Week 12 is officially underway and happens to be one of my favorite weeks of the year, Thanksgiving week! For me, it’s great to get a little time off of work,spend some time with the family and watch a lot of football over the course of the next couple days. On Thanksgiving week, we have no teams on bye and plenty of football to watch spread out over a matter of days.
Thursday Thanksgiving Slate:
- GB @ Detroit 12:30 PM ET
- WSH @ DAL 4:30 PM
- SF @ SEA 8:20 PM
Friday Game:
- MIA @ NYJ 3:00 PM
It’s always a great time of year — Getting closer to the playoffs, games are spread out more. It’s fun.
It’s the point in the season where you can really be strategic while looking ahead. I am going to first highlight week 13 bye weeks.
Week 13 Bye Weeks:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Chicago Bears
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Minnesota Vikings
- New York Giants
That’s quite a bit of good teams that are not going to be able to help you right before the playoffs begin. This waiver run is crucial in solidifying some help whether it’s for this week or next.
Quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew
Indianapolis Colts (13% rostered on Yahoo)
There is a reason that Minshew is only 13% rostered, but he is more than capable of being able to put up a big game once in a while. He’s got a really nice matchup against the Tampa Bay Bucs this week, as both teams desperately need a win to try and make a playoff push. The 2023 Buccaneers have struggled mightily against oppposing QB’s all of this year. They are allowing on average 289 passing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks, and 1.6 touchdowns per game.
If your waiver wire is thin and you are looking for a low-cost option to help bolster your team for one week, Minshew may be a good option.
Russell Wilson
Denver Broncos (53% rostered on Yahoo)
Are the Broncos back? They have been playing some really good football as of late and stacking wins, this doesn’t even feel like the same football team it was early on in the season. That is in large part to the fact that Russell Wison has been playing fairly good. If you have recently lost a QB to injury and are in need, Wilson may be your guy.
He has a very very tough matchup against a strong Cleveland Browns defense in week 12, so I would not recommend using him here. But, looking at their schedule past week 12, the Broncos get the Houston Texans in week 13 and then the Los Angeles Chargers in week 14.
Two very solid matchups for the Broncos QB who could help get your team into the playoffs.
Running backs
Zach Charbonnet
Seattle Seahawks (45% rostered)
Charbonnet has league-winning upside and potential after starter, Kenneth Walker, went down with an oblique injury last week. Charbonnet played 85% share of the snaps that game and was the workhorse. The Seahawks do have some tough matchups ahead against the run, but with Charbonnet’s ability and workload potential, he should be the number one waiver grab this week.
Keaton Mitchell
Baltimore Ravens (58% rostered)
Keaton Mitchell’s role in this Ravens offense continues to grow each week and is definitely worth an add as we get closer to the playoffs. Last week, Mitchell had 7 more carries than backup, Justice Hill. So his role is improving in terms of usage and opportunity. The Raven’s have a really great matchup against the Chargers in week 12 but then their bye is in week 13, so be aware of that when putting in a bid for him.
Jerick McKinnon
Kansas City Chiefs (30% rostered)
Ok this is more of an absolute flier in deeper formats, but I think it is worth mentioning. McKinnon certainly has not done much this season, but this was the case last year as well. It wasn’t until later on in the season in 2022 when McKinnon started to pop off and was highly playable in Fantasy.
Who knows – I could see the Chiefs reserving some of their talent, before completely utilizing them in these later weeks as they gear up for another playoff run. Either way, it may be worth a stash — Especially since the Chiefs have a fairly moderate/easy schedule remaining for RB’s. The Raiders are up first and we’ll continue to monitor if McKinnon’s usage increases.
Wide Receivers
Christian Watson
Green Bay Packers (62% rostered)
It’s crazy that it is week 12 of the season and Watson is available on the wire in some leagues, but that is just how this season has gone. I like Watson a lot here mostly because of his schedule remaining for the year, with matchups against the Lions, Giants and Bucs. Watson has the ability to have some nice days against all of these susceptible secondary’s.
Worth an add if you need a guy.
Brandin Cooks
Dallas Cowboys (55% rostered)
Cooks has really been finding his way in this new Cowboys offense as of late. After blowing up against the Giants in week 10 for 9 grabs 173 yards and a TD, he had a relatively quiet week against the Panthers in week 11. Similar to Watson here, I really like Cook’s matchup for the rest of the season and could easily be a flex play based on matchups. In the next three weeks, Cooks will go up agains the Commanders, Seahawks and Eagles.
Grab em’ while you can. He may even be a solid play against the Commanders in deeper formats this week.
Josh Downs
Indianapolis Colts (50% rostered)
I am note quite sure how rookie WR Josh Downs lasted all the way until the 3rd round of the 2023 draft, but here we are. Downs has been really great with veteran QB Gardner Minshew, and I think that connection is about to get even greater. Coming off of their bye from week 11, they look to face the Bucs, Titans and Bengals next. The Bucs rank as the 4th easiest matchup for WR’s, the Titans are 7th easiest, and the Bengals are 15th.
With Downs increased role and great matchups down the stretch, he is another guy who may have flex appeal in the coming weeks as we try to lock up our playoff spots.
Tight Ends
Isaiah Likely
Baltimore Ravnens (4% rostered)
If your fantasy squad has been looking for your TE all season, go get Isaiah Likely. As Pre Bowl TE Mark Andrew’s will be out for the remainder of the regular season, Likely’s role in this dominant Ravens team will increase.
Although Likely hasn’t done too much his sophomore campaign with the Ravens, he still showed us some promise last year during his rookie season. In week 18 of 2022, Likely had 8 catches for 103 yards. So he has the skill set and there is some connection with Lamar there.
Likely is worth a high FA add because of usage alone. I heard this on the radio show too earlier this week “Sometimes the unknown is just way too fun” and Likely is a guy I wouldn’t want to miss out on. That is all I have this week for my top Waiver Wire adds as teams are gearing up to make their championship runs. I hope you all enjoy and have a wonderful Thanksgiving with you and yours.
