It was a relatively quiet day on the injury front in Week 11, which is good news for us because Bye-mageddon is coming (*DUN DUN DUNNNNN*).

Every fantasy team needs to take a page out of the Lions' playbook and just try to give us fantasy fireworks, week in and week out. In their last four games they have locked down 154 total points. And then there's the Jaguars… 

Anyway, back to the bye weeks — this is where you really need to start preparing. Hopefully you were looking ahead, but this week there are SIX (!!!) teams on a bye, and then zero in Week 13, before entering Week 14 — the crucial “final week of the season” for most players — with another six teams on a bye. 

This week's byes: Falcons, Bills, Bengals, Jaguars, Saints and Jets. So while there may not have been many injuries, we still have to go through some deep names to know on waivers who can help save you in Week 12.

Before we jump in, I want to point you in the direction of our waiver wire tool, which is an awesome way to visualize what I have below AND take advantage of “wisdom of the crowd”-ing, as you can drop your FAAB bids in and see what other people are thinking of spending!

Below are the waiver wire recommendations, in order of priority and always under 40% rostered. Good luck! 

INJURY ROUNDUP

  • Raiders: Zamir White (quad), Alexander Mattison (ankle)
  • Vikings: Jordan Addison (cramping)
  • Falcons: Darnell Mooney (hamstring)
  • Jaguars: Gabe Davis (out for the season)

FANTASY FOOTBALL WAIVER WIRE ADDS FOR WEEK 12

Elijah Moore, WR, Browns

Here's hoping Jameis Winston continues to be the quarterback in Cleveland, because he gives us great fantasy upside for all their offensive pieces. 

Elijah Moore is getting the waiver wire highlight this week because he has 29 targets over the last three weeks. On Sunday against the Saints he turned six receptions into 66 yards and a touchdown. With Winston, Moore has averaged 13.6 points per game with a 7.0 Utilization Score:

The Browns have a tough schedule coming up (Steelers, Broncos, Steelers), and there is a chance the team turns to Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but Moore is a solid WR option who should continue to have good numbers inside a high-volume passing offense with Winston.

Roschon Johnson, RB, Bears

The Bears looked better in Week 11 after firing offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and turning to their passing game coordinator, Thomas Brown. We saw a difference in Caleb Williams, too. According to ESPN, Williams set season highs for designed rushes (four), scrambles (five) and combined rushes/scrambles (nine). 

As for the fantasy waiver wire impact? Since we saw a glimpse of what the Bears could be it's time to look at adding whoever we can — and that is Roschon Johnson. He came away with 11 touches (his most since Week 3), but what was more interesting was that he took 10 carries in the red zone. According to the Utilization Report, Johnson registered season-highs in snaps (44%) and rushing attempts (34%). He is definitely not a must-start, but a solid stash with the big bye weeks coming up — and a borderling must-add bench handcuff in case anything happens to D'Andre Swift (fingers crossed that doesn't happen, please). 

Will Dissly, TE, Chargers

Will Dissly has been the Chargers' TE1 over the last five games and has registered a 7.4 Utilization Score with 10.8 fantasy points per game. We've mentioned here before how the Chargers have been more willing to pass after their bye week — and the upcoming schedule points to even more games like that (Ravens, Falcons, Chiefs, Buccaneers).

Dwain McFarland upgraded Dissly in the Utilization Report and has him as a high-end TE2 heading into Week 12.

Cam Akers, RB, Vikings

Look, it's brutal out here on the waiver wire this week, but just hear me out with Cam Akers: He has 26 touches in the last two games; on Sunday he had 10 carries for 25 yards with two receptions — it all led to a touchdown and 11.6 fantasy points. 

Akers is the handcuff you want to target if you have Aaron Jones, but if you're feeling the heat from these six teams on a bye then he can be started in a pinch in those deeper formats

Ray-Ray McCloud, WR, Falcons

The Falcons are on a bye in Week 12 so picking up Ray-Ray McCloud would be a stash play, but Darnell Mooney sustained a hamstring injury on Sunday against the Broncos. The team says that the injury is not serious, but it's still something we want to keep an eye on.

McCloud finished Week 11 with six receptions for 46 yards and 10.6 fantasy points. If you have the room, McCloud would be a speculative add in case Mooney misses any time with his hamstring injury. Keep an eye out!

Darius Slayton, WR, Giants

Yes, the Giants are turning to Tommy DeVito at QB, but that doesn't mean things are all bad for the Giants … right?! Darius Slayton could be a dart throw this week simply because of the Giants' schedule going forward. 

According to PFF, in four of their next five games, the Giants face bottom-nine teams at preventing fantasy points to wide receivers. He didn't play in Week 10 due to a concussion, so make sure to check those injury reports, but if Slayton is healthy, we could see him be a deep flex candidate in Week 12 against the Buccaneers.

Drake Maye, QB, Patriots

There aren't a lot of quarterbacks available on the waiver wire who are less than 40% rostered, but Drake Maye is one of them. If you're picking him up for Week 12 just know that Maye has a tough matchup against the Miami Dolphins, but he can still provide us fantasy goodness with his rushing upside. Over his six starts this season he is averaging 41.3 rushing yards per game (we like that)!

Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Packers

Don't expect to pick up Dontayvion Wicks and immediately put him in your starting lineups. This is a stash play just in case the injury bug bites any of the Packers receivers — Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs or Christian Watson. We never want that to happen, but the Packers' schedule during the fantasy playoffs is looking pretty nice — they face the Seahawks, Saints and Vikings. STASH HIM!

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Raiders

None of the running backs on waivers this week are slam-dunk picks, but Ameer Abdullah is someone to highlight because of the injuries to the Raiders' running backs. Zamir White had a quad injury in Week 11 and Alexander Mattison left with an ankle injury. 

Abdullah had one carry for one yard and three receptions (one for a touchdown). The matchup this weekend isn't great against Denver, but if you're desperate and if White and Mattison are sidelined, then Abdullah could see a significant workload increase. I told you all, it's gross out there this week. 

Keep Stashing

  • Trey Benson
  • Braelon Allen