NFL Fantasy Football: Week Twelve Waiver Wire Tips

No matter how well you draft, the kinds of injuries that have hit this season show that you have to be able to use the waiver wire if you want to win. Here are some ideas for reworking your roster this week.

QB
Alex Smith: (available in 64% of ESPN leagues) Smith quietly puts up consistent, adequate numbers. And the Ravens can be nickel and dimed, especially if Ray Lewis is absent.

Carson Palmer: (available in 41% of ESPN leagues) Palmer hit a little plateau but he’s been doing double digits like clockwork.

Jake Locker: (available in 99% of ESPN leagues) This is risky, depending on Hasselbeck’s health, but if I were the Titans I’d let the old man heal and get another good look at the future of the franchise. The kid looked pretty  good for being thrown to the wolves.

Vince Young: (available in 95% of ESPN leagues) Another injury-dependent risk. But VY looked decent, if a little rusty on the road against a good defense. If Vick can’t go he should do better with another full week of work against a Pat’s pass defense that does give up yards.

Kyle Orton: (available in 85% of ESPN leagues) He just got picked up by the Chiefs so don’t expect miracles this week, but he is a competent NFL QB and he does have a couple of good receivers and his team should be playing from behind a lot which adds up to plenty of garbage time scoring opportunities for Orton in the weeks to come, just when you need them for the fantasy playoffs.

RB
Toby Gerhart: (available in 94% of ESPN leagues) With Peterson’s health on the line Gerhart is going to get the ball a lot. Ponder can’t carry this team yet.

Chris Ogbonnaya: (available in 76% of ESPN leagues) Hardesty is practicing again, but Ogbonnaya has been doing well enough to still be carrying the bulk of the load.

C.J. Spiller: (available in 49% of ESPN leagues) With Jackson on IR, it’s time to see if the kid can carry the load.

Kevin Smith: (available in 45% of ESPN leagues) Well, he sure looked rested and fresh and it’s not like best is ready to play again, so roll with Smith if you can get him.

WR
Riley Cooper: (available in 99% of ESPN leagues) He’s a decent gamble as long as VY subs for Vick. It’s a case of scout team practice buddies being on the same page.

Torrey Smith: (available in 48% of ESPN leagues) Smith’s feast or famine, but the pass defense is the Niner defense’s weaker half.

Santana Moss: (available in 44% of ESPN leagues) Moss has been injured but it looks like he’s able to play now and his old buddy Rex is behind center again. I wouldn’t have high hopes, but he’d be worth a flex play.

TE
Jacob Tamme: (available in 99% of ESPN leagues) with Clark banged up, he’s the only TE with much experience and Painter should be able to find the big fella at least once in a while.

Jared Cook: (available in 93% of ESPN leagues) Regardless whether Hasselbeck or Locker is behind center, Cook is their security blanket receiving option.

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