Teams on BYE: Atlanta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, New York Jets, New Orleans
For purposes of this article, I assume your league uses $1000 FAAB. The newer names to each position are on the bottom of each positional listing. Please note that these names are not in order of preference so look over the list carefully.
We are getting to crunch time and most of the names listed here will be players that you will want to stash in case of injury. Now is the time to dump your WR6 for the backup to your star receiver. For example, I would rather stash Darius Slayton (assuming I have Malik Nabers) than keep Dontayvion Wicks or Keenan Allen (two players I am almost never starting)
QB:
Derek Carr, Saints
Carr looked tremendous pulling off the upset victories against Atlanta and Cleveland. He is a starter, especially with all the teams on BYE in Weeks 12 and 14. FAAB: $15-20
Bo Nix, Broncos
He looked incredible against Atlanta. I’m a big fan! FAAB: $35-40
Drake Maye, Patriots
I’m fully convinced that Maye’s star is on the rise, and if he gets the right match-up where the Patriots are in garbage time, he might put up enough points to help somebody win not only in seasonal leagues but in DFS as well. FAAB: $25-30
Will Levis, Titans
Levis looked pretty good against a very tough Chargers defense and the Vikings too. BYE weeks are desperate times that often call for desperate measures. FAAB: $10-12
New for Week 12:
Anthony Richardson, Colts
He played great against the Jets and gets Detroit in Week 12, who just lost Alex Anzalone, their best run stuffer. Look for ARich to run for 50+ yards. FAAB: $25-35
Tommy DeVito, Giants
Giants head coach Brian Daboll named DeVito the starter for Week 12 over Daniel Jones and Drew Lock. He can’t be any worse than Jones, can he? FAAB: $5-10
Bryce Young, Panthers
Canales named him the starter, but he’s taking on a Kansas City Chiefs and feels like it could be an absolute mess. FAAB: $1-2
Gardner Minshew, Raiders
Only if you are in a BYE week nightmare and have no other choices. FAAB: $1-2
RB:
Braelon Allen, Jets
Allen is Hall’s backup, and if he’s available in leagues, you need to pick him up! He’s difficult to stop when he gets a head of steam going. FAAB: $100-125
Ray Davis, Bills
He is the perfect complement for James Cook and easily will be productive if needed to start. FAAB: $100-125
Blake Corum, Rams
He is likely rostered in 99% of leagues, but if he is miraculously available in your league, he is a must add. He is the RB2 to Kyren Williams who regularly sees 20+ touches each week. Corum might be a top 15 play if he happens to start. FAAB: $100-125
Khalil Herbert, Bengals
The Bengals traded for Herbert right before the trade deadline. Herbert has Moss-type skills in that he is a power runner who is good at short yardage situations. Look for him to spell Chase Brown, but Brown’s spot as RB1 is very secure. FAAB: $30-40
Trey Benson, Cardinals
James Conner has looked outstanding thus far but when any running back gets over 20 touches a week, freak injuries can happen. Benson is the future in Arizona and has looked very good when given the opportunity. FAAB: $35-40
Cam Akers, Vikings
Kevin O’Connell knows him from their time together in Los Angeles, so he could be the starter if anything happens to Aaron Jones. FAAB: $5-10
Kenneth Gainwell, Will Shipley, Eagles
Saquon Barkley looks like an MVP candidate but Barkley has broken down before and as the season moves forward, I can see the Eagles lowering his touches to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Gainwell is better in PPR formats while Shipley would be better in standard and half point PR leagues. FAAB: Gainwell $5-10, Shipley $5-10
Audric Estime, Broncos
Estime is very tough to takedown and should be excellent on 1st and 2nd downs. Don’t overspend however, however as Payton always likes to rotate three running backs. FAAB: $75-80
New for Week 12:
Jerome Ford, Browns
If the Browns are in catch-up mode, he is the running back they use. Worth a few bucks in PPR formats. FAAB: $15-20
Jonathon Brooks, Panthers
He’s back! Not sure how many carries he will receive but I know that I can’t wait to see how he looks. Stash and cash. FAAB: $80-100.
Ameer Abdullah, Raiders
Both Mattison and Zamir left the Miami game with injuries. Abdullah should have a role as the receiving back against Denver in Week 12. FAAB: $5-10
Dylan Laube, Raiders
We might see more of him if Mattison and/or Zamir are out for a while. FAAB: $5-10
Dameon Pierce, Texans
A hedge in case Mixon gets hurt. FAAB: $5-10
Julius Chestnut, Titans
Tyjae Spears left the game against Minnesota with a concussion in the fourth quarter. If Spears misses time, Chestnut becomes RB2. FAAB: $1-2
WR:
Troy Franklin, Broncos
He was Nix’s main target in college, and it seems like they are trying to get him in the mix. I like him a lot against man coverage, FAAB: $15-20
Noah Brown, Commanders
There are a lot of bodies in Washington, but Brown is good against man coverage and it appears like Daniels likes throwing to him. FAAB: $5-10
Ricky Pearsall, 49ers
Pearsall is a fantastic young receiver with terrific speed and excellent hands. I expect a lot of playing time for him, especially with Aiyuk out for the season. FAAB: $60-65
Jalen Coker, Panthers
He is the new WR2 for a team that throws a lot in garbage time. FAAB: $35-40
Kayshon Boutte, Patriots
He excels against man coverage. FAAB: $25-30
Marques Valdez-Scantling, Saints
Shaheed is out. Bub Means and Ced Wilson are injured, and Olave is likely out with a concussion. MVS might have some sneaky upside. FAAB: $5-10
Jermaine Burton, Bengals
He’s talented but a knucklehead. Stash in case Higgins or Chase gets injured. FAAB: $10-15
John Metchie, Texans
He is young and was the talk of training camp. Is now the time? Worth a shot for sure. FAAB: $25-35
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans
They seem to look for him in the red zone, giving him more value than Boyd. FAAB: $20-25
Mike Williams, Steelers
Williams is a force on the outside, and so long as he can stay healthy, gives them a bookend that will make defenses pay if they try to double Pickens. Pittsburgh still won’t throw a ton, but Williams does have value. FAAB: $90-100
Jonathan Mingo, Cowboys
Jerry Jones seemed very pleased with himself for prying Mingo from the Panthers. If Mingo was any good, don’t you think the Panthers would have kept him? Mingo might be a dynasty play, but not for redraft leagues. FAAB: $15-20
Adam Thielen, Panthers
Thielen practiced last week, and it feels like he’s close to returning. Now is the right time to stash him. FAAB: $15-20
Adonai Mitchell, Colts
Mitchell gets incredible separation, and if either Joe Flacco or Anthony Richardson were more accurate, he probably would have 3 or 4 touchdowns by now. He’s starting to run crisper routes, and I think he’ll continue to show marked improvement with each passing week. FAAB: $45-50
New for Week 12:
Marvin Mims, Jr., Broncos
After languishing on fantasy benches last season, Sean Payton has started to realize what kind of weapon he has in Mims. He’s being used like Mecole Hardman, but he has way more skill as a receiver if they choose to use him that way, too. Don’t overpay for his recent TD explosion, but there are seeds of something interesting here. FAAB: $35-45
Devaughn Vele, Broncos
He’s beginning to emerge for Denver and is their best receiver against zone coverage. FAAB: $15-20
Greg Dortch, Cardinals
They have an easy schedule over the next few weeks, and Kyler likes him in the slot. FAAB: $3-5
Kendrick Bourne, Patriots
His benching in Week 10 inspired him to score a TD in Week 11. Like him way more when the Patriots are playing from behind. FAAB: $5-10
Diontae Johnson, Ravens
The loss against Pittsburgh shows me that the Ravens need Johnson to step up and become a solid WR2. He has the receiving chops, all he needs are the snaps and targets. FAAB: $15-20
Demarcus Robinson, Rams
Puka and Kupp are injury risks, and Robinson is the WR3 and talented in his own right. FAAB: $5-10
Cedrick Wilson, Saints
With all the injuries, he’s the WR2 in New Orleans. MVS is way better against man coverage, so don’t overlook Wilson when the matchup is more zone-related. FAAB: $3-5
TE:
Noah Gray, Chiefs
Gray is a solid pass catcher and runs good routes. If Kelce were to ever get hurt, he would easily be a top ten player at the position. FAAB: $25-35
Theo Johnson, Giants
Johnson is a very good athlete who seems to be getting better with each game. I think he’s a very sneaky pickup. FAAB: $15-20
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers
Sanders is way more of an offensive weapon than Tommy Tremble, and Bryce Young has been peppering him with targets. FAAB: $10-15
Brock Wright, Lions
I would bid a buck or two on Wright in case Sam LaPorta’s shoulder injury is worse than expected, and he misses another week. FAAB: $5-10
New for Week 12:
Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys
With Ferguson likely out for Week 12 with a concussion, Schoonmaker will have another chance to enter fantasy lineups. He didn’t do much when Dak Prescott was around, but Cooper Rush threw him double-digit targets against Houston, and he might end up being the second-most targeted receiver against Washington in Week 12. FAAB: $20-25
Chig Okonkwo, Titans
He’s good for 2-3 catches per week. FAAB: $3-5
Davis Allen, Rams
He didn’t have a catch against New England, but he was on the field for 33 snaps, and it looks like he is the TE1. FAAB: $5-10
Defense:
Kansas City (vs. Carolina)
Love the Chiefs for a rebound. FAAB: $15-20
Houston (vs. Tennessee)
Anyone against Will Levis. FAAB: $5-10
Washington (vs. Dallas)
Nothing says Happy Early Thanksgiving better than a defense scoring 10 fantasy points. FAAB: $5-10
