Week 11 was another roller coaster across the fantasy landscape. We got some huge performances, a few out-of-nowhere breakouts, and, because it’s 2025, another round of injuries that forced managers back to the waiver wire. The silver lining? A handful of lightly rostered players stepped into bigger roles, creating some sneaky late-season value as we push toward the playoffs.
As always in the StatChasers Waiver Wire Watch, every player highlighted below is rostered in fewer than 40% of Yahoo leagues. FAAB suggestions are based on a standard 12-team format, so adjust upward if you’re in deeper or more competitive leagues.
One quick housekeeping note: we’re still waiting on a few injury updates heading into Wednesday waivers. Week 11 saw multiple players exit early, including Bhayshul Tuten, who was in the middle of his best game of the year before tweaking his ankle. Early signs point to most of the injuries being short-term, but several situations are worth monitoring as practice reports start rolling in.
With all that out of the way, let’s dive into the top waiver targets for Week 12.
Overall Top 10
- Chris Rodriguez Jr.
- Kenneth Gainwell
- Emanuel Wilson
- A.J. Barner
- Bhayshul Tuten
- Jacoby Brissett
- Zonovan “Bam” Knight
- Christian Watson
- Mack Hollins
- Falcons, Browns & Jaguars – Team Defenses
Chris Rodriguez Jr. – RB, Commanders
Rostered: ~22% | Suggested FAAB: 3–4%
Recommendation: Add in 12-team leagues as RB3/FLEX option
Chris Rodriguez has officially taken over the Washington backfield, and the production is finally catching up to what the film has been telling us for weeks. In Sunday’s game in Spain, the rookie outclassed Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt from the opening drive, turning 15 carries into 79 physical yards while Bill managed just 28 yards on 9 attempts. This came just one week after Rodriguez drew the start against Detroit before a shoulder injury cut his day short. When he’s been on the field, he’s clearly been the better runner.
Rodriguez now has either double-digit carries or a touchdown in three straight games, giving him the most stable path to lead-back usage that any Commanders RB has had all year. Over that stretch, he’s racked up 160 rushing yards to Bill’s 96, and he’s done it while playing fewer snaps. Washington’s staff keeps leaning on Rodriguez in early-down and short-yardage situations, and the efficiency gap between the two backs isn’t narrowing anytime soon.
The only real drawback is game script. Rodriguez thrives in downhill, between-the-tackles situations, and Washington simply hasn’t been playing from ahead much this season. Still, volume is king in fantasy football, and we’re talking about a starting NFL running back who’s not rostered in nearly 80% of leagues… which is wild.
The Commanders head into a Week 12 bye, which should help keep his FAAB cost reasonable. His box score won’t jump off the page, but the way he ran absolutely will, and that’s exactly the kind of undervalued profile you want to target before the masses catch on.
If Washington finds itself in even a couple of neutral or positive scripts down the stretch, Rodriguez has legitimate late-season breakout potential. Don’t wait: add him now while the window is still open.
Kenneth Gainwell – RB, Steelers
Rostered: 32% | Suggested FAAB: 5–7%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 12-team leagues; becomes a high-priority add if Jaylen Warren is ruled out
Kenneth Gainwell is shaping up to be one of the most important injury-dependent adds of Week 12. His value hinges almost entirely on Jaylen Warren’s ankle injury, which knocked Warren out in the third quarter on Sunday. As soon as Warren left, Gainwell stepped into a featured role and delivered one of his best performances of the season:
- 7 catches for 81 yards and 2 TDs
- 9 carries for 24 yards
- A true do-it-all, 20-touch performance
If Warren ends up being fine for Week 12, Gainwell slips back into his usual premium handcuff role — worth rostering, but not someone you can trust in lineups. But if Warren misses even a single week, Gainwell immediately becomes a viable fantasy starter with legitimate RB2 upside.
We’ve already seen the ceiling. In Week 4, when Warren was inactive, Gainwell erupted for 28.4 fantasy points, handling 25 touches for 134 total yards. Whenever Pittsburgh opens the backfield for him, the coaching staff doesn’t hesitate — they give him the full workload, and he responds both on the ground and as a receiver.
Your FAAB bid should be tied directly to Warren’s status:
- If Warren plays: treat Gainwell as a smart stash — low FAAB.
- If Warren sits: he’s one of the top waiver targets of the week and instantly lands in the RB2 conversation.
Monitor reports closely. If early-week updates on Warren trend negative, push Gainwell up your priority list. He’s one of the few backs on waivers who can walk into a full starting role immediately.
Emanuel Wilson – RB, Packers
Rostered: 8% | Suggested FAAB: 5–7%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 12-team leagues; higher priority if Josh Jacobs misses time
Emanuel Wilson is one of the most important speculative adds of Week 12 after Josh Jacobs went down with a knee injury. Jacobs left in the second quarter and never returned, which opened the door for Wilson to play a career-high 70.9% of the snaps. He handled 11 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown, added a nine-yard catch, and out-snapped Chris Brooks by a massive marin (Brooks played just 9.1%).
This isn’t a one-off either. Wilson flashed back in Week 8 when he racked up 87 total yards on 14 touches, showing the burst and balance that made him a preseason favorite in Green Bay. When the Packers need someone to take over a drive or shoulder full-series work, Wilson is the guy they trust — and his three-down skill set gives him instant fantasy relevance whenever he sees elevated volume.
The tricky part here is the injury timeline. Early indications suggest Jacobs avoided a long-term issue and might be more day-to-day than week-to-week. That puts Wilson’s value squarely in the “wait and see” category.
Here’s how to play it:
If Jacobs returns: Wilson drops back to pure-handcuff status with little standalone value.
If Jacobs sits: Wilson becomes a viable RB2/FLEX play against a very friendly upcoming slate (MIN, @DET, CHI). All three opponents have surrendered above-average rushing efficiency over the past month.
You don’t need to unload your full FAAB budget, but a speculative claim makes a ton of sense — especially if you need RB depth or want exposure to a potential spot-start in Weeks 13–14. Wilson is exactly the type of “handcuff-plus” who can give you starter-level output any time the opportunity opens up.
A.J. Barner – TE, Seahawks
Rostered: 9% | Suggested FAAB: 4–6%
Recommendation: Should be added in 12-team leagues as a streaming TE with upside
A.J. Barner delivered one of the most unexpected stat lines of Week 11, and easily the biggest outing of his young career, catching 10 of 11 targets for 70 yards. It was a massive jump from last week, when he didn’t see a single target and was used almost exclusively as a blocker and tush-push specialist. So what do we actually make of him for fantasy? The answer probably sits somewhere between those two extremes.
Barner isn’t suddenly the centerpiece of Seattle’s passing game, but he is tied to one of the more efficient aerial attacks in the league. Week 11 showed that when the Seahawks need a reliable underneath option to move the chains, Barner is capable of handling that role. His red-zone involvement hasn’t been as strong since his two-score performance back in Week 5, but the usage trend is clearly pointing upward — and Seattle has several tight-end friendly matchups coming up.
Given how thin the tight end position gets every November, Barner’s mix of playing time, athleticism, and big-swing volatility gives him real streaming viability. He’s not someone you set and forget, but if you’re looking for a TE plug-in with an actual ceiling, not just a hope-and-pray option, Barner deserves to be one of the top waiver adds in 12-team leagues.
Bhayshul Tuten – RB, Jaguars
Rostered: 30% | Suggested FAAB: 3–5%
Recommendation: Priority stash in 12-team leagues; potential FLEX if healthy
Bhayshul Tuten has quietly become one of the most intriguing late-season stashes in fantasy football, and Week 11 only added fuel to the fire. Coming into Sunday, Travis Etienne owned a massive 72.4% snap share while Tuten sat at just 26.4%, but the gap finally started to close. Through three quarters against the Chargers, Tuten had played 41.9% of the snaps — nearly a true split with Etienne (55.8%).
More importantly, Tuten made the most of that opportunity. He turned 15 carries into 74 yards and a touchdown, flashing the same vision and burst that made him a buzzy late-round sleeper back in August. This was the exact type of usage fantasy managers were hoping to see: real early-down work, red-zone involvement, and trusted touches in neutral game script.
The only frustrating part is the timing. Tuten suffered an ankle injury late in the game and didn’t return. Early reports suggest it’s not a major issue, but we’ll need to track his practice status closely this week. If he’s active for Week 12, he immediately enters the FLEX conversation thanks to a dream upcoming schedule (@ARI, @TEN, IND) — all three defenses rank bottom-12 in rush EPA allowed over the last month.
If this usage trend continues once he’s healthy, Tuten could be a major factor during the fantasy playoffs. Even with Etienne still leading the way, a 40–45% share of this backfield is enough for Tuten to matter — especially in an offense that wants to lean on the run.
He’s one of the highest-upside stashes on the wire this week… assuming the ankle checks out.
Jacoby Brissett – QB, Cardinals
Rostered: 34% | Suggested FAAB: 4–5% (1QB leagues)
Recommendation: Should be added in all 12-team leagues; weekly starter in the right matchups
Jacoby Brissett has quietly become one of the most dependable fantasy quarterbacks of the second half — and absolutely nobody had that on their 2025 bingo card. Since taking over in Week 6, Brissett has topped 19+ fantasy points in every start and has cleared 24+ in two of his last three. He’s thrown for 250+ yards and multiple touchdowns in five straight games, and in Week 11 he set an NFL record with 47 completions… all without Marvin Harrison Jr. on the field.
His outing against San Francisco might’ve been the single most impressive quarterback performance of the week:
- 47 completions (NFL record)
- 452 passing yards
- 2 touchdowns
- Fifth straight top-12 fantasy finish
Maybe the most surprising part? Brissett is elevating everyone around him. Trey McBride has been a monster all year, but in Week 11 Brissett also propelled Michael Wilson to a career-best 185-yard performance and kept the Cardinals’ offense humming despite missing their superstar rookie receiver.
Looking ahead, there’s a lot to like. The upcoming stretch isn’t perfect — Weeks 14–16 (LAR, HOU, ATL) bring tougher matchups — but Week 12 vs. Jacksonville and Week 13 at Tampa Bay are rock-solid starts. And for fantasy managers dreaming of a championship run, Brissett draws Cincinnati in Week 17, a matchup he can absolutely take advantage of.
If you don’t have a locked-in QB1 or you’ve been piecing things together because of injuries and bye weeks, Brissett is more than just a streamer. He’s a legitimate weekly starter with top-10 upside whenever the matchup tilts in his favor.
Zonovan “Bam” Knight – RB, Cardinals
Rostered: 17% | Suggested FAAB: 2–6% (format dependent)
Recommendation: RB2/RB3 streamer while Trey Benson is out; stash in 12-team leagues
Arizona’s offense has found new life with Jacoby Brissett at the controls, and the backfield is finally benefiting from the improved efficiency. With the Cardinals pushing more volume through the air, running lanes are opening up — and right now, the healthy back positioned to take advantage is Zonovan “Bam” Knight.
In Week 11, Knight stepped into an expanded role after Emari Demercado left with an ankle injury and delivered a solid all-around performance:
- 5 carries for 24 yards and a touchdown
- 4 catches for 21 yards
- Early-down work plus useful involvement in the passing game
Until Trey Benson returns (likely in the next 1–2 weeks), Arizona has operated as a two-man backfield: Knight handling the early-down and red-zone work, Demercado taking most of the receiving snaps. With Demercado hurt, Knight could easily consolidate even more of the workload — especially if Benson isn’t ready for Week 12.
The upcoming schedule (JAX, @TB, LAR) isn’t ideal and will cap his overall ceiling, but volume matters, and anyone getting 10–12 touches with goal-line opportunities in a top-10 scoring offense deserves a roster spot — especially with the fantasy playoffs approaching.
If Benson remains out, Knight enters the RB2/RB3 streamer conversation with legit touchdown appeal. If Benson returns quickly, Knight becomes more of a speculative stash — but still worth holding in 12-team leagues until we see how the backfield shakes out.
Christian Watson – WR, Packers
Rostered: 34% | Suggested FAAB: 5–6%
Recommendation: Should be added in all 12-team leagues
Christian Watson is finally showing signs of life, and Week 11 might go down as the moment his season officially turned a corner. After spending Weeks 8–10 as little more than Green Bay’s high-variance deep threat — six of his 12 targets in that stretch were bombs, with a ridiculous 25.8-yard aDOT — Watson’s role finally expanded in a meaningful way on Sunday.
Against the Giants, he posted:
- 19.2% target share (season-high)
- 33.3% first-read share (led the team)
- 46 receiving yards
- 2 touchdowns
The first-read share is the big headline. That number tells us these weren’t just scramble-drill heaves — the Packers actually designed plays for Watson and made him a primary read, something we haven’t consistently seen this season. With Tucker Kraft sidelined and the rest of the receiver room offering more inconsistency than reliability, Jordan Love appears ready to trust Watson as both his vertical weapon and a featured read within the offense.
The upcoming schedule couldn’t be much better for a player with Watson’s speed profile. Over his final seven games, he faces Chicago twice, Minnesota twice, and Baltimore — every one of those defenses ranks top-seven in deep-pass completion rate allowed (Fantasy Points Data). Those are perfect setups for the kind of big-play upside Watson thrives on.
Sure, he’s still more likely to live in the 45–60 yard range most weeks, but the touchdowns are coming more frequently, and the offense is actively designing more for him. That’s exactly the type of volatility you want on your side in the fantasy playoff push.
If you want Jordan Love’s version of Alec Pierce, but with real athletic juice and a clearer path to designed usage, Watson should be on your roster. He’s a legit FLEX play with WR2 spike-week potential the rest of the way.
Mack Hollins – WR, Patriots
Rostered: 5% | Suggested FAAB: 1–4%
Recommendation: Strong FLEX play in 12-team leagues until Kayshon Boutte returns
Mack Hollins has quietly stepped into a major role in New England’s passing attack, operating as the primary replacement for Kayshon Boutte over the last two weeks — and the underlying numbers are far stronger than most fantasy managers realize.
Since Week 10, Hollins has delivered:
- 23.1% target share
- 85 receiving yards per game
- 16.7-yard aDOT
- 2.83 yards per route run
- 27% first-read share (Fantasy Points Data)
Those aren’t random spike-week stats — that’s legitimate WR2-level usage. Hollins isn’t out there running wind sprints; he’s functioning as the Patriots’ top perimeter option, earning four deep targets and a red-zone look across his last two games. His vertical presence is giving New England’s offense some much-needed spacing, and the coaching staff clearly trusts him as their primary intermediate-to-downfield threat.
The upcoming schedule only helps his case:
@CIN (Week 12): The Bengals have struggled with outside receivers all season unless DJ Turner shadows them — and Turner won’t spend his day chasing Hollins.
vs NYG (Week 13): The Giants have allowed the 7th-most PPR points per target to perimeter WRs since Week 6.
With Boutte still out and the Patriots leaning into Hollins’ size and downfield ability, he profiles as a strong short-term FLEX in deeper formats. Even in standard 12-team leagues, he’s more than worth a look if this type of usage holds.
Falcons, Browns & Jaguars – Team Defenses
Rostered: Falcons 52% | Browns 47% | Jaguars 20%
Suggested FAAB: 1–3%
Recommendation: Stream any depending on availability
If you’re streaming defenses for the late-season playoff push, all three of these units stand out as strong Week 12 options, each with multi-week usability and favorable matchups ahead. Atlanta and Cleveland offer the highest floor, while Jacksonville provides excellent value in deeper leagues.
Atlanta Falcons (vs. NO, vs. NYJ)
Atlanta’s Week 11 flop against Bryce Young feels more like a one-off than any sort of collapse. For most of the season, this defense has been rock solid — consistently in the top 10 in pressure rate and creating turnovers at key moments.
But the real reason to stream them is the schedule:
- Week 12 vs. Saints: New Orleans can’t find a consistent offensive identity, and the QB play has been turnover-heavy.
- Week 13 vs. Jets: One of the least efficient offenses in the league, with shaky QB play and offensive line issues.
If you’re looking for a low-variance, steady streamer for the next two weeks, Atlanta is the safest play on the board.
Cleveland Browns (@LV, SF, TEN)
Cleveland reminded everyone of its elite defensive ceiling in Week 11, bullying Lamar Jackson with five sacks and two interceptions. They now sit at 32 sacks on the season, with Myles Garrett pacing the league with 15. When this pass rush gets going, it can wreck any matchup.
And the schedule? It’s almost unfair:
- Week 12 @ Raiders: Vegas gives up 10.3 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses.
- Week 14 vs. Titans: Tennessee ranks dead last in fantasy points allowed to D/STs.
- Week 13 vs. 49ers: Tough, yes — but not hard enough to justify dropping Cleveland before the elite spots around it.
This is a high-end add with true week-winning potential in multiple upcoming matchups.
Jacksonville Jaguars (@ARI, @TEN, IND)
Jacksonville comes into Week 12 averaging 7.7 fantasy points per game, good for top-10 at the position, and they’ve now posted back-to-back double-digit finishes. In Week 11, they smothered Justin Herbert, held him to just 81 passing yards, added a pick, and generated steady pressure all afternoon.
Their next two matchups are sneaky strong:
- Week 12 @ Cardinals: Jacoby Brissett has taken 18 sacks and thrown three interceptions in his five starts.
- Week 13 @ Titans: Tennessee has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season.
If you miss out on Atlanta or Cleveland, Jacksonville is the perfect consolation prize — and arguably the best long-term play of the group.
