With no teams on bye weeks and a trio of games on Thursday, Week 12 will not make us wait long before diving into another week of crucial late-season fantasy contests. This is a great window of the season for both one-week streamers and playoff stashes as younger players often see expanded opportunities, teams wrap up bye weeks, and impact backups lie in wait as potential league-winners if they are elevated to starter status. Make sure to get your Thursday players slotted into lineup spots (non-Flex, if you can help it) and enjoy a feast of fantasy points in Week 12.
Week 12 Byes: None
Article Overview/ How to Use:
- Analysis: Highlight a variety of RBs, WRs, and TEs (< 65% rostered on ESPN and/or Yahoo) who I feel could produce fantasy value, either that specific week as a replacement in your lineup or as a bench/ stash option.
- Ranking RBs, WRs, and TEs (< 65% rostered) in order. Please note that the players who are highlighted in the article are not always my top-ranked streamers. These rankings & notes could be useful for teams in deeper leagues or as a means to fill out your “Watch List”.
- List of Impact Backups or players who would gain significant fantasy value if the starter was inactive. These names would make excellent stash candidates, but likely not worthwhile streamers due to lack of usage as the backup.
- Although base rankings tend to skew toward 12-team, half-PPR leagues, I will provide clarifications if a player is best used in a specific scenario or league type.
- Recap the performances of the previous week’s highlighted players.
* Any players marked with an asterisk below have been featured in previous articles this season. If anyone discussed below is at risk of not playing or is relegated to a bench role late in the week, I will do my best to keep you all updated on Twitter (@BrandonMillerFB). All players below are under 65%-rostered as of 11/23/22.
Running Back
Latavius Murray* (RB, Denver Broncos)
The Broncos backfield has been a battle of attrition as Chase Edmonds (ankle) and Melvin Gordon III (released) have now paved the way for Murray to take over the reins in Denver. He might have been on his way already, with double-digit touches in every game he has played this season. Last week he registered a season-high in carries (17) and receptions (four) and should see a healthy dose of work against the Panthers.
Kyren Williams/ Cam Akers (RB, Los Angeles Rams)
Kyren Williams had the better rushing average last week (seven carries for 36 yards, 5.1 yards per carry) while Cam Akers led in terms of volume (14 carries for 61 yards, 4.4 ypc), so there is merit to believe that both will have consistent weekly roles. The Rams have the fourth-fewest red zone opportunities per game over the last three weeks (2.3), so the chance of either notching a touchdown is admittedly not great. However, teams in need of help at RB could get a boost from this duo looking to spark a deteriorated offense in Los Angeles. If you need to pick one, I think the veteran Akers will get the first crack at being the primary early-down and short-yardage option while Williams takes on change-of-pace duties. Akers is a fringe RB3/ Flex this week against the Chiefs.
RB Streamers (ranked): Isiah Pacheco*, Latavius Murray*, Brian Robinson Jr* (60% ESPN, 68% Yahoo), Gus Edwards, Elijah Mitchell* (57% ESPN, 64% Yahoo), Jerick McKinnon*, Cam Akers*, Damien Harris (62% ESPN, 62% Yahoo), James Cook, Kenyan Drake* (if no Gus Edwards), Dontrell Hilliard*, Tyler Allgeier*, Kyren Williams, Alexander Mattison, Isaiah Spiller, Rex Burkhead, Malik Davis, Chuba Hubbard, Kenneth Gainwell, Matt Breida, Samaje Perine*, Caleb Huntley, Eno Benjamin, Nyheim Hines*, Brandon Bolden, Rachaad White* (32% ESPN, 58% Yahoo), JaMycal Hasty, DeeJay Dallas.
Wide Receiver
Darius Slayton (WR, New York Giants)
The Giants will kick off the second Thanksgiving contest in a big-time rivalry game against the Cowboys, where Slayton will be counted on to be the lead guy for a receiving corps that most recently lost Wan’Dale Robinson for the season. His 17.2 yards per reception (24 catches for 413 yards) would be a career-high if it holds and sets Slayton apart as someone who can produce more with less. I think the volume will be increased in Week 12 since the strength of the Cowboys’ defense is against the run, while they are average against opposing WRs. Look for Slayton to provide a solid floor even if he only hauls in three or four balls; I like him as a strong WR3/ Flex this week.
Jarvis Landry (WR, New Orleans Saints)
Despite dealing with injuries for much of the season alongside an unsettled QB situation, Landry looks poised to bring some stability to the Saints receiving corps in the stretch run. He scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 11 and will look to keep the production going against a 49ers defense that has been middle of the road against WRs. More of a PPR option, Landry represents a safe short-area target regardless of who lines up under center. I would leave him out of lineups for now unless it is a deep league, but the veteran has shown the ability to piece together stretches of consistent production throughout his NFL career. I feel he would also receive a boost if New Orleans flips back to Jameis Winston at QB this season.
WR Streamers (ranked): Treylon Burks*, Darius Slayton*, George Pickens*, Jarvis Landry*, Greg Dortch, Nico Collins, Devin Duvernay*, Donovan Peoples-Jones*, Parris Campbell, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Van Jefferson, Michael Gallup*, Terrace Marshall*, Mack Hollins, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, Corey Davis, Jahan Dotson, Isaiah McKenzie*, Olamide Zaccheaus, Robert Woods*, Noah Brown*, K.J. Osborn*, Odell Beckham (long term/playoff stash), Zay Jones*, Chase Claypool.
Tight End
Juwan Johnson (TE, New Orleans Saints)
While touchdowns are difficult to predict, Johnson has made it a trend lately with five over the Saints’ last five games (scored twice in Week 7, none in Week 8). TE streamers are often separated by those who find the endzone, but even if Johnson fails to do so this week, his 42+ yards in each of the last three weeks is a good indicator that he can provide a decent floor. The 49ers are a top-10 defense against TEs in fantasy points allowed, but the third-year target from Oregon is on a hot streak; you could do worse at such an unpredictable position to stream.
TE Streamers (ranked): Hayden Hurst*, Greg Dulcich*, Juwan Johnson*, Foster Moreau*, Taysom Hill*, Dawson Knox, Trey McBride, Tyler Conklin*, Robert Tonyan*, Logan Thomas, Cade Otton, Evan Engram, Mike Gesicki*.
Impact Backups/ Injury Stashes
Although this article’s primary focus is to rank and discuss RB/WR/TEs who are fantasy-relevant and 65%-rostered or less, I also believe it is extremely important to plan ahead by stocking your roster with contingency options if/when adversity strikes. Not many things in the fantasy sports universe are worse than having a successful regular season undone by gut-wrenching injury luck. That said, below is my list of Top Impact Backups and Injury Stashes, in order, regardless of position.
Top Impact Backups: Alexander Mattison, Rachaad White, Damien Harris (62% ESPN, 62% Yahoo), Samaje Perine*, Dontrell Hilliard*, Matt Breida, Keaontay Ingram, Chuba Hubbard, Trestan Ebner, JaMycal Hasty, Kyren Williams, Jaylen Warren*, Eno Benjamin, Nyheim Hines*.
Graduated (add if available): D’Onta Foreman*, Jeff Wilson Jr*, Michael Carter, Isiah Pacheco*, Jerick McKinnon*.
Top Injury/ Playoff Stashes: Deshaun Watson, Odell Beckham Jr, Jameson Williams.
Looking Back
Accountability is everything, so here is a quick look back at last week’s recommendations
Elijah Mitchell (RB, San Francisco 49ers): While Christian McCaffrey led the 49ers backfield in overall touches (14), Mitchell led the team in carries (nine) and rushing yards (59). He will probably be more of an RB3/RB4 on weeks he does not find the end zone, but is worth rostering as an impact “backup” with standalone value.
Darrell Henderson (RB, Los Angeles Rams): As part of a diminished offense overall and jumbled backfield that also included Cam Akers and Kyren Williams, among others, Henderson faded into the background with just two carries for nine yards last Sunday. He has since been released by the Rams and is now a free agent.
Treylon Burks (WR, Tennessee Titans): With another week of health and practice, Burks broke out for his best performance of the season. He caught seven of eight targets for 111 yards and should be picked up as a potential WR2/ Flex for the stretch run to see if he can establish himself as the Titans’ top receiving threat.
Kadarius Toney (WR, Kansas City Chiefs): If you crossed out Toney’s name and wrote “Skyy Moore” instead, you would have been a lot wiser than me last week. Moore finished with a stat line similar to what I expected Toney to produce (five catches / six targets / 63 receiving yards) while the latter finished with zero catches on one target. He is still a quality stash for the playoffs, but needs to string together a couple of solid weeks in a row before being trusted in starting lineups.
Foster Moreau (TE, Las Vegas Raiders): Moreau was all set to finish with a “goose egg” after four quarters of zero fantasy production, but was able to throw his fantasy managers a bone with a 33-yard grab in overtime. He finished with just three targets and does not figure to be a significant part of this offense, with or without Darren Waller.
Make sure to check out our weekly priority waiver wire adds article and waiver wire podcast for more insights on who you should be submitting claims for heading into each Wednesday; it is a great way to get a head start on acquiring players often discussed in this article. Good luck in Week 12!
(Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire)
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