Week 12 Waiver Claims

Quarterback #1: Tua

This last week was obviously a step-back for Tua, but he still hasn’t thrown an interception yet on 97 passing attempts to start his career & his TD/INT ratio is sitting at 6/0. He gets the Jets & Bengals the next two weeks so look for him to settle right back into an upward trajectory.

Quarterback #2: Jalen Hurts

If you’re not stashing Jalen Hurts in every single redraft league this week you are doing fantasy football wrong, at least in my (maybe not so) humble opinion. We are going into Championship season & Hurts has the kind of upside that wins Championships. We’re just guessing at his NFL rushing-ceiling, but based on his college production (3,274 rushing yards & 43 rushing TD’s in 4 years) & legit 4.59 speed, it’s fair to say his rushing-ceiling could *potentially* be amongst the highest QB rushing-ceilings in the league. Taysom Hill finishing as this past week’s QB3 despite throwing for just 223 yards & 0 passing TD’s should tell you all you need to know about a scrambling QB’s fantasy upside. Hurts looks like a Konami-Code & Carson Wentz is teetering on the edge of getting benched. He’s a must-stash.

Quarterback #3: Philip Rivers

The Colts kept Philip Rivers under 30 passing attempts in 3 of their first 4 games, but have since let him loose with 33, 44, 33, 43, 39, & 36 passing attempts over the last 6 games. He has 10 TD’s in his last 4 playable matchups (excluding the BAL game, 3, 3, 1, & 3 TD’s). He’s clearly benefitting from having all 3 TE’s healthy as well as the emergence of rookie Michael Pittman. He also gets enticing (& good weather) matchups over the next 4 weeks against TEN, HOU, LV, & HOU, yet he’s currently rostered in less leagues than Jimmy Garoppolo & Gardner Minshew.

Running Back #1: Wayne Gallman

Wayne Gallman has scored double-digit fantasy points in 4-straight games & has a TD & reception in every one of those games. He’s a top-15 RB in PPG over the last month & he finishes the season against CIN, SEA, AZ, & CLE (before a tough Week 16 matchup against Baltimore).

Running Back #2: James White

Even with Rex Burkhead on IR, I wouldn’t go crazy about James White. Sony Michel is back & for all we know he could see more involvement, not to mention, the team could bring JJ Taylor back into the fold as well. It could very likely remain an unpredictable committee… This is starting to sound a lot more like an anti-James White pitch, huh? I’m sorry, we’re in waiver-wire purgatory & the thought of actually starting James White makes me wanna yak. But if I had to make a pitch for him (which, unfortunately I do, because the waiver-wire is complete garbonzo by this point, and I can’t find any better options), it would be that the Patriots are likely going to be playing from behind against Arizona so that should give White another chance at 5+ receptions.

Running Back #3: Tony Pollard/Cam Akers

Tony Pollard & Cam Akers are a lot easier to make pitches for than James White. I could talk about these two all day. Pollard needs an injury to Zeke & Akers might need one to Hendo or Malcolm Brown, but if either of these backs stepped into consistent touches, look out. Ideally, I only want these kinds of high-upside lottery tickets (and my own RB handcuffs) on my bench for the last 3 weeks of the fantasy season. Everything else can go.

Wide Receiver #1: Michael Pittman Jr.

See Rivers, Philip. (Yes I know I’m lazy, it gets dark at 5 o’clock now & I’m ready for dinner).

Wide Receiver #2: Jalen Reagor

Reagor has at least 4 targets in every game this season, 4 receptions in 3 of the last 4, and a juicy matchup with Seattle on deck. He’s oozing with raw talent & there aren’t a whole lot of players with that much of it left out there on the waiver-wire.

Wide Receiver #3: Denzel Mims

If I’m gonna bet on a widely-streamed player getting thrown into lineups Week 14 & randomly winning a lot of people their first-round matchups, I might bet on Denzel Mims against Seattle. He’s gone 4/42, 2/42, 4/62, & 3/71 in his first 4 games as a pro. With his combination of raw talent, a high YPR (16.7), and the ideal matchup, he’s got as good a chance as any late-season waiver-wire darling to go nuclear & single-handedly win someone a playoff matchup.

Tight End #1: Robert Tonyan

If we’re talking upside (& why wouldn’t we be at this point in the season?), Tonyan fits the mold. He’s got weekly finishes as the TE4, TE2, TE5, & TE5 on his resume this season & if he’s on, he could give you major upside if you’re an underdog in your matchup.

Tight End #2: Dalton Schultz

Schultz doesn’t have the same weekly top-3 upside that Tonyan has, but very few TE’s to last on the waiver-wire do. Schultz has been relatively unaffected by the QB changes & has continued churning out fantasy points with 4/35, 2/22, 6/53, 4/48, & 4/25/1 over his last 4 games.

Tight End #3: Trey Burton