Waiver Favors: 2017 Week 12 Fantasy Football Pickups

By Ha Kung Wong  Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

As I mentioned last week, I like nothing more than helping all of you make solid waiver pickups in your Fantasy Football league and have some part in your championship run.  That’s just the type of guy I am.  You’re welcome.  Again.

At this point in the fantasy season, where there are no more byes, I tend to use my pickups as insurance as opposed to trying to catch lightening in a bottle.  Don’t stop scouring the waiver wire, but it might be best to handcuff your stud running back or get a solid backup QB instead of trying to find a fifth high upside WR.

With that said, here are some thoughts on RB handcuffs you might want to consider.

Los Angeles Rams – Todd Gurley -> Lance Dunbar (1% Owned)

Kansas City Chiefs – Kareem Hunt -> Charcandrick West (3% Owned)

Pittsburgh Steelers – Le’Veon Bell -> James Conner (4% Owned)

Los Angeles Chargers – Melvin Gordon -> Austin Ekeler (34% Owned)

Buffalo Bills – LeSean McCoy -> Mike Tolbert (1% Owned) (unless he remains injured, in which case consider Travaris Cadet (0% Owned))

Jacksonville Jaguars – Leonard Fournette -> T.J. Yeldon (15% Owned)

San Francisco 49ers – Carlos Hyde -> Matt Breida (6% Owned)

So let’s now get on with fantasy football pickups for Week 12!

As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.

J.D. McKissic

RB – Seattle Seahawks – 31% Owned

The Seattle backfield is a mess, and they just can’t seem to stay healthy.  Eddie Lacy has some flashes, but doesn’t have any consistency or burst, while Thomas Rawls has essentially been forgotten.  That leaves J.D. McKissic.  He’s shown the most burst of any of the current healthy options and, in Week 12, managed 4 carries for 22 yards and 4 of 7 targets for 24 yards.  It’s not a ton, but 10-15 total touches a week with TD upside isn’t out of the realm of probability.

Regardless of Pete Carroll saying that Mike Davis will return in Week 13, McKissic’s role is secure as at least a change of pace or passing down back.  He’s worth a look in 14-team PPR leagues or deeper.

Rod Smith

RB – Dallas Cowboys – 14% Owned

We all know that Zeke Elliott is suspended until Week 16, and now we know that Darren McFadden has agreed to part ways with the Cowboys.  That leaves just underwhelming Alfred Morris and third year back Rod Smith.  Smith has been getting a few looks here and there, but in Week 12, he got nine carries for 41 yards and a TD, adding 2 receptions for 7 yards.

The Cowboys offense is in complete disarray, but they know they have to get their ground game going to be effective down the stretch, as Dak Prescott has completely fallen off a cliff without Zeke.  Smith is worth a stash in 14-team leagues or deeper to see how this sorts out.

Martavis Bryant

WR – Pittsburgh Steelers – 54% Owned

Just a reminder that Bryant does have skills, as he managed to catch 4 of 6 targets for 40 yards and a TD in Week 12 with JuJu Smith-Schuster out due to injury.  If Smith-Schuster returns, then Bryant drops to FLEX territory, but if Smith-Schuster remains out, then he’s in WR3 territory in 12-team leagues or deeper.

Josh Reynolds

WR – Los Angeles Rams – 1% Owned

When Robert Woods was ruled out for a “couple weeks” with a shoulder injury, it was clear that Sammy Watkins and Cooper Kupp would benefit in terms of targets, which clearly bore out in Week 12.  But who would be the WR3?  How about fourth-round rookie Josh Reynolds?  He hadn’t played much prior to Woods’ injury, but was solid in Week 12 grabbing 4 of 6 targets for 36 yards and a TD.

He probably won’t get as many opportunities once Woods returns, but for the short term, he could be an interesting pickup in 16-team leagues or deeper.

And here are previous pickups I’ve mentioned that are still worthy of your consideration:

10-Team Leagues or Deeper

Devin Funchess, Alvin Kamara

12-Team Leagues or Deeper

Nelson Agholor, Robby Anderson, Jamison Crowder, Corey Coleman, Orleans Darkwa, Jared Goff, Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee, Dion Lewis, Tyler Lockett, Jerick McKinnon, Latavius Murray, Samaje Perine, Paul Richardson, Mohamed Sanu, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Alex Smith, Jamaal Williams

14-Team Leagues or Deeper

Javorius “Buck” Allen, Jacoby Brissett, Devontae Booker, Rex Burkhead, Alex Collins, Tarik Cohen, Jared Cook, Josh Doctson, Kenyan Drake, Marquise Goodwin, Brett Hundley, Dontrelle Inman, Duke Johnson Jr., Jermaine Kearse, Tyler Kroft, Cooper Kupp, Marlon Mack, Josh McCown, Elijah McGuire, Adrian Peterson, Ricky Seals-Jones, Kenny Stills, Damien Williams, Danny Woodhead

16-Team Leagues or Deeper

C.J. Beathard, Austin Ekeler, Will Fuller, Eddie Lacy, Blaine Gabbert, Wayne Gallman, Jordan Matthews, Chester Rogers, Tom Savage, Adam Shaheen, Tavarres King, Ben Watson, Terrance Williams

Pickups Planning for the Future

Teddy Bridgewater, Josh Gordon (returning Week 13)

Check back every week for more Waiver Favors! 

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