5 players to prioritize on the waiver wire for Week 12

It’s often easy to find yourself overwhelmed each week as you look at the waiver wire, wondering which player—or players, mind you—you should be adding to your fantasy football roster and spending your precious FAAB money on. All I hope with this article is that I can help you step away from the crippling panic you may find yourself in, and offer some clarity as to who deserves your FAAB money and attention this week on waivers.

Here are my top five waiver priorities for Week 12, in order, along with what percentage of your FAAB I think you should be directing towards them (percent rostered in ESPN leagues since Yahoo percent rostered wasn’t working for me, under 50% rostered).

1. Gus Edwards (14% rostered, 25% FAAB budget)

With both J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram testing positive for COVID-19, Edwards instantly becomes the top waiver target and it’s not even close. Glenn Close. We know this Ravens offense is entirely built around the ground game and with no other running backs to stand in his way, Edwards will likely see a ton of work Thursday night against the Steelers. And if you need more incentive, when the Ravens and Steelers faced off back in Week 8, Gus the Bus carried the ball 16 times for 87 yards and a touchdown. Do what you can to add Edwards this week.

2. James White (34% rostered, 15% FAAB budget)

With Rex Burkhead likely done for the year, White now is the sole pass catching back on the Patriots roster. Damien Harris has been terrific on the ground, but only has four career targets. Targets. Not catches. Sony Michel is returning from IR this week but like Harris, he’s not a pass catcher. This leaves James White, the man with 353 career receptions, the lone pass catcher in New England’s backfield. This Patriots team is not the dominate force it once was, and will likely find themselves in offensive battles that they have to throw the ball to stay in, just like we saw in Week 11. Against the Texans, White saw 57% of the snaps and led the team in targets (9) and was second in receiving yards with 64. I expect more of the same for White moving forward.

3. Michael Pittman Jr. (41% rostered, 15% FAAB budget)

He was on the list last week, he’s on the list this week, and he’ll be on the list every week from this point onward until he’s above 50% rostered. Pittman has now gone over 50 yards receiving in each of his last three games and scored his first touchdown Sunday against a tough Packers secondary. The Colts remaining schedule is a cake walk and Pittman seems right on the cusp of becoming Philip Rivers’ go-to pass catcher which instantly puts him as a WR2 rest of the season. Add him now.

4. Wayne Gallman Jr. (55% rostered, 12% FAAB budget)

I’m breaking my 50% rostered rule because this is my column and I can do what I want, and because this clearly is your last shot to add Gallman and you should be working hard to do so. With the Giants having a Week 11 bye, it’s easy to have forgotten just how good Gallman has been recently for fantasy managers. Let me remind you. Gallman has had at least 50 total yards and scored a touchdown in every game since Week 7. During that span he was the RB3 in .5PPR leagues. Only Dalvin Cook and Alvin Kamara scored more points. Honestly, Gallman’s rostered percentage should be up in the 80s at this point.

5. Frank Gore (13% rostered, 10% FAAB budget)

I feel gross for writing this but I’m fighting through the pain to give you the fantasy knowledge you deserve. You’re welcome. No one wants to start and rely on a Jets player in fantasy football but Gore has three things working in his favor. First, Adam Gase loves him as only twice this season has Gore not seen double digit touches and those were back in Week 1 and Week 5. Second, the rookie La’Mical Perine, who was supposed to see a larger workload, left the game Sunday with an ankle injury that ultimately placed him on IR, so the backfield is now JUST Gore. Third, and finally, the Jets play the Dolphins this week who just let both Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay rush for over 80 yards on them in Week 11. Gore isn’t a sexy play, but he’s likely to get you RB2 work in Week 12.