister

Updates:

Marquise Brown, BAL – Brown caught just 2-of-4 targets for 23 yards in the Ravens’ Week 11 win over the Texans, but we had word before game time (from ESPN's Dianna Russini) that Brown’s ankle issue had him looking uncomfortable. He’s certainly got upside when he’s healthy, but we might want to avoid him for now, especially with such a tough matchup on the docket.

Darius Slayton, NYG – The Giants were on a Week 11 bye and his prospects aren’t great for Week 12 facing the Bears.

UPDATE: If Evan Engram and/or Sterling Shepard (concussion) miss this week’s contest, Slayton is back in consideration as a possible WR3.

Christian Kirk, ARI – Kirk caught 6-of-9 targets for 41 yards in the Cardinals’ Week 11 loss to the 49ers and assumes WR3 status in Week 13 following the Week 12 bye.

TE Greg Olsen, CAR – Olsen caught all five of his targets for 57 yards in the Panthers’ Week 11 loss to the Falcons. He’s a low-end TE1 with a safe floor facing the Saints in New Orleans next week.

James Washington, PIT – Washington didn’t do a lot on Thursday, but neither did many players on the Steelers. He finished with 3-49-0 on four targets in the loss to Cleveland but gets a huge upgrade against the Bengals in Week 12.

UPDATE: If JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) can’t play this week, Washington’s targets could see a bump.

Cole Beasley, BUF – It was the John Brown show in Miami, but Beasley chipped in 4-38-0 on Sunday and remains a boom-or-bust slot receiver heading into Denver.